Fire Dragons (Dragon Adventure Series 2: Book 1), Page 4

  Chapter 4

  The Cothi gold mine continued to expand its operations and produce record amounts of gold over the winter months. As news of the discovery spread, it drew in record numbers of fortune seekers from the mainland. As before, Draig listened in on the miner’s conversations and he learned that the surge of immigrants had prompted the Fire Dragons to step up their attacks on them. He wasn’t sure if it was an all-out war, but it seemed like it.

  One morning an angry horde of town folk came to the mine and started demanding that Lord Wellington hand over his dragon. Draig could hear their impassioned voices echoing down the tunnel and their ire was the result of an overnight attack on their town. From what Draig could tell, the villagers had marched down from the north and they wanted dragon blood spilt to quell their anger.

  “Give us the dragon!” the mob chanted outside of the tunnel where they knew the mine owner was holding him.

  “No,” the mine owner objected. “He is not responsible for the attack on your village.”

  “All dragons must be killed!” a man yelled out from the crowd in a hostile voice.

  “Not this one. He is my property, and I will not let you take him,” the owner insisted. Draig could hear the brief clash of metal and he knew the angry mob had pushed the owner and his guards aside. A moment later his fears were realized as the villagers marched down the tunnel towards him. When they saw Draig standing in the back of his cage, they readied their spears and started shouting, “Kill the beast, kill the beast,” over and over as they slowly advanced towards him.

  “Stop this nonsense!” Megan yelled as she ran in front of them and stood between the angry mob and Draig’s cage.

  “Move aside dragon lover, or we’ll slay the both of you,” a man yelled in a demanding tone as he thrust his spear at Megan’s chest in a threatening manner.

  “You should all be ashamed of yourselves!” Megan shouted with fierceness that only a protective mother could conjure. “This dragon hasn’t harmed a single one of you. In fact, his labor at the mill has brought your town great wealth. I know for a fact that Lord Wellington buys lumber for his mine from your village. Many of the miners he employs fill your taverns and spend their wages in your town. Kill the dragon if you like, but then do not complain when the mill goes silent, and with it, the amount of gold spent in your shops and for your services,” Megan insisted.

  The mob’s angry tone slowly subsided as the truth of her words settled in. They knew the dragon ran the mill, and there was no denying that the increased production since his arrival had also increased spending in their town. Like it or not, their prosperity was tied to the mine and once that fact settled in, they lowered their weapons and left the tunnel one by one.

  Once the last villager had gone, Lord Wellington met Megan on her way out and then slapped her across the face as hard as he could.

  “You have no right to interfere in my business,” he shouted.

  “I just stopped the mob from killing the dragon,” Megan replied in a defensive tone.

  “I don’t need the help of tawdry slave girl to interfere with my business. You and the dragon can both be replaced in an instant, and you would be wise to remember that,” the owner said as he turned and walked away. Megan had never hated him more than at that very moment. It was as if everything she did resulted in abuse and it was obvious he didn’t care about her on any level.

  “He will never stop abusing me, no matter what I do for him,” Megan said as she unlocked the door to Draig’s cage and sat down beside him.

  “I am sorry, he is a despicable human and one day he will pay for his misdeeds,” Draig said with hatred in his eyes.

  “Why did he strike me after I helped him?” Megan asked as she felt the bruise on her face.

  “I think he is upset because you convinced the crowd to leave when he could not. You made him look weak, and he is not respected by others because he cares for no one except himself,” Draig remarked as he curled his tail around her in an effort to comfort her.

  “I couldn’t just let the villagers march past him and attack you, you are my only friend,” Megan said as she ran her hand along his tail affectionately.

  “It was brave and foolish, you should not have risked your life for me,” Draig scolded.

  “Unlike Lord Wellington, your life is worth saving. Besides, the villagers weren’t angry enough to kill a pregnant slave girl just to take out their frustrations on an innocent dragon,” Megan insisted.

  “I don’t know. They looked pretty irate to me. Either way, thank you for standing up for me and saving my life,” Draig said as Megan stroked his tail a couple more times before getting up to leave. She knew the guards would be in soon to take Draig out to the mill, and she didn’t want to get caught caressing him.

