Nimue whistled and Layla landed not far off. With a frown that expressed her disappointment, Nimue clambered on the dragon’s back, clinging to the golden scales.With a lift of her hand, she signaled for the dragon to go.<br/><br/>“Are you in danger, my love?” she called to him. “I would not leave you alone if you are. Better to die with you than to leave you to molder on the field.”<br/><br/>Layla leaped into the air and flapped her leathery wings with gusto. The down drafts bent the grass and Nimue kept her eyes on Maric. How could she obey and leave him? She rode through the clouds and then signaled Layla to circle around, out of eyesight to those on the ground. Finally, she decided.<br/><br/>“Layla, go down here. We are out of sight. I will stay, making my way down to Maric. You return to Avalon. Find the guardian. She will seek out where I am and they will know to send our holy power to heal this land and this people. For are not people who would hate a dragon sick? I think they are. And they might do my love ill. Go down here.”<br/><br/>Nimue pointed to a bare spot in the forest where no grass or tree grew because the rocky plate was too thick to support life. Nimmie slid off and laid a grateful hug on the dragon’s leg.<br/><br/>“Now, go the Lady. Fly fast, my darling.”<br/><br/>Nimue set out at a run, back toward Maric.