Fire Dragons (Dragon Adventure Series 2: Book 1)

  Chapter 6

  Draig wanted to hunt down his brother and make him pay for what he had done, but his first concern was protecting the child and keeping Sapphire safe. In order to do that, he and Sapphire agreed to stay on the coast with the Water Dragons and raise the child with Lira’s help. The cave was far from the battle lines and more importantly it was out of Ironclaw’s prying eyes. The last thing they wanted was for Ironclaw to realize they had escaped and come looking for them.

  As the months passed, the child grew and Draig and Sapphire spent much of their free time caring for him. Unlike young dragons that mature quickly, the child required a lot of hands-on attention which kept Draig busy most of the time. When he wasn’t caring for the child, he would go over and play with Lira’s kids to give her a break and make good on his promise to her.

  “Uncle Draig, when can we come over and play with the boy you are raising?” Splash asked one day when Draig was watching him.

  “Anytime you want. James is learning to talk and he can even walk on his own now,” Draig said as though he was a proud parent.

  “His name is James?” Splash asked since it was the first time he had heard the child’s name.

  “Yeah, Sapphire and I wanted him to have a human name because he will be living with them once we find him a suitable home,” Draig replied with a hint of sadness.

  “Can we come over later if our mommy lets us?” Splash asked.

  “You and your brother are welcome to visit anytime,” Draig replied as he tickled Splash behind the ear with the tip of his tail. Splash turned and bit it, and Draig lifted him up by his teeth.

  “Doesn’t that hurt?” Lira remarked as she landed in the cave entrance.

  “Not yet, but when he gets a little bigger we’ll have to find some other way to tease each other,” Draig admitted.

  “I hope they behave themselves,” Lira said as Draig seemed a little tired from dragonsitting.

  “Yes, we played hide and seek, and they told me all about the sea turtle they saw the other day. It was entertaining,” Draig smiled.

  “Oh, good. Thanks again for watching them for me,” Lira remarked as Draig got up to leave.

  “No problem, I’ll see you soon,” Draig said before flying back over to his cave.

  “How were Splash and Bay?” Sapphire asked when she saw Draig land.

  “They’re very energetic,” he replied.

  “They seem to really like having you around,” Sapphire remarked.

  “I like them too, and they are both surprisingly smart for their age,” Draig revealed.

  “Lira is quite intelligent, but you probably already knew that about her,” Sapphire teased.

  “Really? You’re going to try and get me to say something nice about her and then pretend to be jealous when I do?” Draig replied.

  “No, I would never do that,” Sapphire smirked.

  “I’ll remind you of that the next time you do it,” Draig replied.

  “I’m was going to run out and see if I can find something for James to eat. I won’t be gone very long, but he’s down at the beach so please keep an eye on him,” Sapphire asked.

  “Okay,” Draig replied as he glanced down at him. James was using hands to claw at the sand like a dragon and it made him smile.

  After Sapphire had been gone for a little bit, Lira and her two little ones came flying into the cave.

  “Hey, long time no see,” Draig joked.

  “Uncle Draig, where is James?” Splash asked before Lira could even explain why they were there.

  “He is down at the beach playing in the sand.”

  “Can my brother and I go play with him?” Splash asked.

  “Yes, but stay where your mom or I can see you, and don’t maul him, he doesn’t have scales to protect himself like you do,” Draig warned.

  “Okay,” Splash replied as he and his brother Bay flew off.

  “I’m sorry to just drop in, but my sons have been pestering me ever since you mentioned they could come over and play with James,” Lira sighed.

  “It’s fine, I want James to have some friends that are close to his age,” Draig remarked.

  “Where is Sapphire?” Lira asked as she glanced around the cave.

  “She went out to get some fruit for James. Apparently humans can’t eat meat all the time or they get an upset tummy,” Draig said as he rolled his eyes.

  “I’m must admit that I am a little sad that I won’t be able to come over here and nurse now that he is weaned,” Lira sighed.

  “Really, it seemed like a pain to me,” Draig remarked before he realized how that might sound to her. “I mean, at least you will have more free time now.”