  Later that day, the mine owner had one of the guards move Megan’s belonging from the servant quarters into the tunnel next to Draig’s cage. It was meant to punish her for speaking out, but in reality Megan was happy with the move. In the past, she had to make excuses for lingering in the tunnel after hours, but now she would be near Draig every night. He was far kinder to her than anyone else, and having a dragon as a friend made her feel special.

  Once it was dark, the guards brought Draig in and locked him in his cage. Megan stayed clear of the guards, but the one that was always mean to her paused on his way out when he saw her making her bed.

  “I hope the dragon doesn’t take your baby in the night,” the guard smirked.

  “Why are you always so mean to me?” Megan asked. The guard didn’t answer, but as soon as he turned his back to her, Draig picked up a ball of dragon dung and threw it at him through the bars.

  “I’ll make you pay for that!” the guard yelled after the dragon poo hit him in the back of the head. Megan had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing while the guard picked the mess out of his hair. When he was done, he unsnapped the whip from his belt and started walking towards Draig’s cage in a threating manner. Draig waited for the guard to get close to the bars and then he rushed at him violently snarling and bearing his razor sharp teeth. The guard fell over backwards trying to backup, and then looked away when he saw the hatred in Draig’s eyes.

  “This isn’t over,” the guard threatened as he fumbled to get up, and then slowly backed away as he clutched his whip. Draig could smell the fear in the air and knew the guard was bluffing. In all of his time in captivity he had never shown any aggression, so when he threatened the guard it terrified him to the bone. Fire Dragons were intimidating creatures in their own right, but an angry one was a force to be reckoned with.

  Once the guard had left, Megan finished arranging her meager belongings and settled into her new home. Draig liked having her by his side, and when no one was around, they shared stories about their lives with one another. Draig told her about dragon lore and times gone by, while Megan shared details about her life before she was a slave. As the long winter months passed by, Draig slowly revealed more intimate details about his life, and as his trust in her grew, so did their friendship.

  When the winter snow melted, the mine increased production for a second time and the owner worked Draig harder than ever. Draig could have refused to do the extra work, but there was an unspoken agreement that he would crush as much ore as the mine produced, and in return, Lord Wellington told his guards to leave Draig and Megan alone. Life was still hard for both of them, but his friendship with Megan made every day a little less miserable. Her kindness gave Draig hope that humans might evolve into a more civilized species and be able to live peacefully with one another. He knew such a day was still far off, but Megan’s stories about her people fascinated and intrigued him.

  “Megan, why do humans fight so many wars against each other? It seems odd for a species to kill so many of its own,” Draig asked late one night.

  “I don’t know… perhaps it is caused by greed or jealousy. As you know first-hand, wealth and power are used to separate the masses from the few who wish
to control them. If things were more equal, then there would be less to fight over,” Megan replied as she suddenly cringed in pain.

  “What’s wrong?” Draig asked when he saw holding her stomach as if that was the source of the discomfort.

  “It’s normal for this to happen. I just need to step out and get some fresh air for a moment,” Megan said as she got up and left without explaining what was going on. Draig pressed his head against the bars as he watched her disappear from sight. He couldn’t hide his concern, but he couldn’t just call out for her either, so he snorted a couple of times to try and get her attention.

  A few moments later Megan returned and waved her hand for him to be quiet.

  “The guards drank themselves asleep, but you need to stay quiet so they don’t wake-up and come in here,” Megan whispered.

  “Why? What’s going on?” Draig asked in a low voice.

  “I stole the key to your leg irons and I’m setting you free,” Megan replied.

  “Does this mean your baby is coming?” Draig asked as Megan unlocked his cage and stepped inside.

  “Yes, now stop moving so I can remove the lock from your chains,” Megan replied.

  “What can I do to help?” Draig asked once the shackles were off his legs.

  “Can you keep watch at the entrance for me?” Megan asked.

  “Okay, I’ll make sure no one bothers you,” Draig replied as he headed down the tunnel to stand watch. When he looked back, Megan was laying out blankets for the arrival of her child. Draig didn’t know how long it normally took for a human to give birth, but female dragons could lay their eggs in less than an hour, so he was optimistic it wouldn’t take long.

