The Bond (Book 2) (33 page)

They are, aren’t they?

Perhaps it was time she sent a letter to Isandath, letting him know what she’d discovered—people who shared their ideals. And more dragons. Which should have been obvious, she supposed. If there were none, there would have been no dragon boy. And no new dragon boy, either.

She looked at Jessip. Even now, with just a ‘normal’ smile, he still had a little of the radiant glow about him. Was that a part of being bonded? Or was it something else? He was alone, now, with Zolin, everyone else having separated into groups, talking. Renata walked over to him.

“
Congratulations,” she said.

“
T–Thank you.” He looked at Zolin. “You know, I had no idea the . . . connection you had to Xochi. It’s amazing.”

“
Tell me that again when your dragon is being annoying.”

He chuckled.

I am not annoying!

You can be, sweetling. But I still love you. Always.

I am not annoying.
Xochi sounded upset, but her feelings through the link revealed the opposite.

“
If, ah, you have any questions about dragons,” she said, “I’d be glad to help. Though, Aeron probably knows as much, if not more. He’s had Anaya long—”

“
No,” he said.

No? Just like that?

His face contorted. “Gods, that came out wrong. I mean, no, I won’t ask Aeron first, I–I’ll ask you.”

Her heart started beating really fast. She smiled. “Okay.”

“We must do something about the amount of room in here,” Master Millinith said.

“
I agree.” Master Doronal looked critically about the ledge. “We had but six candidates tonight. Imagine if there were more.”

“
And I do not doubt there will be more,” Master Canneth said, gazing at Zolin. “There was an increase in the number of people dropping by when Renata arrived with Xochi, but once this young dragon appears at the dragon stables, an obvious hatchling, there will be a flood of interest and questions about how others can get their own dragon.”

“
And while we do not need more candidates currently,” Master Millinith remarked, “we will eventually have applicants, many of whom will become candidates.”

“
Point being,” Master Doronal said, “this place is too small. It may be time to consider our other option.”

Renata looked around the ledge. The cavern itself seemed to be enormous, but this ledge and the one above were fairly cramped.

It is pretty, though.

She looked up at Xochi. Her bond-mate was staring down at a large mushroom near the base of the ramp. It, along with other plants and fungi clustered around the small pool of water, seemed to give off a faint glow. The light from the lanterns made it difficult to be sure, though.

“For now,” Master Canneth said, “let’s move Jessip into the fourth den.”

“
I’m afraid we’re going to have to move you out of the second den, Fillion.” Master Doronal looked apologetic. “I think we should reserve the dens for bond-mates. You’ll need to move into the boys’ dorm.”

“
I understand,” Fillion said. “It makes sense.”

“
Don’t worry,” Cheddar said. “The dorms are very comfortable. Besides, I’m there, and Sharrah and Liara are in the girls’ dorms at the other end of the hallway. You’ll have friends nearby.”

“
What about Zolin?” Jessip had his hand on his bond-mate’s shoulder. “Does he go back with me? I feel bad taking him from his mother.”

“
Actually,” Renata said, “you may want to let him stay here with his mother until she finishes teaching him how to fly.”

Aeron’s eyes were large. “Is that how Xochi learned to fly?”

“Didn’t Anaya’s mother teach her?”

“
Anaya never met her mother,” Aeron said. “Malina did not stay with her eggs. We don’t know where she is.”

Renata looked up at the tawny dragon. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” Turning back to Aeron and the others, she said, “Xochi’s mother, Nayra, told me that in the south, they teach hatchlings to fly as soon as possible. That way they can take to the air if they need to escape danger.”

Aeron snorted. “Danger? What could harm a dragon? Especially a baby and mother together.”

Renata frowned, unsure how much she should say at the moment. “There
 . . . is danger to dragons there.”

“
Really?” Master Millinith seemed as doubtful as Aeron had been.

“
At any rate,” Renata said, “it took Xochi a few days to learn how to fly and become fairly proficient at it. I would recommend letting Zolin stay here with Nenet for that. It will also give them time to be together.”

“
I can bring you here on Anaya, Jessip, so you can visit them in the meantime,” Aeron said.

