Tsugi glanced between them, feeling a little out of place.

“Oh.” Lugo cleared his throat. “Tsugi, this is Darwin, the keeper of dragons.” He gestured to the dwarf. “And Darwin, this is Tsugi.”

“So you’re Tsugi!” Darwin’s eyes widened with excitement. “I’ve heard so much about you! Come on inside!” He waddled back to the giant tree and opened the door at the base of it.

Tsugi and Lugo had to duck a little to not bang their heads. Inside the ceiling was just tall enough for Lugo to stand upright, he just had to watch out for the archways and chandeliers so as not to conk his head.

“Would you like anything to drink?” Darwin asked. “Ale for Lugo I presume?”

“Yes please.” Lugo nodded and sat on the couch.

“And you Tsugi?”

“Uh – just water is fine.”

“Okay, two ales and just water, coming right up.” He grinned and walked behind the bar, filling three cups. “How was the flight?” Darwin asked as he placed the goblet in front of each of them. He sat himself down in the chair and took a gulp of ale.

“Amazing.” Lugo said downing his ale as though he had just escaped a month in the desert.

Darwin and Tsugi both eyed Lugo. “Arzo worked you up that much?” Darwin chuckled, and proceeded to get off the chair.

“No.” Lugo held out a hand to stop Darwin. “I’ll get it. I know where it is. You sit and relax. It’s your house.”

“Very well.” He sat back in his chair and took another gulp. “Did he show you the trust fall?” He tilted his head at Lugo.

“Yes, he did.” Tsugi grinned. “Scared the crap out of me when he did it. I didn’t even know what the heck he was doing.”

Darwin laughed, “yeah, he finds it hilarious to give people heart attacks.” He frowned. “Did you at least enjoy the flight?”

“Yes! I enjoyed it very much, thank you.”

“Are you sure you don’t want something else besides water? I’ve got wine too, if you prefer wine.”

“Uh-” Tsugi chuckled. “No, I tend to black out whenever I drink.”

“Oh, I see. No worries. Just wanted to offer.”

“Okay.” Lugo returned to his seat. “Ruzo’s outside playing with the baby dragons.”

“Thank you.” Tsugi mouthed. “So, how did you two meet?” She glanced back and forth between them.

“Well-” Lugo took a swig. “I was down in the desert with Jenene practicing, and then I heard this loud screeching noise. Looking up, I saw a baby dragon falling out of the sky, I teleported it to me and saved its life.”

“Arzo?” Tsugi asked.

Lugo nodded, swallowing another mouthful of ale. “Later that day, Darwin came flying around to look for it and that’s how we met.” Lugo shrugged.

“It was time for the baby dragons to learn to fly.” Darwin explained. “Arzo was the runt and when they pushed him off, they waited but he never came back up. They didn’t notify me until afterwards.”

“You can talk to dragons?” Tsugi sat up listening with keen interest.

Darwin chuckled. “No. It’s just like how you would communicate with any animal. Animals are all about body language.”

“And how did you become the keeper of dragons?”

“I was actually out researching dragons, and I was lost in the desert. They were actually the ones that saved me, and I’ve been taking care of them since.”

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

Tsugi laughed. “You say that like you are so old.”

“I’m not. I’m still quite young at only 1356 years.”

Tsugi’s mouth gaped open in shock. “Seriously?”

“Yes.” He chuckled. “Dwarfs tend to live to 3000 years or so. I guess you could say I’m almost at mid-life.”

“Wow. Well, you are the first dwarf I’ve ever met, so that’s pretty interesting. Okay – so tell me, what has Lugo been telling you about me.”

“Hmm?!” Lugo sat straight up and swallowed his ale. “I didn’t say anything!” His voice squeaked as he turned to Darwin, furiously shaking his head.

“Have you been talking crap about me?” Tsugi glared at Lugo.

“You act like I have nothing better to do with my life than to talk about you.” Lugo rolled his eyes.

Darwin laughed amused. “Kids.” He mumbled.

“We’re not kids!” Tsugi asserted. “We’re adults!”

“Well, if you are, you certainly don’t act your age.” He laughed.

Lugo scratched his head. “You know, Ellie says the same thing too.” He looked at Tsugi. “Do we really behave like kids?”

“Even if we do, it’s always good to stay young at heart.” She said haughtily.

“That’s true.” Darwin nodded. “Don’t grow up too fast. For humans, life will pass by in the blink of an eye, and then you will regret not spending it smiling more often.” He finished his goblet and set it down. “Now, who’s hungry?”

And as if right on cue, both their stomachs growled, realizing they haven’t had anything to eat all day.

