He didn’t give her a chance to respond as he turned around and snaked his way through the passage leading deeper into the cave. Olivia simply stood there, frozen in place. When he spoke like that, the fear rose in her again and she couldn’t bring herself to disobey him.
Kaden returned a few moments later carrying a new chair, different from the one he had produced during the night, along with a mattress and a blanket.
“Where do you find these things?” Olivia said.
“In the back.” The dragon set the mattress and the blanket down, facing the exiting passage. The chair he smashed, and again gathered the splinters into a pile of wood.
“There... You should be nice and cozy now.” He maneuvered himself slightly to the side and brought his wings around the chair as best as he could in the cramped space, protecting Olivia from his fiery breath as he set the wood ablaze.
Olivia gaped and the dragon smirked, amused by her speechlessness.
“Nice to know you can stay your words.” Kaden snorted smoke from his nostrils but managed to stop himself from accidentally spouting fire this time.
After she limped over to the mattress Olivia said, “You just confuse me.” She lowered herself down, careful of her wounds, but thankful for the soft cushioning she sank into. She pulled the blanket around her, for emotional comfort as much as for warmth.
Perplexed, he ignored her comment. “I should be back shortly.” It had been a long time since he had had to socialize with someone. As he recalled, he used to be quite the charmer. He would have to remember how to act that way with her.
“Oh, may I make one request?” Olivia said as she looked up at the dragon, eyes pleading.
“Somehow, I knew not to expect anything less from you.” Kaden smiled inwardly. “So, what is it, Little One?” His voice returned to that warm, caring rumble.
“Please do not bring back anything alive… or twitching… or barely dead. I just would not be able to eat it afterwards.” Olivia scrunched up her nose in distaste.
Kaden would have laughed if he could have remembered how. “How did you survive in the woods alone? No, never mind now, we’ll talk when I return. So, nothing alive and twitching. I think I can manage that. But it might take me a bit longer. You wait here and stay out of trouble. You are not to go to the back cave, understand?” he said in a no-nonsense tone.
“Yes, sir… dragon... Kaden,” Olivia responded, her gaze dropping to her hands where they lay in her lap. She had disobeyed her father and it hadn’t really turned out well, and Kaden was a dragon. She knew when to speak her mind and when to bite her tongue… most of the time.
As Kaden padded out of the cave, Olivia raised her head and watched him leave. She sighed in relief. He was just so overwhelming in stature and presence. But with him gone, she also felt a lot less safe, and lonely. The cave seemed so much bigger without him. The stone walls were drab, grey and boring, and the floor beneath her feet was a mix of rocks and dirt, just as dull as the rest of the cave. What was she to do? Just sitting and waiting for Kaden’s return would give her too much time to think, and the thoughts that were uppermost in her mind - when she didn’t actively squash them – centered around the actions that had led her to the dragon’s lair. Olivia just wasn’t ready for that. The wound in her heart was still raw and aching while the rising guilt would suck the air out from her lungs, so she pushed it further away, until she was ready to face the consequences of her actions.
Olivia sighed. She stood up, stretching her legs carefully and walked to the cauldron the dragon had brought in the night before so she could drag it out into the rain that was still falling fiercely. Outside the cave, the rising sun hid behind the angry, grey clouds. A fog of lifting clouds obscured the trees and the surrounding foliage, allowing only enough visibility for Olivia to see the few trees looming over the entrance to the cave.
She set the pot down in the downpour, hoping it would fill with rainwater. As she waited, she cupped her hands and held them out to catch some raindrops, using the fresh water to wash her face and moisten her lips. When she realized her dress was getting wet, Olivia drew the cloak tighter around her, but not before having a good look at the dress. Even if it was simple, it was quite fine, a beautiful shade of blue that matched her eyes. All she needed was a girdle to look proper. But who cared about proper out here? The cloak, on the other hand, was made of soft green wool and was finely crafted in a way that spoke of obvious wealth. She had a few of her own back home.
She shook the thoughts of home away yet again.
She was disappointed at how long it was taking for the pot to fill with rainwater; she barely had enough for a cup or two. She wondered where Kaden had gathered the water earlier in the night, as he surely hadn’t gotten it from the rain dripping in. It would have taken too much time. She carried the small measure of rainwater back inside and placed the pot next to the flames.
While she was waiting for the water to heat up, she folded the blanket at the foot of the mattress as if making her bed. Once done, she searched for something to do. She had never been any good at just sitting around. Unfortunately, there was absolutely nothing she could distract herself with inside the cave.
Hmmm… I could run away now that the dragon is gone. But where would I go? Home is not an option. Olivia didn’t want to think about home, but her thoughts kept drifting back there. She especially didn’t want to revisit the disappointment clouding her father’s eyes; she never imagined that it was his worry about her that kept him up these past few nights instead.
Sitting down on the mattress, she sighed and huddled up with her arms around her knees. They probably wouldn’t want me back anyway. She was probably too much of an embarrassment now.
“So senseless!”
She chewed on her bottom lip. She couldn’t stay in this cave forever, it was so…. So… A Cave! No soft beds, warm baths, hot meals. Not to mention living with a dragon. Olivia snorted at the thought and shook her head. What kind of a life would that be?