  “I suppose, but I will miss him when he leaves us,” Lira replied as she gazed down at her kids who were letting James chase them around.

  “I know, it will be hard on me too,” Draig admitted.

  “I do have some interesting news to share with you. The Pigmy Dragons refused to join with Ironclaw and are preparing to cross the great ocean and settle on the distant continent,” Lira replied.

  “Really, how are they going to get there?”

  “They have asked some of the Water Dragons to ferry them across the ocean since they know we like to fish in those waters in the fall,” Lira replied.

  “The Pigmy Dragons might be the smart ones. Leaving the realm before the war spreads any further may save them,” Draig remarked.

  “If you Fire Dragons weren’t so big, we could ferry you over to the distant continent too,” Lira joked.

  “I could always ride on the back of two or three Water Dragons,” Draig smirked.

  “More like five or six,” Lira replied.

  “Hey, I have poufy scales,” Draig insisted.

  “It’s okay, I like a dragon with poufy scales,” Lira said as she winked at him.

  “Why do you still flirt with me?” Draig asked in a more serious tone.

  “Because you act so proper all the time, and when I flirt with you, or tease you, I get to see the Fire Dragon I knew and loved,” Lira admitted.

  “You know I am committed to Sapphire?”

  “I do, and I would never try and interfere with that. Both of you are you very dear to me, and all kidding aside, I want you and her to be happy. If you would prefer that I don’t tease you, I will honor your wishes,” Lira offered.

  “No, I want you to feel comfortable around me and if we don’t tease each other, it would seem stuffy,” Draig replied.

  “Oh, I forgot to mention that a Fire Dragon came snooping around the north coast the other day asking when we were going to join the war. The elders that met with him said we weren’t interested and he stormed off. From what I could gather, the war keeps spreading, but neither side can claim victory,” Lira revealed.

  “You’re elder didn’t tell him that we were living here, did he?” Draig asked in a worried tone.

  “No silly. Every Water Dragon knows what Ironclaw did to you and Sapphire. You are safe with us, and I know for certain that our council will never vote to join forces with your brother,” Lira insisted.

  “That’s good. I know there are a few Fire Dragons in Ireland that have no appetite for war either. Of course that might change if the humans try and conquer the Emerald Isle after Britain,” Draig remarked.

  “It’s strange how a species can vary so much from one individual to another. Some of the humans have been so kind to you while others have treated you as a slave,” Lira said as she thought about the invaders.

  “My brother is proof that dragons can also vary greatly from one to another,” Draig sighed.

  “I guess that’s true, although as far as dragons go, Ironclaw is by far the worst creature I have ever seen,” Lira snorted.

  “No doubt about that, but thanks to you, my odd-ball family is safe from his talons.”

  “You don’t need to keep thanking me. Like I said before, you are my friend, and you needed my help. I am sure you would do the same for me if
I needed it,” Lira remarked.

  “That’s true, but you really went out on a limb for me when I showed up with an orphan child, and then asked you to nurse him,” Draig chuckled.

  “It was an unusual request, and I would have never thought a human would fit in here... but I was wrong.” Lira admitted as she glanced down at the beach again and saw how much fun Splash and Bay were having with James.

  “Have the elders forgiven you for helping me?” Draig asked.

  “They never cared that I was helping you or Sapphire, but the baby bomb did take them a little time to get used to. As you can imagine, they were really upset with me at first, but since James heals every dragon that scrapes a scale or bangs a tail, they have come to appreciate him,” Lira admitted.

  “Did you tell the Water Dragon elders about the prophecy you found in the cave of secrets?” Draig asked.

  “Yes they know about it and they believe he is the one with power. They also know his gift could be perceived as a threat by others, so his secret is safe with us. They also see you as his rightful guardian, and they think it is up to you tell him about the prophecy when he is old enough to understand what it means,” Lira replied.

  “That is going to be an interesting conversation,” Draig replied as he looked down at the beach and smiled when he saw James.

  “You love him, don’t you?” Lira remarked.

