Blue Dragon

hundred metres, the stone in my ring said. But we are a good twenty kilometres from shore. We are travelling very fast. We will drop off the continental shelf any second…There.
    There was a definite change in the movement; the Dragon seemed to be using more effort to travel.
    Not more effort, the stone said. He just sped up. Before, he was going about three hundred kilometres an hour. He has just doubled his speed. I must say, Emma, this is quite exhilarating.
    That was pretty damn fast. I hoped that John could keep up.
    The Dark Lord has absolutely no problem at all. I suspect he may be able to travel faster than the Dragon.
    It is about a twenty minute trip, my Lady, the Dragon said.
    If you are feeling unwell, give the Dragon a kick, John said. I know it’s quite a trek.
    I opened my eyes. Nothing but darkness around me. I relaxed and closed them again, enjoying the sensation of travelling without motion through the warm darkness. The Dragon’s scales were smooth and silky, and his frill felt like a velvety chamois.
    Don’t go to sleep, John said, jarring me out of my slumber. You need to hold on. Here we are.
    I opened my eyes and nearly fell off.
    ‘Here’ was a fairytale castle, glittering with multicoloured lights. It seemed to stretch forever, with curved towers and arched walkways. The walls were transparent around the edges, milky white in the centre. It had a traditional tiled Chinese roof, with upwardly curving edges and sweeping corners, covered withglistening white tiles and edged with coloured lights. It was enormous.
    I opened my mouth to exclaim my astonishment and nothing came out. John chuckled into my ear.
    I nudged the Dragon’s frill.
    Thank you, the Dragon said. They all say that.
    A pair of small gold dragons emerged from the arched entranceway that glittered with coloured fairy lights. They bowed to us. I nodded back as we passed.
    Number One and Number Two, John said into my ear. He honours us.
    We swept through the archway and a pair of enormous pearly doors opened before us.
    I asked the stone if it had ever been to a place like this before. It was silent. Eventually it spoke.
    No. I am speechless.
    I laughed quietly to myself.
    Yes, you are quite right. I also think it is the first time.
    We travelled through a corridor that was at least twenty metres high, with towering walls of what looked like ice, but appeared to be glass or crystal. Flowing crystalline chandeliers provided sparkling light above us. The white floor was polished to a high reflective sheen.
    There was another set of huge doors at the end of the corridor. They opened by themselves and we went through.
    On the other side was an elegant formal garden, glowing with colour. But the garden wasn’t flowers; it was coral, and sparkling reef fish flitted between the tiny spires and archways.
    I’m rather proud of this, the Dragon said. Huge amount of upkeep, but the wives like it.
    I nudged his frill and he slowed as we passed through the garden. It was in a courtyard with towering wallson all sides made from a glistening semi-transparent material. They were at least five storeys high, and people and dragons watched us from the arched walkways on higher floors.
    They’re not here to see the North Wind or the East Wind, Emma, John said into my ear. They’re hoping to catch a glimpse of you.
    I dropped my head and tried to hide behind the Dragon’s enormous frill.
    Won’t work, my Lady , the Dragon said, and abruptly changed direction, heading straight up. At the top floor he changed direction again and flew onto one of the walkways.
    And here we are , John said. He landed lightly next to us and stood on the balcony. His long hair had come completely out and floated around his head, but he had no trouble standing. He smiled, his eyes sparkling, and gestured. Follow me.
    I slid off the Dragon and gave him a friendly pat to thank him.
    You are most welcome , the Dragon said. His voice gained an amused edge. Enjoy.
    I turned and looked around. Above was the dark ocean. Below was the bright, glittering multicoloured reef garden. I leaned over the balcony, and John waited patiently for me. The balcony rail was transparent at the edges and milky in the centre; it was made of crystal. I looked out and saw a vibrantly pink, lilac and gold dragon on a balcony directly across from me on the other side of the courtyard. It raised one gold-taloned claw in greeting and I waved back.
    Come on, Emma, John said, and I turned to him,