Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 41518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
Argenis trusted his long-term employee. His father and grandfather still lived and worked on the estate. Argenis shared with Ciel that visiting these men was on his list to do that day.
“Just in case, stay near the house today,” the dragon declared.
He would talk to the new men. Dragons could smell lies. He would take care of any problem or clear the haze of wariness away.
Ciel knew from her mate’s expression, he was concerned. Something was off about these men.
“I was going to help with the cheese making today, Daddy. I’ll stay on the path.”
“Not today, Little Sky,” he’d declared with a look that told her not to argue.
Thus, her boredom. She’d had her day all planned out. Now she was stuck in the house or just outside. There was nothing fun to do.
After debating for several swings back and forth, Ciel dragged her sandals on the ground to come to a stop. Immediately, she reached down to brush away the dust from her pretty silver sandals. Argenis had loved her wearing his color. She liked pleasing him.
A dragon shout echoed through green space, and she saw Argenis run into the greenspace. In seconds, the silver dragon soared away. With him out of his office, she decided to dare leaving the play area near the house. Ciel tucked Silly inside the back of her shirt and headed down the hill. She’d need both hands to make cheese. He’ll never know.
“Hi,” Ciel greeted the couple in the barn.
“Hi, Ciel. Did you come to sample some cheese?” the woman asked.
“I’d hoped you’d let me help. Is there anything easy I could do? I’d hate to mess something up.”
“Of course. We can always use another pair of hands. Today, we’re scooping up the curds into a mold and placing weights on them to press out the moisture. Are you feeling strong?” the man asked.
“Sure. Just show me.”
Soon, Ciel wore an apron and gloves. It was easy to get engrossed in the process. She got the knack of how to heap the curds into the mold so that when she set the weight on top, they would be full. It was messy work and she loved it.
“Good job, Ciel! Thank you for your help. We got everything done so fast today, we can get the vat cleaned and set up for another type of cheese tomorrow,” the woman praised her.
“I can help with that,” Ciel rushed to volunteer.
“Thank you, but that’s a two-person job. You’re welcome back any other time to help us,” the man said with a smile.
“Okay.” Taking her apron and gloves off, Ciel laid them neatly on the counter. On her way back to the mansion, she stopped to watch the baby goats. They were so cute bouncing around.
Grinning, she turned to go back up the incline. She was almost there when she ran into them.
“That’s her. That’s the silver dragon’s mate,” the rough man announced.
Just the sight of them warned her that they were up to no good. She opened her mouth to scream, but they were on her before she could let out a peep. She concentrated with all her might and screamed one word in her mind as they gagged and tied her up.
Argenis!
One man threw her over his shoulder, and they ran toward the rocks. He jerked her off his shoulder and thrust her toward the side of the mountain. Were they going to bash her against the stone? She dug the toes of her shoes into the ground trying to slow herself down and felt one sandal rip off her foot.
Where are…
She closed her eyes anticipating pain and felt the bite of rocks scraping the skin of her back and front. Flashing her eyelid open, she discovered she was being pushed inside a very narrow opening. As she emerged on the other side, someone held her roughly. When the same man grabbed her and threw her back onto his shoulder.
The rest of Argenis’s worried response never arrived as they dashed into a tunnel hidden in the craggy rock. The man carried her deeper and deeper into the darkness lit only by flickering torches. The others extinguished the light behind them.
Finally, one spoke, “Surely, he can’t hear us here.”
“You going to guarantee that?” another asked.
“Put her in the box,” the first one directed.
At the sight of what looked like a big footlocker, Ciel fought the rough ropes tied around her wrists and ankles. It did no good. Soon, the top slammed into place and she heard the latches lock into place.
Argenis!
There was no response.
Daddy?
When that also was met with silence, Ciel panicked and tried to shift over onto her back. Landing on the soft stuffie she’d tucked into her shirt a few hours ago, she froze. Silly was here. Ciel concentrated on getting her breathing under control. She wasn’t alone. Argenis was coming. He’d find her if he had to destroy the whole mountain.