Chapter 23 #2
“And I’m sure glad Qirun’s parents didn’t tell him to stand down. Otherwise, we wouldn’t even have this clan or this village.”
“Qirun?” Rowan questioned.
“Yeah! My great-great-grandfather. We found another series of caves behind this one that haven’t been explored in years. It talks about this clan’s history, including Qirun, our ancestor. And you know what?” Dewey poked a finger at his parents. “He was ‘tiny’ like me. And he led a nation!”
“But Dewey, darling, it’s a different world out there now.” Imogen’s eyes fell on Devon. “Obviously.”
“Heck yes, it is. Because I’m changing it. I’m at the forefront of the game. I’m important. I matter.” Dewey landed on Paige’s shoulder, his teal cheeks now a purple shade from his outburst. “And I have a world to save. So, who’s taking us to the airport?”
“Whoa,” Connor’s voice murmured from behind them, “that was some speech.”
“Yes, it was,” Imogen said, her eyes clouding with tears. “My little baby’s all grown up.”
Dewey fluttered over to his mother and flung his arms around her thick neck. “Oh, Mom, I’m still your baby. I’m just also saving the world.”
Imogen’s features pinched as she pulled back and cupped Dewey’s face in her massive paw. “I’m so proud of you. And I’m also very, very worried, but–”
“He’s a grown dragon, Genie. We can’t protect him forever. And it sounds like we don’t have to.”
Connor drenched his sister, Freya, with a bucketful of water. “Sounds like you’re friends with a creepy vampire and a strange human.”
“Hey!” Dewey shouted, jabbing a finger at him, “Paige is strange, but she’s my strange human.”
Paige screwed up her face, ready to complain, but clamped her mouth shut.
“Also, I’m not creepy. Why does everyone think I’m creepy?” Devon asked.
“Because you’re impossibly good-looking, and also a vampire,” Dewey answered as he landed on Paige’s shoulder again.
Paige shot him a glance and shrugged. “Also, you do have a creepy castle.”
Devon wagged a finger at her. “That’s my home you’re talking about.”
“Okay, enough talk about how creepy Devon is. We really do need someone to fly us to an airport, or at least back to civilization - while there still is a civilization to get back to,” Paige said. “Anyone willing?”
Rowan stepped forward. “I will. As soon as it’s dark enough, we’ll head out.” He clamped his enormous jaw shut and laid a paw gently on Dewey’s shoulder. “Anything to help my son save the world.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“I can’t believe you’re so cool now, Dew,” Phoebe said after a shower from Connor and vigorous shake.
Dewey crossed his arms over his chest and lifted his chin. “Believe it, sis, because I am.”
The dragons worked to restore all the villagers to their normal form, while Imogen and Rowan walked the trio back to the village.
“Dewey!” Imogen shouted as she lumbered into the house and headed for the kitchen. “You made a mess in here!”
“Sorry, Mom! Saving the entire village was a messy business.”
She poked her head back into the foyer. “It’s okay. I’ll clean it up. You have important business to take care of.”
Rowan lumbered back down the stairs, with a towel in his hand. “Looks like it’s dark enough to go.”
Imogen patted him on the shoulder before she clasped her hands together in front of her, her features pinching. “Oh, Row, please be careful.”
“Always am.”
“I mean with Dewey. He’s too important for anything to happen to him. Keep him safe while he’s with you.”
She flicked her gaze to Paige. “Take care.” Her eyes slid to Devon, and she wrinkled her nose. “Thank you for your help.”
“No problem,” he said, with a wave.
“Should we go?” Dewey asked.
With nods all around, they stepped into the evening air. Dewey fluttered up onto his father’s back and waved for Paige to join him.
“Just climb up my leg.” Rowan lifted a paw in the air.
Paige climbed onto it and scurried up his leg onto his back, followed by Devon.
“Ready?” Rowan called over his shoulder.
“No,” Paige answered.
Dewey shot her an irked glance.
“Sorry, I’m just…nervous.”
“Hang on!” Rowan said, with a grin.