  “He is caring and sweet just like his mother. The other day when I was trying to breathe fire, he called me Puff because all that came out of my mouth was a little puff of smoke,” Draig said as he skirted her question.

  “That’s cute. I bet my kids will start calling you that after I tell them that story,” Lira joked.

  “You had better not tell them!” Draig pleaded.

  “Oh Puff, would I do that?” Lira said with a sinister laugh.

  “That’s exactly the kind of thing you would do to tease me,” Draig replied as Lira stretched out her teal colored wings and ran towards the cave opening.

  “Don’t you dare!” Draig commanded as he chased after her, but Lira dove out of the cave before he could stop her. Then she glided down to the beach and stuck out her tongue when she saw him glaring at her.

  “What was that all about?” Sapphire asked as she landed next to him while holding a large branch covered with wild cherries.

  “Lira was just teasing me again,” Draig replied.

  “You know she still likes you,” Sapphire remarked.

  “I’m in love with you, and Water Dragons and Fire Dragons aren’t allowed to cross breed,” Draig replied innocently.

  “Just don’t let me catch you swimming with her under the moonlight,” Sapphire smirked as she started pulling cherries off of the branch.

  “You know the effect cold water has on me,” Draig replied.

  “It’s not that cold,” Sapphire smirked as she looked over at his midsection and smiled before plucking the rest of the cherries off of the limb she was holding.

  “Do you think James will like these?” Draig asked as he reached over and took one.

  “Yeah, they smell sweet, and you said the miners liked them,” Sapphire replied. Draig dropped the little red fruit into his mouth and then bit into it.

  “It’s so sweet, I’m sure he’ll love them,” Draig replied as he stuck out his tongue in disgust.

  “He seems to be having fun with Lira’s kids,” Sapphire remarked as she looked down at the beach.

  “I know, he copies everything they do,” Draig smiled.

  “What are you going to say when he starts to question why he doesn’t have scales like the rest of us?” Sapphire asked.

  “I have been thinking about that, and there is a sheepherder living in the lowlands who has a nice family. I was thinking I might pay him a visit,” Draig sighed.

  “Do you think they would take an orphan in?” Sapphire questioned.

  “I’m not sure, but I promised to repay them for the sheep that my brother stole, and while I’m there, I can ask. Even if they are not willing to do it, they might know someone who is,” Draig said optimistically.

  “Do you think you can trust them?”

  “The sheepherders have lived alongside us for centuries, and I think they have earned our respect,” Draig replied.

  “What are you going to use to repay them for the sheep?” Sapphire asked.

  “I know where the owner of the mine in Cothi keeps his gold. I could go there and collect on a year’s worth of my wages,” Draig suggested.

  “That’s way too dangerous, you might be captured or killed.” Sapphire objected.

  “Then I don’t know what I can offer them,” Draig replied.

  “The elders of the past used to have royal seals forged of silver. I remember my grandfather showed me his and he said it was melted out of a vein of pure silver with dragon fire. When I asked him where it was, he said atop Carnedd Mountain,” Sapphire revealed.

  “Carnedd is just north of Snowdon. I wonder if Ironclaw reclaimed the area after the humans attacked him there?”

  “I don’t know, but it would be far safer for us to go there, than down to Cothi,” Sapphire insisted.

  “I agree, and to be honest, I never want to see that place again,” Draig remarked.

  “So, when do you want to go to Carnedd?” Sapphire asked.

  “Tonight is as good of time as any,” Draig replied.

  “We need someone to watch James while we’re gone.”

  “I think Lira would be willing to do it,” Draig suggested.

  “You must be out of favors with her by now,” Sapphire replied.

  “Actually I think she would be okay with it. She was just telling me how much she misses coming over to nurse James since he has been weaned.”

  “Are you sure it’s James that she misses seeing?” Sapphire remarked.

  “Yes, she really does like him, I’m just the eye candy,” Draig smirked.

  “Oh, really?” Sapphire replied as she quickly nipped him on the tail. “Funny, you don’t taste like candy,” she remarked.

  “That actually hurt,” Draig pouted as he curled up his tail.

