Page 102 of Tiger's Voyage

“Step back, Kelsey,” Kishan warned softly.

I moved back as both he and Ren took a step forward and angled their bodies slightly toward me, ready to defend me from attack. The dragon shook its head, and its mighty black beard swayed and settled. Its great jaw opened, and a long red tongue rolled out as if tasting the air and then retreated back, curling into its gaping, toothy mouth.

The boat suddenly listed to one side and then the other. Kishan and Ren stood their ground and steadied me as the boat settled. I turned briefly and saw that the dragon had draped its long body on the outside of the yacht. Ren and Kishan never took their eyes off the dragon. The creature shuddered delicately, and its pointed, black-tufted ears turned toward the stars as if listening to a message only he could hear.

Its jaws opened slightly almost as if smiling at me, and I heard a voice in my head echo like tinkling bells, “Mngh, w jiào Lóngjn.”

I blinked and looked up at Ren, who whispered, “It said, ‘Fierce tigers, my name is Lóngjn, the Dragon of the West.’”

Kishan took a step forward and spoke several words in Mandarin. Ren softly translated, “He asked if the great dragon could also speak English.”

I heard the tinkling voice in my head again, and the dragon opened its mouth and bobbed its head up and down as if it was laughing.

Yes. I can speak in this tongue as well, though it’s not as pretty as my own.

The eye blinked, and I watched the fluttering lashes in fascination.

You come to ask a favor of me. Do you not?

“We do,” I voiced tremulously.

Name your favor, and I will name my price.

We shifted uncomfortably. Ren asked, “If the price is too high, can we negotiate?”

Yes.The long forked tongue rolled out to taste the air near Ren. Ren stood his ground, and the tongue retreated.

“Fine,” Kishan said. “We seek Durga’s Black Pearl Necklace.”

Ah, then you must visit my brothers. I can show you how to find them,in exchange—“In exchange for what?” I asked hesitantly.

The dragon shifted its body while thinking, and the ship lurched to one side. I fell heavily against Ren, but he easily caught and righted me.

The item you need to find my brothers is in my sky palace. One of youwould have to accompany me there to retrieve it.

Kishan responded, “That’s fine. I’ll go.”

But wait, the dragon said.If you wish to take it with you, you must giveme something in exchange. A moment while I consider. Ah, yes. One of mystars has dimmed. You may repair it.

“You want us to repair a star? How do we do that?” I asked.

How is something you must decide.

“Okay, then how do we get up there?”

This time, when the head turned, its long tongue curled out to taste the air near me.

Are you brave, young lady?

Ren murmured quietly, “She’s the bravest woman I know.”

I turned to stare at him, but he was still looking at the dragon. The great beast made a sound in our minds, the equivalent of a dragon grunt, I suppose.

If the three of you have the courage, you may ride the stars on my back.

I nodded and had taken several steps forward before both Ren and Kishan put an arm out to stop me. Kishan said, “We’ll go, Kelsey. You stay here.”

“You know you’ll need me. I’ll have both of you with me. It will be okay.”