The Dragon and the Witch by K.T. Tomb Read Free Book Online Page B

thought I was going to have some explaining to do to your father.”
    “Well, you don’t. I’m fine.” The far wall had a wooden makeshift table low enough to the ground to be an old weathered tray. Old vials with colorful liquids filled the various containers to different fill lines. “Where am I?”
    Piku swallowed… hard, and that made me raise my eyebrows.
    “Well?” I asked.
    He cleared his throat. “You’re not going to stop until you find out what you are, so I brought you to a witch doctor.”
    “Witch doctor? Why would you bring me to a witch doctor?”
    “Because you think you’re a witch.”
    I released a loud sigh and narrowed my eyes at the white tiger. “And this doctor is going to cure me of that thought, Piku?” I asked sarcastically. “We don’t even have a witch doctor in Golth. So, where is this place?”
    “I was carrying you on my back—by the way, you’re heavy—and I saw this place lodged between some of the trees.”
    “So, you brought me to a stranger?” I sat up quickly and then braced myself because I felt dizzy.
    “Better than to your house. I don’t feel like becoming anyone’s barbeque. Besides, he’s been on this land longer than any of us. Even longer than Tolbalth.”
    I kicked my legs to the side of the bed and tried to stand, but again the dizziness caused me to sit back on the edge of the bed. “And he told you this?”
    Piku nodded.
    “You’re so gullible.” I waved my hand in the air. “It doesn’t matter. We’re leaving.”
    My lovely white tiger raced me to the door and stood in front of it with a rumbling growl in the back of his throat.
    I laughed. “Is that supposed to scare me?”
    “Zadie, just talk to the guy. Maybe he can cure you of this nonsense of being a witch. It’s worth a try, isn’t it?”
    “Hmmm,” I tapped my finger across my lips and stared up at the ceiling as if I were thinking. “I can see the headlines now: White tiger takes insane girl to a witch doctor for help, but both wind up dead in the gully of bones.”
    Piku gasped, which made me giggle. “Contrary to what you might think, Zadie, I do scare most people.”
    “Yeah, yeah. So, where is this mysterious witch doctor that put up shop in the middle of our land without any of us noticing?”
    “He went out to fetch some herbs, but he should be back soon. He’s been gone for hours.”
    That statement alarmed me. Glancing out the window, the sun was close to kissing the top of the mountain. Nightfall would come soon and Tolbalth would be home, searching for me. “Piku, how long have been unconscious?”
    “Six hours.”
    “Nightfall will be here soon. I have to get home. My father will kill me if he finds out that I’m with this witch doctor or whatever he is. He specifically told me to stay near our place.”
    An old shaky voice filled the room before the man followed. “Tolbalth still struggles with patience and understanding, I see.”
    When the man came into sight, he had hazel green eyes, long gray hair tied back at the nape of his neck and a long goatee to match. It wasn’t until he turned to stare my direction, did I realize that he was blind.
    “My father is just protective.”
    “What is he protective over, child?”
    I glanced from Piku to the old man. “Over me, of course.”
    He shuffled his feet along the dirt floor as if he could see every particle on the ground, even stepping over a small branch that was strewn across the dirt until he stood inches from me.
    I stepped back, uncertain who he really was. But having Piku at my side made me feel protected around this stranger.
    “Or maybe he’s protecting something else?” He leaned forward and flashed a set of yellow-stained teeth.
    “What does that mean?” I narrowed my eyes. “Who are you? How do you know my father and why am I here?”
    “You’re here because your pet brought you to me. I did not seek you out. You sought me out.”
    “Then tell me what I need to know so I can get home