  “Then maybe you should go have Lira put some magical kelp on it,” Sapphire replied.

  “I thought you didn’t like it when I spend time with her,” Draig questioned.

  “I trust you, and she is my friend. Besides, I like teasing you about her because you get all embarrassed about it,” Sapphire admitted.

  “Why does everyone get so much delight out of teasing me?” Draig grumbled as flew out of the cave.

  “Hey, uncle Puff,” Splash said the moment Draig landed near the edge of the water next to Lira.

  “Well, that didn’t take long,” Draig commented as he looked over at her and frowned.

  “Did a two year old Water Dragon make puffy-wuffy sad?” Lira joked.

  “I regret ever telling you that story,” Draig said as he scowled at her.

  “I think the name fits you, perhaps we should turn it into a song,” Lira suggested.

  “Good luck with that!” Draig snorted as he looked over at James and saw that Bay was pulling him across the sand with a long piece of seaweed.

  “Are you here to get him?” Lira asked.

  “Actually, I was hoping you might be able to watch him tonight while Sapphire and I go take care of some business,” Draig replied.

  “Mom, can James come over and play?” Splash interrupted.

  “If you and your brother promise to behave, I’ll let James come stay the night.”

  “You know we will, you’ve seen how good we are with him,” Splash insisted.

  “Alright, James can stay with us until uncle Draig and auntie Sapphire get back,” Lira agreed.

  “Thanks mom,” Splash replied as he ran over to tell Bay the good news.

  “I owe you again,” Draig said with an appreciative look in his eyes.

  “Don’t worry, I’m keeping track,” Lira joked.

  “Thanks again,” Draig sai
d as he looked over at James and then waved good-bye to him.

  “Bye-bye Puff,” James replied as Draig lifted into the air.

  “Do you have a new nickname?” Sapphire asked as she flew alongside him.

  “Yeah, that’s what Lira was teasing me about when you arrived,” Draig admitted as he continued up the coast.

  “Are we taking the long way to Snowdon?” Sapphire asked.

  “I thought it would be safer to follow the shoreline until it gets dark to reduce the odds of being seen by Ironclaw or one of his minions,” Draig replied.

  “Good point, the last thing we need is that worm coming after us,” Sapphire admitted as she glided along.

  When they reached Afon Glaslyn, the sun was just starting to set and they headed inland towards Snowdon. It was a short trek to the mountains and Draig slowed down as they neared the summit.

  “I don’t see anyone, do you?” Draig whispered as they quietly passed by Snowdon’s peak.

  “No, they must be out on an attack, or it’s still abandoned,” Sapphire replied.

  “Alright, let’s cut over to Carnedd and see if we can find the silver before anyone notices us,” Draig suggested. Sapphire tilted her wings and flew out ahead of him. She didn’t know exactly where the vein of silver was, but her grandfather said dragon fire was used to melt it. If that was the case, then there might be some scorch marks still visible even in the moonlight.

  “I’m going down to take a closer look,” Sapphire announced when she spotted a darkened area that might have been caused by dragon fire.

  “Okay, I’ll keep watch,” Draig said as he circled overhead while keeping an eye out for his brother or any other Fire Dragons that might appear.

  “I found something,” Sapphire called out from a rocky outcrop after a few minutes of searching. Draig flew down to her position after he did one last sweep of the night sky.

  “What do you think?” Sapphire asked as she pointed to a dark grey mass that didn’t match the rock on either side of it.

  “I don’t know, scratch it with your claw,” he suggested.

  “It’s soft,” Sapphire remarked as her razor sharp talon revealed a bright silvery streak that glistened in the moonlight.

  “ Good job, you found it!” Draig remarked.

  “Are you sure it’s silver and not lead or zinc?” Sapphire asked.

  “It’s silver, I am certain of it. I saw a miner bring in a piece of ore that looked very similar to this to Lord Wellington. When he scratched the tarnish off the surface of the ore sample, it was soft and bright underneath just like this,” Draig replied.

  “So, how big of a piece do you want to break off for the sheepherder?” Sapphire asked.

  “Bigger is probably better,” Draig replied as he started to claw at the rock surrounding the vein.

