Overhearing Plans...

After having Oswold the Owl introduce him to the delights at the Sugar Plum Bakery, Lil’ Boots had become somewhat of a regular customer.  As a matter of fact, he now spent probably as much time there as in the cave he shared with Allspice and Nutmegg.  “Just a few more pots to scrub and then it’s lunch time,” he thought as he worked for his meal.  

​The Bakery was always short of help and when Lil’ Boots offered to help out in return for meals, they quickly accepted.  “What do I need sheckles for anyway?” Lil’ Boots thought.  “I would only spend it here on food.”

​As he was finishing up and putting away the clean pots, he noticed Aralt, The Herald for the Dragons, was sitting at a table sipping some tea.  “I wonder what he is up to?” he pondered.  “Allspice and Nutmegg talk about him a lot but I don’t think they know what he and Siate’, that she-Dragon are really planning.  Maybe I should follow him to see if I can find out something for them.”  As Lil’ Boots was given his meal in payment for the day, he noticed that Aralt was starting to leave. 

​“He would leave just as I was starting to eat,” grumbled Lil’ Boots as he stuffed most of his meal into his satchel.  “No sense wasting it,” he reasoned as he started munching on one of the sweets that he normally saved for dessert.

​Staying far behind the Herald, Lil’ Boots watched him walk through the Village, stop at a few of the shops, and then begin walking towards an area that Lil’ Boots knew had a lot of caves.  It took all of his skills, but he did not think that Aralt had noticed him as the Herald entered one of the caves.  “Do I or don’t I?” thought Lil’ Boots.  Deciding that he had already come this far, he was going to at least try to see further into the cave before leaving.  As he snuck closer to the entrance, he could see a bright glow just inside.  It was a huge Dragon and she was blowing flames!

​“What do you mean that you haven’t found that little welp?” screamed Siate’ at the Herald.  Lil’ Boots was impressed that Aralt didn’t even flinch as the Dragon spouted flames from her mouth and turned a large rock into a red-hot glowing crystal!  When she finished, Aralt said, “I have searched the entire village, checked with the Wysps, and even had to endure pranks from the Pyksees, but no one has seen him.”

​“He is the key!  I feel it.  He must know something about taking away a Wish Dragon’s magic and I must know what it is before I establish myself as the Queen of Dragons,” growled Siate’ as she stared at the Herald for a time as neither said anything.  “You will bring one of his friends here so that I may talk to them,” she finally decided.  “Don’t take the Dowager or her son, the Baron, but someone that the villagers won’t notice is missing for a while.”

​Not liking the sounds of it, Aralt still knew that he was better off following her instructions than arguing with her.  He saw the proof of that when Siate’ clicked the stone she had just flamed and it turned into a powered pile of dust.

​“As you wish,” was all he said as he left the cave not noticing that Lil’ Boots had seen and overheard all of the conversation and what now knew what Aralt was going to do.