***
Cathal sniffed as he woke up. Someone had lit a fire. He closed his eyes again and searched for the culprit with his mind. Suddenly his eyes snapped open. Aneira! He got to his feet and ran down towards her as fast as he could, not slowing until he was just about to come across her.
When he walked into the room she occupied he noticed she was drifting off. She still seemed just as tired as she had when she'd left to go to the village, and he found he had very mixed feelings over her being there. He hoped nothing had happened to force her to resume wandering, but he was glad she'd stopped by again.
“That smells good,” he said. He watched her jolt out of her doze and swivel to face him. She visibly relaxed when she noticed it was him.
“I'm sorry, my lord. I didn't think me and my little fire would bother you all the way out here. I only came in to escape the rain.”
“You didn't think the village a safer option?”
“No, my lord. They wanted to marry me off to their greatest warrior. I think it had something to do with them thinking I killed a bunch of goblins, and that being good for strong children.”
“You said no?”
“I wasn't sure I was going to get the option to say no. I more, snuck off to avoid my fate.”
He laughed at the face she pulled while she grinned and fidgeted a little under his gaze.
“So you chose here.”
“I'm sorry, my lord. I can go. I really didn't mean to disturb you.”
“No. Stay. I know it's my home... well, it's not really a home, more of a ruin, but you're welcome to keep dry in it. Eat and get some rest. You didn't sleep last night. I'll keep a watch.”
“Thank you. I am tired, very tired.”
He curled up, blocking the entrance and ensuring the light of her fire wouldn't attract any unwelcome visitors. She finished cooking, and even offered him some of her meal, but he declined. The goblins he'd consumed earlier had more than filled him up, although they weren't as wholesome as the rabbit she'd got on a spit.
Many hours later she woke up again. He'd had to rescue her meat for her and stop it burning to a crisp, but even then he'd not had the heart to wake her.
As she yawned and stretched he also got up and paced to and fro for a moment to ease his stiffened limbs.
“Thank you yet again, my lord. I've not slept that well in months.”
“You're welcome, but please, my name is Cathal.”
“Cathal, I like that. It sounds like a good name for a dragon.”
“Perhaps, but Aneira would be a good name for a dragon, I think, too.”
“Really? I'm not sure if it's noble enough.”
He almost chuckled aloud at the delight in her face, despite her words.
“I asked you if you knew what your name meant when you told it to me. I do know what it means, and I knew then. It means golden. And dragons, well... we have a sort of weakness for gold. As such, I have an offer for you.”
“An offer? For me?”
“Yes. You know I healed you but, as a dragon, I can do many other wonderful things, including give another animal or creature, or human, the gift of becoming like me.”
“I don't understand.”
“If you wish, I can turn you into a dragon and you can stay here, with me, forever?”
“Really? I could have a home?”
“If you want, yes.”
Tears sprang to her eyes and she choked up, unable to reply to him. He wasn't sure whether this meant yes or no, so he sat and waited for her to calm herself down again.
“Do you want to stay?” he asked when he could wait no longer.
She nodded her head vigorously. “Yes, please. I'd love to stay with you here.”
“I know it's not much; most of it's a ruin.”
“It's amazing, and it's perfect, and then neither of us would be alone anymore.”
“No, and neither of us would be the last of our kind.”
~
Thank you for reading the first tale of Ethanar, Wandering to Belong. If you enjoyed this story and would like to read more you can find the second tale of Ethanar, Innocent Hearts, here. If you would like to view the full list of Ethanar tales in the order they should be read, the order they were published, or the order they occur chronologically, you can find them here. If you would like to subscribe to the new release email to be notified when the next tale of Ethanar is ready you can do so here. For a complete list of all works by the author, separated by genre, please continue. If you have enjoyed the book you just read and would like to let the author know you can email her via [email protected] or alternatively leave a review at your place of purchase.
Books by Jess Mountifield
Already published
Historical Adventure:
With Proud Humility (#1 in the Hearts of the Seas series)
Chains of Freedom (#4 in the Hearts of the Seas series)
Fantasy (Tales of Ethanar):
Wandering to Belong (Tale 1)
Innocent Hearts (Tale 2 & 3)
For Such a Time as This (Tale 4)
A Fire's Sacrifice (Tale 5)
The Hope of Winter (A short story in the anthology 'Flights of Fantasy' - Tale 6.05)
Sci-Fi:
Sherdan's Prophecy (#1 in the Sherdan series)
Sherdan's Legacy (#2 in the Sherdan series)
Sherdan's Country (#3 in the Sherdan series)
Sherdan's Road (A short story in the anthology 'The End of the Road')
The Slave Who'd Never Been Kissed (A novella in the anthology 'The Kiss')
Find Purchase links here
Coming soon
Historical Adventure:
Victorious Ruin (#2 in the Hearts of the Seas series)
Fantasy (Tales of Ethanar):
The Fire of Winter (#1 in the Winter series, Tale 6.1)
The Tales of Ethanar anthology - containing:
The Tales of Ethanar 1-6.05
A Brief History of Ethanar
Maps of Ethanar
A Note on Dragons
A Note on the Humanoid Races of Ethanar
Fantasy (other):
Angel of the Sands
Books under Amelia Price
Already published
The Hundred Year Wait (#1 in the Mycroft Holmes Adventures)
The Boy Next Door (A short story in the anthology 'The Bitten')
The Unexpected Coincidence (#2 in the Mycroft Holmes Adventures)
The Invisible Amateur (#3 in the Mycroft Holmes Adventures)
Coming soon
The Female Charm (#4 in the Mycroft Holmes Adventures)
About the Author
Jess was born in the quaint village of Woodbridge in the UK, has spent some of her childhood in the States and now resides in the beautiful Roman city of Bath. She lives with her husband, Phil, and her very dapsy cat, Pleaides.
During her still relatively short life Jess has displayed an innate curiosity for learning new things and has therefore studied many subjects, from maths and the sciences, to history and drama. Jess now works full time as a writer, incorporating many of the subjects she has an interest in within her plots and characters.
When she's not working she can often be found with friends, enjoying a vast array of films, ice skating or trekking all over the English countryside.
You can find out more about the author and her upcoming projects by following her on twitter or her fanpage on facebook or at her blog www.jessmountifield.co.uk
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