The bed was comfortable, plush, and wide, with layers of blankets, but there was no light coming from the side of his room where the window was supposed to be. There was a strange scent in the air too. Aidan thought he had smelled it before, but he could not remember when. And Aidan’s favorite down pillow didn’t feel soft and fluffy like it was supposed to.
Aidan’s heart skipped a beat. Chills and gooseflesh raced all over his body, for Aidan suddenly didn’t know what his arm was curled around.
Aidan let his fingers slide over this thing that lay under his arm and across his shoulder. It certainly wasn’t fuzzy or furry. It felt leathery and ragged, like it was covered with shingles . . . or maybe, maybe . . . they were scales? SCALES?!!
“Ya-yaahhh!!!” The scream exploded from Aidan’s lips like a great bubble popping. He sat up from the covers to stare wide-eyed into the darkness.
Aidan felt something heavy slithering off the bed.
A blue flash lit the room, and Aidan could see the creature sitting like a great big cat in the middle of the stone floor. It had not been a dream after all! Aidan squirmed frantically backward, bashing his head into the enormous solid-wood headboard.
“Do not fear,” a musical female voice said. “You are safe here.”
Aidan could only stare at the monstrous, unearthly creature that had slid from the bed and now seemed to be speaking to him.
The beast raised its head slowly. Blue, fiery slanted eyes squinted at Aidan and blinked.
Aidan blinked back and then blinked again. But each time he opened his eyes it was still there: a real dragon!
The creature squatted on its thickly muscled hind legs and smaller ropey forelegs. Broad wings were folded like huge leather coats behind its body, and its neck and tail were as long as and as thick as anacondas. It had gray flesh on its underside and was armored with silvery scales that here and there reflected the flickering blue light. The dragon’s head was long like a horse’s and tapered to a very narrow snout, dappled with patches of those silver scales on its enormous high cheekbones.
Its lengthy jaws opened, baring dozens of needlelike teeth—and it swung its head forward toward Aidan. Aidan cringed.
But instead of the piercing pain of sharp teeth, he felt a huge, slimy, sticky tongue slap wetly across his face. The creature’s tongue almost knocked Aidan out of the bed.
“I told you . . . you are safe here,” the voice said again. “The dragon’s name is Gabby. She likes you.”
Aidan wiped some goo off of his face and stared at the beast. It ducked its head shyly, bared its teeth again, and began emitting a deep, rumbling purr.
“Welcome to the Castle of Alleble,” began the melodic voice again. “You are a guest of the King, so you have nothing to fear.”
It occurred to Aidan that the voice was not coming from the dragon.
Aidan turned to the voice and nearly jumped out of his skin a second time. There at the foot of the enormous bed was a being— a girl. Aidan thought she was about his age, but he wasn’t certain.
Her long gossamer dress of lavender was studded with brilliant multicolored jewels, and they sparkled, reflecting the flickering blue light of the candle in her left hand. But her skin, her skin was ghostly white, seemingly glowing in the shadowy room. Her eyes, like perfect blue gems, were ablaze and held Aidan still in spite of his fear.
“You are very fortunate to be here. Many who wander off the path become lost. We sent Gabby to go and find you. I’m sorry she gave you such a fright.”
Aidan could not speak, but his teeth ground audibly. The spectral girl guessed Aidan’s fear and spoke again. “You have never seen a being like me before. Do not fear. You could not be safer.”
“Are you . . . are you a ghost?” Aidan asked.
“Ghost?” she replied, considering the word. “No, I am not a spirit, shade, or apparition. I am a living Glimpse. I am very much like you, as a matter of fact.”
“But you’re glowing, and I can see through you, uh—well, sort of,” he said. As Aidan stared at her, he realized that she wasn’t actually transparent. But when she moved, she shimmered like a bright reflection rippling in a lake at night.
“No, your eyes just aren’t used to seeing Glimpse-kind.” She seemed to float around the bed closer to Aidan. “I have flesh and bone—here, touch my arm.”
Aidan’s eyes bulged, and he backed again into the headboard. She reached for Aidan’s arm, but he jerked away.
She had said he was safe, but Aidan was not yet convinced. Undaunted, she gently placed her hand on Aidan’s shoulder.
“Trust your heart, for I am a friend,” she assured him. Aidan had expected her hand to feel cold and dead, but instead, her touch brought warmth and a wonderful tingle. Aidan looked up at her and was enchanted once again by her eyes. His fear left.
She smiled and said, “My name is Gwenne.”
“Uh, my ame is Naidan . . . er, I mean . . . my name is Aidan.” He felt very awkward. Mouth dry, cheeks reddening, muscles taut. She was kind of spooky, but she was also the most beautiful being he had ever seen. Of course, there had been a few girls at school who had caused Aidan to do a double take in the halls, but nothing like Gwenne. She was beyond physically attractive.
Her movements were precise and athletic but graceful—like the act of walking was for her a dance. And every time she spoke it was like listening to a song, hypnotizing and dreamy.
“Well-met, Aidan,” she said and made a brief curtsy. “I am very honored to be the first of my kind to welcome you.”
“You are a Glimpse?” Aidan asked curiously. “When I read the Scrolls, I thought it was about people.”
“The Scrolls you read are about people. You are in a region called Alleble, and Glimpses are the people of this land. This castle is the center of The Realm.”
“How did I get here?”
“You were called here.”
“I was?”
“Yes, silly, by the King. Gabby and I were allowed to get your attention from time to time, but it was the King of Alleble who called you here. Do you not remember a voice drawing you?”
“Yes, I remember . . .” Aidan’s voice trailed off. Had she said the King of Alleble? How could that be possible?
“Wait, wait, wait,” Aidan said. He leaned forward and stared. “You said the King called me?”
“Yes.”
“What King do you mean?” If she answered King Paragal, Aidan was ready to bolt out of the chamber—dragon or no dragon!
“There is only one King of Alleble. It is King Eliam, of course.”
