Arion woke early the next morning early to a feeling of hunger. It wasn’t his. The beast was hungry. He would need to feed him today. This made him a bit cross - things between him and Renna were just getting interesting and now he wouldn’t be here for days. Resisting the desire to have fun with her seemed futile - this is why these girls came here in midsummer after all. So he had a chance to show them a good life before… He did not want to think about that. He would pay the price for this indulgence, he knew. He would fight it again, he would lose and then… he would have to mourn. Again. But spring was still far away. And he needed to prepare for the feeding. He got up.

Renna woke up, dressed rather sensibly and went out. Breakfast was set for one. Arion did not seem to be around. As she ate she could hear sounds behind the big double door at the other end of the room. Somebody seemed to be busy there.

She finished her breakfast and went to investigate. When she opened the door her jaw dropped. The big cavern beyond was lit with torches. It was higher than she had suspected, with a large dome roof so far above her that it was obscured by mist. The walls were lined with walkways and bookcases filled with books.

One one side of the room floor was covered with a glittering golden pile. She had heard the stories … but she had never believed them. Apparently they were true. The dragon had a hoard. She went closer to look at it. Arion appeared from behind it and warned, “The beast really does not like anyone touching his hoard, you know…” It was true, but he had not growled at her in his mind. And that was strange in itself. His beast was not himself around this girl.

“I wasn’t going to touch it!” Renna retorted.

“What does it do with it?” She asked.

“The beast sleeps on it of course. It’s his bed…” he said.

“Come, let’s sit by the fire. I need to leave soon and I have to talk to you before I do…”

“Leave?” She asked.

“It’s only for a short while… but … Come, I will explain.” And he headed off towards the fireplace in the parlor.

Renna sat down in the armchair, that was now she felt very much hers and prepared to listen.

“The beast is hungry. I will need to fly out to feed,” he said without beating around the bush.

“But, don’t we eat every day?” Renna asked.

“Indeed, but you know how big my beast is, right? I could never eat enough…”

Realization dawned on Renna, “So my pig wasn’t enough?”

Arion chuckled. “It was for a while… but it was already almost a month ago…”

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He seemed to withdraw, then laughed out loud and said “The beast wants to tell you that it was a tasty pig. Better than others.”

Renna was suddenly annoyed again and vented it promptly, “Yes, that was supposed to be my roast, not yours! I fed it beer hops for taste and added beer to it’s sop so it would have softer meat. And you just ate it right under my nose! I just got the teasing smell…”

Arion laughed for several minutes but then said seriously “This time you are getting nothing, not even a smell. And there is something you need to know.”

He looked at his hands. “I won’t be shifting back for at least 4 days when I come back.”

Renna was surprised. “Why?” She asked.

Arion shrugged, “A whole pig or cow won’t fit in me. The beast will need to digest its food before it can let me come forth again.”

Renna nodded. It made sense.

“So I will have to live with the beast for a while?” She asked.

“Don’t worry, it will sleep on its bed up front for the most time and not bother you at all”, he assured.

Renna realized he must think she feared the prospect. It would be only natural. But… she still wasn’t afraid of the beast. She had actually been hoping to see it again but had not dared to ask. Now she would have several days of nothing else. And no man around her. The prospect was inviting, not scary.

“Alright.” She said,

“And whatever you do, DO NOT touch the hoard. He will cook you and in that shape I don’t have enough control to stop him. I'm serious.” he insisted.

Renna looked at him. He looked genuinely worried. “I promise,” she said.

At that the conversation was at an end and Arion rushed away. Renna followed him out of curiosity. He went to the outer doors but instead of opening the small door he started to unbolt and open the big double doors. It took him some effort to push the heavy gates and Renna decided to pitch in. He threw her one incredulous look when she stepped next to him, but didn’t say anything. The doors were very heavy, so he appreciated the help.

Then he stripped again and flew away. Renna picked up his clothes and took them back in. He would not need them for a while. No reason to leave them outside.

She decided to explore the great cavern as there was nothing else to do. She walked up the walkways, looking at everything. The place had reading corners at intervals where you could sit with a book. She looked at a few books as well, but they didn’t have many pictures and she could not read, so books did not offer much entertainment for her.

Except for one book. It had caught her eye because on its back there was something familiar. It was a depiction very similar to her amulet. She took it out of its shelf and opened the cover. On the front page was another drawing of her amulet and. In its pages she could find a few more drawings but they seemed to be diagrams of something way beyond her comprehension. She would have given anything at that moment to be able to read it.

She couldn’t bear to put it back. “Maybe Arion will read it for me,” she thought and headed back carrying it along.

Lunch was already cold by the time she arrived at the table. She had stashed the book in her room. It was strange to eat alone. Something seemed to be missing.

Before she could finish eating there was a commotion in the other room. She couldn’t resist the curiosity and went to peek at the door. Dragon was back and circling on his bed much like a dog would in preparation of laying down. Then he went down in a cascade of noise from the hoard creaking under the heavy animal and finally let off a huff while lowering its gigantic head on the floor. Its eyelids drooped immediately and soon there was loud rhythmic snoring coming from the beast. Renna starred. The beast was … wonderful. Then she went back to her cold lunch. The beast would be her only company for days. She would have time to see the sleeping beast.