Page 150 of Upon Buried Embers
“It’s too warm for it to really stick.”
He’s right, the further we go in, the warmer it gets.
Another roar from the distance, and I catch up to Rohan, staying at his side.
I notice that as we walk, the trees become more scattered in places, no rhyme or reason to them and I ask Rohan why.
“The dragons have to move around somehow. Some places are thicker, some not so much.” Makes sense. “Just behind these sets of trees ahead should be Edgar. We’ll stop there first.”
Sure enough, as we exit a thick section of trees, a green dragon lays just inside a cave. I didn’t even know they had any in here.
It peeks its eyes open, then it jumps to its feet, bounding over to Rohan and head-butts him. He reminds me a little of Escor. Which makes me miss him.
“Careful.” Rohan says when I’m knocked to the side a little. The dragon purrs and rubs up against Rohan as much as he can for his size.
A smaller growl comes from ahead, and my mouth drops open when I spot a little green dragon at the entrance, wobbling about.
My hand goes to my chest. A baby!
Edgar turns and goes to it, licking the hatchling before sitting down next to it.
“He wants to show you,” I say in amazement, and Rohan eyes me before he nods and walks forward.
“That’s true, however, if his mother—” A ferocious growl sounds, and then another green dragon lands before Rohan ahead of me, snarling. “Comes back,” Rohan finishes.
I stumble back at her anger, and I know without a doubt she will hurt Rohan.
“Rohan, be careful—”
“Now is that any way to greet me after a year?” Rohan barks at her, arms folded. My mouth drops open. “You know better than that. We’re not brawling again!”
Brawling?
They… brawl?
“We can if you start, Bela, but I’m busy so it will be quick.” Rohan takes the axe from his back and twirls it in his hand. “Decide.”
They stare at each other, the dragon and Dragonbond, while I gape at them. Until the little baby dragon comes over and starts to climb up Rohan’s leg.
They all seem to freeze, and then the baby dragon sneezes, causing a little spark of fire to come out, landing on the end of Rohan’s hair as it climbs to his shoulder.
“Fuck!” he shouts, dropping his axe and holding the hatchling with one hand while patting his hair with the other.
My hand flies to my mouth, trying to stifle my laughter, but when Rohan turns, frowning at me, I know I failed.
“Is my hair being burned funny to you, Elf?”
“Of course not,” I giggle, and he shakes his head, placing the baby down.
“Take your hatchling, Bela.” The female dragon bends, picking her baby up by the neck, glares at Rohan, and then turns to the cave where Edgar waits.
Rohan shakes his head. “See you next year!” He calls to them as they all disappear. “Fucking dragons,” he mumbles, still patting his hair as he walks over to me.
I can’t believe I just witnessed the mighty Dragonbond have his hair set on fire by a baby dragon.
It’s absurd.
It’s hilarious.
