“Alistair says you work for him.”
“Yes.I handle his legal and financial affairs.”
Given Alistair’s warning about broaching Oliver’s ability to turn into a wolfman, I stuck to a safer subject.“Alistair mentioned something about you being a dragon steward for an ancient group.”
“He told you?”Oliver arched a brow.“I’m surprised.He’s not usually very forthcoming.”
“I kind of have a way of question-bombing and getting people to reveal things,” I stated with a shrug and grin.
“If you ask me, he’s more social than he lets on.It’s just hard for him to allow new people into his life because he’s suffered so much loss.”
“I can’t imagine living so long or so isolated.It must be lonely.”
“His solitude is his own choice.”
“At least he has you for friendship.”
Oliver snorted.“Alistair would scoff if he heard you say that.”
“He likely wouldn’t willingly admit it,” I cheekily replied, making him laugh.
“No, he definitely wouldn’t.Astaria and I, though, are probably the closest thing he has to confidantes.”He paused.“Before you.”
“Oh, he doesn’t like me one bit.He keeps threatening to eat me, but I don’t think he actually will.He’s nicer than he lets on.”
“Nice?”Oliver stared at me.
“Well, he did save me from falling off that cliff, and then from the Red Cap that tried to murder me in his bed.”
“His bed?”The poor man sounded choked.
“He offered it to me since I was stuck at the castle for the night.He might act gruff, but he’s actually a gentleman at heart.When he heard about the ferry being unavailable, he kindly offered to fly me to Mallaig.And then, despite the fact he kept saying he wouldn’t be visiting Nessie, I wasn’t entirely surprised he changed his mind and chose to join me on my journey.”
Oliver shook his head.“None of that sounds like the Alistair I know.He’s grumpy.Cares about no one.Has no interest in anything outside his renovation projects.”
“An act.Astaria predicted he’d come with me.She even went on to say this adventure will bring him a new zest for life.”
“And Astaria isn’t usually wrong,” Oliver murmured.“If I may ask, how did you come to fall off a cliff by his castle?”
“I went to Rum Isle looking for treasure, only it turns out the Jacobite Gold is no longer hidden in Kinloch Castle, but at Loch Ness.”
“Where it will never be found.Nessie protects her hoard.”
“You know her?”
“Unfortunately.”Oliver grimaced.“And before you ask, she is my client, meaning I cannot divulge anything.”
“Understood, but are you allowed to tell me about the Ušum-galAbarakkum?”I stumbled over the term I’d only heard once.“As a professor of history, I am fascinated to learn more about this secret society for dragons that’s lasted centuries.I guess the fact you have access to an actual dragon makes it easy to retain and recruit members.”
“It’s actually not that simple.While people have long had a fascination with dragons, finding those that can be trusted with their secret is quite difficult, not to mention, while there are several groups of dragon stewards scattered around the world, none of them really communicate with each other, and I will add they aren’t privy to Alistair’s or Nessie’s existence.”
“Why not?”
“Because they are what I’d term casual members.They have no idea of the true history of the Ušum-galAbarakkum and are under the impression dragons are extinct.”
I frowned.“Then why bother even being a part of the group?”
“Because they want to believe.Think of them as LARPers.Wannabes who like to imagine and dream of a world with dragons.”
