Ice Dragon Read Online Free PDF Page B

have turned out quite differently.
    Roland felt the tingling heat in his sore side and then the easing of his pain, accompanied by her expenditure of energy. She leaned against him a moment and he pulled his good wing around to steady her.
    Are you all right?
    “That’s what I should be asking you.”
    You’re swaying on your feet. You need to stop feeding me all your energy, Lana. We have a long flight ahead of us.
    “Not too long, I hope.”
    I promise I’ll stop when I need to stop.
    She straightened in the embrace of his warm, enveloping wing. “All right then. That’s about all I can do for now. Make frequent stops, Roland, and I’ll check you over each time we land.”
     
    They did not encounter any more of Salomar’s men on their way out of the mountains, though Roland moved much slower than he would have wished. Still, he found them a secure perch for the night and the temperature, while still well below freezing, was just a touch warmer the farther south they flew.
    Lana curled up at his side again, seeking his warmth and sharing her energy with him unconsciously as she slept. It was a different sort of energy—one that wouldn’t drain her—or he would have put a stop to it.
    She gave so much of herself to heal his grave wounds when she was awake, he wouldn’t stand for her doing the same while asleep. But this was different. This was an exchange of energy on a whole other level. She fed from his vast strength as she returned healing energy to him. He powered her and she healed him. It was slow, but it was definitely beneficial.
     
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    When he woke in the morning to find her tucked against his side, he felt much, much better. Roland liked the feel of her close to him, sharing his warmth, and he realized he just plain liked her. A lot. After waking like a sleepy kitten next to his warm body, she examined him, giving of her own energy in the only way she had known to this point, to help speed his healing even more.
    They reached the foothills by afternoon and were able to fly lower, where the air was warmer. Tor enjoyed the comparatively warm updrafts, frolicking like the enormous child he was as Roland looked on with indulgence. Riding securely on his back as if she’d been born a knight, Lana screeched and laughed with her young friend, enjoying every swoop and dive the agile youngster put her through.
    Roland was getting stronger too, but it was slow going. Without Lana and her care, he would have died of his wounds, so grievous they had been. Recovery was going amazingly fast with Lana’s attentions, but he was still not in the best shape. He had them stop on a grassy hill, only partially covered with dots of snow so he could rest. Tor pounced on a rabbit for Lana’s lunch and Roland obliged by lighting a fire in the kindling she gathered so she could cook the rabbit to her liking.
    Tor ambled off to hunt and brought back a wild goat for him. Roland tore into it with hunger. He realized, only then, it had been days since he’d eaten. While dragons could survive for weeks when necessary without food, it wasn’t easy, and though raw mountain goat wasn’t his favorite dish, it would do in a pinch.
    He polished off the goat while Lana daintily ate the rabbit she’d cooked, throwing the bones and bits she didn’t want to Tor. They were a good team, he realized, recognizing the habits of old friends who had a familiar routine.
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    We could stay here tonight, Roland sent the thought to his companions.
    Lana shrugged. “I could do with a rest and the fire is nice.”
    It won’t keep you warm all night, though.
    She smiled up at him. “But you will, won’t you? I like sleeping at your side, Roland. It’s like sleeping next to a furnace.”
    I like it too, little Lana. You are welcome in my bed anytime. Only Roland knew the full implication of his words, but the time was coming when he would reveal himself to her. Soon.
    She laughed and settled her small pack on the