She held up a hand, slowly, and a tiny flame grew in it, grew and hovered, then dwindled away. “That’s how I avoid them. The … energy has to go somewhere. There’s no avoiding it.” Closing her hand, she struggled to sit up. “Thank you.”
He nodded in understanding and helped her sit up. I didn’t really do very much, he shrugged once she was in a sitting position. May I ask what your name is?
“Summer. Summer Rainault. And you brought me in off the street. I’d say that deserves some thanks.” Her limbs still ached, but it was starting to fade, though the tension in her shoulders would take far longer to ease. Ending up in Camelot had not been part of the plan at all.
“I suppose I had better leave before your master comes back. Wouldn’t want to get you in trouble.”
It’s nice to meet you, Summer, he smiled. You don’t have to leave yet if you don’t want to. I can handle Gaius, and it’s not like either of us will turn you in. Besides, that was one heck of a landing. His smile fell and was replaced by a look of concern. What happened, anyway?
“Dragon.” Summer looked down into the palms of her hands. “Or something very like, anyway. I could barely touch it. I guess I must have chased it from our lands to the city without realising, we were so high.” She looked back at Merlin with a half-smile, pained and old-looking. “I tried to stop it.”