We have traveled down Eryadon’s coastline for three long days, but I believe I have found the dragon’s castle. My brother Toren swims beside me, and although I initially tried to dissuade him, I am glad for his company.
“There is a human woman with him in the castle.”
My brow furrows. “Does she know who he is?”
“I do not believe so. When I went hunting yesterday, I saw them sitting on the cliff wall above the ocean. I tried luring her away to safety with my song, but it did not work.”
I frown. “She must not realize he is a dragon. I will certainly inform her. Perhaps she can tell me where he keeps the pearl.”
“How do you propose to get it?” Toren asks incredulously.
“It’s not as if I cannot drag myself onto land.” I shrug. “Yes, it will be difficult, but not impossible.”
He purses his lips. “This does not seem like much of a plan.”
“I know, but we have no other choice. This is the only way I can restore Halla’s memories.”
His gaze holds mine for a moment but he does not protest further. He knows I am right. “I will go hunting again while you keep watch.”
I glance at him as he swims off, then turn my attention back to the castle. The dragon seems to split his time between the palace and a cave further down the coast. He flew off not long ago, but I will wait a few more minutes to see if he returns. I suppose I will have no choice but to just ask him for the pearl. I will give him whatever he wants in return, although I’ve never known dragons to want for anything.
They do love treasure and wealth, however, so I plan to offer him whatever riches I can find at the bottom of the sea. Hopefully, he will consider this a fair exchange. If he doesn’t, I will simply have to steal the pearl from him somehow.
My thoughts go round in a circle as I consider my options, which are not many. In the end, I have no choice.
If I want Halla back, this is the only way, according to Dorin. I always believed the blue pearls were nothing more than a myth, but it seems I was wrong.
I only know one thing for certain: I must retrieve the blue pearl and bring it to Halla during the blue moon cycle, which is fast approaching.
The pearls are rumored to grant a wish of the wearer—their heart’s greatest desire—but only if their intentions are true.
As I survey the cliff wall leading toward the dragon’s castle, I notice the human woman approach. She carries a long stick that sweeps before her, every so often tapping the ground. Her long, blond hair blows around her face with the ocean breeze, and her gaze appears fixed on nothing. Her behavior is strange, and I wonder if perhaps she cannot see.
I open my mouth and begin singing, hoping to lure her to the sea. She does not know how much danger she is in with the dragon. Surely she does not, else she would not stay with him… unless she is his prisoner.
“Hello?” she calls out to me, and I stop singing.
My heart hammers as I respond, “Come down to the ocean, dear human.”
“If you are one of the Mer, I have no desire to be lured into the sea,” she replies. “I simply need help finding my way.”
“You do not feel a pull to the ocean?” I ask, unable to hide the curiosity in my tone. I’d always heard our song could draw a human to the ocean, unless they were already in love with another.
“No. I am trying to find the dragon’s cave. Surely you know where it is, for I heard your song not long ago near the cliffs.”
I frown. “I will not help you find your death.”
Her mouth drifts open. “Is that not what your siren call is meant to do? Lure me to the water so that I may drown?”
“No,” I scoff. Does she think I am evil? “Contrary to the tales you may have heard, my kind does not lure innocents to the sea only to drown them.”
“Then, why do you sing?”
“Many Mermen want a wife. Humans are rumored to be excellent lovers,” I tease, trying to put her at ease. “Passionate creatures like ourselves.”
When she doesn’t rise to the bait, my expression sobers. “I have watched you with the dragon. I want only to save you from him. Do you know who he truly is, my lady?”
“Yes. He is the dragon who burned the city of Bryndor.”
Good. She knows, so the rest should be easy. “Then you understand why I wish to lure you from his claws.”
“You misunderstand,” she says. “He has changed. He is not the same dragon he was before. I… I love him.”
I chuckle softly. “So that is why my brother’s song did not influence you. He wondered about that.”
“Please, I must find the dragon before it is too late.”
“Too late for what?”
“He is under a curse. I am bound to it as well. I will die at the end of the blood moon cycle if it is not broken. I must find him before then.”
“So, it is true. A curse lies upon the dragon and his castle,” I muse. “My people had heard of this but were uncertain.”
“What is your name?” she asks.
“Errik. What is yours?”
“Alara. Will you help me to find the dragon’s cave, Errik?”
I do not want to help her find the dragon, but I need the pearl. If she claims the dragon is a good man, I have no other choice but to trust her judgment. I must find the blue pearl. “If that is what you truly wish.”
“I do.”
“You are close. Simply continue along the cliffs, and I will stay nearby until you reach the cave.”
She smiles, and my heart fills with guilt. “Thank you, Errik.”
“Do not thank me,” I reply somberly. “Helping you find him goes against my every instinct.”
She cocks her head to the side. “Then why do you help me?”