“
That would be great.” He smiled.

I am getting sleepy.

She looked up at her bond-mate and smiled.
Alright, sweetling.

“
Is anyone going back soon?” Renata asked. “I’d stay longer, but Xochi is getting tired.”

“
It is getting rather late,” Master Doronal said. “We should all probably head back.”

As she rode back with Jessip, Renata wondered what the ‘other option’ was that Master Doronal had mentioned. She didn’t remember seeing anything near the dragon stables big enough to use as a hatching area. Maybe there was another cavern or something.

She looked up, but couldn’t locate Xochi among the stars. Tired as her bond-mate was, she loved flying. Especially now that she could do so with Anaya. Renata still remembered how happy Xochi had been when she’d learned to fly. Nayra had been very patient with the danger-seeking tiny terror. But Nayra put up with the antics, adamant that Xochi learn to fly quickly, to escape the Order, if need be.

When would she tell her new friends about the Order? And more importantly, would she tell them that she was once a member, a Manis? What if they threw her and Xochi out? They’d be without a home. Again. That didn’t seem likely, though. They were good people. Besides, she’d already decided to tell them everything, hadn’t she? But when would be the right time? Was there even such a thing as a right time for news like this?

She sighed and leaned against Jessip. His back was warm and felt strong.

It wasn’t until later, while laying in bed in the third stable, that she fully realized what she had done. That she had leaned against him—and liked it—made her blush furiously.

“Nenet returned to House Yaot three days ago.” Master Millinith glanced at Master Doronal. The magic master had told her she would lead this meeting with the Caer’s lord. “She spent the time before that training Zolin to fly and getting comfortable with the idea of leaving him with Jessip and with us.”

“Good.” Lord Baronel smacked his fist on the armrest of his chair. “If she is happy with us, she may return with more of her children. Now that we have a male to go with our two females, we will eventually be able to produce our own dragons. Even so, we need more dragons. I don’t like that four dragon requirement hanging over our heads.”

“Nenet mentioned that she knows dragons in House Yaot who are of a mind with her,” Master Canneth said. “She said she would tell them of her experience with us.”

“Thus,” Master Doronal added, “we can hope for more dragons to bring their children to us for an opportunity to find a bond-mate.”

“What of Renata?” Lord Baronel turned to Master Millinith. “Where did she get Xochi?”

“Renata has been eager to tell us much of her village and the desert lands of her home,” she said. “There are dragons there, though their numbers are not great. Once she has sufficient training in Magic Craft, and once Xochi can carry her, we will certainly entertain the idea of taking a portal there to contact that dragon House.” Master Millinith was certain the girl was holding something back, though. What it was, she had no idea.

Lord Baronel nodded. “Good, because more dragons will shore up our approval in other ways. Guild members are one thing, but if we can show a fair number of bond-mates, dragonlinked and their dragons, their mere presence can go a long way to helping us get approved.”

“How so?” Master Millinith asked.

“A craft guild provides additional opportunities and protections to its members they would not have were they not in a guild,” Lord Baronel said, “but so, too, does it provide limitations. It is those limits that I hope will loom in the minds of members of the Council.”

“I’m still not sure I follow.”

“Imagine,” Master Doronal said, “if there were no Magic Craft Guild, if sorcerers practiced magic with no training, no guidance—”

“And no regulation.” Master Millinith nodded. “We show them as many bond-mates as we can, so they see us not only as protectors, but also as something they want controlled.”

“Exactly,” Lord Baronel said. “Though we will need to be cautious. We don’t want them so frightened of dragons and dragonlinked that they want them banned, or worse, destroyed.”

“I don’t think that will be a problem.” Master Millinith closed her notebook. “If we arrived with hundreds of dragons and dragonlinked, yes, I could see them panicking. But we will likely have fewer than ten. Just enough, I think.”

Though there would be more, eventually. Master Millinith couldn’t even imagine the amount of information that could be discovered about nahual with dozens and dozens or even hundreds of dragonlinked helping investigate the horrible creatures. And with Gregor and more healers like him assisting with nahual examinations, what secrets could be learned? Perhaps a way to eliminate the beasts entirely? Though, if nahual were eliminated, they’d have new problems to address. What purpose would dragons and dragonlinked have left to them? And what would her purpose be?

