Page 25 of Wynter and the Stone Dragon

“I am glad to hear you are enjoying our beloved… planet.” Khalid smiled. He had begun his reply automatically, noticing as he did that he was using the standard reply his parents would give visiting dignitaries. He was amused at the unusual circumstance he was using it in now.

“How can something made of rock fly?” he asked.

Pow-pow’s deep, rumbling laughter filled the air. “Magic.”

Khalid laughed along with Wynter. He shook his head in wonder as he looked down at the city. Sporadic lights twinkled below. He could see fires burning and almost make out people standing and sitting around them. Pride filled him at the knowledge that despite the hardships, his people were happier than they had been in years.

Pow-pow flew toward the desert. At one point, the dragon flew so high that Khalid couldn’t resist the urge to raise his hand and try to touch the stars. Wynter said something, her words lost on the wind. When she pointed downward, he saw the Aethon River.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and clenched his legs around Pow-pow when the dragon tucked his wings and dived. A moment before they hit the water, Pow-pow opened his wings and leveled out. The dragon extended his back legs, trailing them along the surface of the water before he swished his clubbed tail back and forth, sending a wave of water outward.

Wynter gestured behind her. A split second later, horses made of water ran beside them. Enchanted, Khalid extended his arm and touched one of them. His fingers skimmed through the cool liquid before the horse surged forward.

“This is… magical,” he breathed.

* * *

It was well past midnight when Wynter rolled onto her side and absently stroked Khalid’s chest. His robes formed their pallet while hers acted as their blanket. Their body heat and the fire that Pow-pow had created for them kept away the chill of the night.

She caressed his face while he stared up at the stars. There was a slight furrow between his eyes. She rubbed it with her index finger.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked.

He pulled her closer, caressing her bare hip. She leaned up on an elbow, forcing him to look at her. Lifting an eyebrow, she waited for his response.

“Nothing… everything… you… Pow-pow… how to hide a dragon… what the future will hold,” he murmured.

“Mm, I can’t answer the 'nothing' or the 'everything'. I know that I love you, Khalid. I want to be with you. Pow-pow is happy here and can hide very well when he needs to. As to the future, only the mage visionaries can see it, and they will be the first to tell you that nothing is set in stone.”

“Except stone dragons,” Pow-pow’s muttered retort from the darkness made them both smile.

Khalid rolled her onto her back and covered her body with his. Love flooded him, taking his breath away as he gazed down at her. She was so beautiful.

“I love you, Wynter.”

She met his kiss. He knew she could taste his desperation, but he didn’t care. Whatever the future held, he knew he would fight tooth and nail to keep them together.

* * *

Several hours later, Khalid was climbing back onto Pow-pow’s back. He tightened his hold on Wynter’s waist as the huge stone dragon thundered across the ground and lifted off. Cool air rushed against his face. Pow-pow heated his scales, and the warmth wrapped around them.

“This is like having powered seat warmers,” he joked.

Wynter grinned. “Dragons are amazing creatures. Their only natural enemies are giant serpents. I found Pow-pow right after I was here the first time. His egg was the only one left in the nest.”

“I don’t even want to think how large the serpents must be!” he replied.

The dragon shuddered under them. “Serpents very big. Some larger than a full-grown dragon,” Pow-pow said.

Khalid was silent. It still amazed him that a dragon could talk—and he could understand him. The thought of such a powerful beast being afraid of something even bigger and badder was humbling.

“We’re almost there,” Wynter said.

Khalid could see the silhouette of the city ahead. Soon Pow-pow was gliding through the maze of buildings, sweeping over the palace walls, and landing in the private courtyard. Khalid slid off first before reaching up to help Wynter down.

“Thank you, Pow-pow.”

The dragon turned his head and nodded. “It was my pleasure, Your Highness.”

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