Page 45 of The Arrival of the Dragons

“Two days?!” Caden squawked. “Why couldn’t they have just taken planes?”

That had Valerius laughing until he was holding his sides. Wiping tears from his eyes, he said, “Oh, Caden, what did I ever do without you?”

There was a shocked silence then Caden said, “I was here all along. You just needed to come to Wally’s.”

“Maybe I should have.”

Silence fell between them. Not an uncomfortable silence, just a happy one.

“You should be here around 7,” Valerius said softly.

“Before dinner, right?” Caden sounded so sad.

Valerius frowned. “Your mother is an excellent cook so I do not think you will be missing much.”

“I’ll be lucky if she even lets me have leftovers,” Caden sighed.

“They are still angry?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Your parents are sensible people. They will come around,” Valerius assured him. “But just in case they do not, I will have a picnic basket packed for you by the pool.”

“My stomach will thank you forever.”

Valerius chuckled. “We are ruled by our stomachs. Now, I should let you go, shouldn’t I?”

Caden was quiet. “I don’t want you to let me go.”

“I did not mean--”

“You meant to get back to work. I just…” Caden let out a self-conscious laugh. “It’s nothing. Just I’ll see you tonight.”

“Yes, tonight.”

He tightened his hand on the phone. Neither of them hung up. Valerius stared down at the Mid. He could see Dragon Strike Square from here and the roof of the Emporium.

“One of us should probably hang up now,” Caden said, but he didn’t sound like he was going to do it.

“We should.”

“I don’t want to.”

“I do not wish to either.”

“Well, this is a conundrum. I guess we’ll just have to wait until the batteries run out,” Caden chuckled.

“I suppose we will.”

But then, Wally’s voice came over the line, “Caden! We’re dying out here! I think there really will be blood if we don’t get more plushies out pronto!”

“All right, Wally!” Caden called then sighed as he said to Valerius, “I guess Wally crying or the batteries dying ends our call.”

“Yes, go help him and Rose.” Valerius smiled even as he ached a little bit letting Caden go.

“Tonight. We’ll see each other tonight,” Caden repeated as if assuring himself.

Valerius closed his eyes, imagining it was night already with the moon like Iolaire glowing. “Tonight.”

---