I am compelled to admit the truth to her; Toren and I have been observing them both for the past few days. “Because I believe he cares for you… although I did not know dragons were capable of caring for another,” I murmur. “I heard him call on the blood witch a few days ago. He offered his blood to the sea to get her attention, then begged her to spare his beloved. Since my song did not tempt you, I assume he was referring to you. You are obviously in love with him, as well. If you were not, my siren’s song would have called you to the sea.”
A smile crests her lips.
“Have you heard of what happened in Solwyck?” I ask, referring to the damage wrought by the dragon there. Solwyck would have been reduced to ash just like Bryndor if Halla had not slain the dragon.
She nods.
“Then you know that dragons are dangerous creatures.”
“I know, Errik. But Veron is different.”
“I hope you are right,” I tell her. “You are nearly there.”
“Why have you been watching Veron?”
“In truth, I seek something he owns. I was told that the dragon who lives in the kingdom of Eryadon near the sea has what I need.”
“What is it?”
“I am uncertain,” I answer truthfully, because I have never seen a blue pearl before; I only know that I must find one. “I was told that I would know it when I see it.”
“Why do you need it?”
“It is… for a friend,” I hedge, uncertain of how much to share with her. If I tell her it is for my fated mate, and she reveals this to the dragon, he will know he can demand anything in exchange. While I would not mind giving him whatever he wants, I must return to Halla as soon as possible. I do not have time to mine the ocean floor for untold amounts of lost treasure.
Instead of explaining my reasons, I change the subject. Alara and I chat as I guide her to the dragon’s cave. When she draws closer, I instruct her to take only a few more paces to her right.
She turns to thank me, and I gasp when my eyes alight on the blue pearl necklace she wears. “That necklace. Where did you get it?”
She wraps her hand around the pearl, clutching it to her chest. “Veron gave it to me.”
“Please,” I beg, desperate now that I’ve found what I’m after. “May I have it?”
“I…” She hesitates.
“Please. I need it for Princess Halla.”
She blinks several times. “The Princess of Solwyck?”
“Yes.”
“Alright,” she agrees and begins to unfasten the clasp from around her neck.
The dragon approaches behind her in his two-legged form, glaring at me thunderously. Tall and broad-shouldered, he is covered in silver scales that gleam beneath the sun like heavy armor. His proud, dark horns spiral from his head, making him appear even taller as he stands behind her and places his hands on her shoulders. His green eyes narrow.
She traces her hands up his arms and smiles. “Veron?”
He wraps his arms around her, pulling her close. “What are you doing here?” he asks her. “Why have you come?”
I’m surprised by the tenderness in his tone and gaze as he regards her.
“I needed to find you. I—”
“Did you walk all this way by yourself?” he asks, a hint of anger shifting into his tone as he chastises her for not being careful.
She snaps back, and I note in astonishment that he looks chagrined. A human chastising a dragon? This is not something I ever thought I’d see.
She gestures to the sea. “I had help from Errik.”
“A Merman?” he grinds out, leveling another dark glare at me. “The Mer are dangerous.”
She places her hands on her hips. “Well, he said the same thing about dragons. If not for him, I would have been lost. I probably would have missed your cave entirely, Veron.”
He bares his fangs at me, obviously displeased by her words. His gaze drops to her neck. “What are you doing with your necklace?”
“Errik said he needs it for Princess Halla of Solwyck.”
“Why does the princess need this?” Veron roars at me.
“She made a deal with a blood witch,” I call out. “I am trying to free her from the consequences.”
Surely he understands this since I observed him summoning a blood witch a few days ago. It seems he is indebted and under a curse from one, as well.
He grows silent.
Alara takes his hand. “If it will help the princess, we should give it to him, Veron.”
He lifts the necklace and pendant from her palm. “It is… an invaluable treasure from the very heart of the sea. Powerful and—”
“I don’t need any treasures,” she says, stroking his cheek. “All I need is you.”
It does not escape me how he closes his eyes and leans into her hand as if relishing her touch.
A dragon in love with a human? I only pray that he is worthy of such love and devotion.
“Treat her well, Dragon,” I interject, feeling oddly protective of this human. She reminds me of my beloved Halla. “Or you will know the wrath of the seas.”
“She is mine,” he growls. “I would never harm my greatest treasure.” With that, he throws the pearl at me. “Take the necklace and leave us, you troublesome fish.”
I leap from the water to catch it, smiling once I feel the pearl in hand. “Thank you. I will tell the princess that you helped her.”
“I doubt she’ll want to know that a dragon aided her,” he mumbles.
“I meant Alara, not you.” I laugh. “The princess has no love of dragons, as you well know. Goodbye, Alara! And thank you!”
“Goodbye, Errik!”
I race back to find my brother, anxious to return to Halla.
