Today, I am a frenzy of activity.
I cook the berries, I chill the ice cream base, and then I set about starting another batch.
When the first base is ready, I churn it while the second one chills. Transfer it into a bowl—my first attempt at this is frustratingly messy and I scream again at how much ice cream I waste before performing my focus kata so I can do it right—take the bowl to the ice house, retrieve the next base. Dispel the focus kata when it’s time to churn again and let wrath carry me, my own power dropping fast as I burn through the dregs of it after the already eventful day.
Repeat.
Churn churn churn.
I’m a flurry of motion.
Time passes. How much time?
Is there a time limit past which I won’t be able to wake him?
I don’t know, and it scares me, and now I’ve filled the six biggest vessels I can find—large bowls, the biggest pots and pans—and I decide this will have to do.
If he needs more ice cream, I’ll make more, but first I need to get this in him.
The kitchen is a disaster. I find a pack that Nomi left us and load it up with ice cream bowls and a giant spoon.
(How am I supposed to feed a sleeping dragon?!)
Back across the meadow, into the temple, where Zan is just as I left him.
Which I expected, but I still shiver, and not from all the ice cream I’m carrying.
I unload all the ice cream first and consider the dragon.
I scoop an enormous bite onto the serving spoon—which still looks tiny next to his dragon mouth—and bring it to his mouth.
No response.
I bring it up to his nose, like maybe he’ll be able to smell the delicious dairy sugar before him and his eyes will snap open and he’ll devour it.
No luck.
I try pressing the spoon against his mouth, hoping he’ll open it reflexively and I can shove the whole scoop inside.
This doesn’t work either.
I poke his mouth with the cold ice cream, but immediately realize this isn’t going to work either—he normally hibernates on an icy mountain, cold isn’t about to disturb him.
Grimly, I set the spoon down and crack my knuckles.
Then I put my hands on either side of his jaw and try to pry it open.
Even as I strain, it doesn’t evenbudge.
I step back and perform a kata for strength. It takes three tries before I’m confident I’ve increased my strength enough to matter.
Then I try again.
I pull with all my might, and finally, I amjustbeginning to see movement and internally exult—
Only to hear a crackle from his jaw.
I let go immediately, my heart pounding.