Paige grabbed hold of the feather-like tendrils flowing from his neck and squeezed her eyes closed. Her stomach somersaulted as air generated from his beating wings mussed her hair and flattened her shirt against her sweaty back.
They hovered in the air just above the ground for a few wingbeats before they lifted higher. Paige risked a glance, quickly closing her eyes again as the ground circled below her in a dizzying array.
“Oh,” she groaned.
“You okay, Paige?” Devon asked, rubbing a hand along her back.
Her head bobbed around, switching between a nod to a shake, then back to a nod.
“It won’t take long to get us where we need to go,” he said.
Dewey tugged his chin back and crinkled his brow. “It’s totally fine, Paige. I don’t get what your problem is.”
“Just never flew on a dragon.”
“Open your eyes. It’s kind of cool,” Dewey said.
Paige let her eyes open to slits. The wind rustled her hair as they sailed through the clouds. With a deep inhale, she widened her eyes and glanced around. A slight smile crossed her lips.
“Wow. This is so cool.”
Dewey grinned at her. “Told ya.”
The treetops sailed past underneath them as the moon rose in the distance.
“I’ll take you within walking distance of civilization. There’s a library on the edge of the town. Go there, they should be able to help. You’ll have to walk the final leg, though; I can’t fly into the city,” Rowan said, with a grin.
“That’s fine. We can handle it from there,” Paige said. “Thanks for getting us this far.”
“Yeah, Dad, we really appreciate it.”
Rowan touched down in a wooded area, settling his massive form on the ground. Dewey fluttered into the air as Paige slid down Rowan’s leg and regained her feet.
“Thanks a lot,” she said with a grin as Devon dismounted.
“You’re welcome. And good luck.” Rowan’s eyes lingered on Dewey. “Be careful, son. I’m proud of you.”
Tears filled the little dragon’s eyes as he wrapped his tiny arms around Rowan’s thick neck. “Thanks, Dad. I will be. I’ll let you know when we’ve got the ring.”
Rowan offered him a nod before he flapped his wings and rose into the air.
“Well, I guess we should head into town and try to contact Ronnie,” Devon said as the dragon disappeared from sight.
Paige heaved a sigh as Dewey settled on her shoulder. “Yep. Hopefully, she’ll have some good news.”
“Like what?” Dewey asked as they set off toward the lights shining in the distance.
“Like our pilots didn’t die and the Transylvanians don’t already have the ring,” Paige answered.
Dewey shook his head. “Ha, fat chance. The pilots are goners. We may have a chance at the ring, but this little detour to save my village could have cost us.”
“Well, aren’t you a ray of sunshine?” Paige clamped her lips together as she fumed.
“I can’t help it I’m not willing to blow smoke up your you-know-what, Paige. Our little foray into the jungle may cost us Best Library Team next year.”
Paige slowed her steps, snapping her gaze to him. “Is that all you’re concerned about? Our little foray, as you put it, could have cost us the entire world, but yeah, right, Best Library Team is the biggest concern here.”
“Okay, maybe we shouldn’t argue,” Devon said.
“Shut up, Devon,” Paige and Dewey said at the same time.
He froze, giving them an unimpressed glance before he shook his head and continued toward the town in front of them.
“I’m just–”
Dewey sliced a paw through the air. “No one wants to hear your ‘justs.’ Go ahead and find the library, and make sure we can slip inside without anyone seeing us.”
Devon rolled his eyes but trotted ahead of them. They approached the town’s edge, and Paige peered out from the trees. Across a cobblestone street, Devon waved them toward a large building.
“It’s here. Come on!”
They hurried toward the building under the cover of night and climbed the steps, finding the door locked.
“That’s great. Now what?” Paige said, flinging her hands in the air.
Devon shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “Wait ’til they open?”
“Oh, right, yes. We’ll just stand here until daylight with a dragon. Perfect idea, Devon.”
The shuffling of feet sounded behind them. Paige spun to find Caleb holding an odd-looking gun-like weapon pointed at them.
“Or I could kill you first.”