Brambleby snorted out a hot gust of air. It fluttered my hair where it hung over my neck. “What’s got you so grumpy today?” I mused as I strode toward Mayor Tommins’ office where the dungeon was housed.
He tucked his head into the sling and curled up, ignoring me.
“Rude.”
The walk passed quickly. Faster than I would have liked.
My light cloak fluttered in a mild breeze and a pair of chattering squirrels darted across my path. The warming temperatures softened the ground, ripened the scents of dirt and leaves and lifted them into the air.
I inhaled deeply. There was nothing better than the smell of approaching warmth.
Even though it never truly felt hot in Moonvale—if a folk wanted heat, they had to travel to another town. Like Sunhaven, or even Tidegrove.
I didn’t stray much—in fact I had never strayed further than Sunhaven in my entire thirty-three years. I didn’t care for mountains, and the snow didn’t appeal to me much either, aside from the small amount we occasionally got here.
I preferred my towns cozy and crisp.
Moonvale was my home. It was that simple. It was where I was born, and it was where I planned to remain.
The door to Tommins' office was unlocked—he was probably somewhere inside, or home at his cottage, but I didn’t care to look.
I slipped downstairs.
I could sense the god before I could see him. My spine straightened, and I hoisted Brambleby’s sling higher on my shoulder. The dragon popped his head out as I descended into darkness, but he didn’t growl, which was a good sign.
The beast could be protective if he wanted to.
“Ginger.” His voice was a silky caress, surprisingly pleasant. My face warmed just hearing it.
“Erebus.”
“Shade, please. Just call me Shade.”
“But that’s not your name.” I tilted my head, confused. “Would you rather be called by a title of some sort? How aboutYour Majesty? Your Highness? Oh Great and Powerful Dark One?”
He shuddered. “No titles. Not by you. Never by you.”
My cheek twitched. “I’ve come with an offer.”
“I figured as much.” He walked up to the bars, but kept his hands folded behind his back, clearly trying not to intimidateme. His shadows swirled around his feet, but they didn’t approach.
A part of me wished they would.
“We can’t keep you here, if you don’t wish to be kept,” I started.
He nodded, just once. “That is true.”
“But you stayed.”
“You wanted me to,” he said simply.
“That’s all it takes?”
He nodded again.
“Why me?” I asked, curious. Brambleby wriggled in his sling, and I lowered it to the ground. He could explore if he wished—he could defend himself.
And for some reason, I knew Shade and his shadows wouldn’t harm him.
