The dragon shared a look of masculine tolerance with Eric while Lori looked sadly at the scar on the dragon's scales. Apparently even male dragons understood softhearted females, Eric thought. He wrapped an arm casually about Lori's waist and settled back against the cool limestone wall of the cave to listen.

"The storm, which I still believe was magical in origin," the dragon remarked, "tossed me in great circles above the Atlantic Ocean for hours, perhaps days. At some ...