“But there are plenty of dragons here who would be happy to take you back to Burkhard.”
Nikki’s purple eyes immediately lit up, and they gazed up at Gunter with the widest smile. “You’re so pretty as a dragon. And just as pretty in your human form. I would like to fly with you.”
Drat!
That same horrible sound which had escaped him when he was first handed Nikki erupted from Gunter’s lips again as the mage wrapped one arm tightly around his waist. Gunter lifted wide, panicked eyes to Alric and then Ravi. He raised both arms up in the air, holding them out from his body. This was unacceptable! He was not a mage babysitter. He had important work to do. Nikki should be in the hands of mages who could help them. Or at least some other dragon who wasn’t constantly called upon by the king. What was he supposed to do with Nikki?
Alric cleared his throat and smiled broadly at Gunter, hints of mischief glinting in his dark blue eyes. “Excellent choice!”
“Hoheit?” Gunter croaked.
“Gunter will carry you safely to Burkhard and keep you safe at the castle.” Alric then turned away, his attention already on their evacuation plan for getting wounded dragons and mages back to Burkhard safely. As it was, the ice dragons were already putting out fires, and dragons were starting back for Germany.
Maybe once he managed to get Nikki settled in the castle, they would feel more comfortable meeting other dragons and mages. By this time tomorrow, Nikki would want nothing to do with a grumpy old dragon like him.
Yes, that sounded like a good idea.
Gunter moved them away from the other dragons and mages so he could safely shift back into his dragon form. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a harness, so he was forced to hold the mage in his arms. Not that Nikki seemed to mind. They cuddled close to him, seeming to soak up his body heat.
In a moment, they were in the air and racing back toward Sonthofen, Germany, and Burkhard Castle. The mage fell asleep before they even reached the German border. That was somewhat reassuring. At least Nikki wasn’t the type to dislike heights, like Tori. The trust in that gesture relieved Gunter. Gunter believed it was a mix of exhaustion and relief at finally being away from the Jaeggi.
And they were kind of cute when they were sleeping and relaxed in his arms. Kind of kittenish. Except this kitten had the power to blow them all to kingdom come. Gunter shuddered as his mind replayed exactly what elements Nikki had slapped together. The sooner Nikki got some professional training, the better and safer it would be for all of them.
Nikki woke when Gunter started to lower them into the castle courtyard. They took everything in with wide eyes and eagerness, but it was tempered with caution. Gunter wasn’t quite sure why. Because it housed mages? Nikki seemed to be wary of them earlier, so that could be it. But something about the castle made them cautious.
Once on the ground, Nikki stuck close, though they no longer clung to Gunter, at least. If they passed anyone, Nikki questioned whether they saw mage or dragon in human form, and their guard stayed up. But their fascination with the castle didn’t wane, their head panning one direction, then the next as they took it all in.
Briefly, Gunter considered placing Nikki in one of the rooms already prepared in anticipation of them locating more mages with the Jaeggi. And then he imagined the castle blowing up because Nikki had been left alone with unknown mages.
No, that wouldn’t work.
There was one set of rooms next to his currently unoccupied. That would do, at least until Nikki got over their fear of other mages. Then they could be moved closer to them at a later date. Yes, that would have to work.
“How many dragons live here?” Nikki asked.
“Normally, there are about fifty dragons. The castle is quite full of visiting dragons from the Valerii Clan, as well as from the Sodalicium,” Gunter replied as they took the central staircase up to his floor.
Nikki’s voice dipped a little softer as they asked, “How many mages live here?”
“That number feels like it’s changing constantly now. For a long time, we had fewer than a dozen. Now, with all the visiting mages and the new mages we’ve discovered, I’d say there are about thirty. Possibly more.”
An “eep” sneaked out of Nikki.
“But none of the mages here will ever harm you. They only want to help you and be your friend,” Gunter argued, but it was like talking to a brick wall. Nikki had no interest in being friends with a mage.
“Do you spend a lot of time with the other mages?”
“Not really. I am the royal researcher and historian, which means I spend most of my days alone in the library.”