“It seems so,” I agreed with a smile.
It felt selfish, but I was happy Blar didn’t want to listen to Kas, as
much as he seemed to like her. It solidified that the bond I had with him
wasn’t just one sided. We were a team, and he knew me as his master just
like a dog would know his owner.
His show with the blue fire told me there was still a lot to learn about
him as well, and I was glad I would be the one to be able to control his
newfound abilities. There was no telling what else he was able to do,
especially since he was only a day old and had already grown several inches
and decided to spit fire.
None of the history books said much about dragons’ abilities aside
from the fact they were huge and could fly. I’d known some could breathe
fire, but Blar was still so little I hadn’t expected that yet, and I honestly
hadn’t been sure if it was something all dragons could do or not. Or perhaps
if it was something they learned from watching other dragons, which
obviously wouldn’t be applicable to our situation. Those were basically the only three things I knew about dragons, that anybody in Asgard knew really,
I thought. Since they’d been banished for so long, there wasn’t a point in
looking up the details about them. There were probably some historians who
still knew a thing or two, but I didn’t want to go poking around with them,
since I didn’t need that extra suspicion.
I smiled as I watched Blar eat his piece of pumpkin, and he really was
adorable as he held the vegetable in his front paws and ripped chunks from it.
Something started to happen, though, and my eyes narrowed as I leaned in
closer to him.
His little body seemed to vibrate slightly and at a frequency nearly
undetectable if you weren’t staring right at him.
“What’s happening?” Kas asked from beside me, so I figured she’d
noticed it as well.
“I don’t know,” I said, but as we watched, the piece of pumpkin in
Blar’s paws got smaller.
Only, it didn’t get smaller, and for a second, I couldn’t wrap my head
around what had just happened.
Then I turned to look at Kas, and her violet eyes met mine. They were
filled with both concern and wonder, which mimicked my own feelings.
We’d just seen Blar grow right before our eyes.
Chapter 5
Where Blar had been the length of my arm just a minute before, now
he was at least two inches longer, and his body had gained some girth as well.
His horns appeared slightly longer, too, and I couldn’t help but stare for a
minute as he took the last bite of the piece of pumpkin he held in his now
larger paws.
“That was incredible,” Kas breathed next to me, and I turned back to
see her smiling at Blar.
“It was,” I said, though I was worried. At the rate he was growing, he
would be huge in no time, and that meant there would soon be no way to
conceal his presence. So, I needed to find more dragon eggs and fast if I was
going to prove my point to the elders and save Blar from being banished like
the rest of the dragons.
Blar scurried over to Kas and crawled up her body until he sat on her
shoulders and stared at me.
“I think he wants more,” Kas chuckled.
“I’m sure he does,” I laughed, since the little thing was always hungry.
“We need to get ready to find the portals, though. He’s growing fast, and I
won’t be able to keep him in my satchel forever.”
“Right,” Kas agreed with a nod. “I’m ready.”
“Do you know where the closest portal is?” I asked.
“I do,” she said. “It’s not too far from here.”
“Hm,” I hummed, and I thought for a minute. “How long has it been
there, do you know?”
“I just saw it pop up on my way here,” she said.
“You mean when you were following me,” I countered with a raised
eyebrow.
“Yes,” she replied, and her eyes were unblinking and unapologetic as
she stared at me.
“Okay,” I said, and I had to stifle a laugh at her expression. “If it hasn’t
been there long, then we have some time. My house isn’t too far away. We
need to get some water to bring with us, and I want to grab my axe.”
“Alright,” Kas said, and she looked around at the dead men on the
ground. “Should we clean this up, or?”
“No,” I snorted. “They were clearly drunk and out looking for trouble.
Nobody will question they’re deaths, they’ll probably think they did this to
each other.”
“Here,” she said, and she walked over to each of the dead men and
swiped her finger in their blood before she moved to stand between all three
of them.
I stepped back and watched curiously as she closed her eyes and
muttered something under her breath, and Blar sat happily on her shoulder,
along for the magical ride.
After a few seconds, Kas’ hair started to lift up just slightly, and from
her hands came a swirl of red sparkles that floated out to each of the dead
men and lingered there for a second before it evaporated into thin air.
I stared at the sorceress with my breath caught in my chest. That was
the most impressive display of magic I’d ever seen, though I figured it was a
small spell for her.
“What did you do?” I asked as she walked back over to me, with Blar
still on her shoulder.
“It’s a cloaking spell of sorts,” she explained. “It just makes sure what
you said will happen.”
“What I said?” I echoed, and my brows pinched together in confusion.
