Page 173 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume Two

Nikki glanced over at Gunter to see him glaring and then wincing at the sun overhead. He tenderly rubbed his temple, as if his skull was threatening to crack open with his headache. From what they’d gathered as they’d passed through the dining hall to collect breakfast, Alric was also laying low this morning.

Gunter caught Nikki watching and immediately dropped his hand back to his side. He straightened his back and shoulders while forcing a smile to his lips. Oh, silly dragon. Trying to hide his pain.

Nikki pulled the knapsack they were carrying around and dug inside for a moment. They pulled out a thermos typically used for coffee and held it up to Gunter. “Drink this now to help with your hangover, since you wouldn’t pause long enough to drink it earlier.”

Gunter’s eyes widened. “You went to the spell rooms for supplies?”

Nikki chuckled and shook their head. “No, I didn’t make a spell or use any magic. All the ingredients came from the kitchens.”

Gunter unscrewed the lid and carefully took a sniff, his nose instantly wrinkling before he pulled it away from his face again. “Do I want to ask what’s in it?”

“A bunch of healthy stuff. I put in pickle juice, tomato juice, spinach, a raw egg, tabasco sauce⁠—”

“I take it back. I definitely don’t want to know.”

“I looked online, and humans have figured out a lot of different concoctions for curing hangovers.” They paused, giving Gunter their most stern look as they pointed. “You need to drink that. All of it.”

Gunter took a deep breath, as if preparing himself for battle, and then took a big swig. After managing a couple swallows, he groaned and lowered the thermos again. “Oh lord, that is wretched,” he moaned. He looked at Nikki and winced. “I mean⁠—”

A loud laugh escaped Nikki and they shook their head. “Oh, I bet it tastes horrible. It smells disgusting. Now, finish it.”

Nikki kept their expression stern even as Gunter eyed the thermos as if the ingredients had grown from the depths of hell, absorbing all the ghost peppers it could in its journey to the surface, for the sole purpose of tormenting Gunter in this very moment. But Nikki did not budge. This was for his own good. They would not have a sick dragon.

Gunter swallowed down the last of it and quickly thrust the empty container back at Nikki, unable to have it in his presence a second longer. “Please tell me you were gracious enough to make that for Alric as well.”

“Actually, I ran into Cameron while I was in the dining hall. I made enough for him to give a glass to Alric.”

A wicked grin spread across Gunter’s lips, sending goose bumps across their flesh. They had wondered if their dragon had a naughty or evil side. Apparently so, and it was kind of hot.

“Good.”

“Are you feeling any better?”

Gunter ran his tongue over his teeth as he seemed to think about his answer. He straightened, his eyes widening behind his glasses. “Actually, I think I do. My headache doesn’t seem quite as bad, and I don’t feel nearly as achy as I did. We’ll have to be sure to write down the recipe when we return to the castle. I’m sure there are others who would benefit from this knowledge.”

Nikki felt lighter despite their current location and task. They’d helped their dragon.

The sound of someone clearing their throat drew Nikki’s attention away from Gunter and to their other companion, Dimitri.

Nikki swallowed back a sigh. Right, back to the task at hand. They really did need to pay attention to what they were doing. The Jaeggi compound was no place for romance.

“If we’re all feeling better now,” Dimitri said in a dry, teasing tone.

Gunter glared, looking as if he wanted to barbeque the dragon, but he didn’t say as much. Instead, he lifted his chin and replied, “Right as rain. Let’s begin our investigation.”

Dimitri’s lips twisted like he was trying not to laugh. He looked over at Nikki, his expression turning serious again. “I know everyone wants to know more about how the Jaeggi magic works and what their plans are, but our one and only priority on this trip is to get a lead on where they were headed.”

Gunter huffed. “The garage probably would have been the best bet, but that went up in flames on our last trip.”

Dimitri grunted. “True. What about offices?” He looked at Nikki, his pale blue eyes narrowing. “Do you know if the Jaeggi had any offices their leaders might have worked out of? Or maybe some planning rooms?”

With due caution, Nikki moved into the center of the main square. The compound was largely a single square with a variety of buildings ringing the greenspace on three sides. Pointing toward the north at the broken shell of a couple towers, they said, “Those buildings there were like dormitories and apartments. Most of the Jaeggi Clan stayed there. That hole in the ground was the main opening to the underground rooms and a smaller garage. That’s where the new prisoners were kept.”

“That’s where you found Ravi, right?” Gunter asked.

Nikki nodded. “Some mages were kept there as well. I stopped being kept with the rest of the prisoners after my first year with the Jaeggi. The kids don’t stay long in the cells because they think we can be brainwashed into believing the Jaeggi are good people.” Their expression crumpled a little at the memories of those early days. Nikki had only known then that their parents were gone, and these people had assumed the role of guardians. In retrospect, their heart ached at the naiveté and needless trauma they’d endured.

“Were you kept in the dorms then?” Dimitri prodded.