“What color is she?”
“Soft purple.”
“How’s that work exactly?” I lean forward.
“How does what work?”
“The whole spirit dragon thing?”
She gives me her full attention then. “I would assume it works similar to the way your bond with your dragon works. Our dragon is a part of us. Our dragons give us incredible strength, heightened senses, increased vision, an internal heater.” She smiles at that one. “That helps here in the northern tundra. We feel our dragons all the time, and they come to our aid when we need them. But they are still, in essence, a part of us. That’s how they’re different than what you and Rauk have. Our dragons are an extension of us, and yours are not.”
"It makes sense. I’ve been around the spirt wolves and jaguars. I guess it’s just different to look up and see them flying in the sky.”
“Oh that?” Elowen says with a smile. “Thatis simply for show.”
“I knew it.” I lean back in my chair and cross my arms over my chest.
“You have to admit, it’s pretty incredible to watch.”
“I suppose.” She eyes me, and I cave. “It is. What do you all do? Have a schedule for when you release your spirit dragon to soar through the sky?”
“No, although that’s not a bad idea,” she tells me with a grin.
I’m starting to feel antsy sitting here, so I stand and take my plate over to the sink and wash it. “So.” I lean against the counter and face her.
“Yes?” she asks with an eyebrow raised.
“I need your help.”
She keeps working. “With what?”
“I need to convince Rauk to join the Wolf and Jaguar Kingdoms in their fight against the guivres.”
She frowns. “The guivres? Are they still causing problems?”
I stare at her. “You’re kidding, right?”
Her eyes meet mine over the top of the bowl she’s stirring. “No.”
“The guivres attack all the time, and the attacks are getting worse. Add to that, they’ve started changing back into humans.”
“No, that’s not possible. They were cursed into their corporal forms.”
“Yes,” I agree. “But when Terron and his gryphon died, the curse keeping them bound—”
“Terron is dead?”
I see the shock on her face and don’t know how to handle this. “Yes. Did you really not know that?”
Her face is pale. “No.” She takes a step back. “Does Rauk know?”
My frown increases. “Yes. How do younotknow? It’s been nearly a—”
“He can’t be dead.”
Now, I’m starting to worry. “Hey, maybe you should sit down or something. You look pretty pale.” I walk over to the table and grab a chair and bring it over to her and help her sit. “Are you okay?” My voice is stiff; I’m not really sure what to do.
“I need to talk to Rauk,” she says, pushing to her feet.
