She provided it. “How did you know? And not so much talking as checking in.”
“You think I’m a danger.” He didn’t phrase it as a question, more like a matter-of-fact statement.
“My grandmother told me to watch over the dragons. Not let anyone near them or know they’re here. I’m not sure why I reached out to you except that you’d studied them and with the new academy opening up…” Her words trailed off and she turned her attention to the food. She plated it, bringing it into where he sat to distract herself from the conversation.
“What will it take for you to realize that I wouldn’t do anything to harm your dragons?” He accepted the plate with a nod and set his laptop on the couch next to him.
Deanna sighed, suddenly feeling way too overprotective and foolish. She’d invited him here. The tornado had shaken her, as if it’d been some kind of ill omen of what she wanted to do. “The world will most likely know about them soon enough. I guess, I’ll just have to see.” She smiled weakly and went back to the kitchen for her own plate.
They ate in silence, the easy conversation in the afternoon and on the way to the store and back lost. Leje’s murmured reassurance filtered into her mind, and if the mother dragon wanted to see him, Deanna knew she couldn’t refuse. Already, some inkling of her new senses filled her. An easier way to reach out to the dragons, an image of the orange one flying back. A hint of another dragon, one she hadn’t met yet, but would soon, darting just beyond her awareness.
That night she dreamed of dragons. One the slate gray color of stormy skies, horns on either side of its head, looking far more fierce and dangerous than the ones she’d seen in the cave filled her mind. She saw it soaring, flying high above the forest, patrolling as if looking for danger or enemies. It swooped down and just as she thought it would run her over, stopped and rubbed its rough-scaled head against her chest. Yours. The word vibrated at a low tenor with power and might. Soon. The deep voice belonged to a male dragon, one that she sensed was old like Leje.
She awakened to shivers and to the orange dragon curled up on her pillow, his heat doing what it could to warm her. She slipped out of bed and closed the window. The whirr of the furnace chasing away the night’s chill brought her back to the moment, to her house, to modern conveniences restored with the electricity. And when she lay down again, she knew she’d have a hard time falling back asleep.
Chapter 6
The thrum of the chainsaw’s engine split the air, driving away the songbirds roosting on the broken trees. A squirrel darted deeper into the woods as they approached, the path growing clearer as they lifted and moved the fallen trees out of the way. The contractor had come first thing in the morning, surveyed the damage and said he could start work in a few days. She appreciated that because the weather promised to hold for about a week and then reports of another large storm were already on the horizon. She hoped to have her roof intact by then. Going through thunderstorms with just a tarp sounded very precarious.
Just the idea of dealing with another thunderstorm, listening to the boom of thunder, the crack of lightning as it hit something, frightened her. She remembered the dark, churning wall of clouds and the roar of the wind. The image of shredded leaves spattering the insides of the cave filled her mind, along with the desolation of the broken trees around her.
“Deanna. Deanna.” A hand shook her shoulder.
She shrieked and turned around, pressing her hand to her chest. “Sorry. I was remembering the storm.”
He nodded. “I’ve seen in before in the Middle East. Remembering the trauma.” His expression grew sober for a moment, then smoothed out, as if he, too, had seen things that he’d rather not share. “I just wanted to let you know that I’ve got the trunk sawed up and in the wheelbarrow. I’m going to take it back to the house. Might make a nice bonfire. Dragons like fire.”
Deanna shuddered because right now dealing with even a bonfire was too much to contemplate, but nodded. “Thanks. That sounds good. I’ll keep moving.” Getting to work helped keep her from thinking too much about the storm that had damaged her forest and her house. She picked up the chain saw and the brush cutters, then moved down the path, picking up the occasional branch and tossing it to the side. She’d moved nearly a third of the way down the trail when Khalid returned pushing the wheelbarrow.
She turned off the chain saw and set it down. “Just in time,” she said.
“You’re doing great. I’m going to go on ahead.”
