Chapter 14 #2
“There. You see?” Basil cried. “It heard you. I’m surprised it let you in. But I like it. It hasn’t bothered me a bit. In fact, I think I’ll befriend this house. It at least understands and appreciates me.”
Louise tapped her pen against her notepad. “Good heavens. What is Mr. Stormfyr?”
“My prince,” Basil said. “He is the mightiest of them all. A prince of the Ravaeth Court. A powerful ally and a fearsome enemy. You would be wise to bow to him.”
“Yes, but what is he?” Louise asked with an impatient huff.
Basil waved the ladle at her. “A dragon, silly woman. What do you think?”
Louise looked at the others. “A dragon? Oh dear. I think I need to sit down.” She also needed a stiff drink, but that would have to wait.
Rhaz sat in something called a lawn chair and watched as Betty and Hana set up something called a badminton net.
Anon held a racket and bounced an odd-looking white object made of plastic on it.
He was learning so many new words today he wasn’t sure he was going to remember them all.
Quill sat in the chair next to him and stretched his legs out. “Ah, I’m enjoying myself. Are you?” the wizard asked.
“I am. This is nice. I’ve never done anything like this before. Meals are always so formal in the palace.”
Quill linked his fingers over his belly. They had just finished eating and were now going to play a game. “Yes, I know what you mean,” Quill said. “It is the same in our realm.”
He glanced at Rhaz and then back toward the others. “Are you going to play?”
“Yes. I’m going to try. Aaron looks excited about it.” Aaron, who was watching Betty and Hana, had a racket in his hand and was twisting it back and forth while asking questions about the game.
“He is inquisitive,” Rhaz said to no one in particular.
Quill made a sound but said nothing.
When Rhaz looked at him, the wizard had his eyes closed and a satisfied look on his face.
Rhaz felt much the way Quill looked. Here he was in a gathering of lost supernaturals, all far from home, yet with each other they formed a family.
No wonder Anon called them such. It was true.
They ate together, played together, told each other their problems, and helped each other. That was what a family was supposed to do.
For the most part, his did, but duty overrode much of it, such as his father’s insistence that Rhaz marry Princess Beyza.
He shuddered involuntarily and left his chair to go see how the game was played. Anon was trying to explain it to Aaron, even though Betty already had. They started picking teams.
Rhaz suddenly realized that everyone present had someone.
Anon had Quill. They were friends and roommates.
The rest were mated couples. He had no one.
He chuckled to himself. That wasn’t entirely true. He did have Basil, but the little gnome wasn’t here, and besides, he didn’t think he’d be capable of playing such a game.
He sighed and thought of Phin Ironwood. Would she like to play badminton? If she were here, would she have had a good time? Enjoyed the food as much as he did?
Unfortunately, she couldn’t be here. She couldn’t see his dragon.
When he’d shifted back, Aaron had hugged him tight and thanked him for introducing his dragon.
It had been a quiet moment, and Rhaz realized that Aaron saw him. Really saw him. The thought warmed his heart.
Anon approached with a racket in his hand. “All right. We’re going to play doubles. Rhaz, would you like to try first? You can play with Aaron.”
Aaron ran over. “Yes! I want to be on Team Dragon!” He stopped just short of Rhaz, a huge grin on his face, and waved his racket around. “I have no idea how to play other than to hit the birdie to the other people over the net and they hit it back. But if you miss, that’s bad.”
Rhaz laughed. “All right. That’s simple enough.”
“Not really,” Anon drawled. “You must hit the birdie delicately or it will go flying over your opponent’s head and land in the lake.”
Rhaz held out his hand. Anon dropped what was called a birdie into it. It was made of a light, hard substance. Ah yes. Plastic. That was what it was called. “I’m never going to remember all these names,” he muttered.
“Don’t worry,” Aaron said. “You’ll get it. I’m still learning. I learn new words every day.”
“All right, let’s get this going,” Anon said.
He went to the other side of the net, Quill automatically following.
“I’ll serve. When I do and the birdie comes over the net, you must hit it back.
We go until someone misses. If your team misses, then our team gets a point. And vice versa. Understood?”
He went on to explain a few more rules, and then they began.
Anon served the birdie. It went straight toward Aaron. Aaron jumped to hit it. Much higher than he needed to. The birdie landed on the ground.
“Oh goodness,” Anon exclaimed. “Aaron, my boy, when did you start doing that?”
Aaron looked around, the game forgotten.
Everyone gathered around.
Aaron blinked.
Betty’s eyes were rounded to saucers. “You had to have jumped ten feet in the air.”
“That’s... well, I mean...” Aaron smiled at her. “I’ve never done that before. Should I try again?”
Everyone backed up a step.
Aaron grinned, crouched slightly, and jumped again. Not ten feet this time. At least fifteen.
“Oh dear,” Anon said.
Quill closed the distance between himself and Aaron. “I think you’re really coming into your power now. You’re going to have to be very careful, Aaron. No one can see you do that. Only us. Understood?”
Aaron nodded and then smiled at Rhaz. “I wish I could fly like you. Turn into a dragon. But if I can jump like this, then I can jump onto your back and we could fly.” He looked away, blushing. “If it’s all right with you.”
Rhaz smiled, patted him on the back, and gave him a side hug. “Aaron, I cannot think of anyone else I’d rather give a ride to. When would you like to take one?”
Aaron grinned. “Would tonight be too soon?”