Page 65 of Earth-Bound

It was only Arram who could stop them. They said, with infinite patience, “The earth spirits are not like the dryad. They do not flower, nor do they grow bark. They can manipulate the elements of the earth, though.”

As though he was drawn from the house by the promise of knowledge, Cuthbert came round the side of the house and said, “You know, Anthony would love to ask you a few questions, if that would be ok with you, Terrund.”

Dee hissed in my ear, “Our Anthony knows everything.”

I jumped. I hadn’t heard her approach.

We weren’t going to get much done with them all here, tramping round and invading people’s privacy.

Luckily for us, Broadmire arrived. He stomped up the garden path with Randall behind him and he glared at thedragons. Considering they were actual dragons, I might not have done that. Broadmire looked remarkably unintimidated.

Joe whispered to me, “Does he know they’re dragons?”

I turned to him, which brought my face to within an inch of his, and his lips almost brushed against my own. I whispered back, “Yes, Broadmire is aware that they are dragons.”

“He doesn’t seem scared.”

“He does not.”

“How big do dragons get when they shift?”

I considered. “I do not know how large they will grow. I have only ever seenuasaldragons before, since they are the ones who live near my land. These arecuraidh, a different kind.”

“Like African elephants and Indian elephants?”

“Of a sort.”

Dee gave Broadmire a cheeky little wave and Dum leered at Randall, saying, “You like nice today, Honey-cakes.”

Joe whispered again, “I thought he said honey cakes wasn’t a nickname?”

Dragon hearing was better than we’d bargained for because Cuthbert gave a gentle sigh and said, “Itwasn’ta nickname. But now he’s realised he can wind Broadmire up by flirting with Randall.”

Dum rounded on Cuthbert in outrage. “I don’t know what you mean! I was just being friendly.”

Everyone ignored him. Randall was blushing a bit, but he pressed close to Broadmire and I could see the way they fitted together. Somehow, fate had matched these two people togetherto give each of them what they most desired. I couldn’t help but lean into Joe a bit more.

Broadmire was still glaring at the dragons. Joe asked, “Does he know about magic?”

“He is well aware of magic, although he cannot touch it himself. He is a troll. They are vastly unmagical.”

“A troll, huh?”

“Does that surprise you?”

Joe cocked his head. “You know, when I first met Broadmire, he said he was a troll. I was a bit distracted because he’d just tried to pummel me into the floor of the café, but hedidcall himself a troll. It seemed like a joke at the time.”

I was just adjusting to the blasé way in which Joe mentioned Broadmire’s attack, but Joe said, “Ooh, that makes sense. Laura’s a dragon, right? They must be stronger than humans because she restrained Broadmire really easily.”

I moved to stand in front of him, between Joe and Broadmire, not that I was strong enough at the moment to do anything to protect him.

Joe chuckled and tugged at my hand. “Broadmire won’t try to hurt me again. He was just upset.”

I wasn’t easily convinced of that. I eyed the troll and felt the way his presence broke the magic beneath him, just where he touched. He was glowering at the dragons, who were whining.

Broadmire folded his arms, digging in. I’d seen that look on his face before. “You’re going to work.”

The dragons didn’t seem to believe him, but Broadmire wasn’t messing about. “If you don’t, you won’t get any more honey cakes.”

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