She sighed. Certainly not the kind she had. She missed her parents though, her mother’s warm gaze, father’s mischief. Running away was a mistake. Sure, it had been thrilling when she first set off, the anger fueling her determination, and… but oh the excitement. Finally she had done something she wanted, not something that was expected of her, she had felt free, now though, she felt miserable and lonely.
She looked around the cave again as it perfectly mirrored her mood, her feelings, growing even more hopeless knowing that for now she was stuck there until she figured out what to do next. At least she was safe with Kaden, or so she hoped. He hadn’t eaten her so far, and it seemed less and less likely that he would.
Determined to keep herself occupied, she considered her options for entertainment. Going out in the rain was out of the question. The downpour was too merciless and the last thing she needed was to catch lung fever. And she didn’t want to make Kaden angry.
She spotted the back passageway and remembered Kaden’s warning, but the only thing she could do was find out what he was hiding at the other end of it.
Argh! Olivia pushed herself back up onto her feet. She was both curious and bored, wanting to keep her mind occupied as well. How would he know I went there? I will only take a peek.
“And besides, he would probably mind me snooping around less than getting drenched in the rain.”
With that as her reasonable explanation, Olivia stuck her chin out as if daring the invisible forces to prove her wrong as she set on making an improvised torch from the leftover discarded fabric and one of the chair legs.
Determined, she marched towards her destination. Adrenalin surged through her veins and her heart beat faster, warming her up and dulling her hunger.
She found it exciting to do something forbidden, just like when she had run away. Olivia had never done something like that before and it had been thrilling. But it hadn’t turned out too well for her. The thought slowed her march as she doubted her decision. Well, depending
on the point of view actually, Olivia reasoned with herself and continued on her stubborn mission.
With one last glance over her shoulder to make sure Kaden wouldn’t suddenly appear and catch her sneaking about, she stepped through to the back cave.
Chapter 4
Tall trees looming over the cave’s mouth prevented Kaden from taking flight near it. He simply could not spread his wings in the dense forest. And he never had the need to clear the trees, liking his leisurely walk. His scales scraped against the bark, chipping bits off, leaving a breadcrumb-like trail behind him as he strode toward the clearing where he usually took off. The soft earth sank under his weight, creating dragon-foot-shaped puddles that quickly filled with rainwater in his wake.
He didn’t like flying in the rain. He preferred the bright sun and clear skies to the gloom of the rain. But he would just have to endure it now. At least he had some company waiting for him to come back.
Once he entered the clearing, a green pasture cradled in the arms of the forest, Kaden lifted his head and looked up at the dreary clouds as raindrops splashed against his craggy features. The wetness of the rain never bothered him, for he could barely feel the tiny impacts of its drops. The weather mirrored his mood, the hopelessness and loneliness of his heart. This time, though, he looked forward to the sunshine that would disperse the dark mantle clouding his mind.
Olivia…
The dragon sighed. What he desired could never come to pass, he knew that, but he would enjoy the companionship while he could. It has been too long.
He spread his silky smooth wings and beat them downward hard.
Once.
The air strained against the webbed membrane.
Twice.
His wings drew taut under the pressure of the draft and he rose up on his hind legs.
Three times, and his feet lifted off the ground.
The raindrops scattered and merged in a frantic dance around him. The low hum of wings slicing through the air was the sweetest melody to his ears. He loved flying, and the freedom that came with it. If only the sun wasn’t hidden behind the clouds so he could soak up its warm rays. The dragon would have to wait for the weather to clear up for that; maybe he could even show off to Olivia, seduce her with his aerial performance. He quickly shook the thought out of his mind. Don’t forget yourself; you’re a dragon now.
When Kaden reached the desired height, he stopped working so hard, only beating his wings languidly to keep himself afloat, generating intermittent gusts of wind that kept the rain at bay. He craned his graceful neck and perused the undulating sea of green below. His tongue darted out now and then, licking the dancing droplets right out of the air.
He scanned the surrounding woods for any sign of food. A doe darted through the bushes seeking shelter from the rain while a pair of squirrels circled up a tree and into a den in the hollow of the trunk, branches swaying in the wind.
Plenty of food moved through the forest, all alive and twitching as Olivia would say. But he couldn’t skin, clean and prepare it for her and he knew she wouldn’t be up to the task either. So he took to flying wider circles in search of a more convenient food source.
The dragon sniffed the air, but even with his heightened senses the rain thwarted his attempts to pick up a scent.
After circling about for some time, he headed in the direction where the rain fell more gently and beyond that, where it had never fallen, where the sun’s rays kept the dark clouds at bay.
As he soared through the air, beating his wings fast and hard, he reached a region where there was no more rain and the air grew warmer. The darkness above him gave way to the bluest of skies, and a pair of eyes just as blue but dulled with sadness gazed out at him from the depths of his thoughts. Determination surged through him and he resolved to make those eyes sparkle with the brightness of the summer sun. Maybe she would stay longer then.
