"It's a name I've been given, but it's not my real name," she explained. "Wynblow means 'Howling Steel' in the old human language. "
Ewan didn't know what he should be more surprised about: the fact that a dragon had a name, or that the name itself was in a language that was almost no longer spoken and almost forgotten. But what intrigued him most...
"The old human language is almost lost, nowadays. So if what you say is true... Could it be true that dragons live infinitely longer than humans? "Ewan asked.
"That is indeed the case. But I don't remember exactly how long I've been around... "Wynblow replied thoughtfully.
"I see... So it would be quite possible... " Ewan conceded, "Which means that either you met someone still practicing this dead language, or you met him a very long time ago... "
... Was that a dragon seemed to understand this dead language, as if she was speaking it every day.
Wynblow, on the other hand, seemed to wonder where the young man was going with this train of thoughts.
"Out of curiosity, did the County of Kells already exist, when he named you? "
"Uh... I don't really keep up with the evolution of human territories..." Wynblow replied, somewhat embarrassed.
"True... It's not like you can just wander around anywhere; or ask the first person you meet for directions..." Ewan realized.
She was a dragon, after all. And usually, the first reflex one had when seeing this kind of creature was either to run away screaming with fright, or to take up weapons. This was not exactly helpful, especially when it came to starting a conversation.
However, since they had introduced themselves to one another, the discussion became more relaxed as time went on; as if the barriers between these two beings were beginning to fall. But even if the topics of conversation seemed trivial, there was one, more important than the others, that had to come back on the table.
"How long have you been living here?" Asked Ewan.
"I would say, about ten years... But as I have always lived away from any society, I don't really have the notion of time anymore..." She said, apologetically. "And speaking of time, could we finally get to the main topic of this conversation? "
"You mean the debt I owe you? " Asked Ewan, "I'm aware that I owe you my life... So I'm not going to shy away. "
Wynblow nodded, her neck arching a little more with the motion.
"I have a deal, which would allow you to discharge your debt to me," she said.
"Go ahead, tell me what you want from me," said Ewan, determined to get rid of this debt. "I give you my word that I will repay my debt. No matter what I have to do."
"In that case, I would like you to take me to a very specific place. " She said.
Ewan nearly choked as he hiccupped in surprise at this request.
"E-Excuse me?" He managed to say.
"I want to go somewhere at all costs, so take me there." Wynblow repeated firmly.
Ewan tried to calm down a little, still a little shaken by what the female dragon had just said.
"You do realize that given your appearance, and especially your size, it will be almost impossible? "Asked cautiously Ewan.
He had chosen his words carefully, to avoid angering the dragon in front of him. But he also had to face the fact that a dragon usually didn't care about being called a fatty.
"You said 'almost', so that means it's still possible, within limits." Wynblow remarked mischievously.
Ewan cursed himself inwardly. He had forgotten that talking dragons were very good with words.
And the request in question was far too dangerous. He had to change her mind.
"I said 'almost,' but it's just the same," Ewan resumed, "It's impossible, unless you want to die in the process. "
"I'm willing to take that risk," replied Wynblow, resolute.
"I'm not," Ewan replied, "And if I, a hunter, am seen with a dragon, my reputation will take a big hit. "
"So you'd rather run away than honor your debt?" She took offense.
"I didn't say that... Just that..." Ewan began, wearily.
"It's the one and only request I have." She insisted.
At the same time, she approached dangerously her head, and thus her mouth full of teeth, towards the young hunter.
He did not move back under this form of physical pressure, but started all the same to panic mentally. Which ended up being visible, particularly on his face.
Wynblow seemed to notice his condition, seeing a tense face facing her, and decided to stand up and take a few steps back.
Ewan relaxed, and was a little embarrassed that even a dragon could read his mental state so easily.
"I... really need to go. " Wynblow finally said, "It's... A place that will be able to give me the answers I seek. "
Her tone was so sad that Ewan thought the dragon must be really desperate. And in the face of such a mental state, nothing in the world would change this reptile's mind.
