Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 112416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 562(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 562(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
As sad as it sounded, the fact that Isha had been held long enough for him to lose weight gave Adrian some hope that Shey might still be alive. If they could find The Pit quickly, they could still rescue him.
Haru cocked his head at him, the long braid of his black hair sliding off his shoulder as he smirked at Adrian. “It sounds like we are going camping.”
Camping in the national forest sounded like an excellent idea. Away from the prying eyes of the world, his companion could easily slip into his other form and do some scouting late at night. Not that Adrian was all that excited about sleeping on the ground in a tent, but it was likely to be better than some places they’d stayed at.
“Thanks so much for your help, ladies,” Adrian said, giving the four seated women a nod.
Ginger pulled her map close, folding it up. “Wait. You’ll need this. I-I can make another.”
“No, that’s okay.” Adrian lifted his hand and tapped his temple with one finger. “I’ve got a photographic memory for maps. Already memorized your map. If we have a chance when we’re done, we’ll try to send word of anything that we learn.”
Gert swallowed hard. “We’d appreciate it.”
Adrian started to leave, but Haru pinched the hem of his T-shirt, pulling him to a stop. He turned to find the dragon focused on Ginger.
“Is your daughter still living in Bellcairn with her children?” Haru asked in a low, gentle voice.
Ginger gave a shaky nod. “Moving house with three young kids from Bellcairn to here is very expensive. I send money to help her buy food and other necessities, but we’re still trying to scrape together the money she’d need for all of them to move here.”
Without another word, Haru pulled off his backpack and shoved it at Adrian with a grin. He rolled his eyes and bit his tongue as he held it for Haru. They weren’t the only ones doling out sob stories, and if he’d learned anything from Haru in the past several weeks, it was that he was not one to allow an innocent person to suffer if he could help it.
The dragon dug through the pockets until he finally located a leather pouch. He pulled out a shiny item and tucked the pouch away again.
Haru kneeled beside Ginger and took her hand. He pressed a heavy, solid gold ring into her hand, drawing a gasp of surprise from the old woman as he closed her fingers around it.
“When you go to sell it, be sure to tell them it is a very old family heirloom that a distant relative sent you from Erya long ago. And go to a reputable jeweler for a fair valuation. It should more than cover the return of your family and help them set up a new household close to you,” he instructed.
“But-but I couldn’t possibly…” Ginger stammered.
“Trust me, he’s more stubborn than you could ever be. Just take it,” Adrian muttered, but he topped it with a smile.
“Family must always watch out for each other. Bring yours to you.”
Ginger stopped trying to argue with Haru and placed a trembling kiss on his cheek.
Adrian grabbed Haru’s arm and pulled the dragon to his feet. He shoved the backpack at his companion, and they headed down the street. Adrian might not have wanted to admit it, but he felt lighter than he had for several days now. Haru’s generosity meant that at least one good thing would come out of this trip. Ginger might have lost her son-in-law, but now she had a way of getting her daughter and grandkids out of Bellcairn.
“Can’t help yourself sometimes, can you?” Adrian teased after they were more than a block away from the coffee shop.
“In my home, things like that don’t happen. At least, not often.” A wrinkle formed on Haru’s smooth brow, and he shook his head. “All drag—”
Adrian poked his elbow into Haru’s ribs, catching himself before he could say the D-word.
Haru cleared his throat. “All my people live in clans. Even if you’re not related by blood, your clan is your family, and you watch out for each other.”
“Except for those in the Chasm, right?”
Haru’s frown deepened. “That is true.”
“Sorry,” Adrian mumbled, regretting his question and stealing away the bit of joy Haru had felt at helping Ginger and her family.
“No, you’re right. Nori wishes to change things and help them,” he admitted, mentioning the head of the Omari dragon clan and King Caelan’s grandfather. “It’s just…it will be a slow process. My people do not acclimate to new ideas quickly.”
Adrian snorted. He could easily imagine. Humans hated change and fought new things that required them to shift their way of thinking about others. For dragons who lived hundreds of years longer, it was easy to believe that they were much more reluctant to embrace new ideas. While the people living in the Chasm might not be pure-blooded dragons, they still deserved to have all the rights and clan support that full-blooded dragons enjoyed.