  “That looks pretty good,” Sapphire remarked when she thought he was over doing it.

  “Okay. Can you help me get it out?” Draig asked as he grabbed one side of the exposed block of ore. Sapphire nodded and grabbed the other side. Then they both pulled with all of their might until the massive piece of ore broke free. When it landed at their feet, it made a loud thud revealing its true weight.

  “Are you sure you can carry that?” Sapphire asked.

  “Yeah, it’s not that big,” Draig replied optimistically.

  “I think we should cover up the vein with some boulders so that no one knows that we were here,” Sapphire suggested when she saw a gaping hole in the rock wall where they had removed the chunk of ore.

  “That’s a good idea,” Draig admitted as he picked up some boulders and started handing them to her so she could hide it.

  “That’s enough,” she remarked after a few minutes.

  “Okay, then let’s go before we get caught,” Draig said as he looked up at the starry sky for a moment. Sapphire nodded and then she took flight. Draig grabbed the piece of ore with both talons and then let out a groan as he lifted it off the ground.

  “Do you need some help?” Sapphire asked.

  “No, but you were right. It’s a lot heavier than it looks,” Draig admitted as he followed her down the hill, flapping his wings twice as fast as her just to keep up.

  When they reached the lowlands, Draig took the lead and flew south towards the sheepherder’s ranch since he knew where it was.

  After a couple of hours, Sapphire notice Draig was going slower and slower and she flew over to check on him.

  “Do you need to stop and rest?” she asked.

  “No, I want to reach the ranch before daybreak if we can. Once the sun comes up we’ll be a lot easier to spot and I can’t fight with this thing in my claws,” Draig admitted.

  “Would you like me to take it for awhile?” Sapphire offered.

  “It’s fine, I just can’t go that fast,” Draig replied.

  “Okay, but let me know if you change your mind or need to stop and rest.”

  “I will,” Draig said as he forged on, ignoring the fact that his wings felt like they were going to fall off.

  When he spotted the sheepherder’s ranch in the distance, he headed straight for the pasture, eager to land so he could rest his wings. It wasn’t his most graceful touchdown and the abruptness of his arrival clearly unsettled the sheep in the corral. Frightened by the sight of an unruly dragon and his companion, they huddled together and started baaing loudly.

  “Why are you being so noisy?” the sheepherder’s son said as he came running out of the house with his underwear half on. Sapphire looked away until the boy covered himself up while Draig was too busy resting his wings to notice.

  “Is your dad awake?” Draig asked as the sun’s rays illuminated the dew-laden pasture.

  “I think so,” the boy replied as he went over to comfort the sheep for a few moments.

  “Can we talk to him?” Draig asked.

  “Papa, there are two dragons in our pasture,” he called out in a loud voice.

  “Don’t go near them!” he warned before coming outside and seeing that it was Draig with Sapphire.

  “I told you I would be back,” Draig said when the man recognized him.

  “Who’s your friend?” the man asked with a cautious glance.

  “This is Sapphire, and she is honorable like myself. She won’t harm you or your family,” Draig insisted.

  “I did not expect to see you again,” the man remarked.

  “I have come to pay for the sheep that my brother stole,” Draig said as he lifted his wings so the sheepherder could see the offering.

  “Where did you get that?” the man exclaimed with a look of astonishment.

  “It came from a vein high in the mountains to the north. I believe it should cover the debt you are owed,” Draig replied.

  “That’s worth a whole lot more than a couple of sheep,” the man remarked with a hint of suspicion.

  “I admit that I am not here just to repay a debt. I also need your help, but I only want what you are willing to give freely. In other words, the silver is yours whether you help me or not, and there is no obligation to do so.” Draig insisted.

  “Alright dragon, you have my attention. What do you need?” the man asked as he stared at the silver ore.

  “There is an orphan boy named James that I have sworn to protect. He is very dear to me, but he needs a proper home. Obviously it will be hard for me to find him a good home and I need your help in doing so. I want to be clear that whoever takes him in must do it from the heart, and show him nothing but kindness. I will accept nothing less,” Draig insisted.

