Free The Jade Dragon by Rowena May O'Sullivan Page B

anything, it’s her.”
    â€¢ • •
    Gregori stood on gravel in the very center of the long, open section of road and wondered how such an event had occurred. It was a back road to Raven’s Creek. The general public used freeways to get where they were going but locals used this road all the time.
    Suddenly, he felt his familiar Lyzander call to him. The dragon was deeply unhappy and missed him. Gregori reached out to speak with him telepathically, but he dared not call him to his side. Other dragons would be able to track his old familiar.
    â€œIt won’t be long now,”
he soothed.
“Why do you call me?”
    â€œAlbert looks for you. He was sneaky and invisible, but I’m so old, I see things others do not. He hunts for you.”
    â€œDo not worry, my friend. He won’t do anything yet. Just gather your strength for when you’re needed.”
He felt Lyzander’s heart lighten a little.
“Don’t waste time pining for my company. I may need you sooner than you think. Eat, drink and stay at the ready.”
    A hum of a vehicle in the distance ended their conversation. Gregori translocated behind the giant oak, the exact same one the Greenwoods’ car had wrapped itself around, and he waited. Before long, a four-wheel drive vehicle sped down the stretch of road, going too fast, its tires flinging up loose stones behind it like mini missiles as it sped past Gregori.
    Going invisible, Gregori followed.

Chapter Thirteen
    Aden arrived in the courtyard, startling Zelda. He grinned. One didn’t get much over her, so surprising her made him chuckle.
    â€œSome warning of your arrival would have been appreciated. Why are you here?”
    Aden shot her a withering glance. “To recreate a facsimile of the dragon. Rosa sent for me.”
    Zelda nodded. “Good. I’ve already explained to customers that the dragon is away being valued for insurance purposes and will be back shortly. And I’ve repaired the courtyard walls. I figure they’ll stand for several hundred years.”
    Aden eyed the woman Rosa trusted implicitly. He had ample reason not to in the past and he found it difficult to trust her now. “I’ll craft the dragon and Rosa will infuse it with spells. I may need your help.”
    An amused glint appeared behind Zelda’s horn-rimmed glasses. She knew full well how he truly felt about her. “You’re asking for help? From me?”
    Aden controlled the urge to turn the old hag into stone and put her on the lily pad instead. “Assist’ is a better word. I need a piece of jade strong enough to house a bevy of spells. I’m to craft it as close to the original as possible and if needs be, we’ll place Gregori in there.”
    â€œAlanna keeps a supply upstairs.” Zelda cackled like the old crone she resembled. “I imagine she’s going to be too busy for the next couple of weeks to help you, so help yourself.”
    Aden flew up the stairs two at a time to the studio and began to hunt for a suitably sized stone. He picked up piece after piece, weighing each one in his hand, gauging the stone’s ability to absorb magic without cracking, its strength, character, and willingness to be fashioned into the shape of a dragon. Alanna had an amazing collection and he figured there was several thousand dollars’ worth of jade on the shelves in one corner of the room alone.
    He looked around. A ballet bar Beth used was in one corner. There was a pedestal with a lump of stone in the center of the room, near a bench holding a number of sculpting tools. Nothing else. But yet, he sensed there was another piece waiting to be found. He closed his eyes to search with his mind’s eye. A soft green glow formed and it spoke to him.
I am here.
    Aden moved to Alanna’s bedroom and stood in the doorway. It had to be in there or the bathroom. They were the only other rooms on this floor besides the small