Dragon Embers

Chapter 4

I pull my hood back and let my tail uncoil itself as I stare into his eyes. "You are not scared... Why?"

Julian smiles and takes my hand leading me into a vast library. "I've done my research, daughter of the Sybil and Dragon. I just had not expected you to be..."

"So alive and unkempt? Well I suppose that happens after your parents are killed and you are forced to live in the woods as some may call 'savage like'," I say, rolling my eyes with a sarcastic tone as I flip through some books but can't decipher their strange characters. It seems it is different from dragon writing in that they use a uniform symbol for each sound, opposed to our having a uniform symbol for each throat movement, word, or every few words.

He chuckles awkwardly and mumbled yeah as he finds a large tome with a cover that might have some significance if only I could remember where from. I stare at it as he flips through some pages and rushes towards me, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"This is the book that has the story from the human point of view. Oh! And I apologize for my rudeness." He bowed deeply as he said, "I am Prince Julian of Leion , heir to the Leion throne. My absolute pleasure, my fair princess." He takes my hand gently and plants a kiss on it, which makes me blush slightly, snatching my hand back and curtsying a bit like my mother taught me.

I stare at the book, trying my hardest to remember where it was from. "I think I know that book from somewhere..." I take the book and look at the cover them flip to the back to find some ripped out pages. "What happened here?"

"That was some text by your mother my father had ripped out. I never got to read it..." he looked forlornly at the preceding pages with a sigh before looking up and glancing around. He grabbed a small book that looked more out of shape than the rest, handing it to me. "This is also one of her diaries. She gave it to me before she died. I guess she knew this would happen." I opened it and frown. It is in Human text. "I can not read it."

He nodded and moved beside me, pointing to a passage so I knew where he was reading from. As he read aloud, I thought and thought over and over of where I had seen the other cover but eventually give up. "And that's where it ends."

I mentally chastise myself for not paying attention and look over the text. "Is it alright if I... Take it?" I am slightly afraid he will get angry at me for asking such a question but he smiles at me.

"Of course. It was your mother's, you deserve it." He hands my the journal and I hold it close. "It is getting late. You should return home. I hope to meet you soon."

"Goodbye... Prince Julian."

"Farewell..."

I go to leave and turn just before the exit. As I pull on my hood and curl my tail back up and smile and say "my name is Terra, by the way." Then I leave and head back to the woods, hiding the cloak in its usual spot and smiling giddily to myself. I jump up and down in excitement and sprint back home.

Deuis sees me in such a wonderful mood and sniffs me. 'What is it that has you in such a good mood?'

I smile widely at him and kiss his nose. "It's okay! Everything is wonderful! I found out the boy I met is the prince but he likes dragons AND he gave me mother's journal and everything is wonderful!"

He gives me a slightly confused look but nuzzles me with a smile. 'It sounds like you had a good day.' I nod and go over to my corner.

"Where is Godith?" I look around and realize she was not there.

"Bahtin." 'Bathing.' He looks towards the entrance and hears her coming.

Did I mention it's fairly difficult to get into our cave. The mouth faces downward and is protected by strong magic so in order to get in, you need to fly up high, barrel down until you reach the ground which you use to push yourself back up and through the barrier. And to officially get through the barrier you need dragon blood in you. Doesn't matter if it is flowing or you are holding it in your mouth, you need dragon blood in you. And then there is the slope after you get in. If you try turning down too quickly, you hit that and fall back down or if you don't turn down quickly enough, you hit the roof and fall.

Godith flies up in the entrance, curving herself to get safely on the ground, and lands softly. 'And she is back!' She nuzzles me and I tell her what happened.

We talk over afternoon meal and then eventually fall asleep together. I dream of today's events with a smile as my eyes flutter closed and my dreams swarm my mind.