  “Wait here for a moment while I discuss this matter with my family,” the man replied as he turned and walked away. Draig and Sapphire tried not to listen as they whispered to each other, but their voices carried and it was impossible not hear them.

  “Raven, do you trust these dragons?” his wife asked.

  “I do, the red one has kept his word and paid for our losses many times over. He has proven he is not like the others, and I’m
willing to help him unless you are opposed.”

  “Can we afford to take in another orphan?” Mary asked as she gently patted her son Sean on the head.

  “The dragon is very clever. The silver he has brought us is quite valuable and it would more than offset the cost of taking in another child,” Raven admitted.

  “What do you think about having a brother?” Mary asked as she kissed Sean on the cheek.

  “I would like that,” Sean replied.

  “You would have to share your things with him,” Raven added.

  “That’s okay, I can share. I just want someone to play with,” Sean admitted.

  “I want you to decide,” Raven said as he looked over at his wife.

  “You know I have prayed for more children, and if this is how God has chosen to answer my prayer, then we should welcome his gift,” Mary replied.

  “Alright, let’s see if we can meet the orphan before we agree to take him in. I want to make sure he would be a good fit into our family,” Raven remarked as he glanced over at Draig and Sapphire for a moment.

  “We can bring James here so you can meet him,” Draig offered.

  “I was just going to ask if that would be possible,” Raven admitted.

  “Would today be too soon?” Draig asked hesitantly.

  “No, I would rather decide right away,” Raven replied as he looked over at his wife.

  “Okay, it will take Sapphire and I a few hours to go home and get him,” Draig said as he started to turn to leave.

  “Before you go, can you tell me how old he is?” Mary asked.

  “He is a yearling,” Draig replied not knowing the exact human term for a child that could speak a few words and walk on two legs.

  “Oh, he’s very little,” Mary remarked with a motherly look in her eyes.

  “Yes, he was just weaned from dragon milk, and now he can eat solid food,” Draig added as he extended his wings and slowly lifted into the air alongside Sapphire.

  “Are you nervous?” Sapphire asked once they were heading back towards the coast.

  “I am, but I think it’s for the best,” Draig remarked.

  “The family seemed nice,” Sapphire added.

  “They are, I just hope James will be happy there if they take him in,” Draig replied.

  “If James can be happy living with a bunch of dragons, think how well he’ll do living with his own kind,” Sapphire remarked.

  “You’re right, I worry too much. He’s a good kid and humans are very adaptable creatures,” Draig admitted.

  “Draig, don’t make any quick turns, but I think we have company,” Sapphire interrupted as she discretely pointed at two dark outlines high in the clouds above them.

  “Darn it, it’s a Fire Dragon patrol,” Draig stated as he slowly adjusted his course away from the coast to conceal their destination.

  “I thought so,” Sapphire remarked as she slowly turned with him until they were both heading due south.

  The two Fire Dragons continued to shadow them for a several miles, and then as suddenly as they appeared, they broke off their pursuit and turned back north.

  “Whew, it looks like they lost interest in us, but we should keep going south for a little while just to make sure they don’t circle back,” Draig suggested. Sapphire nodded as she stayed close to him while keeping an eye out for the other dragons.

  Once they were certain the patrol was gone, they changed course and headed for the coast as quickly as they could.

  “Do you want me to wait outside the cave just to make sure we weren’t followed?” Sapphire offered once they reached the shore.

  “Yeah, it’s probably not necessary, but I would hate to get caught off guard,” Draig admitted.

  “Okay, I’ll swoop down and let you know if I see anything,” Sapphire replied as Draig headed down towards the cliffs.

  “Hey, you’re back,” Lira remarked when Draig landed in her cave.

  “Yeah, Sapphire and I found a nice family that might be willing to adopt James,” Draig announced.

  “Are you taking him there now?” Lira asked with a look of disappointment.

  “Yeah, they want to meet him, and if all goes well he won’t be coming back with us,” Draig admitted with sadness in his eyes.

  “Is there time for me to go wake Splash and Bay so they can say good-bye to him?”

