Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
“Skye? Is that you? Please, let me through. That’s my daughter,” a woman called from the assembly as she pushed her way from behind the onlookers. Immediately, an aisle formed for her.
Skye watched the bronze dragon ease back as her worried mother ran forward to hug her. She bit her lip to keep from shouting a protest.
“I’m so glad to see you. A dragon visited the art college to collect you, but you’d already left,” her mother told her in a flurry of words.
“Hi, Mom.” Skye loved her family. Her mother was the embodiment of home.
“Let’s get you home. You need a bath and something to eat. And your hair. What happened?”
“There are dragons here, Mom. I need paper. I want to sketch them.” She’d learned long ago that her mother required lots of words. She didn’t waste any on addressing her hair.
“You can draw dragons later, Skye.”
“No, Mom. It’s important to capture them now,” Skye stressed. This was so critical that she spoke. “It’s important.”
“You don’t even have paper, Skye. Don’t be silly. Come to the house with me.”
A few seconds later, a woman with beautifully tanned skin walked forward with a spiral-bound book in her hands. “Hi. I’m Lalani. I couldn’t help overhearing. Would this work for you?” She held it out to Skye before adding, “I have pencils too.”
“Thank you.” Immediately, Skye folded her legs under her, sitting on the grass to open the pad. She studied Ardon who’d shifted back into dragon form. He stood as still as a statue as Skye put the tip of her pencil on the blank page.
Lost in capturing the raw power of the massive beast, Skye complimented the dragon. So handsome.
Thank you, Little one. When she looked up at him, Ardon sent a mental question. Can you hear me?
Of course. Can’t everyone?
No, Little one. Only very special humans can understand a dragon’s thoughts.
That’s sad. Could you turn your head to the right?
Laughter filled her mind at the request. Skye was confused. What had she said that was funny?
Even fewer humans would think of ordering a dragon around.
It wasn’t really an order. Just a request. I should have said please. My mother always tells me I have no manners.
Is she right?
Probably. Being polite adds extra words, and I don’t like to talk.
Really? We’re talking now.
No. We’re thinking at each other. That’s totally different.
Of course it is, Little one. Your mother is getting restless.
I know. Skye sighed.
Would you like to meet at the statue at the square tomorrow?
You’ll let me draw you?
If you’d like, Little one. I’ll be here when the sun is high.
That’s perfect. There won’t be too many shadows.
Skye closed the sketchbook and stood, much to her mother’s relief. Even when close to a dragon, her mother’s no-nonsense approach to life held true. Neither woman truly understood the other.
Skye walked forward to stand close to her dragon model. Thank you. Amusement filled her mind, and Skye suspected the dragon was pleased with her effort to use good manners.
Very polite, Little one. I will see you tomorrow. And you’re welcome.
Skye turned back to find several people clustered behind where she had been sketching. Spotting the woman who had given her the paper and pencil, she walked forward and reopened the pad to take out her drawing.
“No, please keep it,” Lalani urged. “I share your fascination with dragons. Fill it with your art.”
“Thank you,” Skye forced herself to say. Her mother hooked her arm around Skye’s, linking their elbows together, just as she’d done when Skye was a child who didn’t follow the directions.
“That was a dragon’s mate. You are very lucky she gave you a gift,” her mother whispered as she guided her back to Skye’s childhood home. “Now, how about a bath and something to eat? That school must not have fed you.”
Skye tuned out her mother’s voice. She loved her mother, but sometimes she was overwhelming. A gust of air made her check over her shoulder. The bronze dragon had launched himself into the air. She tripped over the cobblestones in the street as she focused on the magnificent sight of the creature in flight.
“Careful, Skye. You’re always so distracted….”
“I hoped you’d run into this before,” Ardon said to Oldrik. He’d flown straight to the elder dragon’s mountain and requested an audience.
With more life experience than most of the horde, Oldrik was a good resource for information. He’d responded quickly to Ardon’s request to talk. That alone told Ardon that Oldrik was intrigued. The two stood on neutral ground in the valley between them.
“I thought I’d found my mate, but something was missing. She’s unlike anyone I’ve met before.” Ardon studied the shifter’s facial expression, hoping for clues.
“I agree. I did not feel fear in her mind as I approached,” Oldrik said.
“My impression was that dragons are not a surprise to her. Could she be a rare human who sensed us while all others had gone dragon-blind?” Ardon asked.