Belmardina returned to the kraat. “I’m sorry I ran. I was scared. How can I help you?”

“Thank the Roc!” The kraat struggled to sit up straight. “My name is Sygdag. Dag for short.” He then gestured to his broken brace, “A single gear came loose as I was coming down that hill. I looked for hours, but I couldn’t find it.”

Belmardina placed the babe gently on the soft soil and turned to look at the brace. The missing gear was immediately noticeable at the inner portion of the knee where the metal was insecure. “Oh, I know!” She said excitedly, reaching into her cloak pocket. She brought forth the single iron drachma and placed it into the empty slot. “It’s a good thing I kept this. I was going to buy some onions for the baby with it.”

Dag suddenly burst out laughing. “Well that’s very fortunate! Kraat are allergic to onions.”

Belmardina blushed, feeling her head go hot with worry. “You mean I could’ve killed that poor baby!” Why oh why did Odd entrust me with him!

“Looks that way, ma’am. Ah—The joint is more stable now, but…” he started to stand, and the makeshift gear began to sneak its way out of the socket. He held it in with a palm, “...now we need something to hold it in. Perhaps we can wrap a cloth about it.”

Belmardina looked at the kraatling. “Sorry, baby. We need to borrow this.” She undid the colorful scarf and wound it tightly enough about the brace to keep the gear in place, but loose enough so that Dag could still bend his knee.

The old kraat walked about slowly, using a crimson-colored sword as a walking stick. “A little wobbly, but perfectly functional.” he declared thankfully. “Now let’s get out of these woods. Follow me.” He began southward. Belmardina gathered up the kraatling and covered it as best she could with her arms and loose fabric from the cloak. Luckily the wind had died down a little, and the babe clung to her arms, falling into another nap.

Though it was cold and eerie, and she was worried about disobeying Odd’s directions, she could not help but find beauty in the dark woods as they walked. The straight, black trunks of the ancient trees stood out starkly against the misty blue air, and flowering mosses brought odd bits of color into the shadowed world.

As she was marveling at Odd’s woods, a low roar that emanated from a large chest came echoing toward them. Shrieking from a different, tiny chest was heard soon after, along with the crush of earth and scattering of leaves.

Dag stood boldly in front of Belmardina and the babe, unsheathing his broadsword. Belmardina considered changing into a dragon, but the trees were so close that she knew she would only get herself stuck.

The little gremlin woman from hours ago ran toward them breathing heavily. She jumped into a nearby bush, her green color and dull brown clothing disguising her perfectly within the leaves and branches. After her came a wolf. Belmardina had never seen a wolf in person—it was far bigger than she had ever imagined. It was so big, in fact, that it came up to the height of her head—yes, this wolf was strangely big.

The wolf lost sight of the gremlin, and its attention turned to the two kraat and the human. Its tail was held high and its hackles were up. It began barking and howling. Belmardina and Dag moved backward, but the canine lowered its head, bared its teeth and started forward. “Alright then. A fight it is.” Dag said, bringing his sword into a fighting stance.

Belmardina looked about frantically for anything she could use to help the brave kraat. As she did so, the babe began to cry, reminding her that she could not simply set it down. How difficult it must be to be a mother! She thought as she watched the scene helplessly, her chest becoming hot as her heart raced.

All at once, the wolf charged, and Dag met it with his sword, aiming for the throat. He slashed it so that blood trickled from a superficial wound. Still undeterred, the beast darted for Dag’s legs, its jaws finding home over the brace. Dag grunted as the teeth squeezed the metal and pulled his talons out from under him. His back hit the dirt, and his sword thrust wildly into the wolf’s chest as it leapt upon him.

The beast was now mortally wounded, but it seemed hellbent on taking the old kraat with it. Belmardina breathing quickened, creating friction in her lungs as she realized the kraat was about to die for her and the babe.

Just as the wolf lunged for Dag’s throat, she felt fire erupt within her chest. “NO!” she bellowed, hot air expelling from within her as she did so. Steam appeared on the cold air about her, billowing around her head and into the trees as the one syllable was born and died in an instant.

The wolf leapt backward as the alarming roar echoed about the trees, rattling its ears. It then ran off dizzily, and was soon lost in the murky blues and blacks of the Deep Woods.

Belmardia immediately collapsed onto her haunches, completely out of breath. Dag slowly made his way to his feet, the dented and mangled brace squeaking hoarsely. He was able to walk, and he came to her side, took her hand, and helped her to her feet. “What was that?” He asked.

“I don’t know—I’ve never done that before. I mean, I can turn into a dragon, but I’ve never had…” she paused as she thought of a term for it, “...fire voice as a human.”

“You can turn into a dragon? Ah! Then, you must be Queen Belmardina, no?”

“Why, yes! How did you know?”

“I’m your husband’s brother. I’ve been travelling to meet with him and his new bride.”

A short while later, after Belmardina had told Dag about Odd and the little kraatling, they arrived at the edge of the Deep Woods. “I don’t understand Odd’s warning though; I didn’t say ‘no’ a third time. Was he wrong?”

“Oh, but you did say ‘no’ a third time, don’t you remember?” Dag laughed lightly, much like her husband. “With your fire voice.”

Belmardina shifted the baby in her arms as it squirmed about happily, its belly full of seeds and insects Dag had crushed for him. “That’s right!” She realized, “What a clever creature Odd is. He not only saved me, but the baby, you… and even that gremlin woman.”

“So, will you keep the baby, then?” Dag asked as they emerged from the trees and into a wide valley. “He seems like a hardy warrior in the making.”

“Oh, I don’t know that I’m ready to be a mother.” She said, smiling at the babe’s beaked face.

Dag scratched the gray feathers about his neck in thought. “Have you made love to Blutgang?”

Belmardina’s eyes grew wide and she blushed wildly. “Made l-! Well, yes… but that’s not proper conversation!”

“No need to be embarrassed, milady. If you and Blutgang love each other enough to express your love physically, then you’re ready to have a baby.” He said earnestly and openly.

Belmardina was not sure whether or not that was fully true, but as far as she and Blutgang were concerned, she felt that it was. “Hmm, I hope he’s ready to be a father then.”