  After spending much of the night anxiously waiting, he finally heard a faint cry and knew that the child had arrived. When he looked down the tunnel at Megan, he saw her carefully wrapping him in a small blanket and cradling him in her arms. It was a tender moment, so Draig stayed at the entrance so she would not be disturbed.

  Once it started getting light out, Draig left the entrance to the tunnel so he could talk to her without the risk of waking the guards.

  “Megan, it’s going to be light out soon. I think I had better get going before the guards wake up,” Draig whispered. When Megan didn’t respond, he thought she might have fallen asleep after spending all night in labor.

  “Megan, it’s getting light, the guards will be coming in soon,” Draig said in a slightly louder voice. When Megan still failed to respond he walked over to her and gently pulled the blanket back so he could check on her and the child. The child was resting quietly, and Megan had the biggest most loving smile on her face that Draig had ever seen. It nearly broke his heart though, when he realized the birth had been more than her fragile body could bear. His only comfort was knowing that her days of suffering at the mine were over, and she died knowing that her child would be kept safe.

  Fearing that the guards might arrive at any moment, Draig gently picked up the blanket that Megan and the baby were wrapped in, and carried them out into the woods not far from the mine. Then he carefully removed the child from her arms and set him on the ground so he could bury her in an unmarked grave. Before he covered her body, he knelt down and kissed her on the forehead while the baby slept. Then he said a dragon prayer for her and covered her up. When he heard a twig snapping in the distance he knew the guards must be searching for him, so he quickly picked up the child and took flight. It was the first time in over a year he had felt the sun’s warm glow on his outstretched wings. Every scale on his dark red body glistened in the light of freedom.

  Since Draig didn’t know how long a human child could go without milk, he was afraid that the child might not survive the long journey to Snowdon, so he headed towards the coast. He knew the Water Dragons nursed their young in the caves overlooking the ocean, and he hoped he could count on an old friend to help him.

  “Hello?” Draig called out when he reached the entrance to one of the larger caves.

  “Fire Dragons are not allowed in here,” a female dragon scolded from the depths.

  “I am looking for Lira. It’s very important that I speak to her,” Draig replied.

  “Wait here and I’ll send her out to you,” the female dragon responded in an unfriendly tone.

  “Draig? Is that you?” Lira said as she rushed over to greet him.

  “I sorry I have been away for so long,” Draig replied as Lira nuzzled him affectionately.

  “That’s okay, I’m just happy you haven’t forgotten about me,” Lira replied.

  “Of course not, but I need your help,” Draig said as he kept the blanket hidden under his wing.

  “What’s wrong?” Lira asked with a concerned look in her eyes.

  “Is there somewhere we can go and talk in private?” Draig asked when he noticed the reflective orbs of another Water Dragon staring at him from the shadows.

  “Yes, follow me,” Lira replied as she flew out of the cave. Draig flew after her until they came upon a secluded cave that overlooked a small white sand beach.

  “This place looks familiar,” Draig remarked after landing just inside the cave opening.

  “This is where you and I used to come and play when we were young,” Lira said with a certain fondness.

  “That’s right. I remember it now. You used to chase me around with seaweed and try to get me into the water, and I would melt your sand sculptures when you weren’t looking,” Draig admitted.

  “Those were carefree days. I think our parents were worried that we might go off together, and you know how Water Dragons and Fire Dragons aren’t supposed to mix,” Lira joked.

  “Yeah, it’s a stupid rule,” Draig said with a hint of regret.

  “So, what has brought you here after all this time?” Lira asked.

  “I need some dragon milk for an orphan,” Draig replied as he continued to keep the blanket out of sight so that Lira could not see what was inside of it.

  “Oh, that’s no big deal. I am already nursing two young dragons of my own. A third one would be easy for a pro like me,” Lira smiled.

  “I’m sure it would be… except I don’t need it for a baby dragon,” Draig confessed with a nervous look.

  “Well, what kind of creature have you brought for me to nurse?” Lira asked as she tried to see what he was hiding behind his wing.

  “Just promise that you won’t freak out until I have a chance to tell you the whole story,” Draig insisted.

  “Okay,” Lira replied in a hesitant tone.

  “I have sworn an oath to protect this child,” Draig said as he lowered his wing and held the blanket out for Lira. Lira gently pulled the blanket partially open so she could look inside, and when the child saw her, he reached up with his tiny hands and touched her muzzle.

