Page 131 of Tashama
Tashama stood.
Aleron said, “What is it, Tashama?”
“She’d be the right age.” Tashama pulled the pendant out of her dress and held it up to the sun. “They don’t go very far from their home.” As the blue sphere shone a light across the valley, Tashama studied the dragon’s reaction. The dragon didn’t move, and Tashama shook her head. “It would have been too good to be true.”
“Look.” The thief pointed at the dragon when she spread her wings.
“Is she the one?” Aleron asked.
“I don’t know.” Tashama held up the crystal to the light again. “Find some buttercups. If it is she, it is her favorite treat.”
Aleron and the thief dodged through the field looking for the golden flowers. The dragon flew overhead, then hovered over Tashama.
“Loralee,” she called out to her. “I’ve come home.”
Aleron and the thief turned and watched in astonishment as the dragon sat down on the ground in front of Tashama. Tashama waited in place as the dragon considered her.
“Found some!” the thief said, and Aleron hastened to join him. After they gathered as much as they could, they walked back to Tashama.
“Does she understand you?” Aleron asked.
“Like a pet dog. They can learn quite a lot of our vocabulary.”
“Can you tell her to give the male a chance?”
Tashama laughed. “That I cannot do.” She leaned over with some of the flowers and offered them to the dragon. At first, the dragon just sniffed the flowers, then a sense of recognition reflected in her gray-green eyes. She nuzzled Tashama’s cheek, then ate the offerings.
“She remembers me.” Tashama ran her hand over the dragon’s scaly skin, then reached up to rub her nose, just as though she were petting her horse’s. “We must coax her to themale’s lair. Find more buttercups, and I’ll try to lead her toward the male.”
Aleron and Jaran hurried to gather more buttercups as Tashama began to walk backward toward the cave. “Come, Loralee.” The dragon clumsily followed her. Tashama smiled. “I remember when you could barely fly and were very awkward at that. Now you can fly like an eagle, but you are clumsy at walking.”
When they reached the mouth of the cave, Loralee turned her head as the male dragon bellowed his displeasure, and Tashama smiled. “His heartache is winning her over.” Tashama waited until Loralee entered the cave. “If they make up, we can get a tooth.”
As soon as the female made her appearance in the male’s lair, Tashama pointed at a tooth glistening nearby. Jaran hurried to get it, while Tashama watched the female touch her nose to the male’s.
“Come, Tashama.” Aleron took her arm and nudged her away.
“She will be happy with him.” A tear rolled down her cheek and she hurried out of the cave with Aleron.
As more tears rolled down Tashama’s cheeks, Aleron pulled her close. “She will be fine.”
“Seeing her reminds me of all that I have lost.” Tashama squeezed Aleron.
“You have me now.” He hugged her with a firm grip. “You have me.”
Then she spied a bunch of chili peppers and had an idea.
With all the ingredients,but one, in Balthazar’s copper kettle, the thief stirred while Aleron read the directions.
Tashama nodded as she studied the rug, then sighed deeply. “We have to get the drop of sweat from Loran’s brow.”
The lieutenant walked into the room. “We’ve prepared this hot, chili dinner as you’ve described, but I cannot see what good this will do.”
“It will make Loran sweat and Valmor thirsty. Will Deloria aid us and wipe the perspiration from her uncle’s brow?”
“She is afraid, but she has agreed to do it.”
“Good, then the plan is all set. Nobody can resist good hot Texas-style chili…nobody.”