“That anyone who finds them will think they did this to each other,”
she clarified. “They might have thought it already, but that spell will make
sure of it, even though the one man has burn injuries.”
“You must be quite talented,” I said. “You performed the ritual so
easily.”
“It was nothing,” she said and looked down, but I saw her pale cheeks blush slightly pink at the compliment before she started off toward the tree
line. “Let’s get moving.”
“Um, Kas,” I called out after her, and she turned around to look at me.
“Yeah?” she asked, and she was seemingly unaware Blar was still
completely visible on her shoulder.
“We need to put Blar in the satchel,” I said with a smile, and I held the
bag open.
“Oh,” she muttered, and her pouty lips turned downward into a frown
as she looked at the bag. “Right, I almost forgot he was there.”
“It’s okay,” I chuckled. “We just can’t let him be seen.”
“I know,” she sighed, and I could see then she was sad to give him up.
“Do you want to carry him?” I offered, and I was amused she was so
attached to him already.
“Really?” she asked, and her violet eyes met mine with a look of
eagerness.
“Sure,” I said. “We’ll swing by my house really quick and get what we
need, but the trek there should be pretty quick.”
I didn’t see the harm in letting her carry the satchel, since she clearly
wasn’t out to do either of us any harm. She already knew where the portals
were, too, so if she wanted to go to them alone, she could have already done so. She wanted to go with us for some reason, and I suspected part of it was
her fascination with Blar. If some of her magic came from dragon scales it
made sense to me she would be eager to be around a dragon.
I wondered if just being in his presence would increase her magical
abilities.
“Thanks,” she said, and she flashed her pearly white teeth at me again
before she eagerly reached out to grab the satchel from my hands.
“Be good,” I told my dragon before I handed the bag over, and she
carefully put the strap over her shoulder. Then I grabbed the small bag of
pumpkin pieces from my pocket as well and handed them to her. “Here, you
can give him one every now and then while we walk, just be discreet.”
Blar reached his little paws out for a piece, and Kas smiled and handed
him one. Then he dipped into the satchel and pulled the top over to close it.
He was a smart little thing, and I chuckled at how quickly he learned.
“Thanks for doing that spell,” I said before we left the clearing. I
wanted to make sure Kas knew how much I appreciated her effort. She’d
shown she wanted to help, and this gave me a great deal of comfort as far as
bringing her along with us.
“Oh,” she murmured, and she blushed slightly again. “No problem.”
“My house is just a bit past the western villages off the main road,” I said, and I started through the trees with Kas behind me.
We were quiet as we walked, but every time I turned to check on Kas,
she had her hand securely placed on the satchel, as if she was holding Blar in
place so he wouldn’t get jostled by her movements. I’d just let him bounce as
I walked when I carried him, and he didn’t seem to mind, but I didn’t say
anything to her about it, since it was kind of cute.
It was only early afternoon now, and as we walked I felt a new sense of
self. It was interesting having not only one companion, but two with me, not
that anybody could see the second one. I normally traveled alone, and if I did
travel with a woman it was usually at night to bring her back to my bed. I
didn’t have a problem getting women, but both of us always knew it was a
one-time thing, there would be no courting.
I didn’t come from a good family, and I understood that meant I
wouldn’t do much dating. I really didn’t mind the setup I had normally,
though, since it was easy. We had a few drinks together, went back to my
place, or hers, and we were each in our own beds alone by morning. It was a
good release without having to put in much effort. Besides, the women knew
I was discreet, and I didn’t brag about my conquests like some of the men
around.
I looked over at Kas, and the sunshine reflected off her curly
strawberry blonde hair and kissed her face with a slight luminescence that made her pale skin seem even smoother. She was absolutely gorgeous, and it
was a strange but welcome feeling to be walking with someone like her out in
the open air of the day.
Kas hadn’t seemed impressed at all by the men we’d met earlier, and I
wondered if she knew who they were. I didn’t know them well, but from their
clothes I could tell they were from good families. She didn’t pay any
attention to that, though, and I wondered what her family’s standing was like.
Kas held her father in high regard, but he was a strange little man. Still, with
age and service came great respect in Asgard, and her father seemed to have
both of those things.
I wondered if she hadn’t been impressed by the men’s lineage because
her own was far superior. I’d have to remember to look into the subject later,
but at the moment we had other matters to attend to.
We finally reached the small path that led to my house, and I turned
and walked toward my cottage.
“This is your home?” Kas asked behind me, and I turned to see her
looking at the trees and plants with admiration.
“Yes,” I said. “I built it myself long ago.”
“You planted all of these trees and flowers?” she wondered.