  “Oh my gosh... I thought you were joking with me this whole time,” Lira admitted as she gently picked up the infant and gave him some milk.

  “I know how this looks, but my explanation will put all of your fears to rest,” Draig promised.

  “I can’t wait to hear it,” Lira smirked as she nursed the child.

  “A little over a year ago I was captured and imprisoned by some humans in Cothi. They forced me to work at their mine, and while I was there a slave girl befriended me. In return for her kindness, and her promise to help me escape, I swore an oath to protect her child once he was born. Unfortunately she died after the baby was born, and now I need your help taking care of him,” Draig revealed.

  “Wow! Does anyone besides me know what a big marshmallow you are?” Lira joked.

  “I am feared throughout the Celtic realm,” Draig growled in a deep voice.

  “We’ll see how long that title holds up when the rest of your clan finds out you’re a daddy,” Lira smirked.

  “I’m not the daddy! I’m just taking care of him until he is weaned. Then I will find him a suitable home,” Draig insisted.

  “Are you sure you’re not the daddy? He has your eyes,” Lira tease
d.

  “His eyes are hazel and mine are red!” Draig snorted.

  “I know, but how can I resist teasing you when you come to me with a baby of all things,” Lira smiled.

  “I gave my word and I intend to keep it,” Draig replied with an indignant look.

  “You always do, but are you sure you should take the child back to your clan?” Lira asked.

  “Why not?” Draig replied with a look of concern.

  “I heard that your brother has taken your place as head of the council, and you know how much he hates the humans. If you show up with this child, he’s going to claim you’re a sympathizer and try to get you dishonored,” Lira remarked.

  “What else can I do?” Draig remarked.

  “You can keep him here and I will help you take care of him. He has accepted my milk, so we know he likes it,” Lira remarked.

  “You would be willing to help him until he is weaned?” Draig asked in an appreciative tone.

  “Yes, you are my friend, even if you have been avoiding me for the past year,” Lira smirked.

  “I was imprisoned, I wasn’t avoiding you,” Draig insisted.

  “I know, I’m just teasing you again,” Lira replied as she nuzzled him.

  “Sorry, I am still a little off after being kept captive for so long,” Draig admitted as he thought about Megan and how much he missed her.

  “I can see that, and forgive my behavior, I should give you your space.”

  “You know I care about you Lira, but things are complicated and I can’t replace what you have lost,” Draig admitted.

  “I know, and I’m not asking you too. I just miss the times we once shared.”

  “So do I, and those days will always be dear to me just as your friendship is to me now,” Draig replied.

  “I appreciate that and I will help you with this child, he is more than welcome to stay, just as you are,” Lira offered.

  “Is it okay to use this cave? I don’t want to intrude if it’s some Water Dragon’s nursery?” Draig asked as he peered around for a moment.

  “It’s abandoned, so stay as long as you want,” Lira replied.

  “What about the others?” Draig asked hesitantly.

  “Water Dragons do not hate the humans like your brother does, but allowing one to live here is going to make some waves. I think it will be fine once I explain that you are my guest and the child will only be here for a short period of time,” Lira replied.

  “I promise I will find him a new home as soon as it’s practical. If you need anything, just ask,” Draig offered.

  “I do have one small favor to ask in return for my help,” Lira replied.

  “Name it.”

  “For some crazy reason my two little dragets think the world of you, and despite your absence, they still ask about you all of the time. If it’s not too much trouble would you be their foster uncle since they don’t have one?” Lira asked.

  “I would be happy to do it,” Draig replied.

  “It means you will have to come visit them on a regular basis even after your child is gone and you rejoin your clan,” Lira insisted.

  “That’s fine, I’m sure they have calmed down since the last time I saw them,” Draig remarked, but Lira gave him a look that said otherwise.

  “No, they still have endless amounts of energy and find new and unique ways to get into trouble,” Lira admitted.

  “So, they’re going to want me to swim with them, and dive with them in the icy cold water like the last time I was here?” Draig cringed.

  “Yep, and that’s not all. Since their dad passed away before they hatched, they need a male role model, and I was thinking a big tough Fire Dragon like yourself would be perfect,” Lira added.

