My eyes widened at Indigo’s words. First I understood her, and now I smelled like a dragon? Yet, I didn’t say anything.

Lady Borsal chuckled. “She has lots of dragon magic around her right now.” She caught my eye. “Don’t worry, it will wear off over time as it sinks in.”

The Cat nodded. “You do smell a little like a dragon, but like she said, as it sinks in it will fade.”

There were still two presents to go, and I didn’t know how someone was going to top this, or even come close.

Indio jumped in the air, flying around the table a few times chirping. Lord Bennit tracked her movements. Her voice sounded soft in my mind. Best gift!

I chuckled at her antics.

Alas picked up a large box wrapped in a blue cloth. “Well, I hope you like my gift.” He held it out to me with one hand.

I went to take it, but it was heavier than I expected and I almost dropped it. Putting it on the table, I carefully untied the cloth and peeked inside. I gasped as I quickly pulled the boots out of the box. I had asked if it was possible to get a pair of boots from him when he’d made the pair for the Traveler. These boots were a deep forest green, with light brown laces that traveled up to the knee.

“These are amazing…” I let my wonder show in my voice.

“They should fit perfectly, and your feet shouldn’t get tired in them.”

I gave him a bright side. “I appreciate the gift! I spend a lot of time on my feet here,” I smiled.

The Cat nodded his head at Alas. I’d bet the two of them had spoken about the gift. Still, these would go with basically any outfit I had, and I did spend most of each day on my feet. Well, each working day.

Lord Bennit picked up the last box and held it out to me. For a split second, he looked uncertain, then it was gone. “I hope you never have to use this, but just in case.”

The Cat’s head snapped to look at the dragon as I took the box.

The present was wrapped in a plain brown paper with a string tie. Inside was a small leaf. It was coated in something that looked like wax, and attached to a thin chain. I didn’t have a clue what it might be. It looked for all the world like a necklace made from a leaf. Lady Borsal’s eyes went wide before she schooled her expression.

“You are a friend of the clan, yet you do not have a dragon roar. Should you ever need our help, crumple the leaf. We will be here, instantly.” His eyes glowed a deep blue, and I felt the words roll through my bones.

“Thank you, I will wear it every day.” This was unexpected. Even Indigo looked intrigued.

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No need, I here, she chirped.

Lord Bennit shook his head lightly. “Stranger things have happened, little one. Remember, we protect our friends, and our friends protect us.”

Indigo landed on the table and nudged the side of my arm. No harm! her voice wobbled, and I quickly set the leaf down and picked her up.

“Don’t worry, nothing is going to happen to me. Between the Cat, the shop, and the dragons, I’m probably the most protected person in the Tree” Indigo trembled as I hugged her to my chest. “I will be fine.” Warmth rose all around me from the table and the walls. The dragons looked on with interest.

I set Indigo back on the table and motioned to the large cake. “Guess what?”

Indigo chirped once.

“It’s cake time!” I said.

Her green eyes grew wide, and she twisted about to look at the cake in the center of the table.

The cake had chocolate frosting with purple writing on it saying Happy Birthday. A tiny purple dragon was on the side, flying.

“We have candles,” mentioned the Cat. A small box of birthday candles sat near his paw. “Just blow them out quickly.”

I knew the shop didn’t like open flames, so I nodded and quickly stuck three of them in the cake's top. I wasn’t going to put my actual age on there. Three was good enough. Though, I didn’t have a lighter.

Lady Borsal caught my eye and reached out. All three candles blazed to life.

Then Alas started singing Happy Birthday in a soothing voice, and the others quickly joined in, even the Cat.

I couldn’t believe they had done this for me. As soon as the song was done, I blew out the candles, and Indigo danced in place on the table, excited for cake.

Plates appeared, along with forks and a knife. “I’ll cut everyone a slice.” The first slice I set in front of the little dragon. It was almost as big as her. Her look was worth it. “This is a special day, so you get an extra big slice. This isn’t a normal slice,” I warned her. The cake was chocolate with a white frosting on the inside. It had three thick layers, and the center layer also had chocolate chips.

Indigo nodded carefully, inching closer to the plate.

For everyone else I asked how much they wanted. Lord Bennit shrugged, so I cut him what I considered a good-sized piece of cake. The same for Lady Borsal.

“What kind of cake is this?” asked Alas.

“Looks like chocolate, with both chocolate and vanilla frosting, plus some chocolate chips.”

He nodded, but it was clear he probably hadn’t had a cake like it before. He got the same sized slice as the two dragons.

For the Cat, I didn’t ask and just cut him the same amount as me; a good slice, but not too big. The Cat and Indigo didn’t get forks, while I passed out utensils to the rest of us.

The first bite was heaven. Sweet, but not too sweet, mostly a good rich chocolate.

Indigo growled in joy, her whole snout shoved into the cake. Icing covered her scales, but she went in for another bite.

I chuckled at her excitement and pleasure. The rest of us ate much neater and slower, but with no less delight.

“So, this is birthday cake,” muttered Lord Bennit. “I learn something new every day.”

“Do you not celebrate birthdays?” I asked.

“When dragons reach the age of majority, we hold a gathering, but not yearly.” He nodded at the cake. “I like the idea of cake.”

“Everyone loves treats,” added Lady Borsal.

Lord Bennit looked thoughtful.

Indigo pulled back from the cake, not even half of it gone, and she slumped to one side, her stomach round.

“Usually, she eats more than that.”

Lady Borsal chuckled. “She should be sleeping, but she didn’t want to miss your birthday party. Growth spurts will be more frequent as she learns to use her magic.”