Page 56 of Dragonbound

‘Who are you?’

I am Skald Drekki. You may name me Skaldi. The answer appeared to him, followed by an image of a dragon. The great gold-scaled beast Erann thought he’d seen before.

‘I mean, how are you? Um, where are you from? How did you find me? How can you be here?’

A wave of amusement from his friend reached him. Just one question at a time, please.

‘Sorry.’ Erann grinned and asked an entirely different question. ‘In that case, how are you stopping the pain?’

The pain is still there. You can’t feel it at the moment, because I’ve dampened it. Mostly. I don’t want to dampen it completely. I want you to know the pain’s there, so you don’t forget and do something that interrupts the healing which has already begun. Emma warned me.

The mention of Emma distracted Erann from the other questions he was contemplating asking.

‘Where did she come from? How did she get here?’

Again, he was flooded with a sense of amusement.

She’s from my home. She came here on my back. I think you saw it as you slept. It was a curious experience for both of us, I assure you. She’ll help you heal. She has food for you.

Again, the answer distracted Erann from the next question he intended to ask. Where was their home? He couldn’t keep his focus. Irritated, he concentrated.

‘Sereh, she can’t see you?’

No, none of your kind can.

‘Except me – I can.’

Yes, it’s most unusual.

‘So can Emma.’

She’s an individual case.

‘What does that mean? And why can I see you?’

I’m unsure. All I know is, we have a connection. I’ve known this since we first met at the steading. Erann was about to ask another question, but Skaldi’s words once more sent his thoughts skittering.

‘What steading?’

The one with the wolves. They were like your friend here. Erann turned to look at Arrow, who’d curled up by the fire. I burnt it. I made sure you didn’t burn.

Erann felt himself reel. His mind spun with the implications.

‘You… burnt the steading?’

The wolves were eating the dead of your kind. They would have eaten you. It seemed… wrong.

Erann felt himself trembling at the memory. That day. The night. It had sent him onto Vatna Jokull for the first time. It had almost led to his death, despite the dragon’s intentions.

I followed you the next day. You fell asleep outside. It was snowing and cold. That seemed… wrong as well. I kept you warm all night. I shielded you with my wings. Then the wolf and your friend came, and I left.

Erann could picture exactly where he was, follow the path he took, but this time from Skaldi’s eyes.

I stayed with you. You seemed so upset and confused. The third steading you went to, was it important to you? The one where the girl met you. A group of men came, but you had already left. I scared them off when they tried to burn it. What they wanted to do seemed… wrong. I followed you again. I wanted to make sure you were safe. You saw me. But you looked away. I left then – I wasn’t sure what to do. None of your kind should be able to see my kind. Not there. Not until you. I needed time to understand. But then the avalanche came. I… I’m sorry. I should have protected you.

Erann sat back; his mind was reeling. None of this made sense. It didn’t feel real. Suddenly, all the strange things that had been happening seemed to fall into place. And yet, so many questions remained. He didn’t even know where to start. The voice in his head spoke again, soft and insistent.

Erann, please. You must rest. You must heal. Please sleep. There will be time for questions and answers later when you’re well and away from this dangerous place.