  “I see,” Draig replied as he narrowed his eyes.

  “I know it’s a lot to ask of you, but…” Lira paused as she looked down at the child cradled in her arms and then back up at Draig to make her point.

  “Okay, I’ll float around in the freezing cold water while your little terrors use me as an inflatable raft, or cover me in seaweed and other disgusting things that wash up,” Draig replied.

  “Great, it seems like you already know what you’re in for,” Lira snickered.

  “You do know how much Fire Dragons hate the water, right?” Draig said as he shivered at the thought of it.

  “I do, and that’s why they love to get you as wet as possible when you play with them,” Lira admitted.

  “All kidding aside, I really do appreciate your help and I’m happy to spend time with Splash and Bay. You have always been a true friend to me, and this only proves it again,” Draig said as he looked at the child now sleeping in her arms.

  “I know, there was always something special between us, it’s just too bad that fate got in the way,” Lira said as she leaned forward and nuzzled Draig.

  “Would it be okay if I left for a few hours to go check in with my clan, and see what my brother has done in my absence?” Draig asked as he rolled his eyes.

  “Of course, I’ll take good care of your baby while you’re gone,” Lira smirked as she gently rocked him back and forth in her arms. Draig smiled, and then flew out of the cave. Lira had always been one of his best friends, and he loved her. If he had been more mature when he was younger, he would have broken the rules and married her. It was one of his few regrets, and if he had not fallen in love with another dragon after Lira, he would have pursued her now that she was available again, if he could.

  As Draig flew along, his thoughts drifted away from Lira to his home atop Snowdon. A place that seemed so far away when he was in Cothi, and now it was visible in the distance. Draig wondered how the clan would react to his return. He knew his brother had probably made many changes in his absence and the uncertainty of this worried him. Ironclaw was not known for his selflessness, and hoped there would not be a fight when he asked him to hand back his seat on the council. As Draig mulled over his brother’s intentions, he noticed a dragon out of the corner of his eyes resting in a meadow. Unsure as to why a lone dragon would be in the middle lowlands by herself, he circled around for a closer look and saw that it was his friend Sapphire. As he casually glided down towards her, he suddenly realized she wasn’t resting but actually appeared to be injured. Fearing the worst, he folded back his wings and dove out of the sky as fast as he could.

  “Are you alright?” he asked in a panicked voice after landing next to her.

  “I... I was attacked,” she replied in a broken voice.

  “You’re going to be okay, it looks like you have been shot by an arrow. I’ll carry you back to Snowdon and get you patched up,” Draig promised as he gently lifter her off the blood soaked grass.

  “Take me somewhere else... not Snowdon,” Sapphire gasped before passing out from her injuries. Draig looked at his mountain home in the distance, and then turned west. The coast was further away than Snowdon, but he knew Sapphire well enough to honor her request. As he flew along, the muscles in his wings burned from fatigue as he carried her limp body in his arms. It would have been an impossible feat had he not spent the last year of his life pulling the heavy millstone every day. Any Fire Dragon could lift and carry another a mile or two, but Draig flew mile after mile without stopping in the hopes that he could save her.

  By the time he reached the cave, he had flown over twenty miles in record-breaking time.

  “What happened?” Lira asked when she saw Sapphire dangling in Draig’s arms.

  “She’s been shot with an arrow and lost a lot of blood,” Draig replied in a frantic tone.

  “Wait here with her, I’ll be right back,” Lira said as she flew down towards the beach.

  A moment later she returned with some fresh water, and a small clump of sea kelp.

  “What do you want me to do?” Draig asked as he gently set Sapphire down on the cave floor.

  “Pull the arrow out, and I’ll use the kelp to stop the bleeding.”

  “Okay,” Draig replied as he grabbed h
old of the arrow and yanked it out expecting her to cry out in pain, but when she didn’t, he knew that she was closer to death than not.

  “Now give her the water,” Lira instructed as she wrapped Sapphire’s wound with kelp.

  “How? She can’t drink on her own,” Draig replied.

  “Tilt her head back and pull her tongue out of the way, then carefully pour the water down her throat while rubbing it to stimulate swallowing.”

  “Can’t we just wait until she can drink on her own?” Draig asked.