She opened her mouth to tell him not to, then stopped. Leje had said to bring the doctor, and he’d been very understanding when she’d suggested clearing the path on the way. He’d done more than his fair share, leaving her to pick up and move smaller branches while he’d run the chainsaw to cut up the fallen trees closer to the house. A few large ones remained, but mostly, they’d cleared the worst of it. She fired up the chain saw and continued to work.
By the time she’d sliced the trunk into manageable pieces, he’d returned and put them into the wheelbarrow. “Looks like I’ve got another load,” and with a smile, he took it back to her house. For someone eager to see the dragons, he didn’t act like it. He could have raced down the path, crawling over the two large trees near the clearing and hurrying into the cave. That he hadn’t reassured her. He wasn’t here just for the dragons, or at least not to make any use of them himself. She went onto the next log, and this time, they stacked the wood alongside the trail, promising to come back for it later. Sooner than she’d thought with his help, the path was clear.
“Is this still your property?” He asked as they emerged into the clearing.
“It is, but we’re close to the federal lands. Basically, if you go beyond the cave, it’s not private property anymore.” Deanna gestured to the periphery of her property.
“And the dragons are in the cave?”
“They are.” Her stomach flip-flopped, then a low rumble emerged from the opening of the cave.
“Is that them?” His eyes lit up and he stepped forward.
Deanna stopped him with her hand on his arm. “Yes, but let’s go slowly.”
“You lead.”
She appreciated that he’d allowed her to do so. She glanced around the cave, noting that none of the smaller dragons were in sight. Even her orange one had scratched at her bedroom window this morning to be let out, as if Leje had given orders for the little ones not to be seen by Khalid yet. This time, she entered the cave prepared with her leather gloves and a bright lantern. She noticed bats sleeping at the top of the cave. The colors seemed brighter, the drip of water along the sides creating streaks and artwork from Mother Nature’s palette.
She shone the light ahead of her, not seeing any dragons. A snake slithered along the wall and she pointed to its coppery color as identifying it as one of the few venomous snakes in the area. They reached the point in the cave where the floor sloped downward. When she looked back, as before, the hints of blue sky seen out of the large opening reassured her. The slight breeze occasionally swirled dried leaves. A sense of safety filled her. They reached the sharp downslope.
“Give me a minute. I kind of tumbled down this the day of the storm. My bruises are fading, so I’d rather not do it again.” She grinned and shone her light over the surface. She realized now the handholds she’d used to pull herself back up also functioned as a shallow set of stairs. Moving carefully, she set her feet in the depressions, inching her way sideways down the hill.
The rustle of wings drew her attention. She flashed her light downward into the darkness and a pair of golden eyes peered back.
Welcome. You brought the doctor. Leje’s voice filled her mind, and judging from Khalid’s gasp behind her, he heard her too.
“Is that—?”
Deanna nodded.
I am Leje, and I waited for someone to come and teach our Deanna for a very long time. Come closer. I won’t bite. I promise. The snapping of teeth, meant as some form of dragon joke, echoed in the dark cave.
Dea
nna shivered. She directed the light at her feet and moved forward. “We’re almost there.” She noticed what appeared to be fossils along the wall and longed to look at them in more detail. Paintings, what she’d thought were of horses, but now realized that the creatures flew over the people, depicted dragons. A few bones, a deer skull and scapula, lay white and bare at the end of the ramp. They reminded her just how powerful the dragons were and how small she was in comparison even to Leje’s son.
“We’re here,” she announced as the ground flattened out.
Indeed, you are. The rustling of scales filled the air and a moment later the glowing eyes revealed Leje’s large head with its broad snout and white teeth revealed like the snaggle teeth of an alligator. Now that she knew what to look for, the horns along her head were smaller yet there, more polished and rounded than sharp and jagged. When she lifted her wing, the bones and fingers, if they could be called that, were softer, less bony and angular, and more rounded.
