Vaeludar strolled back to the statue, where he saw a small glimpse of the past: the Crystal Dragon fighting Lusìvar. There he found the male clan leader wearing the bear fur.
“Have you been waiting for me?” asked Vaeludar.
“Not for long,” said the clan leader, “If you want, you may rest here for as long as you need. This is my village you have fought with the Shadow King. Please, rest here for a few days. You can resupply and get to know more about us, before you resume your journey south. Consider this as my token of my appreciation for liberating us from his tyranny.”
“Well, I can’t refuse the offer,” said Vaeludar. “I need some sleep myself. But I need to know where Marina and my companions are.”
“Since your companions are your allies, we wanted to know their names and get to know them better, at least. And I know of the tales of Sirens. But this Siren is different than legends say.”
“Okay, no harm done by knowing what was to know about us. Do you know where she is?”
“Yes, but first I want to award you with something else.”
“Please, there is nothing else I could ta—”
“I insist,” said the bear-fur clan leader.
“Okay, show me.”
The clan leader led Vaeludar to the tallest building built a distance to the northeast. It was a circular tower-like building with a ruby glimmering dome. The windows were plastered with dull emeralds, and the stoned walls weakly shined the falling sun’s orange light. The door was long and wide. The clan leader pulled the door open and darkness covered the inside. Then something shined brightly inside.
Gold!
Hordes of gold, emerald, and jewels covered the inside of the building. Several statues picture of long-bearded men hung from the high walls, weapons were plastered beneath each window, and hills of golden coins and precious jewels were dumbed if they were worthless.
“Anything you want, please take,” the clan leader offered.
Vaeludar gazed in awe yet carelessness. He saw mountains of cold in the cave, which had a lot more than this small amount. He wasn’t greedy; the last gift he would accept was gold.
He took a few seconds and pondered the hills of golden treasure, and in one corner his dragon eyes gazed upon a neckless of sapphire pearls and diamonds. Shocked to see something of great value for his beloved Siren, Vaeludar quickly flew over and grabbed the sapphire neckless and exited the building.
“This will do,” he said.
“Is that all?” asked the clan leader.
“Yes, that is all. I’m not greedy like Lusìvar. I’m a freedom fighter, not a power-hungry king who wants to make slaves of other people. And besides, this necklace is a key to my greatest treasure.”
“If you insist,” said the clan leader.
“Thank you. And where is the Siren?”
“She is at the tallest building on the southernmost side of my village. It will have a coyote statue on the roof.”
Vaeludar nodded his head and soared into the air.
“And by the way: my name is Orinù,” shouted the clan leader.
Vaeludar heard the name of the clan leader, whose name was Orinù, before he rose ten feet high above the ground and headed straight for the building he heard Orinù mentioned. He flew to the south side of the village, to try to find the coyote statue. It was a hard thing to find, but eventually, Vaeludar managed to find the house with the coyote statue.
It seemed abandon for years, all wore and torn brick-by-brick. The house didn’t look inviting, but if it is where Marina is at, then it had to be where the Siren is at.
Vaeludar sighed and strolled through the broken door.
The entryway was a long stairway going up. Vaeludar followed the stairway, stepping over fifteen steps and stopped at a dead end. Two doors on the right and the left were what Vaeludar had found. Find it difficult, he used his sniffing to try to smell Marina’s scent, since Sirens do semi-smell like fish such as tuna or salmon, but not a strong recommendation for fish food.
Vaeludar smelt a weakly fish scent coming from the door on the left. He straightened his back and folded his wings and knocked on the door.
“I know you are there,” said Marina’s voice, softly.
Vaeludar never knew Marina would have sensible first guess. Vaeludar fearlessly opened the door, ready to see what was inside. He opened the door at a regular speed, not being fast or slow. And he found a few candles lit by a comfortable bed Marina was lying on and window with a great look at the setting sun and a crescent moon.
Vaeludar found the Siren seemed to have changed her appearance, and mostly due to her hunt garments lying on the ground. Marina’s skin was a darker blue.
“Whoa!” gasped Vaeludar. “Is this the Siren I’ve saved?”
“Yes, this is the Siren you saved.” Marina was far more beautiful looking during the night than in the day.
“Well, this brings out another Siren,” said Vaeludar, trying to conceal the sapphire neckless with his right arm and his wings.
“And I can see you have change. Is the dragon inside you starting to hit the bed?” Marina was starting to talk seductively like a real Siren luring sailors to their doom.
“Don’t even get started there,” snapped Vaeludar. “I’m not here to be seduced into making unnecessary action.”
“Then what you are here for?”
Vaeludar walked to the window, gazing away from the fully siren-formed Marina. He gazed at the three moons that were yellow-striped with a purple haze, reminding him of what the moons looked like back in Geraldus’s village.
“With so little precious time left, before Lusìvar attacks again,” he said, “I want the both of us to have some quality time together. I want us to
