Page 19 of His Greatest Treasure

In my panic, I grabbed the chair by the arms and heaved it up, nearly snapping part of it off. However, I got it onto my back – probably more by luck and panic than judgement – and then I hunch-walked out of the room, down the stairs and towards the side door of the castle where people rarely went.

I had to concentrate on my bonds to check that nobody was near me or coming towards me. Thankfully, they stayed away and I got out of the castle with only a minor mishap as I tried to get out of the door. One corner of the backrest tore as Imanoeuvred through the doorway and there was a little frayed section in the velvet. I was annoyed that I’d ruined the perfect present I was giving to Blaze.

I really hoped he’d like it, even now.

Chapter 9

Blaze

“So you’re auasal?” I asked.

Alfie had bought me two oil lamps and another load of food, not to mention one of the most comfortable little armchairs that I’d ever sat in. He’d struggled down from the castle carrying it alone and I couldn’t believe he’d managed to get out of the castle with it without anyone noticing, but he insisted that he had.

We were both sitting up at the table right then, though, because I didn’t like sitting in the armchair when he was on one of the wooden chairs. That didn’t seem fair.

“Yes, that’s right. We’re one of the oldest dragon clans in the world. The Somervilles can trace their lineage back through pureuasalbloodlines furtherthan anyone else, too. Father’s very proud of that. I suppose it must be useful because we’re a very powerful clan. Lord Somerville is the strongest dragon I know and I know I’ve not met many other people than my clan but we’re all dragons and we have a lot of power but Lord Somerville radiates it more than anyone. He’s got more power even than Great Aunt Evangeline and she’s older than anyone.”

“Do dragons get more powerful as they age?”

“Yes, but I’m not sure whether that’s getting more powerful or whether they’re learning more. Morgan has a theory that they can just control their magic better. I’m not sure about that, though, because Glimmer’s really young and he has some of the strongest magic in the clan.”

I loved to hear Alfie talking about his clan. His face lit up when he did it, and I didn’t think he even realised that his voice changed, too. It became warmer, richer, and had something lurking in the depths that I couldn’t identify yet.

It was clear he admired Glimmer very much, so I asked about him, partly to give Alfie a chance to talk about him and partly so I’d get to see that look of admiration for longer.

“Is Glimmer the one who makes the borders?”

“Um, yes? No. Maybe. Um, I don’t really know. I can’t see magic very well.”

Alfie looked down and fiddled with his cuff, and I didn’t like it. He seemed embarrassed and something in me burned with hot discomfort at the realisation.

“Not everyone can see magic,” I pointed out.

“I can see it a bit! Just not very much. Morgan had a tutor for a while but he found it hard to get much magic out of his dragon. I wanted to have a go, too, but Father wouldn’t allow it. He said I wasn’t ready to shift yet.”

“Didn’t you say you were nineteen?” I asked.

“Yes. So?”

“So I thought most shifters learned to shift in their teens.”

I realised my mistake a second after I’d spoken. Alfie’s face fell and I cursed myself, feeling the heat in my belly intensify.

“Oh, um, I guess I’m a late developer,” he mumbled.

“That’s okay. You’re still young. There’s loads of time for you to learn to shift.”

“Mmm, I suppose.”

“Do you think Morgan would show you how to do it?”

As I suggested that, I resisted the urge to ask who Morgan was. I really, really wanted to know, though. Most likely he was related to Alfie, since they were in the same clan. But something inside me just wanted to check because there was an affection in his voice that made my skin prickle as I heard it.

Alfie said, “No, he can’t. He’s away.”

Now, I might only have known Alfie for two days but already I could tell that something was wrong. He was a talker and, surprisingly, I actually liked that. He was fun and interesting and enthusiastic and I got swept away when he spoke.

I did not like the sudden awkward answers he was giving me.

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