  “Of course,” Draig replied. Lira disappeared for a few minutes and then returned with James in her arms.

  “He’s awake, but still a bit groggy,” Lira remarked as she set him down.

  “Hi Puff,” he said with half open eyes.

  “Hi James. Sapphire and I found a really nice human family not too far from here that wants to meet you. They have a little boy just a few years older than you, and he needs a playmate. Would you like to go see them?” Draig asked.

  “Okay,” James replied.

  “If you like it there, you might be able to stay with them for a little bit and learn some things about your kin,” Draig offered.

  “I’m a Dragon,” James said as he looked around the cave.

  “You’re part dragon on the inside, but you’re a little boy on the outside,” Draig said reassuringly. James held out his arm and then compared it to Draig’s for a minute.

  “Do they look like me?” James asked.

  “Yes, they are warm-bloods just like you,” Draig admitted. Then he held his breath while James took turns running his hand across Draig’s scales and then down his own arm for a few moments.

  “Okay, we can go,” James replied just as Splash and Bay came running over to see him off.

  “Bye James,” Splash said as he and his brother took turns hugging him.

  “Bye-bye,” James replied as he ran his hand down each of their little tails.

  “Uncle Puff, will you bring James back?” Bay asked with a hopeful look.

  “Of course I’ll bring him back, you are his friends,” Draig promised.

  After Splash and Bay were done saying good-bye, Lira came over and kissed James on the forehead.

  “Bye-bye mommy,” James said in a soft voice that made Lira’s eyes tear up.

  “I’ll see you soon,” she replied as she looked over at Draig with sorrow.

  “I promise that I’ll bring him back to visit you even if the new family takes him in,” Draig said when he saw the look in Lira’s eyes.

  “I’m ready to go,” James announced as he cinched the blanket around his waist so Draig could carry him.

  “Alright,” Draig replied as he picked him up and headed out of the cave.

  “How did it go?” Sapphire asked when Draig flew over to her.

  “It was especially hard on Lira, James called her mommy,” Draig replied.

  “Oh, that’s so precious, I didn’t know he was so close to her,” Sapphire admitted.

  “I didn’t either, but it makes sense, she did nurse him from the day he was born.”

  “Is he asleep right now?” Sapphire asked as she looked over at the blanket in Draig’s arms.

  “He is. I think the beating of my wings lulls him to sleep.”

  “I want to say something, but I don’t want him to hear it,” Sapphire remarked.

  “Okay,” Draig replied.

  “You know it’s not too late for you to change your mind and keep him here with us.”

  “I would like nothing more, but it would be selfish of me to deprive him of his humanity. I know some tiny amount of my blood flows through his veins, but he is clearly a human boy and he needs to be with his people so he can learn their ways. I would love to keep him, believe me I would, but it would not be fair to him, and that’s what matters most to me,” Draig replied.

  “You know that James will still want to be part of your life even if the sheepherders take him,” Sapphire remarked.

  “I hope so, and if he does, I will always be there for him. Even though I know he is a human, I feel that he is connected to our species in some way. Prophecy or not, I believe his gift
is just the beginning of his destiny,” Draig said as he headed towards the lowlands.

  “I think you’re right,” Sapphire admitted as she flew alongside him.

  When they finally arrived at the ranch, Raven and his family were out in the pasture waiting for them. The moment Draig set James down, Sean ran oven and gave him a brotherly hug before Draig could even introduce them to each other.

  “Can he stay in my room?” Sean asked as he looked over at his father.

  “We’ll see,” Raven replied not wanting him to get his hopes up before they all had a chance to meet James.

  “He’s so cute,” Mary remarked as James walked over to her and held out his arms so she would pick him up. Once he was in her arms, he nuzzled her neck the way he had seen dragons greet each other and then looked back at Draig.

  “She’s a warm-blood,” he remarked, not realizing it was a dragon term.

  “She’s a human, just like you,” Draig replied.

  “Has he been living with you all this time?” Mary asked.

  “Yes, and that is why he needs a human family to teach him your ways,” Draig admitted.