  “No, she’s lost so much blood that she is in shock. We have to replace some of the lost fluids in her body, or there is no chance she’ll make it,” Lira insisted. Draig nodded and then gently trickled the water into her mouth while rubbing her neck to make it go down.

  “I gave her all of it,” Draig remarked.

  “Then there is nothing more we can do except pray that she recovers.”

  “Do you think she will?” Draig asked as he struggled to maintain his composure after losing Megan, and then having to see Sapphire fighting for her life.

  “As your friend I owe you the truth. The arrow pierced her lung, if she makes it, it will be a miracle,” Lira admitted as she looked away to hide her pain. Sapphire was her friend, and she knew that Draig loved her too.

  “It’s not fair!” Draig shouted in anger. “Why would the humans do this to her?”

  “I don’t know, but if you want to honor her life, go find the person who did this to her and make them pay,” Lira suggested.

  “What if she needs me?” Draig asked.

  “I will stay and care for her until you get back,” Lira offered.

  “Are you sure you can handle her and the child?” Draig asked in a reluctant tone.

  “Yes. Now go kill the savage that hurt her before he shoots down another innocent dragon,” Lira insisted.

  “Alright, I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Draig said as he stormed out of the cave. Despite being exhausted from carrying Sapphire, Draig was fuelled by rage and he flew towards the meadow as fast as he could. He knew that every passing minute gave the would be assassin more time to get away.

  When Draig reached the spot where Sapphire had been attacked, he circled the meadow feverishly looking for clues. He knew that if he could find something left behind by the humans, he could use the scent on it to track them down. It wouldn’t take much, a discarded scrap of food, or a torn piece of clothing, practically anything a warm-blood had touched would be enough.

  As Draig slowly scanned the ground with his razor sharp vision, he spotted a bow and quiver hanging in a small tree near the meadow. With such a prize left behind, Draig swooped down and grabbed them since they were dangling from a long narrow branch. Then he held the weapon up to his nose and sniffed it repeatedly, hoping to derive the scent of the human who held it last. After several minutes of carefully smelling the weapon from top to bottom, he couldn’t detect any human odors on it. The only scents he could identify were sheep’s blood and fish. It was an odd combination of odors, but if he could find the human that matched those, it would be the archer responsible for attacking Sapphire.

  Once Draig finished searching the area around the meadow without finding any more clues, he widened his search in hopes of spotting the human. In the distance he noticed a sheepherder’s ranch and he immediately flew over to it hoping to find the perpetrator.

  “Papa! There’s a dragon in our pasture!” a young boy called out the instant Draig landed.

  “Stay away from him! I’ll be right there,” the boy’s father yelled from inside a dilapidated shack serving as their home. Draig tried not to laugh when the man ran out of the house waving a broom into the air yelling, “Shoo, dragon, shoo!” at him. Draig sniffed the air once the man was close enough to be scented, but despite having sheep, he neither smelled of their blood or of fish.

  “I mean you no harm,” Draig said in deep voice once he knew the man was not responsible for the attack.

  “You… you can talk?” the man sputtered as he dropped his broom and looked at Draig in disbelief.

  “Yes, and I need your help. Have you seen any strangers come through here recently?” Draig asked.

  “No,” the man replied still looking on in shock.

  “What about your boy? Draig asked as he looked over at the child. “Have you seen anyone come by here while you were out tending your sheep?”

  “Papa, the dragon just spoke to me. What do I do?” the boy asked, uncertain if he should answer Draig or not.

  “Just tell him the truth,” the man instructed.

  “No one comes here,” the boy replied as he closed the gate to the corral and then looked over at his dad to make sure he wasn’t in trouble.

  “You don’t need to be afraid, I’m not here to hurt you. I’m just trying to track down a human who attacked my friend. From the air I could see that your ranch is the only one around and I just want to make sure you haven’t seen anyone in the last couple of days or nights?” Draig asked.

  “We haven’t seen any people in a long time, and the only nighttime visitors we get are dragons,” the man admitted.

  “What do mean?” Draig asked.

  “A couple of dragons came here last night and stole two of my sheep,” the man said as he eyed Draig suspiciously.

  “How do you know it was a dragon and not a pack of wolves?” Draig questioned.

