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“You are an idiot.”

“So you’ve said. Thanks for that. Really keeps the ol’ self-esteem in check. Overblown ego? Not when Randall’s around—”

“I’m coming with you.”

I blinked. “What?”

“If you’re going now, I am coming with you.”

“Uh, no offense—”

“Really, have you ever meant that in your life?”

“—but can you even make it in the snow for very long? I mean, you’re super old, dude. I don’t want you to accidentally keel over and die. I would have to leave your body wherever it fell, and then, hundreds of years from now, mountain climbers would find you perfectly preserved and would wonder what religious purposes your e

yebrows served.”

“Your concern is touching. But I think I’ll be able to handle myself just fine. Besides, how were you planning on locating the creatures?”

“Hey! I have a plan. It’s a good plan too.”

He scoffed. “Were you just going to go outside and start yelling HEY DRAGON to see where it led?”

“Exactly. Wait. I mean no, of course not. Why, that would just be ridiculous.”

He rolled his eyes. “I weep for all our futures.”

“It’ll be okay,” I said. “Probably.”

“Did it ever occur to you that I know where they are?”

“Um. Yes?”

“Gods.”

“You don’t have to sound so exasperated. Geez.”

“Wait here,” he ordered. “There’s a few things I need to gather before we leave. It won’t be but a moment.”

I sighed. “If you slow me down, I will leave you behind.”

“I don’t think that’ll be a problem.”

“Bullshit,” I muttered.

“HOW,” I gasped, lungs burning, “in the name of all that’s holy, are you human?”

We were on a path cut into the side of the mountain, steep and dusted with snow. It’d been a sharp incline for a while now, and my legs felt like they were ready to fall off.

Randall, of course, looked as if he wasn’t affected in the slightest.

I despised every single part of his being.

The sky was beginning to lighten, and flurries were swirling around us. We’d been at it for a good few hours, and Castle Freesias had long since passed from view. I expected to have Randall lead at a slow pace where I’d need to refrain from trying to pass him every few seconds.

That, unfortunately, didn’t happen.

I probably should have realized I was in trouble when he’d come back down the stairs with a walking stick.