“Some of them,” I corrected. “I planted all the edible things, but the flowers I just let grow.”
“It’s beautiful,” she murmured as she continued to look around the
little clearing. “I am surprised.”
“Surprised?” I snickered.
“You are obviously a warrior,” she said as her violet eyes roamed my
chest, “not a builder of delightful homes.”
“A man can be many things,” I replied. “As can a woman. I don’t
judge you on your beauty alone. I know you are much more than your
appearance.”
“Oh?” She smiled a bit, and I found my heart beating quicker again.
“Blar, we’re home.” I cleared my throat and changed the subject. “You
can stretch your legs for a moment.”
The little dragon didn’t wait for another word, he just leapt out from
the satchel and ran over to the tree he’d gone to that morning to do his
business.
“Don’t wander off,” I called after him, though I didn’t think he would.
“He listens to you so well,” Kas said as she looked in the direction
he’d just disappeared.
“Yeah,” I agreed. “I’m not sure why exactly, but I feel like we’re
bonded somehow.”
“I can see it,” she said with a nod.
“You’re welcome to come in,” I offered as I opened the door to my
cottage. “I just need to grab a few things.”
“I’ll stay here, thanks,” she said, and she sat at the table I had outside
for when the weather was nice enough for an outdoor meal.
“Thank you,” she said, and she turned to smile slightly at me. The
wind caressed her honey-rose colored hair, and I had to nod and excuse
myself before I continued to stare.
Once I was inside, I grabbed the largest leather flask I had and filled it
with water before I slung it over my shoulder so it sat against my side. I also
retrieved my battle axe and slung it in a loop around my shoulder. The pouch
with the pumpkin was still half full when I’d given it to Kas earlier, but I
filled another pouch and grabbed my smaller satchel to put the pouch in,
along with some fruit I planned to grab before we left. I didn’t want to travel
too heavy, but I also wanted to make sure we were prepared for whatever we
came across. If we decided to stay for several hours, then we would need
some food and water, especially for Blar. He would eat my whole garden if I
let him.
I went back outside and found Kas and Blar near one of the apple trees.
Blar sat on the ground pouting, but Kas was on her tiptoes reaching for a
bright red, deliciously plump looking apple halfway up the tree.
“Do you need some help?” I asked as I walked over.
“I’ve almost got it,” she breathed, then she jumped up and managed to
retrieve the fruit before she stumbled back and fell against the tree trunk.
“Good job,” I chuckled.
“Thanks.” Kas smiled slightly, and she pointed to the ground where
there was a small bundle
of perfectly ripe apples. “I figured we might want
some for the walk.”
“Perfect,” I replied as I put the apples in my small satchel. “Are you
ready?”
“Yes,” she said, and she bent down and held open the satchel still on
her hip. “Come on, Blar.”
The little dragon looked over at me, but I nodded, so he sighed and
climbed in. I realized he had to have grown even in the time it had taken us to
walk from the countryside to my house, since his body barely fit inside the
satchel, and the thing looked bulbous and strange. I could see any slight
movement he made, and I knew this wouldn’t work for much longer. He was
growing faster than I could keep up with.
“He grew again,” I sighed.
“Do you think it’s the pumpkin?” Kas asked.
“Maybe,” I said, though I couldn’t be sure. “How much did you give
him?”
“Uh, well… ” Kas stammered, and she pulled out an empty pouch
from her pocket.
“You gave him all of it!” I was shocked he’d eaten so much on such a
short walk.
“He kept nudging me!” she defended, but her eyes were concerned.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize… ”
“It’s okay,” I sighed. “I know he tricked you.”
Blar poked his little head up and looked at me, and I just glared at him
until he slowly lowered his head back down into the satchel.
“I really am sorry,” Kas apologized with a frown.
I looked into her violet eyes, and I knew she was being sincere, so I
didn’t blame her. Blar had nudged her until she gave him treats, and he was
quite cute, of course he would use that to get what he wanted. No wonder he
hadn’t minded her carrying him, he knew he could manipulate her to get
more pumpkin.
“It’s alright,” I assured her. “We’ll figure it out.”
“I think I have an idea,” Kas said, and she took the satchel off and set it down so Blar could step out of it. “He’s about the size of a small dog now.”
“About that,” I chuckled and shook my head. He’d come out of an egg
just the night before. Granted, it had been a rather large egg, but still, he’d
grown like crazy in only a few hours.
“I can disguise him,” the sorceress said, and her eyes lit up with
mischief.
“What do you mean?” I asked, and I was immediately skeptical of her
plan.
“I can disguise him as a small dog,” she explained. “That way we can