Chapter Fourteen. Border Control.
One moment I’m falling, the next I’m standing in some building. Everything tilts before righting itself, nausea hitting me.
“This is a misunderstanding,” I say, but no one listens—throwing me into some sort of cell, a cage really.
When I get my hands on that little elf, I’m going to throttle him. How could he do this to Ashlyn? It’s her I got the egg for.
The two guards walk away.
“Hey!” I call after them. “Isn’t there someone I can talk to? I can explain!”
“The captain will see you when she is available,” one of them throws over their shoulder as they walk out of the room, closing the door behind them.
I sink against the bars.
Surely Poplyn realises that as soon as Ashlyn knows I’m missing, she’ll demand he tell her where I am. She’ll come and get me out. It will spoil the surprise, but what can I do? I can’t stay imprisoned in this world.
What if they send me home and I can’t go to the wedding with Ashlyn?
I run my hand through my hair and sink down on the side of the bed. The only thing in the cell.
I look to the ceiling. “Lord, I could use some help here.”
A woman soon arrives. She is short, plump and red-faced, and wearing a bonnet. She has a cloth bag with her.
I jump up and go over to the bars, placing my hands around them. I draw my right one back, wincing as pain shots through my burn.
“Listen,” I tell her. “This is a misunderstanding. I—”
“Hold out your hand,” she demands, matter-of-factly.
It’s not what I’m expecting, but I do as she says. It really is stinging.
She places the bag down and pulls a small container and a piece of clean cloth out of it. She unscrews the lid and scoops some of the ointment out, rubbing it into my hand with the cloth. It’s a yellowish-green colour with a paste-like texture. The smell stings the nose like Teatree oil does.
Relief washes through me as the pain is eased instantly.
The woman places the lid back on, and returns the container to the bag, before folding the cloth so the ointment side is tucked away.
“That will do you for a while,” she says.
“Please. I need to get out of here. We can work this out.”
“I’m not the one who can help you with that.” She scoops up her bag and leaves.
I rest my head against the bars, closing my eyes.
A guard brings me lunch, and I ask him when I’ll see someone, but he doesn’t answer.
The food is surprisingly good and hearty, not just bread and water, but a warm stew with lots of melt-in-your-mouth meat chunks, followed by an apple pie.
I wonder if Ashlyn is back from the village and if Poplyn will tell her where I am.
Well after lunch, a woman arrives. She is tall, stern faced, thirty-ish. She is wearing a black uniform and a badge glistens from her chest proclaiming she is Captain Lyddie. Finally. I jump up as she unlocks the cell.
“Follow me.”
She takes me to a room across the corridor. It is sparse with only a desk and chair on each side. She gestures for me to sit on the far side, so I do, and she sits across from me.
“Samuel Evans,” she says, her tone neutral.
I shuffle forward. “Listen, I know you know that I’m here with Ashlyn.”
“It seems that was a mistake.”
“No, it wasn’t. I just wanted to get Ashlyn a present for Christmas.”
She cocks an eyebrow. “And you thought it would be a good idea to give her a dragon? For what purpose? You cannot take it back to Earth with you.”
I spread my hands. “Ashlyn really wanted one, and I thought because the dragon was small and easily hidden, and because she saved the world, you might give her a pass to keep it. I mean, she has Thistle.”
“Indeed. One of our creatures on your world is pushing it, you really thought we’d allow two?”
“I had it on good advice you would.”
She purses her lips. “The Prince’s elf.”
“Yeah, the Prince’s elf.” When I get out of here, I’m going to have a few words with that little elf, if they let me stay, that is.
She stares at me, not speaking, so I stare back.
“If you didn’t have Lady Swan’s wedding tomorrow, I would have transported you back to Earth immediately.”
“Thank you that you didn’t.”
The captain leans forward. “Hemlin is here to pick you up.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “He is? You’re going to let me go?”
She gives a swift nod. “You may be a fool, but you are not a criminal. Though it is illegal to try and smuggle creatures off world, I don’t believe that is what you were trying to do.”
I shake my head. “Once I gifted Ashlyn the egg, she would have applied for an exemption to bring it to Earth. That was my plan anyway.”
The captain stands. “Next time buy her a book.”
I nod, standing too.
She looks at the door and whistles. A guard steps inside carrying the dragon egg. I watch in confusion as the guard hands it to the captain and leaves. She hands it to me. I look between her and the pouch, confused.
“Long before Ashlyn saved the world, she saved me.”
“You’re letting me keep it?”
She nods.
“Thank you. She’ll be so happy.”
“Just don’t get any more foolish gift ideas in the future. Not even I can get a pass for a third creature.”
“Last one, I promise.”
She leads me outside, and Hemlin is there in his sleigh, as well as a very upset looking Poplyn. I glare at him as I hop in beside Hemlin.
Poplyn huffs, folding his arms. “No send back.”
“No. They didn’t send me back.”
“Well,” Hemlin says. “You’re free and you have the dragon egg, that’s a good outcome to me.”
He sets the horse going.
“Does Ashlyn know what happened?” I ask.
“Nay. Nor does Lyndaria. Border control sent for me while I was closing the bakery, and I found this one stalking around outside here.”
“Can we keep it that way? I’d still like this gift to be a surprise.”
“Aye.” Hemlin glances over at me. “You must love her very much to risk getting her such a gift.”
“I do.”
“For what it’s worth, you have my blessing.”
I’m glad for it. “But not Lyndaria’s.”
“Lyndaria wants what’s best for Ashlyn, and if that’s you, she’ll come around.”
“I hope so.”
Hemlin waits outside while I go and collect my things. Olen and I are staying the night at Hemlin’s since we’ll be getting ready at his cottage in the morning. He’s not allowed to see Lyndaria the day before the wedding.
Hemlin keeps the egg tucked safely on his lap
Poplin follows me to the cottage. He’s staying to protect Ashlyn, and I wish I was the one that was staying to protect her.
I tuck my hand into my coat to hide the bandage and walk through the door. My eyes meet Ashlyn’s and visible relief washes over her.
“How was your adventure?” she asks, eyeing Poplyn. Thankfully, Poplyn doesn’t say a word.
I plaster on a fake smile. “Fine.” I’ll tell her what really happened after I give her the dragon. Olen is all ready to go, Flint in his arms, so I quickly gather my things and meet them back in the living room.
Ashlyn places a hand on my arm, and I wish I didn’t have a coat on so I could feel her skin against mine. “I’ll see you at the wedding.”
My smile is genuine this time. “Can’t wait.”
Hemlin hands the egg back to me and the three of us, plus Flint, set out.
Hemlin’s house is connected to the bakery. It’s sparse, rugged, the type of place you’d expect from a man living alone. No feminine touches in sight.
He is quick to build a fire, and I place the egg to the side of it, keeping it in the pouch as the merchant told me to do.
I help Hemlin make dinner and then retire early. It was a big day and I’m just glad it’s over. Glad that I’m still here and that Ashlyn will get her dragon.
(Stay tuned for chapter fifteen!)
© Rochelle L. Sharpe, 2026.