Beneath him, farmlands and homesteads rushed past. His senses were on overdrive, as he was overwhelmed by the desire to find food fast so he could go back to Olivia as soon as possible.
He worried about leaving her alone for this long. What if those wolves returned? He somehow doubted that would happen – he had given the wild canines a taste of his fury and he knew they didn’t want a second course – but something worse might come by, and without him there to protect her—
The scent of roasted meat tickled his flaring nostrils. His mouth watered and he sniffed the air again, trying to pinpoint its source.
His eyes narrowed while his pupils dilated. He sighed. This will be a mess. The dragon’s gaze was transfixed on his prey in the distance below: a pig with two chickens on each side of the same spit, roasting over an open fire. The problem, however, were the people surrounding it, dancing, laughing, mingling. A celebration of sorts was in progress, and when he got closer he figured out what kind.
It was a wedding. Just his luck to have to intrude.
He had to collect his meal as painlessly as possible, without too much mess or too many casualties.
There goes my reputation... or my bad reputation. I shouldn’t care anymore. I should be proud. Me. The big, bad, evil dragon. Kaden cheered himself on, only to slow down as his shoulders slumped under the weight of the sarcasm in his words. He was going to have to forge on, though, if he wanted to fulfill his promise to Olivia. The need to keep her around longer, to talk, to sit quietly… just to be with him, to fill that loneliness even for a short while, fed his resolve.
The dragon narrowed his eyes and flicked his tongue over his protruding fangs. He sped up, then tucked his wings closer to his body as he speared the air at an even more incredible speed. The wind whooshed past him in a deafening song.
As he neared his target, Kaden roared to frighten the people away. When his shadow slid across the ground beneath their feet and his mighty growl reverberated from above, dozens of wide eyes snapped up in disbelief. A blur of movement erupted as the throng of people shrieked and ran for safety, trampling each other in their haste. They had no idea he intended them no harm. He had always tried to avoid hurting people. But it wasn’t as if he could’ve just flown over, landed among them and asked them politely for their roast. That strategy hadn’t worked before when he had been crazy enough to try it. This was the only way he could keep the confrontation and injuries to a minimum.
When he got low enough, Kaden spread his wings and beat them backwards, slowing his progress. He inhaled deeply. He needed to take careful aim when spouting the fire from his mouth; he only meant to scare the people away from his path towards the roast.
A few arrows and stones flew close to his head. He switched his attention towards his assailants, roared and spouted fire in their direction, but not hard enough to reach them.
They took off running.
Kaden descended and swooped in toward the pole with the still-roasting meat. His front claws wrapped around the iron rod as he snatched his prize. With a firm grip on it, he beat his wings hard again, dust and ashes rising as he flew higher and higher. The outcries of panic and disbelief faded as the distance between the dragon and the human crowd stretched on.
He took one last look at the gathering.
People were creeping out of their hiding places, hugging each other or searching for their loved ones. He hated upsetting them like that, but he didn’t know of any other way he could have done it. Some were pointing up in his direction but Kaden’s attention was drawn to an unmoving boy who gazed up at his retreating form. The boy’s eyes widened and then determination poured over his features. The young lad jumped on his horse, dug his heels into the animal’s flanks and urged it in the direction of a nearby town.
A feeling of foreboding welled up inside Kaden, like a myriad tiny needle pricks running down his spine.
The dragon faced forward again and focused his thoughts on returning home.
The mountain which he claimed his own, even though no one knew of his claim, grew bigger as he approached it, and the rain pelted on him o
nce more while he squinted to spot the cave, wondering whether Olivia was still there.
A familiar tug in his mind, the unwanted intruder on his life, urged him to look below. He noticed a trading caravan crawling along on the wide path that wound through the sparse part of the forest.
A groan rumbled up from his throat. Not now! Fury surged through him and he gripped the pole even tighter, almost snapping it apart.
His heart pumped faster, raging against his ribcage as a plume of smoke, of pure fury, puffed out of his nostrils. With his eyes narrowed, brows pulled down in a scowl, Kaden clamped his jaws tight, suppressing a mighty roar as he fought the inevitable. He couldn’t resist it; the urge to take what was not his was overwhelming.
Might as well get it done and over with.
With a heavy heart, Kaden swooped down once more, quiet as the wind, drawing no attention from the folk below. No one was in his way. Before the caravan leaders had any idea what was happening, he grabbed the first thing he could snatch with his hind claws and swiftly flew away.
The merchants stumbled at the sudden outburst of wind. Once they regained their senses they stared at the dragon’s retreating form in bewilderment and probably thanked God for their good luck in surviving what they would describe to anyone who might listen as a mighty dragon attack.
Chapter 5
In a small town called Atrav, a boy dressed in his Sunday best galloped on his horse towards the inn called The Woodman’s Nymph. His chest heaved with labored breaths and his dark brown hair, wet with sweat, was plastered against his forehead. But it was his brown eyes, open wide and filled with fear and panic, that dominated his features. He had just seen a dragon and lived to tell the tale. The cruel beast had ruined his sister’s wedding feast!
Dragon's Treasure (Dragons Awaken Book 1) Page 3