Home is a Treasure Beyond Price

Chapter 3

He woke to the sound of running water, and his body aching and throbbing in time with his heartbeat. Given the choices he tended to make, waking up in that condition wasn't all that unusual. The gnawing ache of hunger was also distressingly familiar.
What was unusual was the bed he woke up in. It was far more comfortable than what he was used to, and the wool blanket that covered him wasn't threadbare and itchy. The bedding held a faint trace of an earthy, comforting scent—like pine logs burning in a fireplace. He stroked the blanket, enjoying its soft warmth as he blinked himself fully awake. From the angle of light, he estimated it was late afternoon.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, something clamored for attention. After some thought, he realized what it was. Dragon. He sat up as fast as his aching body allowed. The interior of the cave spun like a wobbly top and black spots buzzed before his eyes. Food. He needed food.
<Recovered from your faint, I see.> There was a rustle as the dragon turned a page with the tip of her tail.
"I did not—" Nick clamped his mouth shut. Was he really going to argue with a dragon? The dragon swiveled her head to look at Nick.
<You most assuredly did,> she said with relish.
Was the dragon teasing him? Like a cat toying with a mouse? Fists clenched and teeth gritted, he made himself stand up and walk over to the dragon.
"Are you hungry yet?"
The dragon's ocean eyes gleamed. <Why do you ask?>
"We had a bargain."
<We did?> the dragon asked, with every appearance of innocence.
"Yes. You eat me, you leave this place."
<Oh, that bargain. I don't recall agreeing to it.>
"Would you agree to it now?" Nick snapped. He wanted it to be over. He wanted the dragon to agree, and then he wanted the dragon to knock him unconscious before his courage could fail him.
The dragon tilted her head and studied Nick.
<Is there any reason why you're in such a hurry to get eaten?>
There was a sincere curiosity in the dragon's question that pulled an answering honesty from Nick.
"I want to protect my city," he said. "And this is the only way I can."
<By letting me eat you?>
"If that's what it takes."
The dragon studied him for a long moment, then her voice turned sly.
<We could make a different bargain.>
He eyed the dragon. "What kind of bargain?"
<Hands are useful things.> The dragon held up her right foreleg and flexed glossy black claws that were at least two inches long and looked razor sharp. <Good for rending and tearing, not so good for picking strawberries. You stay here and be my hands and I'll leave the city, and everyone in it, alone.> Her tail swished back and forth as she spoke, making a soft scraping sound that was oddly soothing.
"And the livestock."
<And the livestock.>
The dragon's easy capitulation made Nick even more suspicious.
"What do I need to do?"
<Hand things. You know...> The long, scaly tail flicked idly back and forth.
<Fetching and carrying, writing letters, brushing blood off my teeth, things like that. Nothing dangerous, I assure you.>
Nick wasn't exactly sure brushing blood off a dragon's teeth counted as 'not dangerous'.
"Dangerous to you, or to me?"
<Dangerous to you. I won't let you come to harm.>
"I won't do anything immoral."
<Understood.> The dragon watched him, perfectly still for once.
The secret amusement in the dragon's tone set alarm bells ringing, but he couldn't see where the trap lay. It wasn't as though he had any other choice—he would do what he could to protect the city and the people who lived in it. Not getting eaten was an added benefit he couldn't ignore.
"Done," he said.
<Done.> The triumphant note in the dragon's voice sounded rather like a cage door closing.
<You may call me Cadenza,> she continued, grand and gracious as a host welcoming an honored guest.
"I'm Nick."
<Nick,> Cadenza said slowly, savoring the syllables.
A shiver ran through Nick at the intimacy of hearing that voice in his head. The shiver turned into a pronounced sway as his head spun from hunger.
Cadenza eyed him.
<You should probably eat before you faint again.>
"I did not—" Nick swallowed the rest of his words and walked away with as much dignity as he could muster. It wasn't a lot, considering how much his knees were shaking from a combination of hunger and shock. Mostly shock, if he was honest with himself.