“Alright then.” Darwin snapped his fingers and a whole course meal appeared on the table in front of them.

“Whoa!” Tsugi exclaimed. “If you can just make food appear with the snap of your fingers, why didn’t you just do that with your drink?”

“Sometimes, having to work for it, makes it taste better.” He smiled. “And on that note.” He snapped his fingers again and refilled Lugo’s goblet. “Feast!” He gestured to the table.

They ate, talked and laughed about all their adventures, swapping stories and legends.

Darwin set his goblet down on the table. “Did you know that the last time Lugo was here, he got so drunk he woke up the next day and found himself perched in the tree?” He laughed and pointed up.

Tsugi looked up, befuddled, but then soon remembered that they were sitting inside a tree. “Really?”

“No!” Lugo shook his head in denial. “I purposely climbed up there!”

“Really?” Darwin raised an accusing eyebrow. “Was that why you looked so confused when you fell off?”

Tsugi gasped. “You fell off?” She laughed.

“No. I jumped down.”

“I guess you planned to land on your head then.” Darwin snapped his fingers and refilled their goblets.

Lugo opened his mouth, but closed it again, at a loss for words. He huffed and downed his goblet.

“Unless you want to repeat that situation, you might want to slow down.” Darwin nodded his head gesturing toward Lugo’s cup of ale.

“I still feel perfectly fine, thank you very much.” He said and reached out his empty goblet for Darwin to refill it again.

“If you say so.” Darwin shrugged one shoulder and snapped his fingers again. “Just don’t blame me later.”

And just like that, within a few moments, Lugo was slurring his words and wobbling side to side, trying to tell a story about how he saved Arzo for the tenth time.

“Alright –” Tsugi sighed. “Darwin, do you have spare bedrooms? Looks like we won’t be going back tonight.”

“I do, but I don’t have guests, so I only have one, is that okay?”

Great, that meant she would have to put up with this drunk idiot.

Tsugi sighed, rubbing her forehead. “Yes, that’s fine. Thank you.”

“It’s just through that door right there. I’ll clean up, you two go on to bed.” Darwin snapped his fingers, and all the dishes and goblets disappeared. “There, all done.” He chuckled and hopped off his chair. “Good luck.” He whispered and shot a glance at Lugo, who was talking to a wooden statue of a dragon in the corner, before retiring to his room.

“Thanks.” Tsugi blew out all the air from her lungs and took in a deep breath before approaching Lugo. “Come on. Time for bed.” She tugged on his arm.

“Nnno.” He slurred. “I’m shtill talkin’ to this guy – right here.” He swayed, leaning on the statue again.

“That’s just a statue, Lugo.”

“Shhh!” He pressed his finger to Tsugi’s lips and whispered. “You’ll hurt – its feelin’s”

“Well, I apologize, mister – er – miss dragon if I have offended thee.” Tsugi bowed with a sly smirk on her face.

“Thank you – thank you for apologizing.” Lugo hiccuped. “Bein’ polite – is always the way to go. Smile and spread joy!” He laughed. “Smile and laughter – will make the world a better place.” He mumbled.

“Okay. I think the dragon has gone to bed, so we should too.” Tsugi said, placing Lugo’s arm around her shoulders, and leading him toward the bedroom.

“Not yet!” He threw his arm off and stumbled outside. Tsugi sighed and went after him. “Ruzo!” Lugo slurred, stumbling toward the giant warwolf, who was lying down beside the tree. Ruzo’s ears perked up and his tail wagged at their approach. “I love you buddy.” Lugo opened his arms and slammed himself into Ruzo’s shoulder, making himself nearly disappear into Ruzo’s fur. “You’re such a good boy. You’re so loyal – and smart – and you take good care of Tsugi. You are awesome.” Lugo turned around and slumped to the ground, leaning against Ruzo.

Tsugi chuckled at the sight of the affectionate, drunk Lugo. “Jeez.” She muttered. “Am I like this when I drink too?” Shaking her head, she walked over to lift him up. “Alright, bed time, come on. Up-up-up.” She grunted and lifted him to his feet.

“Wait!” He shrugged her off again.

“Now what?”

Lugo walked over and stood in front of Ruzo. He reached both arms up toward Ruzo’s face, pouting and wiggling his fingers like a child wanting to be picked up. Ruzo tilted his head and stared at Lugo, before lowering his nose to him. Lugo embraced Ruzo’s muzzle and placed a big kiss on his nose. “Oooh-” Lugo wiped his mouth. “wet nose.”

“Alright, you’re all done now, let’s go to bed.”