The Last Dragon Charmer #3

by Laurie McKay

  Officer Levine drove carefully. He gestured to the falcon in Caden’s lap. “What happens if those clips come unwound?”

  “His hand falls off,” Caden said.

  “I think you mean wing,” Tito said.

  “Not funny, Tito,” Jane said.

  Caden meant hand or wing. It didn’t matter. “It’s a magical wound that will never heal. He’ll bleed to death without the clips.” He squared his shoulders and sat straight against the seat. “He’ll die.”

  Officer Levine reached over and patted his shoulder. “We won’t let that happen, son.”

  Outside, all traces of daylight had faded. Like pinpricks in the dark sky, stars started to flicker. The part-moon peeked from behind a small mountain. Another day and it would be half-full and Caden would be cursed. Maybe they should have chosen to break Caden’s curse. Neither Caden nor Brynne had yet to find the information Ms. Primrose gave them about the spell useful.

  Caden reached into his coat pocket. The item that had fallen was still warm, but he could touch it now. He pulled it out and wiped off the ash with his sleeve. Shining silver and gold came into view. The item wasn’t just shaped like the royal Winterbird emblem. It was the royal Winterbird emblem—the ornate version of the symbol on the dress uniform of the royal family. Caden cleaned the upper-wing area. Five mountain sapphires. This was his brother Landon’s emblem, fifth-born and gifted with fortitude.

  Officer Levine glanced at the item. “What’s that?”

  Caden’s hand began to shake. “It doesn’t mean anything,” he said. “I don’t think it means anything.”

  “Are you sure?” Officer Levine said.

  “No,” said Caden.

  The emblem had cooled, but it burned in his hand. Ms. Primrose told Brynne the spell that happened here was mirrored in the Greater Realm. Were there sacrifices there as well? Caden’s family, his people were in danger. Jasan had said they needed to find a way to contact Razzon. His brother was right. They needed to warn the king and the kingdom.

  But why had Ms. Primrose turned Jasan into a bird? Was it to help Rath Dunn? Caden couldn’t believe it was only because they’d fought over what to watch on television.

  Ms. Primrose needed to explain herself; she needed to help them, not Rath Dunn. Caden should ask her. He should be the one to charm the dragon. That aspect of his gift was getting stronger, wasn’t it? And Ms. Primrose had always been more impressed by it than most.

  It was evening, so Ms. Primrose was likely at Jasan’s town house admiring her treasures. “We need to go to Jasan’s town house. I need to talk to Ms. Primrose.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Tito said.

  “Yes,” Caden said.

  Officer Levine slowed the patrol car at a stoplight. Ashevillian stoplights were strange things. Red meant stop. In any other world, red always meant charge. “And Ms. Primrose, aka the Elderdragon, just happens to be at your brother’s town house?”

  “She needed a place to display her treasures,” Caden said. “Just hurry to Jasan’s house.”

  Officer Levine hesitated.

  “I need to ask her something. That’s all,” Caden said. “Please. Trust me on this.”

  Officer Levine peered at him. Finally, he said, “Okay,” and as the light changed to green, he directed the car left toward Jasan’s home. “But I’m coming with you.” He paused. “Not because I don’t trust you. I just don’t trust her.”

  Caden wasn’t sure he trusted Ms. Primrose either. He jammed the emblem into his pocket and turned to the window. The emblem could have fallen from Landon’s wardrobe and somehow gotten sucked into the winds from across realms. But what if it meant something more sinister? In Asheville, Ms. Jackson’s spell required a sacrifice. A connecting spell in the Greater Realm likely did as well.

  Caden’s heart was heavy not only with worry for Jasan and Asheville, but with worry for Landon, with worry that the blizzard oaks were burning in the Winterlands.

  It was time Ms. Primrose stopped playing games and aided them. Her essence was also at risk; it was an ingredient in the spell. Wasn’t that a good enough reason for her to help them stop the villains? What would happen to her when that ingredient was used? Caden didn’t understand her.

  She is an Elderdragon, he reminded himself. Don’t try to understand her in human terms. Listen to her and figure out what to say. He could do that. He needed to do that.

