‘Your mother did not think that was a good idea,’ the Pooka said.
‘Well then come as a dragon – we can be on television and freak the whole world out.’
‘I don’t think so,’ Tuan said but he smiled and his ears fuzzed up for a moment as if he liked the idea. ‘Be careful in the Real World, my friend.’
Fand walked up to Brendan and said, ‘I am very pleased to have met you, pool-eece-man. It does my heart good to see that at least one of the exiled ones is so well. May the blessings of the Fili live with you – Druid.’ Brendan bowed and Fand placed her hands on his head. ‘And give my regards to your tree-hugging mother.’
Brendan smiled. ‘I will, Your Highness. I can’t wait to tell her that I know the Queen of the Druids.’
‘Are you sure you are up to this?’ my mother asked Essa.
Essa nodded. She had volunteered to act as our sorceress for this journey to return Brendan to the Real World. I was going too.
‘So how old are you anyway?’ I a‘Just in case you fall off your horse, will you dust-it?’
‘It will not kill me, is all you need to know and Tuan has volunteered some dragon blood in case I do.’
‘Thanks, Tuan. I really don’t want to date a wrinkly old grey one.’ Essa actually laughed at that – I was loosening that girl up.
There was one last round of smooching. Essa mounted up and asked if everyone was ready to go, but before we could reply I heard someone in the corridor screeching my name. We all looked as Graysea came bounding around the corner. She spotted me, shrieked and ran directly into my arms.
‘Oh Conor, I have missed you so!’
I tried to say something but couldn’t as she planted her lips onto mine. When I finally was able to remove myself from that kiss of life she said, ‘Did you miss me?’
I didn’t answer; I didn’t get the chance. The last thing I saw was Essa’s banta stick heading towards my right temple – after that everything went black.
