Wingbound by Heather Trim

Author:Heather Trim
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: coming of age, dragon, love triangle, quest, teen, world travel, survival, wings, angel
Publisher: TrimVentures
Published: 2018-03-23T00:00:00+00:00

MENACING GRAY CLOUD

21

Day 84

The beast doesn’t growl at me any more when I descend the dark stairwell into the cave, torch in hand. I take a moment to relight some of the extinguished torches around the enclosure before I approach with her meal. Five weeks ago, Hollis gave me directions to prepare the mush in the kitchen and haul it down to the dragon. But I found a better way of mixing it once I’ve reached the dragon’s cage. I keep a supply of grain in the storeroom and bring hot water with me when I descend the stairs. It is more efficient and less suspicious. Hauling water is a lot less strange than hauling a meal large enough to feed an army. At least I could say I am on my way to clean something, or fill something with water, like the fountain or some other rain trough. I am a terrible liar, so I need to be prepared with a logical response to any questions.

I follow my usual routine, pouring steaming water from the large pitcher into the basin outside the cage door. Tristeh starts her usual food dance. She prances on her toes and breathes heavily. I worry she isn’t getting enough food each day because of how excited she is for feeding time. The click of her talons echo across the stone floor as I step into the storeroom and bring out the first scoop of grain. Two, three and four scoops. I stand over the sack that is now emptied of grain. I’ll have to go scour the upper floors of the castle again for more.

I use an expired torch handle to stir the last of the mush together. The mixture cools as I stir and by the time it is ready, it has stopped steaming. I test a bite and Tristeh whines, blowing a puff of warm breath in my face for eating her food.

A couple of weeks ago I found a feeding door. It opens the bottom two feet of the gate, flapping up enough for me to slide the basin in without having to enter the cage and risk my life. I tied a rope around the handle of the basin so that I can pull it back when she is done.

Tristeh does one last prance on her toes and she sticks her nose into the mush. She eats much like a mutt. I laugh at her smart way of tipping the basin so she gets every last drop. I watch her eat the entire thing and lick it clean.

She usually curls her giant scaly body around the metal dish in a big hug, but this time her nose flares and her ears perk up.

I scowl. “What is it?”

Everything is quiet until she whines.

“Hide,” I whisper.

She obeys and ducks into the dark far corner of the cave. She whines again louder than before and I shush her before ducking into the storeroom. Watching the stairs, I wait for someone to emerge.

Nothing.

Her talons tap, tap, tap nervously in the shadows.

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