  The night had turned cold and remained windy. Officer Levine parked in front of the town houses. They were painted in pale yellows, pinks, and blues; and the colors were faint under the moonlight. Small streetlights brightened the parking lot.

  Ward and his parents, Manglor and Desirae, lived in the pale-pink town house. Ward’s mother was a local, but she knew of the Greater Realm. There was a light on inside their home.

  Manglor was their ally, and he’d also been missing. As Caden and the others exited the car, Caden saw something lumbering behind the pink town house’s curtains, something large, bent over, and with a monstrous shadow.

  Maybe Manglor hadn’t come because he and his family had been devoured by a home demon? Evil creatures summoned them, and they preyed on families after dark. Desirae’s plastic Ashevillian gnome smiled at Caden from their lawn. Maybe the gnome had summoned it.

  Caden rushed to Ward’s door, Jasan flying at his shoulder, and pounded on the door.

  “Wrong house!” Tito called.

  “Just keep an eye on the gnome,” Caden said.

  “Maybe you should go to the emergency room, too,” Tito said.

  Caden ignored him. He tried the doorknob. It rattled in his hand, locked. Caden hit the doorbell. It chimed again and again. Caden stopped midpush when the stoop light switched on.

  “Just a moment,” Desirae called from inside.

  She didn’t sound like she’d been devoured by a demon.

  When she opened the door, Ward stood next to her. Behind them hulked the biggest dog Caden had ever seen. The dog regarded him with a curled lip and a low growl and looked like he would rip apart anyone who threatened Ward or Desirae.

  “That a mastiff?” Officer Levine said.

  “We thought it was a monster,” Caden said.

  Officer Levine put a hand on Caden’s shoulder. “Son?”

  “I mean,” Caden corrected, “I thought it was a monster. I feared the evil gnome summoned it.”

  It seemed Jasan agreed. “Kak!” he squawked. Caden rubbed his ear. That was loud.

  Something began to make sense. Jasan was missing, then turned up as a bird. Manglor, too, was missing, and now a giant dog stood in his living room with his wife and son. Caden pointed. “Is that Manglor?”

  Desirae hesitated. “My husband should be back tomorrow before class. Ms. Primrose informed us.”

  That sounded like a yes. “You know what she is?” Caden said.

  “I do, and I know she’s dangerous.”

  Caden looked at Desirae, then at Ward. “Why would Ms. Primrose turn Manglor into a dog? And Jasan into a bird?” He felt frustration overcome him. When she’d eaten Scribe Trevor, she’d been forced to do it. Did the same rules apply to animal transformations? Caden didn’t really think so. “Why is she working against us?”

  “I don’t know.” Desirae smiled. “He and I were going to talk after I got home from work. As you can see, that’s not yet possible.”

  It had struck Caden as strange that Jasan would be foolish enough to get turned into a bird over a television program argument with Ms. Primrose. Despite his quick temper, he wasn’t foolish. Too many important things were going on to risk safety over roommate squabbles. Maybe Jasan hadn’t told Caden all he knew about what was going on in Asheville, about what was going on in the Greater Realm.

  Caden and Brynne had been stranded three months longer than Jasan. That was three months longer that Jasan was in the Greater Realm. It was possible he knew a great deal more about what was happening there.

  Officer Levine squeezed Caden’s shoulder. �
�You still want to go next door?”

  “I do.” Caden would just have to ask Ms. Primrose what happened. And unlike Jasan and Manglor, Caden wouldn’t be turned into a bird in the sky or dog on the ground. He was gifted with words.

  Caden paused at the door to Ms. Primrose and Jasan’s town house and turned back to Officer Levine, Tito, and Jane. “Remember,” Caden said. “No matter what, be polite.”

  “Bro, Ms. Primrose loves me,” Tito said, and walked past him. “And I’m a local.”

  “Me, too,” Jane said.

  “I was born in Boone,” Officer Levine said. “I’m guessing that counts.”

  “Fine,” Caden said. “But if you get turned into a helpless carrot-eating Ashevillian rabbit, it’s your own fault.”

  Caden glanced at his shoulder and at his feathery brother upon it. “As it is your fault you and Manglor got transformed.” He reached up to scratch the side of Jasan’s head. “What haven’t you told me?”

