It was early evening when the Elani finally squeezed their way out of the small tunnel and back into the cave where they had left their companions. Sorrel came last and she tumbled into the light and rubbed dust from her eyes. The atmosphere was still tense and awkward and her return to the cave met with only a tired smile from Leif and an indifferent grunt from Lachlan.

She led by example and quietly sat opposite her brother. One by one, the other Elani settled themselves and listened sadly to Leif's tale of brave Orsino and the dragons and of Gaeshi and Sorrel and of everything, until, too tired to do anything else, they slept.

Sorrel tugged Cloud to his feet and together they approached Old Synan, as Leif and Saoirse, the only other two awake, spoke in soft murmurs in the background.

Sorrel knelt down and showed the shield to the old man. "Will this help Gaeshi?" she asked. "Cloud found it."

Synan took the shield and contemplated it for a moment or two. Then he shook his head and laughed softly. Sorrel glanced anxiously at Cloud, fearing they wouldn't be able to help the boy after all. Then Synan laughed again, louder this time, and he looked into Cloud's eyes and said with wonder, "You found this, young Cloud? My grandson? Ha! Oh..." The old man sighed and handed the shield back to Sorrel.

She looked from the shield to Gaeshi and then to Synan. "Well?" she asked.

Synan smiled and reached out a hand to touch her single star mark. "Ever impatient," he said quietly. Then he glanced at Gaeshi, laid out on the ground by his side. The Sarkany's face was pale and he didn't breathe, blood still glistened through the makeshift bandage Synan had applied.

"Hand me the dragon scale," Synan said, turning back to Sorrel, then he chuckled and said, "Ah, I see Cloud understands now!"

She did as asked and handed the dragon scale amulet to Synan. He fitted it into a hollowed out scoop where the dragon's eye was on the etching on the shield.

Then, he turned to Gaeshi and placed the shield over the boy's chest. He took a deep breath and whispered two words.

"Viveer Nagord!"

They were ancient words and sounded strange to Sorrel. And yet, they must have held power for the amulet glowed and Gaeshi stirred.

"Yes, yes, that's it!" Synan whispered, as Gaeshi's eyes started to flicker open. "Wake up!"

Sorrel grasped Cloud's hand and held her breath as the life slowly started to return to Gaeshi. All around the cave the candle flames started to glimmer and dance.

Cloud watched in utter fascination.

Gaeshi breathed deep. Then he sat up and opened his eyes. The shield slid from his chest into his lap and he looked at it with a brief frown of confusion. Old Synan clapped his hands together joyfully.

Sorrel laughed and pulled Gaeshi to her in an embrace, full of relief. When she released him, he had a puzzled smile on his face.

Leif and Saoirse, finally aware that something was going on, joined them and looked at Gaeshi in surprise.

"Well!" Leif declared, taking the shield from Gaeshi and looking it over. "Well!"

Synan nodded and his old eyes twinkled. "Well indeed. Very well in fact. Look at your hands, Leif. Saoirse, my dear, how does your ankle feel?"

Leif unravelled the bandages wrapped around his burnt hands and stared at them in amazement. The skin was perfect, fully healed. Saoirse too, did a little skip to show that her ankle had healed. They looked at each other and smiled.

Sorrel nodded towards the sleeping forms of her friends. "Maemi's arm. Lachlan's cut. Everyone has been healed."

"But I'm afraid the amulet is spent," Synan said. "The shield channelled most of its power into Gaeshi. It'll no longer protect the wearer from dragons."

Sorrel gripped Gaeshi's hands. "Promise me," she said, "promise me you'll never turn into the dragon again. Gaeshi... I can't let this happen again. With the amulet gone..."

Gaeshi looked at the ground and shook his head faintly. "Sorrel," he said, "as a dragon I can protect you better than any shield. I would be your weapon, stronger and swifter than any sword." He raised his eyes and squeezed her hands. "But I understand why you ask this of me and I promise you I will never become the dragon again."

She found she could no longer hold his gaze and pulled her hands away with guilt in her heart. "You remember I struck you."

Gaeshi smiled at her and peeled back his blood–soaked bandage to reveal a scar. "I'll never forget," he said. "I am your servant, Sorrel, I would never hurt you and I would never question your actions. You were protecting your friends."

"Not a servant, Gaeshi," she replied. "A friend."

"Part of the family now," Leif added, standing over them. He sighed heavily and looked at Sorrel, a faint smile playing about his lips. "Now sleep, all of you. Tomorrow we go to the Kingdom of Malinas."

"I've heard that before," she mumbled, but she took off her jacket and settled down comfortably.

Leif grinned and said, "For definite this time. Now go to sleep! Tomorrow's going to be a big day."