The dragon merchant is no longer in the middle of the market. I find him parked by the last stalls, the crowd around him gone. I peer into the cart. There is only one dragon left, and two eggs. The dragon is cute. No bigger than a kitten, with sparkling purple scales and two little horns. It yawns and curls into a ball, closing its eyes.
“Tis all I got for this season, not sure when I can get more,” the merchant says. “Best to get one now while you can.”
“I can’t have a dragon where I’m from,” I tell him, regrettably. “I just wanted to see one.”
“Then move on and make way for real customers,” he snaps.
Well, that was rude.
I turn and only take a few steps when Poplyn appears in front of me, making me jump.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be following…A,” I say to avoid saying her name in case anyone is eavesdropping.
“A fine.”
I’m glad he realises what I’m doing and doesn’t use her name. “She better be.”
Poplyn points to the cart with the dragons. “Buy for A.”
I fold my arms, looking down at the little rogue. “It will be pretty pointless since she can’t take it back home.”
“A get pass because of what A did. A love dragon. A wants it. A have it.”
I pause. Would border control really allow Ashlyn to have a dragon? She did save the world. Maybe they really would let her have a dragon, especially a teacup dragon that can be easily hidden. We are fairly secluded where we live. And they did let her have Thistle. I saw the longing in Ashlyn’s eyes when she talked about the dragons. Imagine what she would think of me if I was the one to give her her dream pet.
But how to pay? I don’t want to pay with her money. Maybe the merchant would be willing to trade. What, I’m not sure yet, but I might regret it if I never ask.
Poplyn shoves me in the leg.
“Okay, okay.”
I turn and make my way back to the merchant. He looks at me with a raised eyebrow. “Change your mind?”
“Do you only take coin for the dragons, or are you willing to trade?”
He looks at me sceptically. “Thought you said you couldn’t have one back home?”
“I might have been wrong about that. So, do you trade?”
The merchant’s eyes travel over me before sliding to Poplyn. “I’ll take your elf.”
Poplyn huffs and bares his teeth at the merchant.
As much as I would love to get the little biter out of my hair, he isn’t mine to exchange. “Sorry, I can’t do that. Is there something else?”
The merchant rubs his chin. “Your voice sounds pleasant enough. I’ll take your voice.”
My eyebrows shoot up. Not what I was expecting. “I’ll sing you a song if you want, but you can’t have my voice.”
The merchant screws up his nose. “One song is not enough for a dragon. These are a rare species and worth a great deal. How about a memory?”
“No memory,” Poplyn snaps.
The merchant sneers at the elf.
“I’m with him. No memory. I need them all.”
“How about a little blood then?” The merchant suggests. “You won’t even miss it.”
I’m the one to eye him sceptically now. Why would he want my blood?
“No blood,” Poplyn says. “He slave you with it.”
I choke out a gasp, shocked he could do such a thing. “No blood!”
“Perhaps your little elf friend should disappear for a while,” the merchant grits out through his teeth.
“He’s fine right where he is.” I can’t believe it, but I’m actually glad he is with me. Who knows what mess I might have gotten myself into if he wasn’t.
The merchant clenches his jaw. After a minute he says, “Well if you do not want to give me something of yours, perhaps you will be willing to retrieve something for me.”
“I’m listening.”
“I will trade an iridessa bird for a dragon egg.”
I have no idea what an iridessa bird is, but catching a bird doesn’t sound difficult. “Where will I find such a thing?”
The merchant pulls out a map, handing it over. I examine it. The bird doesn’t seem hard to get to, but I don’t know the land, there might be some surprises that make it more complicated.
Poplyn snatches the map out of my hand, studying it. “Can get. Back before sun down.”
“You’re certain?”
“Certain.”
I look back to the merchant. “What’s this bird look like?”
“It is a greyish white, about the size of a duck,” he explains. “I’m sure your elf has seen one before.”
Poplyn nods.
“Right.” I fold the map and place it in my coat pocket. “We’ll return by sundown.”
“I won’t wait if you’re not here.”
“Fair enough.” I look down at Poplyn. “Let’s go.”
We meet Ashlyn at the sleigh. She glances at my empty hands but doesn’t say anything.
“I need to go and get Aunt Lynda and Hemlin’s wedding present from a shop in the village,” she tells me.
“Are you sure? I thought you were avoiding the village?”
“I have a friend who works at the shop I wish to visit. I trust her. She won’t tell anyone I’m here, and I’d like to catch up.”
“Do you want me to go with you?” As eager as I am to get this iridessa bird, if Ashlyn needs me, I’m there.
“I’ll be okay.”
I nod. “Poplyn has something he wants to show me, so we’ll make our own way back to Lyndaria’s. Unless you think you’ll need him?”
Ashlyn eyes Poplyn with suspicion. “What are you up to?”
Poplyn holds up his hands innocently. “Nothing.”
She looks like she doesn’t believe him. “I don’t need him, but are you sure you want to go with him?”
“It’s okay,” I tell her.
She eyes Poplyn once more before nodding.
After we see Ashlyn off, Poplyn pulls out the map.
“This way,” he says, heading toward the trees.
I follow, praying that trusting the little elf isn’t a mistake.
(Stay tuned for Chapter Fourteen!)
© Rochelle L. Sharpe, 2026.
Rochelle L. Sharpe 