Diff the Dragon by Angela Lott, illustrations by Richard Bartrop. An Okal Rel Universe Legacy Novella featuring the young Alivda
Angela Lott is the middle child of Lynda’s three daughters. She did two years of Business schooling at the College of New Caledonia and is now working as a receptionist at her local FYiDoctors. In her spare time she enjoys writing, video blogging, reading and watching very nerdy TV shows.
Part 45
Thanks to her new babysitter, for the next two years Alivda didn’t mind being left on Barmi, though if Amel was gone for more than a month she complained. This time he had been gone for over two months.
“Where is he!” Alivda said, as she jumped up and down. Perry was worried for her floor boards.
“He will get here when he gets here!” she said loudly then added in a small voice to herself, “Why did I have to give Korbin the day off?”
Alivda jumped more and more.
“Stop!”
“No!” the now eight-year-old and almost fully grown dragon yelled at the top of her voice.
Perry gave up.
Alivda ran outside to watch for Amel’s ship next, but got bored so easily she started doing summersaults.
It was due to this new activity that she didn’t notice Amel’s ship land.
“Wow, you have grown!”
“Amel!” Alivda said and ran at him.
“Oof,” Amel said as Alivda hit him.
“I missed you!”
“I missed you too,” Amel said as he walked her back to the house.
“You were gone too long this time,” Alivda said.
“I’m sorry.”
They talked while they walked the rest of the way. It turned out Alivda had run quite a ways in her excitement.
“I am too big for the sword you gave me now,” Alivda said proudly.
Amel sighed. She was growing up too fast.
“I am going to throw it out in triumph!”
“Please don’t,” Amel said. “Can I have it instead?”
“Sure,” Alivda said. “As long as I get a big sword soon!”
“I can buy you a proper sized sword and send it to you if you like,” Amel said. “Or do you want to come to get it with me the next time you come to Gelion?”
“I want it as soon as possible, but I also want to be there to pick it,” Alivda said.
“That is both,” Amel said.
“Then I want both!” Alivda yelled while jumping up and down.
“I will try,” Amel said.
They continued walking while Alivda filled Amel in on all the things that had happened to her, like any child does when they haven’t see their parent in a long time.
She talked about her babysitter and how he was fun. She liked to spar with him and never lost anymore. She was now so big and active Perry didn’t even try to control her.
“Amel’s here!” Alivda cried as they got back to the house.
“Hello,” Perry said. “Are you staying long this time?”
“Not that long, no,” Amel said and Alivda looked at him in horror.
“Why?” she asked, annoyed.
Perry just sighed. It looked like she wasn’t getting Amel in her bed tonight.
“I promised to go see Ann,” Amel said.
“Then why can’t I come?”
“’Cause the last time you attacked her.”
Alivda pouted.
“I promise not to attack her,” Alivda said in her sweetest voice. “I am more grown up now.”
Amel looked at her to gage her sincerity.
“Alright,” he said.