  “Because wolves don’t leave scales behind,” the man replied.

  “You found a scale?” Draig asked as he suddenly felt his assumptions might have been misplaced.

  “Yeah, I’ll have my boy go fetch it for you,” the man replied as he motioned for his son to go get it. A few moments later the boy came running over to Draig and handed it to him before his father could intervene.

  “He’s okay, I promise I won’t harm him,” Draig said when he saw the worried look on the father’s face. The man nodded, but his expression remained apprehensive as his son stood next to Draig clearly unafraid of him.

  “That scale is a lot darker than yours,” the boy remarked after seeing how Draig was examining it.

  “Yes, and I know which dragon it belongs to,” Draig admitted.

  “You do?” the man asked as he motioned for his son to move away from Draig to no avail.

  “It’s from my brother Ironclaw, and it would seem that he has betrayed us all,” Draig snorted as he detected the faint odor of fish on the scale.

  “Can you explain that to me?” the man asked.

  “It appears that he has not only stolen some of your sheep, but he may also be responsible for my friend being shot down,” Draig revealed.

  “Are you going to stop him from coming here? I can’t afford to lose any more of my flock,” the man said as he looked over at his skinny son.

  “I promise that he will be brought to justice, but you must be patient. I have to take care of my friend before I can go after my brother,” Draig said as he clinched the black scale in his claw.

  “I understand,” the man replied.

  “I need you to keep my visit here a secret, and you must tell no others that dragons can talk. If you can promise me those two things, I will see that you are repaid for what my brother has stolen from you,” Draig promised.

  “I will not be made a fool by telling people that dragons can talk, so your secret is safe with us,” the man laughed.

  “Then I will be back with payment when I can. If you see any other dragons beside me, do not engage them. My brother and his friends cannot be trusted, and I don’t want to see any harm come to you or your family,” Draig warned.

  “Okay,” the man replied. As Draig turned to leave he felt someone touch the tip of his tail and when he looked back, he saw the little boy smiling at him. Draig smiled back and then took to the air.

  “Papa, I touched a dragon!” the boy exclaimed with delight.

  “I know, I was standing right here when you did it,” his father replied with a look of disbelief.

&nbs
p; “Am I in trouble?” the boy asked innocently.

  “You probably should be, but since the dragon didn’t object, we’ll just keep this one between us,” his father replied as he thought about how his wife would react if she knew what he had done.

  While Draig was on his way back to the coast, he couldn’t stop wondering why his brother might have attacked Sapphire. It seemed unlikely that she would have done anything to deserve it, but he had been gone for over a year, so perhaps there was a justified reason. All he knew was that if Ironclaw was guilty of some form of treachery, he would have no choice but to return to Snowdon and seek justice. The only reason he didn’t go there and question him that instant, was his desire to get back to Sapphire as quickly as possible. The pain of not knowing if she would recover from her injuries or not, was breaking his heart. He had never told her that he loved her, and now he feared that she would die without knowing the truth. It was a secret he had kept far too long, fearing that it might ruin the friendship the three of them shared.

  When Draig arrived back at the cave, Lira stopped him at the entrance and Draig braced himself for the worst.

  “Is she dead?” he asked, fearing he might have missed his chance to say good-bye.

  “No, I just didn’t want you to rush over and disturb her or the child since they are both sleeping,” Lira whispered.

  “Oh sorry, I’ll be quieter,” Draig said as he lowered his voice and sighed in relief.

  “Did you find the human that shot her?” Lira asked when she saw the bow and arrows dangling from his claw.

  “No, but I think my brother Ironclaw is involved somehow,” Draig admitted.

  “Ironclaw, I don’t understand? That weapon clearly belongs to a human,” Lira remarked.

  “My brother likes to make others look guilty for his deeds and this attack might be his doing,” Draig admitted.

  “What makes you think that?” Lira asked.

  “I found the bow and quiver hanging from a tree, and from the way it was dangling, I think it was dropped there by a dragon flying overhead. Not only that, but it doesn’t have a trace of human odor on it, only the smell of fish and sheep’s blood,” Draig said as he held it out so Lira could sniff it.

  “That is odd, but I still don’t see how you would know your brother had anything to do with it?”

