He’d wanted to peek in on Freya and Daisy to see how they were doing with their new comforts, but it sounded like everything was fine and there was no point in taking a chance of being seen. He’d been surprised and pleased when the dragon sat on the stairs to listen to the goings on behind the locked door.
As they returned to room below, Walter had been struck by just how selfless the dragon had been. All that was left in the room was the chair by the fire, a desk and the shelves of books. There was no bedding and the fellow was still naked. He didn’t appear to have any clothing, either.
That would have to change. It wouldn’t do for the man to be naked the first time Eadlin met him. She was worldly for a virgin, but Walter didn’t think she was up for an eyeful of cock.
He gauged the man’s size and raced off. He found what he was looking for in fairly short order and he’d been careful to only pilfer from the wealthier homes. Even then, he’d looked for items that were rather generic and unlikely to be missed.
He laid the clothing outside the dragon’s door and waited, hoping the whole thing didn’t end in disaster.
The dragon was restless and it wasn’t long before he opened his door. The sight of the clothing stopped him short and he was clearly confused.
Walter decided to take a chance. He materialised in front of the dragon and pointed to the clothing on the floor. “I thought you might be a bit cold, so I brought you something to wear.”
The dragon stared for a moment, then asked, “Who are you?”
“I’ll tell you everything once you take the clothes and put them on. I think we’ll both be more comfortable once you’re covered up, don’t you?”
The dragon reached through the doorway and he partially transformed as he picked up the pile of clothing and returned to his full human state when he brought them into the room.
Walter floated over to the fireplace and hovered across from the chair while the creature dressed himself.
So far, so good.
The dragon sat on the chair and leaned forward with his forearms on his knees. “I think it’s time you explained yourself.”
“My name is Walter Hampton. I was an armourer at Iron Hill until I died. Now I’m just a restless spirit wandering the world trying to do some good.”
“That doesn’t explain why you’re here.”
“Ah, yes. That. Well, I suppose I could start at the beginning, but it might be more expedient to start at the end. Which would you prefer?”
“Expedient sounds about right.”
The end it would be, then. “I’ve found you a flame-haired virgin who might be willing to assist you with your little problem provided you can make some assurances.”
The dragon sputtered and choked, then roared. “You what?”
Walter stood his ground and repeated himself.
“The flame-haired virgin who was supposed to assist me with my problem stopped being a virgin before she could do her job. I don’t know what you’re thinking by coming into my home and trying to fool me into believing otherwise.”
“Bloody hell. I am so tired of being accused of trickery. Listen to me carefully because my patience in this matter is wearing very thin. As I understand it, the prophecy says you need to draw the virgin’s blood of a flame-haired woman. Not a specific flame-haired woman. I believe I have the key to your happiness, but she needs some assurances. Actually, she might also like to know your name.”
“What kind of assurances?”
This was promising. He hadn’t been told Walter to go to hell.
“Just two. You won’t keep her prisoner and if she’s not the right flame-haired virgin, you won’t take your anger out on her.”
“Where did she get the idea she’d need those assurances?”
“Look, you do have a bit of a temper, and the woman and child upstairs are testament to that. I was not going to ask Eadlin to consider involving herself without giving her an honest view of the situation.”
The dragon let out a long sigh. “What if I can’t give these assurances?”
“Then I will have to find another way to gain Freya and Daisy’s freedom.”
Taite Pendragon took a few moments to consider what the meddlesome spirit had told him. He walked over to the bookshelf and retrieved the parchment with the prophecy. The little bastard did have a point. It didn’t actually specify any particular flame-haired virgin.
Guilt overwhelmed him as he realised how badly he’d messed up so many lives.
“Oh stop with the self-pity. It’s tiresome and entirely not helpful. I’m still waiting for your name. Even if Eadlin doesn’t feel the need for it, I’m tired of mentally referring to you as the dragon, or the creature, or whatever else pops into my head.”