That night Pandora had a better more restful sleep than she did in her own home. When she woke the next day slightly disoriented it took her a few minutes. She the the blanket off of her  and blinked, adjusting to the light of the guest room. After a few minutes she looked around and remembered she had stayed with Salem and Kadrid last night.

 Thinking of her favorite dragon and warlock made her soul glow from the inside out. She loved both of her new friends, spending time with them seemed to make the days brighter. She got up and exited the room to see if either the dragon or the hybrid warlock were up. She tip toed down the corridor trying not to disturb anyone who may still be sleeping. She rounded the corner and heard a few noises coming from the kitchen. When she walked inside the small space ,Salem was making a batch of elven coffee.

"Good morning. It's almost ready would you like a cup?' He offered.

"Good morning to you  and yes I'd love a cup." Pandora replied.

"Did you sleep well?" Salem asked as he poured the steaming brew into two mugs.

"Yes thank you for asking. Is Kadrid awake?" Pandora asked.

"No she is half nocturnal, doesn't rise before mid- day." He explained to her. Then he set the mug on the small table for her.

"We'll get a chance to talk more." Pandora stated as she accepted the mug and took a long drink of it.

"Yes, I'd like that very much." Salem replied as he sat down across from her sipping the concoction.

Pandora took a long sip and tried to think straight. She found it very hard to do so in his presence but she wasn't sure why. Even when she wasn't here with him in his massive dungeon, some small part of her lingered here. She could envision a great life here with him. Pandora knew her imagination was on over drive, she shook the thoughts away from her. She didn't want to think any harder than she had to right now.

"I was wondering, did you still wish to help me with potion making?" Pandora asked softly.

"Yes of course. If you want we could work on a few potions after coffee." Salem suggested with his debonair charm.

"Really, that would be wonderful, I'm a little clumsy when it comes to potions." Pandora warned him.

"I'm sure I will be able to help, I've got quite a few years of experience with potions." Salem told her.

Pandora nodded in agreement with him. Who knows, maybe he could help? She sipped at the coffee until he was ready to get to work. The two of them had a couple of mugs each before he led her over to his work space. He fired up his cauldron and  gathered  ingredients for a few basic potions. He needed to see how much she already knew. He showed her how to properly mix the herbs, explaining that your heart must be in the right place for potions. He showed her how to make a few healing potions. Then he let her try it. After the third try she seemed to be doing much better with them. He smiled half way blushing. He knew he could help her with the potion issues.

"When you return I'd like you to have these potions we made here today." Salem told her looking up from one of his millions of old leather bound books.

"Oh thank you that is so kind of you." Pandora told him.

"Think nothing of it, really." Salem commented.

At that exact moment Kadrid strolled in sleepy eyed but awake. She nodded to them and let out a ferocious yawn. It sounded more like a hurricane than a roar because of her young age.

"Did you sleep well?' Salem asked his favorite dragon.

"Yes thank you. I'll fly Pandora home in a short while, I need to hunt before I fly that far." She explained to them. She then nodded good bye before she took off to hunt.

When Kadrid left the dungeon, Salem and his new friend went back to work on a few potions to help get her started on the most useful that he knew. Then the two talked of lesser and advanced magical properties over a glass of pixie ale. Pandora was having a fabulous time learning all she could from the warlock. He was funny and intelligent beyond his years. She found him attractive, witty and quite charming. 

 She couldn't think of anywhere else she would rather be than in his dungeon. He sparked every curious bone in her body. She liked getting to know him a little more each visit. Twenty minutes passed before Kadrid had returned, ready to take her home. She knew that she had obligations in her own home and village but Pandora was saddened that she had to go back. She really felt like she belonged here with Salem in this enchanting dungeon. She knew it was time to go so she leaned over and gave Salem a kiss good bye on the cheek.

"Before you go, would you mind coming to see me again tomorrow?" Salem asked her with hope in his eyes.

"I'd love to. Thank you I had a lot of fun, again." Pandora told him.

After agreeing to see the warlock again Pandora left with Kadrid for the flight home. The only thing she thought about was when she would see Salem again. She felt strange, like being in the dungeon with him made her feel more at home than her own cottage. It was not something she was used to. She really didn't care but was grateful to the dragon for introducing her to Salem.  She held onto the dragon a little tighter until they landed near her home. She couldn't wait to go back. Each visit with him seemed more like an adventure than the last.

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