  “He accidently left one of his scales at a sheepherder’s ranch where he and another dragon stole two sheep the other night,” Draig said accusingly as he opened his claw to reveal the coal black scale.

  “That would explain the sheep’s blood, but what about the fish smell? You don’t eat fish unless you have to,” Lira questioned.

  “That’s true, the dragons in my clan prefer game animals over fish except for my brother and his lazy friends. They feed on fish from the lake just below Snowdon and only hunt when they have to,” Draig admitted.

  “If Ironclaw is responsible, what are you going to do?” Lira asked.

  “I don’t know. I can’t prove anything without Sapphire’s testimony. All I know for sure is that my brother and one of his friends was in the area where she was attacked, and one of them touched the bow and quiver.”

  “Ironclaw would never give you the benefit of the doubt with evidence like this,” Lira remarked as she went over to check on Sapphire.

  “I know he probably did it, but I need proof,” Draig said as he followed her into the cave.

  “What do you know about healers?” Lira asked as she inspected Sapphire’s wound.

  “I know they are real, but there hasn’t been a healer for many centuries,” Draig replied.

  “It has actually been much longer than that, but they seem to come in times of need,” Lira revealed.

  “Is Sapphire going to die without one?” Draig asked as he looked down at her and tried not to cry.

  “I’m afraid so, but before you lose all hope, I want you to lift the kelp from her side and tell me what you see.”

  “That’s impossible, her wound is nearly healed,” Draig gasped in disbelief when he saw a tiny scar where there had been a mortal wound only hours before. “Did you do this?” he asked as though she had performed a miracle in his absence.

  “No, she didn’t start to get better until the child curled up next to her,” Lira replied.

  “Only one in a million dragons has such power, and no lesser creature has ever had the gift of healing,” Draig scoffed.

  “I know, but when I try and move him away from her, he cries, and she gets worse. I have never seen anything like it,” Lira admitted.

  “How can one so little have such great power?”

  “I don’t know, but the gift if strongest in those who have descendants who were healers,” Lira replied.

  “I am certain that the child’s parents were not healers,” Draig insisted.

  “How can you be so sure?” Lira asked.

  “Because Megan and I shared details about our lives with one another, and there was never any mention of a human healer,” Draig asserted.

  “When you swore to protect her child, did you happen to seal that promise with your blood?” Lira asked.

  “I did, to ensure it was binding so that she would know how committed I was to protecting her child.”

  “Then your blood and hers mixed, which means the child also has traces of dragon blood in his veins,” Lira insisted.

  “He might, but I am not a healer,” Draig admitted.

  “No, but you are a descendant of one if I am not mistaken.” Draig did not reply, he knew what she was implying, and it sent a chill down his spine. “Are you alright?” Lira asked after a few moments.

  “I am. I just feel a bit overwhelmed by all of this,” Draig replied.

  “No one knows what combination of events must come together to create a healer, but when one comes, it is for a reason,” Lira remarked.

  “Why would a human child have been given this gift?” Draig asked.

  “I do not know, but your promise to protect him is more important now than ever,” Lira replied.

  “I have never read the writings in the cave of secrets, is there any mention of an event like this?” Draig asked.

  “There is a prophecy that mentions a powerful healer born of flesh and fire sent to save a dying race. Another one talks about a descendant of the healer who will ignite the forgotten flame and bring light into the shadows,” Lira revealed.

  “Are those things connected?” Draig asked.

  “I think so because they are written side by side on the same wall in the cave,” Lira replied.

  “The second prophecy sounds like it’s in the distant future,” Draig remarked.

  “I would agree, but the first one bears some resemblance to current events. The child was born from flesh and you are a Fire Dragon who is helping to raise him. The similarity to the passage is hard to miss,” Lira insisted.

  “Perhaps you could take me to the cave of secrets when you have the time?” Draig suggested.

  “I will, but not now, I have to go tend to my little ones,” Lira replied.

  “Is there anything I need to do for the child while you’re gone?” Draig asked as he looked down at him.

  “No, he just ate, and I’ll be back in a few of hours to feed him again.”

  “Okay, thanks again for all of your help. I would be lost without you,” Draig admitted.

  “You’re welcome,” Lira said as

  she took to the air.