The Witch of the Western Gate: Dragon's Gift Read Free Page B

separated years ago and Rose now lived in the Ireland. Blue was old enough to stay alone when her father was away on business and she enjoyed the solitude. Cormac was a powerful sorcerer of the McChesney Clan, which had druidic ties in Ireland and Scotland. Sometimes he returned home exhausted and smelling of brimstone. He was clearly up to something.
    Aunt Violet arrived just as Blue got the dragon out of the crate and onto the kitchen floor. It was a struggle to tape the dragon's jaws shut, but he was immobilized now, and held tightly against Blue's chest.
    "I don't feel any broken bones," said Aunt Violet, prodding and stroking his wing. "He probably just has a torn muscle or bad sprain, plus this ugly burn." She smeared the burn with medicinal oil then folded his wing up against his body and wrapped it snugly with a warm herbal compress tucked against it.
    "We can't wrap this too tight, the blood needs to circulate freely, but its best if there is some support, and he must give it a rest. You will have to change the bandages and apply more medicinal ointment twice each day."
    It was useful having a nurse in the family. Aunt Violet was gifted at healing. Besides her job as a visiting nurse, she ran a little shop in town, called The Grey Owl Shoppe. Aunt Violet was a petite woman in her early 40's with flaming red curls cut short. Her nose was too pointy but somehow fit well in her pretty, fine boned face. People mostly remembered her smile and violet blue eyes. Yet her smile rarely reached those lovely eyes, for she had been unlucky in love and had lost her only beau years before. Aunt Violet was better than most witches at hiding her special talent -- healing -- since she was a nurse. She worked as a visiting nurse and ran her own unique gift and tea shop. In her store Aunt Violet sold subtle medicinal teas and charmed gifts, along with charmed cookies, and herbs.
    The dragon stopped struggling once Blue stroked his head and telepathically communicated their intentions to him. She let the dragon know that he would be fed and cared for and released as soon as his wing healed. That calmed the dragon and he nuzzled Blue's hand with his soft nose and leaned toward her with his eyes closed. Aunt Violet began to gently massage the little dragon's wing, moving healing energies through. The dragon made soft snuffling sounds and it was apparent that whatever Aunt Violet was doing felt good.
    "Took. I'll name him Took," said Blue, "After the most adventurous line of Hobbits. He looks like a Took, doesn't he?"
    "I suppose he does," laughed Aunt Violet. "I've never seen such a creature before. Dragons don't live around here. But anything strange is always drawn to Smokey Hollow. Once his wing is better and you release him, little Took will find where he's going. Best if the Paranormal Council doesn't know about this. They take a dim view of anything different."
    Blue nodded in agreement, "Yes, Grandpa Lou already pointed that out. He says the Council would kill Took if they find him. I'll put him in the sunroom, in the fountain there, and lock the door. We don't want anyone from the Council to see him tomorrow, when they come for the meeting."
    "Sounds like a good plan," replied Aunt Violet.
    "I have to run back to The Grey Owl Shoppe now," said Aunt Violet. "A tour bus will be arriving in an hour and they are having dinner at the Pinehurst Hotel and desert at my shop. I'll see you tomorrow morning before the Council meeting and I'll bring cookies," Aunt Violet called as she hurried out the door.
    Blue heard LeRoy fluttering down the stairs. He was an ancient crow that had been in Blue's family for at least a couple hundred years, a crazy long time for a crow to live. He was an enchanted bird but no one knew his full story, only that he had belonged to Blue's Great-Great grandfather Cullen McChesney and was old even then. True to his breed, LeRoy was both sociable and crotchety. LeRoy could carry on a conversation like any other