Page 15 of Dragons & Dumplings
While wiping down the table behind him, I took a peek over his shoulder at the glowing screen. Lines of text filled it, and I was able to make out the wordsdragonandherorepeated frequently.
Yuri sighed, his fingers going still. I hesitated, glancing around the nearly empty diner before sliding into the seat across from him.
“How’s the research going?” I asked.
“Not as well as I’d hoped.” He scowled, folding his arms over his chest. “I’m still missing a good chunk of information, and I’ve come up against a wall. Finding traces of an ancient dragon in this town is proving to be harder than I expected.”
I hummed thoughtfully. “Have you tried asking some of the longer-lived townsfolk? I’d wager at least a few of them have passed stories along of this dragon, if he was notable enough to warrant your…project.”
“Book,” Yuri admitted softly, his eyes slitted. “I’m writing a book.”
“That’s wonderful!” I clapped my hands together in excitement. “I had no idea you were an author!”
Yuri’s pupils dilated, and his wary expression melted into one of guarded hope. “You don’t think…it’s a silly little hobby for a dragon to have?”
I snorted. “Of course not! You are clearly passionate about what you’re doing, not to mention highly dedicated—you’re here practically all day, every day, working on it, after all. Something you care so deeply about could never be silly.”
His smile lit up his face, and I couldn’t help but drink the expression in. Had someone belittled him for writing a book? Based on the way he had phrased his question, I was guessing the answer was yes. That person must have been incredibly old fashioned; dragons were good for far more than waging war and pillaging villages these days.
“I think it’s wonderful, what you’re working on. And I’d be more than happy to help you with the research side of things.” I grinned back at him. His enthusiasm for his craft was infectious.
“Do you mean it?” He looked eager, but after a moment, his expression shuttered, and he shook his head. “While I appreciate the offer, I’ll find a way to manage. Ice dragons take on deals, but not debts.”
I pursed my lips. There was that old-fashioned way of thinking, rearing its ugly head again. But then, a lightbulb went on in my head. “Then let’s make a deal.”
“What kind of deal?” He eyed me warily.
“I will help you research this ancient dragon for your book. And in exchange, you can…” I trailed off, searching for something I could ask him to do. “You can help me come up with a new recipe for the Harvest Feast!”
“I’m afraid I don’t know much about cooking…” Yuri ran a hand over his jaw thoughtfully.
“You don’t have to,” I hurried to reassure him. “Just having someone to bounce ideas off of and to taste-test new recipes would be a huge help.” When he still looked unconvinced, I added softly, “And it would be a big help if you could keep me calm…like you did the other day.”
If he noticed that my pointed ears turned pink, he had the decency not to mention it.
“Mei, you have yourself a deal.” He held out his hand.
I shook it, enjoying the sensation of his cool skin against my heated palm, and the way his magic always seemed to calm mine down. Our handshake lasted a heartbeat longer than necessary, and I found myself reliving our kiss once again. Had that moment just been an impulse, or had it been something more?
“Great! Why don’t you tell me what you’ve learned so far, and what sort of information you’re still looking for?”
Yuri nodded, and proceeded to tell me all about Glacius, King of Frost, who was the original founder of the present-day Frost Fleet that Yuri belonged to. According to legend, he had traveled the land, doing good deeds and defeating evil knights and cursed banshees. On his journey to find the perfect place to make his home, he discovered new islands, braved untamed forests, and summoned the rains and the snow to even the most tropical of locales.
“And you believe Willowmere was one of the places he stayed during his quest for a permanent homeland?” I clarified.
“Precisely. But though it does snow here during the winter, ultimately, he moved on in search of a mythical land far colder, that was more in tune with his frost magic and white scales.”
“It would be challenging to hide from an army of scared villagers with white scales,” I murmured, then paused. “Wait, by mythical land, do you mean…?
He exhaled a laugh. “Yep—that land turned out to be modern-day Northern Alaska.”
“Why stop there? Why didn’t he continue all the way to the north pole?”
“Not enough food for the hatchlings, and he considered it undignified for dragons to stoop to hunting lemmings and hares.” Yuri shrugged.
“Makes sense to me.” I shuddered just thinking about living in such a harsh and freezing environment.
“I’ve already checked the bookshop and library here, but most of the information they contained on Glacius is not new to me. Could there really be anyone living here who still remembers the stories about him?” Yuri looked doubtful, and I could hardly blame him.