  Officer Levine knocked. The light within came on and shone through the curtain. The door opened on its own.

  “I guess we can go inside?” Tito said.

  Caden walked through the doorway. Jasan’s talons dug into his shoulder. Officer Levine, Tito, and Jane followed.

  “It’s cold,” Jane said.

  The town house looked different than the last time Caden visited. There were display shelves in the small hall; beads and baubles and shiny things filled every space shiny things could be. Caden peeked into the kitchen. Bowls of buttons and rocks were lined up on the granite counter. Jasan’s candy bars were stacked in a small corner section. Despite the massive amount of things, it was clean and organized.

  Caden was careful not to knock over anything and kept Jasan close as he walked down the short hallway. Tito, Jane, and Officer Levine followed, single file, until they arrived in the living room.

  There were more shelves. And more things. As Jasan had mentioned, the couch was gone. In its place was a large wooden table. The legs looked like tree trunks, the top polished with a silvery finish. In neat, straight lines atop it, was every type of cheap trinket imaginable. He saw a large television tuned to the craft channel and a cushy chair by the fireplace. The fabric was striped blue and silver. On the floor beside it stood a bird perch. Ms. Primrose sat in the chair.

  “I like what you’ve done with the place,” Tito said.

  Jane stood near the table and reached out toward a row of metal buttons. “These are nice.”

  “I just polished them,” Ms. Primrose said, but she didn’t sound friendly.

  Jane pulled her hand back. “I could enchant one for you.”

  “Why would I want that, dear?” Ms. Primrose said. “Those are perfect as they are.”

  Officer Levine walked around the room like he was cataloging all the oddities in it. He peered at Ms. Primrose. “Ma’am,” he said. “We need to ask you some questions.”

  “Oh?” she said.

  A painting hung over the fireplace mantel. It was brightly colored like a burning sunset and stood out against the cool blues and silvers of the walls and furniture. The image of a mighty red-and-gold dragon was painted on it. The dragon looked smart, looked merciless.

  Ms. Primrose snapped her fingers as if to get Caden’s attention. “I hope you haven’t come to harass me like your brother.” She peered down at Jasan. He squawked. “He’s bothersome even as a bird.”

  It was important that Caden not lose his temper and that he not yell and demand she explain herself. As he’d learned in the hall with Tito, Ms. Primrose had to be shown respect. “We’re not here to make demands; we’re here because times grow dire.” He paused to emphasize the problem. “The second part of the spell has been completed. Why have you transformed my brother? Why Manglor? They fight to stop it.”

  “Why would I care if they stop it?” She pointed at Jasan. “That one wouldn’t stop squawking in my ear about spells and help and contacting his home. I couldn’t eat him. So I transformed him into a bird. This is the second time he’s irritated me.” She sighed. “And Mr. Manglor kept growling that I needed to do something. Like a dog. Now he is one.”

  It was important not to get frustrated, to remain calm, to be polite. Caden spoke with as much respect as he could muster. “You’re helping the enemy.”

  “I’m without ally or enemy, dear,” she said. “I just am. If the spell is stopped and Mr. Rathis fails, I may get my school back. Maybe I’ll get to gobble him up. I’m sure he’d be dark and rich and tasty.” The silver in the room started to glow. Scales on her arm shimmered the same lustrous color.

  “And if it isn’t stopped?” Caden said.

  “If the barriers break between worlds, I can see my home again. I am not the one pursuing that end, so I break no bonds by returning. There Mr. Rathis promises to let me rage.” Everything in the room turned blue. “It’s been many years since I’ve let myself loose like that.” She rubbed her stomach. “I’ve already let my dress out. Feasting is beginning to appeal to me.”

  Jane pulled her eyedrops from her pocket. She squinted toward Ms. Primrose. “But don’t you want us to stop the spell, Ms. Primrose? Look what has happened to my eyes. What will happen to you? Your essence is also an ingredient; you’ll lose it.”

  She chuckled. “I have essence to spare.”

  Caden looked at the silver and blue decorations. He thought about her silver and blue scales, how sometimes she was nicer than at other times. “You mean your Silver side and your Blue side,” Caden said.

