Page 71 of Earth-Bound

“No.” I got a warm glow inside that my mate was worried about me, that I was his first concern. I couldn’t remember ever being someone’s first thought before. It had never bothered me – earth spirits were born to spread their power over the land and it was the way things were that I had just become part of it, as inevitable and invisible as the ground itself – but I did like being important to my mate. Who wouldn’t?

“Are you sure? If they’re that powerful…?”

“They only hunt dragons. They have a single purpose, and no interest in witches or dryad or earth spirits.”

“That’s ok then. Not that I want the dragons to get beaten up or anything,” said Joe. “Shall I ring them?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Shall I ring them? I got Cuthbert’s number yesterday.”

Even while we were rushing – very nearly running – across the fields towards the house and I was worried because we were over a mile away and I wanted to warn my friends… Istill managed to feel a stab of jealousy. “Oh? Why did Cuthbert give you his telephone number?”

Joe snorted. “I think he actually wantedyournumber but you don’t have a phone. I guess he figured I’d be around to deliver messages to you. And I think, really, he wanted it for Anthony. Said something about wanting to ask you a few questions.”

“Then please, do call them.”

It hadn’t even occurred to me that it was possible. I was acquainted with telephones but they had been landlines. I hadn’t been aware that they could be portable.

Joe fished out the torch he’d used when we’d gone down to the basement and it turned out that it was also a telephone.

“Hello, Cuthbert? This is Joe. Terrund has some news for you.”

Joe handed me the small object and I had to stop walking in order to take it and hold it to my ear.

“Cuthbert? Yes, it’s me. I have sensed aridirenearby, over by theuasal’s territory. It is barely eight miles from here.”

There was a moment of shocked silence and then, “Ah. Ok.”

“We are on our way.”

“Can you keep your voice down?” Cuthbert was whispering.

I frowned. Lowering my voice, I asked, “Is that necessary?”

“It’s just that if Dee and Dum hear about this, they’ll want to go and, um, challenge them or something. I need to get themhome quickly. That way Nana can forbid them from leaving again.”

“I see.”

“Hang on while I go down to the basement.”

Joe was looking at me curiously and I said, “Cuthbert is going to speak to Anthony and Matty.”

He touched the telephone in my hand and the volume increased. “There. I put it on speakerphone so I can hear what’s happening. You don’t need to hold it up any more, Terrund.”

We heard Cuthbert asking Matty if it was ok to go down to the basement and then his footsteps on the stairs, and then he asked, “Matty, can you, perhaps, put some kind of sound barrier around us?”

“Why? Sure, wait a second. Ok, that’s done.”

I turned to Joe. “I can hear both of them.”

“Yes, I guess Cuthbert’s got his on speaker as well.”

Cuthbert said, “Ok, Terrund, say that again.”

“There is aridireoutside theuasalterritory. Theridireis obviously aware of them and are probably focused on those dragons, which is why they have not sensed you nearby. I do not suggest you stay here, though. If theridirebecomes aware of you, they will come to kill the dragons.”

Matty asked, “And theridire, those are the dragon-hunters, right? The scary ones?”

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