Page 42 of Thorulf
Chapter Sixteen
“WHAT DO YOU mean memories?” little Jade asked. She cocked her head and looked at little Thorulf. “I don’t understand.”
“I mean, we will make memories here.” He jumped around in excitement and nudged her further into the cave. “Forget trying to get you to the Fortress. This will be your new home. Our home.” He puffed up his little chest and sauntered forward, quite pleased with his plan. His idea to make her feel less sad and more welcome. “This will be our lair!”
“Ohh,” Maya whispered, hand to her heart. “You created your lair for Jade.”
“Lair?” little Jade replied before Thorulf could respond. Her teary eyes grew wide with wonder. “I thought only adult dragons had lairs, and even then, you have to pay big money for one.”
He tilted his head in curiosity. “What’s big money?”
“You know,” she eyed the cave curiously, “when you give lots of pieces of paper to someone or promise great magical boons in return for caves on islands out on the big water.”
“Big water?”
Little Jade gestured loosely with the tip of her spiked tail at the ocean beyond the village. “That.”
She said more, but they never heard it because the memory faded.
How could Thorulf have forgotten this? As it had been with every memory, he remembered it as soon as he witnessed it and said as much.
“Me too.” Jade frowned at where Thor and Loki had been moments before. “And it looks like getting more of our questions answered isn't going to happen anytime soon.” She scowled at the lightning flashing across the sky. “Where’d they go? Off to fight another battle without us?”
“It looks that way.” Dagr clearly sensed the godly magic left behind. “Their protection still stands, though.” He looked at Thorulf and Jade. “Everyone should be safe here for now.”
“Which gives us time to discover our truth, I guess,” Jade muttered, eyeing the edge with frustration before she pulled her hand from Thorulf’s and sat on a rock again. “Wish I could say I was looking forward to that.”
“I’m sure it won’t be too bad, sis.” Maya sat beside her, lending moral support. “So far, it’s been pretty endearing and eye-opening.” She nudged Jade’s shoulder with hers. “Just look at how much you’ve learned about yourself so far. You’re a goddess!”
“Well, I always knewthat,” Jade managed, working at a grin, clearly referring to her fit form. Some might be put off by her cockiness, but he liked it. Enjoyed her self-confidence. And truly, she had an admirable form. One he did his best not to focus on at the moment, so he didn’t get aroused again.
“I noticed you never mentioned my father's Stronghold, Jade,” Thorulf said. “And as we just saw, you didn't seem to have any drive to go visit it, only the Fortress.” He cocked his head, curious. “Do you have any memory of it? Or remember me talking about it?”
Jade shook her head. “No, none...” She hesitated and narrowed her eyes as if catching a glimpse of something. “I think you might have mentioned it in passing, but I'm pretty sure you gave me the impression the Fortress was the main place you grew up. Where the bulk of your kin was. Where your parents visited often.”
“It was but not to such a degree,” he replied. “I was at the Stronghold as well and can't imagine why I wouldn't have wanted to bring you there too. I have a lodge at both places.”