So Ewan sighed. He still didn't know what exactly he was getting himself into, but he didn't really have a choice.
"And this place, is it far from here? "He asked.
Wynblow's green eyes began to sparkle and shine like real jewels.
"So you're going to take me there?! " she exclaimed excitedly.
Ewan was pretty sure she would have jumped up and down on the spot, if her height didn't threaten to knock over tree branches in the process.
"I didn't say that," the young man quickly countered, crossing his arms. "I'm already going to examine your request more thoroughly. So I need more information. "
"Oh, I see... " Said Wynblow, a little dismayed by the reply of the young hunter.
He felt a little guilty for having given her false hope. But he had to know as much as possible about what she wanted to do. And why.
"So where is it?" He repeated.
"I don't know. " Wynblow replied matter-of-factly.
Again, Ewan hiccupped in surprise.
"You don't even know where this place is!? " he shouted, hardly believing what he was saying too. "You might as well be looking for a needle in a haystack! "
"It's not like I'm asking the impossible! " Wynblow replied, raising her voice. " I do have the beginnings of a lead though! "
Ewan ran his hand through his hair in frustration. He was really going from bad surprises to bad surprises, with this Salamander.
"I don't know where this place is exactly, but I heard about it from an old dragon I used to know." Elaborated Wynblow.
"Unfortunately, even though he tried to teach me, my draconic language skills are somewhat... weak..."
"I see... And what exactly did you manage to understand? "
"Not much, but the basics, I'd say! "Wynblow retorted, "He rambled on at times, talking about a place with all the answers in the world. Where all that it is possible to know is found."
The description of this place made Ewan tick. He had heard that somewhere before. Unfortunately.
"So, you probably figured that since this place had all the answers, it would necessarily have those corresponding to the questions you were asking..." Ewan sighed, wearily.
"What's so weird about that? "
"Just that every child in the kingdom is told more or less the same thing during their childhood..." Said Ewan, "There is a forbidden place where everything is known, and that if one does wrong, everything will be recorded there in plain sight for all to see. "
On these words, Wynblow felt strange. These words resonated in her like an old unknown echo, which had always been there, but which she had only just discovered.
"Of course, it's just a story to scare children into listening to their parents," sighed Ewan again, "The tale doesn't say where this place is precisely, just that it's located in the northern lands, beyond the Spirit Chasm. "
"Valgheist," Wynblow cut him off in a breath.
The word had come out of her mouth before she could stop it. And without even knowing exactly what it meant.
"Valgheist? " Ewan repeated in amazement. "What is that?"
It sounded like ancient human language, but he wasn't quite sure.
"I... I don't know... " she said, confused.
Wynblow seemed just as confused as he was about the term she had just used. But that didn't stop her from standing firm.
"I don't know if this place really exists, it's true. But if there is even a fragment of a possibility, I will do everything to get there." Said Wynblow with resolution.
She began to stretch, spreading and folding her semi-transparent wings.
"Did you hear what I just said? It's a children's story, nothing more! "Ewan insisted.
"And what about your word, then!? " Wynblow replied, "You must keep your word, by paying your debt, right? "
"I know! " replied the young man briskly. "But if it is to take my whole life, and to pursue a chimera at that, I don't think I can ever pay it off!"
Nerves were now being tested, resentments raw.
The female dragon gave a grunt of displeasure.
"Very well. If you don't want to help me, I'll manage all alone." She said.
This sudden reversal of attitude strongly destabilized Ewan. He really didn't know how to deal with such a moody dragon.
"No way! "He said hurriedly. "It's too risky, especially for the humans you might meet. I don't know if there is such a place, but one thing I know for sure is that I can't let you go and ransack other villages. "
"I didn't ransack anything..." She defended herself once again.
"That won't be the view of the people you'll come across," Ewan explained, "Therefore, you'll only travel with me, and preferably at night. "
Ewan could hardly contain himself as he saw that semblance of a smile grow on the dragon's lips as he said this sentence. Wynblow seemed pleased to see that she had finally gotten her way, and began to smile. A lot.