You saw Loraj? The eagerness in Leje’s mental voice sent Deanna stumbling back until her heels bumped against the incline, and she caught herself before sitting down.
“Is that who he was?”
Yes. My mate. Her scales vibrated, the sound like the chirping of a thousand crickets, only more melodic and hypnotizing. We have little time. It is good that Eklan is going to the academy, then.
“Male dragons will return and at that point, any mature males that they’ve sired will go seek new places to live. It happens among wild animals all the time,” Khalid said. He bowed deeply. “It is an honor to meet you, Lady Dragon. I am Dr. Khalid Bijan.”
You are the one who will teach Deanna the ways of the draco magus. She must learn before Loraj arrives. She must protect my children until I return. At Leje’s words, the smaller dragons flew from the back of the cave. The orange one darted around its mother’s head, then went to Deanna and landed on her shoulder. It rubbed against Deanna’s cheek affectionately.
Khalid stepped back. “I’ve never seen immature dragons before.”
A golden head, nearly as large as his mother’s, poked from the back of the cave. I am Eklan. You will go to the academy with me when you’re done teaching Deanna, yes? He pushed forward, almost dislodging his mother. The end of the cave grew crowded with the two dragons and several smaller ones.
“I—” He paused. “I hadn’t thought about my next move, but if I am needed there. The dragons have mostly left Europe. Their remote homes are growing less so. I…” He shook his head.
I am from a clan that came from south of here. But I have had contact with others from the north at our feeding grounds. Changes are coming. It is time that we come out of the shadows. You two will help. There is much to talk about. Come. Leje nudged her son forward and he walked ahead of her, stopping next to Khalid. A moment later, Khalid allowed a clawed hand to wrap around him and carry him up the small incline.
Will you allow me? Leje had moved alongside Deanna.
“Yes.” She clutched her lantern close.
Leje gently, as if she were lifting one of her own children, until they reached the easier terrain of the cave.
Deanna glanced down at the claws, each nearly as long as her own hand, resting against her abdomen. If Leje had wanted, she could have ripped her open with hardly a thought. She reached down to touch the dragon’s hand a moment before Leje released her.
Walking with a dragon next to her in the cave made what had seemed very large suddenly close and confining. Eklan and Khalid strode ahead, though Khalid peered over his shoulder at her, wonder clear on his face.
Instead of wonder, though there was plenty of that too, Deanna felt a somber responsibility, as if someone had just provided her with a rare artifact, one of a kind even, and expected her to protect it with her life. She stepped out of the cave into the sunshine, blinking at the sudden brightness. Khalid had taken the boulder upon which she normally sat, so she took one of the cut pieces of wood, set it upright and used it for a stool next to Leje.
Listen. I must go soon and take Eklan with me. Loraj will then arrive and it’ll be up to you to protect my children.
Leje’s words reminded Deanna of a nature show she watched where a male lion threatened a lioness’ cubs even though they were his. She swallowed hard. How was she to protect immature dragons when the dragon in her dreams was so much larger than Leje and so much more fierce? Drawing a sharp breath, Deanna shoved her worries down.
The doctor will train you. When you show you are a draco magus, Loraj will understand that you are the protector of us. Therefore he returns. Because we have been unprotected for so long.
“And if I can’t learn about my powers or I never learned?” Deanna asked.
Then you would die as a threat to me and my children.
Deanna cried out, quickly stifling it as the realization that perhaps the storm had helped her narrowly avoid death or something worse. An image of Loraj, his mouth open, flames shooting out, filled her mind, and she paled with the realization that she could have been facing an angry dragon. The small orange one flitted around her, cooing and trying to reassure her. Slowly, she reached up to scratch him.
We won’t let that happen. You are of your grandmother’s line. Your mother chose not to take this responsibility.
“My mother worked more than one job to make ends meet when my father—” Sobs choked her throat. A fierce need to defend her mother drove her to her feet. “It’s not her fault.”
