by Lari Don
“We could,” said Helen, “but I’d like to stop lying to my family, and I think showing is probably easier than telling with fabled beasts, don’t you?”
Yann laughed. “But isn’t that a bit … risky?”
“We’ve been taking risks all weekend. Let’s take one more.”
So they all clambered onto the dragon, Sylvie growling unhappily even in her human form, but everyone else murmuring in surprised excitement.
As they flew, Helen could hear Rona and Tangaroa in front of her, chatting about swimming to St Kilda together on a hunting trip.
Then Lee leant forward and whispered in Helen’s ear, “Now that Yann is healed…”
“He isn’t healed,” Helen interrupted, “he’s just collected lots of new injuries.”
“But those injuries aren’t magical, so we don’t have to hunt for more scabbards or footprints. Now that our quests are over, will you consider playing for my people?”
Helen shivered. “I’m not ready.”
“Yes, you are. You’re the greatest fiddler I’ve ever heard.”
“But I haven’t learnt everything I can. I want to go to music school, to study with the best teachers, to learn everything this world can teach me.”
Lee sighed. “How long will that take?”
“Ten years. Maybe more. By then I hope I’ll be able to prove that music is so valued in this world that I don’t need to come to your world for my music to be worthwhile.”
“Do you really hope that, Helen?”
Helen smiled into the dark. “Neither of us needs truth to open a door right now, so you’ll have to wait to find out.”
The dragon landed in her usual spot and everyone peered through the trees at the bright windows of Helen’s house.
Sylvie snapped, “This is stupid.”
“No, it’s not,” said Rona, as they all slid down the dragon. “I’ve met her parents plenty of times in my human form and they’re very nice.”
Lavender added, “And her little sister is really sweet.”
“How do you know?” Helen asked.
Lavender giggled. “I chat to Nicola sometimes when I’m waiting for you to get home from school. She’s just as good at keeping secrets as you are.”
“So it seems!”
Lavender smiled. “And she’s far more interested in building little rooms and making tiny hats.”
Helen led everyone down the hill, then over the wooden fence. Yann jumped, stumbling as he landed.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” he said, gasping with pain.
“Yes. It’s what we should have done months ago. My mum might be a scientist who doesn’t believe in magic and myths, but you’re all real, and she won’t deny the evidence of her own eyes.”
She led Yann to the back door and knocked.
Her mum flung the door open. “Helen! I’ve been so worried!”
“Sorry I’m late, Mum. But I need your help, because my friend is injured.”
Helen moved out of the way to let her mum see Yann, standing on the doorstep with blood on his chest, clutching his ribcage.
The light from the kitchen also lit Tangaroa’s blue skin, Lee’s polished swords, Sylvie’s suspicious face, Rona’s sealskin bag, Catesby’s orange feathers, and, landing on Helen’s hand, Lavender’s purple feathers.
And nosing between them all, Sapphire’s scaly snout.
Helen’s mum looked at them, then rubbed her eyes and looked again.
She stepped forward and examined Yann more closely. “An interesting combination of injuries, to go with your interesting combination of limbs.” She glanced at Helen. “This explains a lot. I was starting to doubt the birdwatching excuses. You can give me the details later, but first we need to treat these injuries.”
She spoke to Yann. “So, young man. What happened to you?”
“I fought a duel with a minotaur, and your daughter’s quick thinking saved my life. But I think I have some broken ribs, in both ribcages. Helen thought you were the best person to help.”
Helen’s mum nodded. “Let’s get you inside and see.”
Yann took a step towards the house.
“Oh no. You’ll all be welcome in the kitchen later, but this much blood needs to go into the surgery.” She pointed to her left and they all walked towards the large animal surgery, where Helen had first treated Yann.
They crowded in, though Sapphire could only get her head and neck through the door. They watched Helen’s mum clean the wounds and feel gently along Yann’s ribs.
Helen watched her two worlds fit together at last. She felt her shoulders relax and her breathing slow.
Then she heard Catesby squawk above her. She heard the phoenix say, “Hey, Yann, do you think you can count the one where the mirror cut you as a battle scar? Or is that more of a girly hairdressing injury?”
Helen started to smile. Then Sapphire roared gently beside her.
Her mum turned round. “Helen, did the dragon say something?”
Helen grinned as she translated, “Yes. She’s very impressed with how you’re treating Yann, so she wonders if you could look at her tail. Because she thinks I made a mess of it.”
Yann shook his head, as Helen’s mum strapped up his ribs. “Even if you did make a mess of it, Helen, I’m sure it’ll grow back perfectly, because everything else you’ve made a mess of this weekend has turned out fine…”
Catesby agreed. “Even asking a centaur to kick open a door with his hoof, which was pretty daft.”
Sapphire growled, “Even promising to feed our friends to my granny, which was very awkward for me.”
Helen laughed. “This should make it easier to discuss our next quest!”
She leant back against the dragon’s neck and heard her rumble, “Hello, my soft-bodied little friend. Nice to meet you properly, Helen.”
“And you, Sapphire. It’s nice to meet you too.”
Copyright
Kelpies is an imprint of Floris Books
First published in 2012 by Floris Books
© 2012 Lari Don
Lari Don has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patent Act 1988 to be identified as the Author of this Work
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without the prior permission of Floris Books, 15 Harrison Gardens, Edinburgh
www.florisbooks.co.uk
The publisher acknowledges subsidy from Creative Scotland towards the publication of this volume
British Library CIP data available
ISBN 978–086315–899–5