Dragon Companion by Don Callander

Author:Don Callander
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fiction, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction, Librarians, Dragons, Romance, Fantasy, General, Time Travel
ISBN: 9781594261909
Publisher: Mundania Press
Published: 2006-01-01T11:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16 - Discussion, Decision, and Departure.

THEY bade a loving and rather tearful farewell to Furbetrance, who said he was needed at home.

"I've completed my mission," he said. "Here is brother Retruance, safe and sound... "

"My tail will long be painful from your hauling," moaned the older Dragon with a comical grimace.

"... and I promised fair Hetabelle I'd be home before Flight Time."

"Flight Time?" wondered Tom.

"It's the traditional time for teaching Dragon hatchlings to fly," explained Retruance. "Early summer is the best Flight Time. It's something every kitten remembers fondly, ever long after. A most happy time for a Dragon family."

"Kitten?" asked Manda with a laugh.

"Well, you wouldn't expect us to call them 'calves' or 'puppies,' would you?" protested the proud father.

"No, no! Kitten is just perfect," Manda replied, struggling to contain her bubbling laughter. "Why not, say, Dragonette, though?"

"A Dragonette is a half-grown Dragon. Sort of equivalent to a teenager," Retruance told her.

"Give our love to the beautiful Hetabelle, brother! Persuade her to visit Overhall in the fall, when the kits can make the trip."

"My good mate is rather shy but I think I can convince her she should visit the East, if only for the children's sake.

Once she arrives, she'll love it, I know."

He lifted his black, leathery wings, called good-bye once more, and hurled himself into the clear sky over Broken Land, angling into the updrafts breasting the Snow Mountains.

The rest of the party, perched on Retruance, left shortly thereafter, heading east.

"We could make it all the way to Overhall easily," the older Dragon told them, "but we should stop and tell the good people at the sheep station that I am found again."

"They were most helpful," agreed the princess. "I wonder if we should also stop by Old Place and reassure Lady Murtal. She has few visitors, I know, being far from other castles or towns."

"Easy enough to do. It's almost on our way," Retruance said, catching himself about to nod his head. "We'll stop there for lunch and go south to Ramhold for the night."

They soared. The Dragon's passengers enjoyed the wide view while Clem pointed out landmarks, recalling stories of ancient and not-so-ancient exploits that had taken place here or there.

Old Place appeared below in less than two hours and their welcome was warm and cordial.

"My Lady Princess!" cried Murtal when she rushed to meet them at her gate. "I'm so glad to see you safe and sound! My son has written me everything that happened and how you rescued my granddaughter and her children from that rogue, your uncle Peter's henchman."

Lady Murtal was a plump, jolly grandmother who embraced the entire world, willingly and happily, seldom speaking anything but good of anyone—except Peter of Gantrell, it seemed.

She swept them immediately to her private sitting room and called for cool drinks and hot tea, with lunch to follow in an hour. Retruance excused himself to go off and speak to the sergeant of Murtal's small guard.

Lady Rosemary's escort, the sergeant told him, had been provided by a local piecework mercenary named Trout.

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