Not now. But had you died, it would have been.
Chapter 7
The contractors began work the next day, keeping Deanna from going back to the cave and talking to Leje. The dragon’s words bothered her. Would Loraj really have killed her if she hadn’t learned to use her powers? And if so, then why wouldn’t her grandmother have taught her? She remembered one of the last conversations she had with her grandmother about the dragons. Her grandmother had expressed regret, saying she had honored her daughter’s wishes. “What you need will come to you when it’s time. Magic always finds a way.” The sentence had haunted Deanna and now became an important portent of Dr. Bijan’s arrival. Magic always finds a way.
“What’s involved in training?” Deanna asked over lunch. The construction sounds provided a backdrop and the orange dragon hadn’t been seen since he’d flown off that morning, no doubt hiding in the cave with his siblings. “You told me a little about it. I guess I imagine something like the movies where I would be outside with you telling me what to do. I’ve never had magical training before.”
Khalid grinned. “Nothing so dramatic and I’m afraid there isn’t a powerful score playing while we’re training.”
They shared a laugh.
“Rather, we’ll start by working on your connection to the dragons. Then, once you can reach out to them, there are other magics we can do, like lighting the grill. Dragons have the power of heat and fire. Had you been properly trained in their magic, when you were without power, you most likely could have stayed warm without even a light sheet while you slept.”
Deanna’s eyes widened. Considering how she’d shivered while she slept that sounded inviting. “So when do we begin? I imagine we must wait until the contractors leave? I kind of want to stay close for them.”
“You have eyes you can use, you know. We can work near the cave. I know the storm battered the forest, but there’s nothing wrong with a landowner doing work on her property. Picking up deadfall and doing clearing is good stewardship of the land.”
She understood what he was saying and nodded. “I see.”
“And working with the dragons will allow you to strengthen your powers, so you’ll be ready.”
Deanna nodded, though worry gnawed at her. Thinking about Loraj’s return concerned her. What if she didn’t know enough by then? What if she wasn’t able to protect the dragons? She finished her meal in silence. They put the dishes in the dishwasher, then with silent accord, changed into sturdy clothes and boots before going to the garden shed to get th
e wheelbarrow, chainsaw, and tools.
“Is there anywhere in particular you’d like to work?” Khalid asked.
“Let’s clean up by the cave. We can stack the logs nearby.” Deanna grabbed the handles of the wheelbarrow. She paused long enough to chat with the workers. They’d be there for about another two hours, then make sure the tarp was back in place before leaving to return the next day. She let them know that she’d be working in the woods. There was a lot of broken branches to clear and she liked to keep the forest picked up to reduce wildfire risk. They nodded and got back to work.
“Stop here,” Khalid said before they reached the cave. “Close your eyes. See if you can sense Leje or the dragons. Tell them you’re here.”
Deanna nodded and released the wheelbarrow handles. She breathed deeply, working to relax. When she felt calm, her mind clear, she reached out to the dragons. Hello. I’m here. She waited.
A moment later a caressing breeze stroked her face. Keeping her eyes closed, Deanna waited. Warmth, like basking in the sunlight on a warm day, filled her from head to toe. She tilted her head back, as if she could catch more of the sun’s rays on her face. A soft weight landed on her shoulder. A wing touched her cheek, and she smiled as she opened her eyes to find the orange dragon on her shoulder.
He trilled, and an image of him sitting in the trees watching the house filled her mind.
“Yes, please,” she replied. “If you want to.”
Giving a merp, the orange dragon launched himself into the air and flew toward the house.
“He’s yours, you know. He probably needs ten more years to grow and then he’ll be smaller than Eklan, but by then he should be able to communicate better. I don’t think you have anything to worry about when Loraj returns, but we’ll practice all the same.” Khalid picked up a fallen branch and put in the wheelbarrow. “Do some physical work now. It helps with the training.”
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