  “He seems very healthy and well cared for,” Mary remarked as she glanced at her husband. Raven could tell by the look in her eyes that she wanted to keep James, but he felt like he needed to know a little more about the child before taking him in.

  “I am curious how such a young child came into your care?” Raven asked as politely as he could.

  “His mother was a dear friend of mine, and when she passed away after giving birth, James was left without anyone to care for him. To honor her wishes, I promised to take him under my wing and see that he was not abandoned or enslaved,” Draig replied.

  “You know that if we adopt him, he will be expected to help out when he is older. We are just simple sheepherders, so it’s not like he will be brought up like royalty,” Raven remarked.

  “That is what I want. He needs to learn the value of family over wealth. I have seen first hand how money corrupts and breeds disdain,” Draig replied as he thought about the greedy mine owner.

  “Then he should do well with us, because family is what we cherish above all else,” Raven said as he looked over at his wife.

  “Then you are willing to take him in?” Draig asked.

  “Yes, he is welcome to stay with us,” Raven offered.

  “I can’t thank you enough,” Draig replied with a sigh of relief.

  “Draig,” Sapphire interrupted. “You need to tell them about his gift, it might conflict with their beliefs,” Sapphire added when she noticed the Celtic cross around Mary’s neck.

  “James is a healer. It’s a very rare and unique gift that allows him to heal sick and injured animals. If that is a problem for some reason, I understand,” Draig said as he waited to see their reaction.

  “No, that’s not a problem, but if I may, can we bring out a lamb that has an injured foot to see him use his gift,” Raven asked.

  “Yes, by all means,” Draig replied with a look of relief that they weren’t concerned by the revelation.

  “Sean go into the barn and bring the injured lamb over to James. Sean nodded and then left for a few minutes. When he returned, Mary set James down and Sean placed the lamb at his feet. James giggled at the sight of the furry little creature, and after he cuddled it for a moment, he let it go. The lamb ran back to his mother inside the barn as though nothing was wrong with it.

  “He is blessed!” Mary exclaimed as she looked over at Draig with an expression of amazement.

  “I know, James has a gift, but I must ask that you keep it a secret. I have seen what happens if someone is labeled a sorcerer, or accused of practicing the dark arts,” Draig warned.

  “His secret is safe with us, we serve the light, not the darkness,” Mary insisted.

  “That’s good, because his power can be used for good or evil depending on his upbringing,” Draig revealed.

  “We will make sure he uses it wisely, and only if he wants to,” Mary promised.

  “Thank you so much for understanding his needs, and I can see that he will know love in your family,” Draig said as he felt a mixture of joy and sadness in his heart. He knew he was making the right decision, but it was still difficult to let James go.

  “You are welcome to come visit him anytime you want,” Raven offered when he saw the look in Draig’s eyes.

  “That is very kind, and I will take you up on that offer,” Draig said as he stretched out his tail and tickled James with the tip of it to get his attention.

  “Puff, no tickles,” James laughed.

  “I need you to listen to me for a moment,” Draig said in a fatherly voice. “Sapphire and I have to go, but we would like you to stay here with your new family if you are okay with it?”

  “You come back?” James asked.

  “Yes, we’ll come see you in a few weeks. When the war is over and it is safe, we’ll bring you back to the coast so you can see your friends if Raven is comfortable with it,” Draig promised.

  “Okay, I stay here and play,” James said as he looked over at Sean.

  “Yes, you can play here. If you start to feel sad, just remember that I love you, and I will return,” Draig said as he quickly turned his head so that no one would see his eyes watering.

  “Okay,” James replied as he ran his hand over the tip of Draig’s tail. Sapphire could tell that Draig was having a hard time with the departure, so she stepped in so that he could leave.

  “Be a good boy while we’re gone,” Sapphire said as she kissed James on the forehead and then backed up so she could unfold her wings.

  “Bye-bye,” James replied, then he waved as Sapphire and Draig flew away.

  “If you want go to play with Sean, he has some toys in the barn,” Mary proposed so that James wouldn’t feel sad.

  “Okay,” James replied.