So, what could I say to a mother dragon?
I didn’t know the first thing about being a mother, because I never really had one.
But I knew this: if I were a mother, I’d be proud of every little thing my child did.
I spoke out loud so Titus could follow.
“Your eggs are beautiful,” I said kindly. “Eggs this exquisite shouldn’t be dirty.”
The Lithovore’s head tilted. Her posture softened.
“My name is Delilah,” I continued. “And I would like to do something kind for you. I want to take your eggs to that pool over there and clean them, because eggs this beautiful deserve to shine.”
Titus stared at me with wide, worried eyes. Then her voice slid through my mind again.
Lithovore: And then you will return them, unharmed?
I scrambled for the truth stone in my pocket and held it up. I sensed she recognized it by the way she relaxed.
“We will carry your eggs to the pool in the alcove you can’t reach,” I promised, truth-stone steady in my hand. “We will clean them, and then return all three eggs to you right after. Unharmed. Would that be alright?”
She hesitated… then nodded.
Steam vented from her chest cracks again. We flinched at the heat.
Titus and I hurried to the alcove with the bioluminescent blue water. Her body was too massive to access it, which meant we were safe for a moment.
He whispered, “So we’re going to take them and run, right?
That’s the plan?”
“No,” I said calmly. “We’re going to give her the eggs back.”
“What?!” he hissed. “I did not come all this way and—” “The crystals multiply,” I cut in. “Do they not?”
His eyes lit as he understood. A hint of pride flickered there.
“Indeed, they do,” he said, grinning, admiration tugging at my heart.
We submerged the crystallized eggs in the glowing water until they shone.
He held one in both hands, touched it to another, and it began to glow.
“Multiply by three,” he commanded. Three new, identical crystal eggs appeared.
We quickly loaded the new eggs into our packs and returned the originals to the Lithovore.
Lithovore: My eggs. My babies. They are beautiful.
Her voice softened.
Lithovore: Thank you. You have a pure soul, Delilah. I knew I could trust the child made of ancient blood.
Because of your kindness, I will let you live. Now leave my nest and never return.
Ancient blood? What did that mean?
The Lithovore gently carried the eggs away in her mouth and retreated into the ancient darkness from which she came.