Master Millinith smiled. It would be wonderful if those were the only problems she had to figure out.

+ + + + +

Zolin, we should land now.
Xochi banked around to land in the Caer below.

Yes, it is time.
Anaya followed Xochi’s lead, and was soon at her side.

But we have only been out a short while.
Zolin was somehow able to send the impression of pouting.

We have been out longer than yesterday, by the same amount we have increased flying time each day.

It is better to take short flights now
, Anaya said,
rather than strain a flight muscle and not be able to fly for days as it heals.

Ugh!

Xochi felt the humor from her bond-mate far below. She glanced down at Renata.
Zolin is being foolish. Was I like this?

You were worse, sweetling. And you aren’t even two months older than him, so don’t put on airs.

A rumbling chuckle vibrated her torso, and she looked back at the black dragon. Little brother had learned to fly quickly. She felt proud of him. He had even figured out some of the flying feats that had upset her bond-mate when she’d first tried them. But Jessip wasn’t as worried about Zolin. Likely because she and Anaya were with him. Little brother could not come to harm. He could try your patience, though.

Zolin, do not make me chase you down! Besides, they will bring our food soon.

The three dragons took turns landing in the courtyard. Zolin was first, loud grumbles making clear his disappointment. Xochi landed next, followed by Anaya.

Xochi padded over to Renata, let out a happy rumble, and touched her nose to her bond-mate’s cheek. A wonderful hug was returned. Zolin’s cheerful barks and Jessip’s laugh and murmured words drew their attention.

He seems different, now. Happier. And he smiles more, don’t you think?

He does.
Xochi watched the pair. The boy’s hair appeared lighter in the morning sun. Renata was thinking of him too, and his hair. She did that a lot.
His hair color is not that unusual, is it? It is similar to my color, yet you think of him all the time.

A flash of surprise came through the link. Renata turned to her.
I–I’ve just never seen anyone with hair that color before.

Oh?

I’ve seen blond hair, like Willem, Millinith and Gregor, people with that hair color pass through the villages from time to time. But never have I seen hair his color.
Renata turned back to Jessip.
Even the hair on his arms is red.

Confused, Xochi tilted her head as she stared at him.
And why would it not be? Like you, I am sure all the hair on his body is the same color.

She caught a glimpse of the image that flashed through Renata’s mind and turned to her bond-mate.
Yes, even that hair is probably red.

The girl gasped, blushed, and stalked off, muttering, “The link isn’t always that damn amazing.”

Xochi let out a grunting laugh and lay in the sun.

+ + + + +

Aeron turned to Renata, wondering if she was okay. She’d made an odd noise and was now stomping off to her room.

“
I wonder what that was about?” Willem said.

“
I was wondering the same thing,” Aeron murmured.

Anaya lay in the sun, next to them.
I caught mixed feelings from her, but now she seems embarrassed and annoyed. Xochi is happy, so it cannot be anything too serious.

Aeron shook his head.
Girls.

I am a girl.

You know what I mean. Girls are so confusing.

Am I confusing?

Aeron chuckled.
No, dear-heart, you are adorable.

Willem glanced at him, then at Anaya, and smiled. Aeron was glad that with Willem and his friends he didn’t have to explain the silent conversations he had with her. When he was around other people and something she said made him react, he often felt self-conscious. But he didn’t have to watch himself here.

Why are girls confusing?
Anaya gazed at him, chin on her forepaws.

I
 . . . I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I’m not a girl, but it just seems as if some of the things they do make no sense.

Do things boys do make sense?

Aeron had to think about that.
Well, with a boy, I expect him to think and act like I do, I guess. And, for the most part, they do.
He frowned.
But not always.

Girls do not think like boys?

I don’t know.

It seems to me that boys and girls would act the same. They are just people, right? Under the same circumstances, would not a girl and a boy act the same way?

Again, I don’t know. Maybe you’re right.

Anaya closed her eyes. Only calm contemplation came through the link.

