Liza followed him. “How do you know which direction to walk? Have you been here before?”
“No, I’ve never landed this far out. Only near the cave. I can smell the water.”
“Interesting. Nan couldn’t seem to smell me. She kept spouting taunts to lure me out. Pure arrogance! She thought I’d fold like a pack of cards.”
“I keep trying to think why Nan wanted to marry me, apart from the land. That couldn’t be the sole reason. Why were my parents determined the marriage go ahead? None of my answers make the slightest bit of sense to me.”
“Something was afoot. Martinos thought there was, but he didn’t know either. Your brothers and Nan had trapped him into something he couldn’t control. Maybe we’ll find more answers,” Liza said.
“I hope so. The why is going to drive me crazy until I learn more.”
“Lots of random puzzle pieces that don’t fit. Can you remember arguments or something else in the castle while you were growing up?”
“I was a child. My parents talked about Uncle Joharan, something about having a child with a common dragon, but I don’t know any details. Not long before robbers attacked and killed my grandparents and my uncle, there was a falling out between them and my parents. You know, I’d forgotten that until now. My grandparents came to collect me, and my grandmother took me for ice cream while my grandfather and parents discussed something important.”
“Who would know about this? Is there anyone we could question?”
Leo thought, trying to recall what had happened. “Telus has been around for ages. He’s always part of any decision my parents make.” He forced his mind back and shook his head. “I was a youngster. All I remember is trying to decide what flavor of ice cream I’d choose once my grandmother and I reached the shop.”
“Telus flew to your cottage to deliver the summons. Is that normal?”
“No,” Leo said. “I thought it odd, but there was so much going on. My parents’ demands. Meeting you. Finding Jenny.”
“The fact that Nan was wearing wolf fur means she or someone known to her trespassed on your land.”
“Which means she and whomever else is part of this scheme have been watching me for some time.”
“You never sensed them?”
“No.”
“It might be unrelated.”
Leo led her into a small clearing where the stream had widened to form a pool. “If it flies like a dragon and blows fire like a dragon, then it must be a dragon.”
Liza flashed him a quick grin that made his heart race and longing creep through him. He didn’t want her to leave, even though he understood her child must come first.
“Is the water safe for swimming?”
“Yes, but it’ll be cold,” Leo said.
“Not a problem. I have you to warm me up.” She sat on a fallen log to remove her boots.
“Tell me about your daughter. Is she like you?”
Liza beamed. “She’s six-years-old, and everyone says she looks like me. Her hair is long and straight and the same brown as mine. She loves school, and her favorite thing is painting. I can’t draw a picture to save myself, but Joanna gets her artistic talent from her father. She enjoys reading and likes outdoor activities too. You and Joanna would like each other.”
“You want us to meet?”
“Our marriage might not be legal, but I went into this with a rational mind. I could’ve said no. I didn’t.”
“So you’re not leaving me?” Leo asked, and he felt his dragon stir, the rush of awareness he experienced when his other half took an interest in his human activities.
“I don’t want to leave you. I’m not sure what we’ll do, but my priority is getting to Joanna and making certain of her wellbeing.” She stood and shimmied out of her remaining clothes. She’d discarded her tunic since it had holes in it after putting out the fire, but she still wore her underwear and her trews.“Are you swimming too?”
“Yes.”
She’d saved his clothes and tucked them away under a tree, so between them, they had enough clothes to wear.
