Page 15 of Redeeming the Dragon

The further we go,the beast explained,the closer we arrive to the heated springs beneath the earth. They warm the inward parts of this cave, making it habitable.

Ah. Hot springs deep inside a cavern. This, I knew about. On our island, there was a series of caves close to the sea. One had to be careful exploring them, ensuring their visit was not in proximity to high tide when seawater rolled in and filled the cave, raising the risk of drowning. In the bowels of those caves, hot springs bubbled up from the earth. Curiously, they were fresh water. The sea caves were the sole place on our particular island where fresh and salt water mixed.

“How did you find this place?” I asked aloud. The first time I had used my voice since leaving home. It sounded odd. The sound bounced gently off the walls, echoing back to me.

I had help,he admitted, ducking his mighty head as we passed under a hanging rock shelf.Assistance. From the Mothers, The First, and the Guardians.

I wrinkled my nose.

Who are they?

The only ones who would help me in my hour of need,he replied. The tone inside my head was full of despair and betrayal, leaving me with questions.

What sort of help could a dragon need? Where had this dragon come from? I knew that the Warkin, also called the Dragonkind, dwelt in rocky, warm landscapes, mostly barren to the outsider, but with lush hidden valleys and secret flowing springs tucked in amongst towering desert cliffs and monoliths. Not here, in a massive, freezing cavern that slowly warmed as we descended into its depths.

“Dragon,” I said, “what manner of help did you need, may I ask?”

No,he replied bluntly.You may not. You are not entitled to my secrets, lass. Not yet.

This irritated me. He’d torn me from my island, my family, my home, brought me to this mysterious grotto, and now not only forbore to answer me, but called me lass? Although a common title in Aerisia, it still vexed me.

“Lorna!” I snapped aloud. “I have a name.”

I know you have a name,he answered, his tone mild.I know your name. I know you, Lorna. Better than you know yourself.

This shocked me so much that I stopped walking.

You know me better than I know myself? How?

One day,the beast replied,you will understand. Come along, lass. Lorna.

Chapter 8

In the end, we hadn’t much further to go. Down a steep, rocky path—the steepest yet—then up a minuscule rise, down again, and suddenly we stopped.

We’ve arrived,the dragon announced.

I glanced up. A natural arch of stone loomed over us, like, I imagined, the opening of a great temple. Rocky barbs dripped from the arch, resembling fangs or teeth, reminding me uncomfortably of my captor’s jaws. I shivered.

“Where is this?” I asked.

The deepest magic in all of Aerisia exists here,the dragon replied mysteriously.Everything you see is fueled by it.

What did he mean? What would I see in this place?

And it guards you?

Yes.There was a quietness, a somberness to the beast’s tone.Yes. It guards me.

After a span of silence, he bid,Come.

I followed him under the arch, past the entrance. Immediately, I was struck by the peculiarity of smelling fresh air. The sensation was so strange, since I was deep in the bowels of the earth, that I couldn’t help glancing up, down, and all around, seeking the source.

Dragon,I began, planning to question him about it. He cut me off by stopping abruptly. So abruptly, in fact, that I jolted back a few steps to avoid stepping on his tail.

This is where I leave you,he said.

I gave myself a shake, wondering if I had heard correctly.

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