A faint smile crooked Aeron’s lips. She asked the most interesting questions sometimes, and many times, those questions gave him pause to think. He grunted and turned his attention to Jessip and Zolin.

Sharrah and Cheddar stood next to them, looking over the newest dragon. Zolin had been fairly patient for his age. He’d stood there weathering their examination for several minutes, now. Aeron recalled how rambunctious a young dragon could be and wondered how long the hatchling’s patience would last.

Liara and Fillion sat on a bench off to the side, notebooks open and chatting. They seemed to study together a lot, and it was working—they were pretty much caught up. It felt good to see them smiling and having fun again. Having everyone back together, all working toward the same goal, was amazing. It felt right.

Zolin turned to Jessip, chirped, and butted his head on the older boy’s hip. Jessip looked down at him and smiled. It seemed the little dragon had finally tired of being admired and wanted his bond-mate’s attention now. Aeron smiled.

Just over a week had passed since the two became one. Aeron didn’t feel bad about it at all. He looked around at everyone and felt nothing but happiness. He’d realized that they were all kind of like a family. There would be disagreements. There would be sad times. But the happy times and the times spent together were well worth it. And having people who supported you, helped you when you needed it, that was special, too. He reached for Willem’s hand. It was warm and comforting in his.

Little brother is happy here.

Aeron glanced at Anaya and then looked at Zolin. The little dragon gave off a humming purr, wings lifted off his back, as Jessip scratched under his chin.
He isn’t exactly your brother, nor is Xochi your sister. Yet, you all call each other brother and sister.

That is true, but we are a family now.

Aeron looked back at her. Of course. We’re all a family now, dragons included. Smiling, he said,
Are we our own House, then, with you as queen?

Surprise came through the link. Anaya turned to him and blinked.
I do not know.

+ + + + +

“Anyone for iced cider while we wait for their food?” Renata walked out carrying a tray with a pitcher and several glasses.

Jessip wondered why no one had thought to serve cider with ice before Renata suggested it. The cool drink was as refreshing as it was delicious. She’d said it was popular in her village. He wouldn’t mind learning more about the dark-haired girl’s village, wouldn’t mind learning more about her.

Master Millinith arrived as Aeron helped Renata hand out the cool beverage. “Have they eaten yet?”

“
Not yet.” Jessip took a glass from Aeron. Something bumped his leg, drawing his gaze.

Zolin let out a pleading, little bark.
Tell them to hurry.

Jessip laughed. “I hope they get here soon, though. Zolin is starving.”
Patience, little man, patience.

Renata chuckled. “So is Xochi.”

Sharrah handed a glass to Cheddar and turned to Aeron. “Is Anaya still good with her last hunt?”

He glanced at his dragon and nodded. “Yeah. She says she’s good. I’d say maybe another day or two before she wants to hunt again.”

“You’re logging everything she eats, right?” Master Millinith stared at Anaya.

“
I do,” Aeron nodded.

“
Good. Sharrah’s preliminary findings were a start, but I’d like to get a better estimate of dragon food intake and how it changes over time.”

“
We’re tracking how much Xochi and Zolin eat as well,” Sharrah said.

Jessip grunted. “Yeah. Though all Zolin eats right now is what we get from the Dining Hall.”

“What did Anaya catch, last time?” Fillion stared at Aeron as he sipped some cider.

“
A buck.” Aeron grinned. “She had to be wary of his horns as she took him down.”

“
She wasn’t hurt, was she?” Liara looked over the tawny dragon.

“
No, she’s fine,” Aeron said. “She’s clever and careful.”

“
Do you fly with her when she hunts?” Jessip found the idea of hunting with his dragon exhilarating.

“
Sometimes,” Aeron said. “But it’s easier for her to hunt without my weight.”

“
Yeah,” Cheddar said, “I can see that. They’re more agile that way.”

I think I would still like you to fly with me to hunt.

Jessip smiled at Zolin.
I would, too. I can’t wait to fly with you.

It is fun!

The arrival of the food was greeted with much excitement by Zolin and Xochi, though Sharrah had them wait while she weighed the chests.