There was, however, an odd layered effect, and I realized that the form of the dragon seemed to be overlaying the form of an ordinary dragonfly. It was rather like those 3-D pictures that are all the rage these days. With a little effort, I could see either one separately. The dragonfly was one of the common green darner variety, while the dragon was a heavier bodied creature whose scales looked like green velvet with a definite sheen.

I never thought to be afraid -- the thing had a regal beauty about him and since he had made no move to bite me, I regarded him as intently as he did me. Tentatively extending a finger, I lightly touched a wing as fine as gossamer, wondering how they could possibly carry his weight, but at this he took offense and hissed at me.The gossamer wing actually belonged to the dragonfly, but it was the dragon who hissed, so there was a definite afinity between the two. I suppose dragons are as sensitive about their wings as cats are about their tails, and so, I apologized and held my finger near his feet in a silent invitation which he accepted. I felt tiny claws grip my finger, not an unpleasant sensation, and he settled into the palm of my hand. I raised him for a closer inspection and he allowed it , though more of the mist did escape with another hiss.

His eyes were a facetted emerald green in a wedge shaped head rather flattened down the snout. His body was a sheath of fine scales that seemed to glint as the light touched them, giving off what looked like tiny green sparks. His body thinned out toward his tail, which was quite long, and there was a slight ridge down the middle of his back. The dragon had four stout legs compared to six on the dragonfly.

"Hasst Thou Finisshed Thine Insspection?" he hissed, and I almost dropped him. It hadn't occurred to me that he could speak.

"Yes" I spluttered and apologized for the intrusion, though how I could have had a dragon that close and not done an inspection I don't know. How often does one get the opportunity to observe at such close quarters something as magical and beautiful as a dragon!!

"So you can speak." I ventured, feeling rather silly at stating the obvious, but not quite knowing how to proceed.

"Yess.... obvioussly" he hissed and I managed to hide a smile.

" Uuummm.......... why are you here?" I asked. Now that I knew he could talk I had no idea what to say to him.

"What Manner Of Magic Dosst Thou Have?" he inquired.

"I have no magic at all." I replied

"Then How Dosst Thou Ssee Me?"

"You're right here in my hand in front of me."

"And Thou Sseess What Manner Of Creature?"

"Why..... a dragon of course."

He paused and seemed to considerand then hissed again....."A Dragon Thou Ssayss. Asss In Ancient Magical Beast?"

"Yes......though I must admit that I thought your kind were extinct."

"Exactly Sso.....We Transsformed Long Ago Into The Creaturess Thou Callss Dragonfliess. Yet Thou Ssayss Thou Sseess A Dragon. Desscribe Then Thiss Dragon Thou Claimss To Ssee."

And so I did in the most exact detail that I could manage, and at the end the little fellow seemed to sigh and another bit of steam came out from his pointed little nose. He settled a bit in my hand and I put him back onto my knee. For such a small creature, he was surprisingly heavy, and it crossed my mind that if he could control his appearance, he might also be controlling his weight.

He regarded me through his emerald eyes and then said a little wistfully "Then Thou Art Not Afraid Of Me?"

"No ...... very surprised of course. I never thought I'd see a real dragon. You are very beautiful." He appeared pleased at that and another little wisp of steam appeared but this time without the hiss. Instead I thought I could hear a sort of purr very like a cat makes. I couldn't help wondering how many dragons there were still in the world, and how many people could see the actual beast instead of a large and rather exotic insect. To be honest, I have seen many dragonflies in my life but this was the first time I had noticed the beast itself. I wondered why at this time I should have been so honored.....for indeed it was an honor.

"What do I call you?" I asked. "And why are you here?"

"My Name Iss Miraldiss." he looked at me and almost to himself said "Cansst Thou Be Trussted With My Ssecret, I Wonder?"

"I don't think I would be able to see you if I couldn't be trusted." I said and wondered if that arguement was valid. After all, of all the dragonflies I had seen, none of them had manifested into their true form before now. Perhaps not all dragon flies were actually dragons, though. Or perhaps the need had not been great enough. Who can truly understand the ways of magical creatures.

Miraldis gave a little huff, and leaning forward on his shorter front legs, peered up at me and in a low voice that I took for his version of a whisper said "It'ss The Eggss. It'ss Time For Them To Hatch. They Need To Be Ssafe."

This was not the first time I had heard of dragon's eggs, since the legends tell of them, and I wondered where they had been hidden for what must have been hundreds of years. I wondered how old Miraldis was but thought it prudent not to ask that. Dragon's eggs...eh? All I knew for certain, was that when it came time for them to hatch, they needed to be in an incredibly hot fire. Whether or not the fire had to be accompanied by magic I wasn't sure, but assumed that Miraldis would know what to do and where to find the eggs.

"Do you know where the eggs are now?"

"In The Cavernss." he whispered a little uncertainly. "At Leasst I Think Sso. Cansst Thou Travel With Me?"

"Uuummm.......do you mean fly?"

"Yess.......Fly....Of Coursse."

"No.....I can't fly."

"Hasst Thou Not Been Taught Properly, Then?"

"Yes....I mean....No.....I mean....it's physically impossible for humans to fly on their own." I said, trying to explain."It would take magic or big technical advances to be able to fly on our own."

"If Thou Cansst Ssee Me..... It Followss That Thou Hasst Ssome Magic." he said and peering up at me I am sure I saw him wink one emerald eye. "Thou Musst Learn To Fly.......But Not Asss Thou Art ......Which Of The flying Creaturess Comess To Thine Mind When Thou Thinkss Of Flight?"

That one was easy......"A bird......a swallow to be exact."

"Then Thou Musst Needss Learn To Change To Swallow Form. Lesssonss Begin Tomorrow. Do Thou Be Here Again Then! Early!"

With that command and a final look, he lifted his wings, unhooked his claws, and flew away. I sat for a long time thinking about all that had happened and wondering if maybe I had been asleep and had just woken up. The thought of lessons of any kind made me groan.I had always hated school and formal lessons of any kind leave me cold. If Miraldis was real and not a figment, then perhaps...... just perhaps.... the incentive this time would make it worth the effort. Humans have had the desire to fly alone for as long as they have been on earth, and I was no different. The thought of soaring over the land and seeing things from above was mighty powerful and putting shape shifting into the equation just added to it all. I made up my mind to come back in the morning on the chance that this was all real, and that Miraldis would return. I was glad that I had taken this cottage for the summer to be on my own and that there would be no one about to witness any foolishness on my part.