overwhelming. Kneeling down at the edge of the water, he leaned forward to see the stones more clearly. He placed his hands in front of him to steady himself, his palms flat on the sandy bed of the stream, the water lapping at his wrists. The blue stones appeared to be moving, slipping further out into the current away from him. Cowald suddenly felt very anxious that the stones would wash away and he may never understand their mysteries. He shifted his weight and leaned farther out over the water to keep them in sight.
The blue lights floated with the current, shifting and dancing, but never quite changing position. Cowald stretched his hand out to try and grasp one of the stones, but it was just out of his reach. He crawled out into the water but couldn’t seem to close the distance between himself and the blue stones. As he drew his hand from the water to reach for them again, he noticed that the water rose with his arm and encircled his wrist as though his hand was still submerged. It was a strange experience to watch the water cling to his skin like a child at its mother’s skirts. He turned his hand over and stared in awe as the water twirled with his movements.
A winged shadow passed over him, and he heard a distant roar. As adrenaline coursed through his veins, he glanced up at the sky in fear. He caught sight of a dragon through the foliage and froze, eyes closed and heart pounding. As he broke eye contact with the blue stones, clarity flooded his senses and suspicion crept into his mind. Something was wrong; water doesn’t cling to skin. Cowald panicked. He tried to lunge backward and get away, but he could not tear his hands from the water. It felt as though there were chains around his wrists, but no metal cut into his skin. He felt himself being pulled toward the middle of the stream. He scrambled for purchase with his knees, to no avail. His arms were jerked out from under him and his face plunged into the cold water. He was able to lift his head from the stream long enough to scream before tendrils of water coiled up his torso and wrapped around his neck, pulling him down toward the five blue stones.
Chapter 2
____________
An Odd Departure
The sudden bitterness of the cold met Osric’s face and hands when he appeared at the field in Lothaine. His thoughts drifted as he pondered Bridgett’s journey to the Grove of the Unicorns, wondering what mysteries Gus might be able to uncover. He fondly recalled how Gus had finally begun to treat him with respect, and the last few moments he had spent with Bridgett, looking into her eyes and kissing her hand as he held it in his own. He had to shake off the feeling of loneliness that hit him suddenly as he gazed out at the snow covered landscape.
“Don’t tell me the warmth of Braya turned you soft?” Kenneth slapped Osric’s shoulder with a smile.
Osric turned and grinned back. “No, I guess I just wasn’t prepared for the suddenness of the change,” he said quietly, thankful for the excuse the cold provided. Focus, he berated himself. Holding his hand up to shade his eyes and squinting at the brightness of the snow, he scanned the landscape. He caught sight of what he was looking for a fair distance to his left and behind them. Greyback popped her head up, gazing at the two of them in joyful surprise.
“Oh, Osric, it’s so nice to see you and Kenneth again!” Greyback greeted them with a familiar, frightful smile. Her cheerful voice echoed between the nearby trees.
“We’re glad to see you too.” Osric smiled as he turned to walk toward Greyback. He appreciated the friendly greeting. Thinking through the possibilities for their near future, it would be nice to have friends, and he couldn’t have asked for greater allies than the dragons.
“How’s the wing?” Kenneth smiled as he made his way toward the massive dragon. He reached up and held Greyback’s wide face between his hands and took a good, long look at her. “You look healthy as a hatchling. You seem to have a bit more color in your scales as well,” Kenneth said, glancing back at Osric with a wink.
“Oh, you really are too kind.” Greyback batted her eyes and smiled again. “I have been eagerly awaiting your return.” She gazed,