  She stretched out her legs. “Yes, and embodying two contrasting souls is exhausting. Mr. Rathis has suggested to me having only one would be freeing. I’m not happy he’s taken over my school, but he makes a good point.”

  “Which side would you lose?” Caden said.

  Her gnarled hand flashed with blue scales. “Well, I have been feeling rather Blue lately.” Her Blue side was vicious. Caden couldn’t imagine how terrifying it would be without some Silver to moderate it. Ms. Primrose seemed deep in thought. “Eating people always favors that side, and I have eaten so many recently.”

  Officer Levine seemed uneasy with the turn of the conversation. “Eating a human being is against the law.”

  Ms. Primrose shook her head. “Not if they break my contract. Then they can be terminated.” She licked her lips as if remembering tasty morsels. “And eaten.”

  “Does that mean you’ve eaten people before?”

  “I don’t think I appreciate your tone.”

  Officer Levine was using his policeman tone. “Just answer the question, ma’am.”

  “Dude,” Tito said, and leaned closer to Officer Levine. “She’s no help to us if you arrest her.”

  Caden highly doubted Ms. Primrose would let herself be arrested; she’d broken none of her rules—those were the ones that mattered to her. Best Caden distract Ms. Primrose from Officer Levine before she transformed him into a simpering rodent or purring cat, and find a way to ask her for help. If she was no one’s ally and no one’s enemy, then there was no reason for her not to help Caden. When she was pleased, she helped. When she wasn’t, well, that’s when she turned Jasan into a falcon and Manglor into a mastiff. What did he have to say to get her to help, though?

  “Ms. Primrose,” Caden said, and motioned to the painting. “The artwork is . . .” What was there to say about a painting of a gold-and-red dragon? “Interesting.” She was the Blue Elderdragon and the Silver Elderdragon. The dragon in the picture was red and gold. “Is that another of the mighty Elderdragons?”

  “There are others?” Tito said.

  “There is one other. Or there was,” she said.

  “He’s not alive anymore?” Caden said. “What about the other Elderkind.”

  Ms. Primrose sat back in her chair. She seemed far away for a moment. “Even creatures such as us age, dear. We are not eternal. I’m the last one.”

  “They’re all gone? Even the wise Walking Oak?” Jane said.

  That brought Ms. Pr
imrose back to the present. “Wise?” She shook her head. “Try asking that obnoxious tree anything.” She harrumphed. “It was always ‘I’m stumped, I’m stumped’ or ‘Leaf me alone.’”

  Tito snorted. “That tree sounds awesome,” he said.

  Jane smiled.

  “Doubt this so-called tree ate anyone,” Officer Levine said, and sounded far less amused.

  From the tight line of Ms. Primrose’s mouth, she wasn’t amused either. Then her face softened. Some of her skin shone in silver scales. An emotion Caden hadn’t seen before crossed her face. It was so odd on her, so unnatural in her pale-blue eyes, it took him a moment to catalog it. But then he knew it. He’d seen it in the mirror when he’d thought about Chadwin. He’d seen it on Jane’s face when she spoke of her mother.

  Suddenly, Caden knew how he could connect with her.

  The tree might have been obnoxious, but it seemed she missed it. The Red and Gold Elderdragon might have been difficult, but she put up a painting of him over the fireplace. Missing someone was an emotion Caden understood. He missed his father, his brothers. He missed his home. Perhaps Ms. Primrose missed hers, too. When Caden saw hints of those softer emotions, he often saw her softer side, her Silver side. Just like he did when he amused her.

  Maybe he could say something to make her feel better, and, according to her, the tree enjoyed wordplay. Caden could do that. “The Walking Oak probably just didn’t like people barking questions at it.”

  Everyone stared at him. Then Ms. Primrose blinked and Office Levine frowned. Tito peered at him, his mouth half open and crooked, a confused look on his face.

  Jane squinted like she couldn’t quite see him. “Caden,” she said, “did you make a joke?”

  “I think we can all agree ‘no’ to that,” Tito said.

  “You’re mistaken, Sir Tito,” Caden said, and raised a brow. “Humor is the root of good interaction.” He turned to Ms. Primrose. “Don’t you agree? It shouldn’t be kept in a trunk.”