“What?” This was starting to feel like a trap. Why was he pushing this when we were surrounded by enemies and running out of time?
“It means that if you say no to me, you won’t be welcome there, either. This is your only chance to ride a dragon. And this is the only dragon who might be willing to take you. Do you see any other dragons around here? Kyrowat doesn’t count. He’s mine. You have a choice right here and right now. Choose me and Saboraak and a life of adventure or choose to go back to your dirt-city and scrabble for scraps.”
My stomach rumbled and Hubric rolled his eyes, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a thumb-thick piece of jerky. He offered it to me and I took it before he could change his mind, barely chewing it before I swallowed. Oh boy, that was good. How long had it been since I’d last eaten? I glanced at the treeline.
“Well?” he asked.
“We’re surrounded. We need to get out of here!”
“First we do this. Then we handle that.”
I swallowed. So. That’s how it was. This haughty dragon, or nothing at all. And I was on the clock. Decide now or die by fireballs while I dithered about it.
It figured. Tor Winespring always got the short end of the stick. But he also always found a way to turn that stick around. I wasn’t going back to Vanika. There was no way through these Magikas and no way to change Hubric’s mind and if I was honest there was nothing for me there – not really. But a life riding a dragon – that would be something, alright. And I was no stranger to risk. Plus, those guys in the trees were getting closer. I swallowed.
“Fine. Yes. I’ll be your apprentice.” I was trapped by my own promise. I clenched my jaw at it. Responsibility wasn’t really my thing.
“Then I want your vow right now. A vow of fealty to me. Apprentice to master. You know how it’s done?”
“No.” I wasn’t the vow swearing type. Commitment made my skin itch.
“Repeat after me. I, say your name.”
“I, Tor Winespring.” This felt ridiculous. Was I really going to go through with it? Was that a green glow I saw? The fireballs were about to start flying again.
“You should put your fist over your heart for this part.” He nodded when I did. “Swear fealty and full allegiance to Hubric Duneshifter, Dragon Rider of the Purple, until death takes one of us.”
Seriously? That was a bit dramatic. I repeated his words, stumbling in my haste to get them out before we were attacked but at least that kept me from rolling my eyes at how serious they were.
“And I swear this by my honor and the Truth which is all I have to give.”
His knife flicked out of the sheath again as I repeated his words and then he slit the end of his thumb and pressed the blood to my forehead. I stumbled back.
“Hey! No creepy blood stuff!”
“I, Hubric Duneshifter, accept your pledge, Tor Winespring, and I swear to protect and guide you, shelter and provide for you, as my liege-sworn until death takes one of us. I swear this by my honor and the Truth which is all I have to give.” His smile widened. “It is done. Now, go give Saboraak your oath, too, or you can be my living footstool for the rest of your life.”
I frowned. I felt a little warm inside – not that I’d let him know! No one had ever promised to take care of me. It was weird. Like I was too old for it. So why did it make me feel like tearing up?
“And then can we get out of here? They’re about to attack!”
“There’s always time to do the right thing, apprentice.”
“So wait, I have to commit to her, too? This feels – a bit much. Can I take some time to decide? Maybe after we fly for the afternoon?”
Hubric frowned. “Swear to her, or I leave you here.”
Behind us, as if on cue, I heard twigs breaking. Our enemies were about to start throwing those fireballs they’d been preparing. I could almost imagine Hubric and Saboraak flying away and leaving me here to be consumed by magenta fire. Tension filled me. I didn’t like being forced into things, but what choice did I have?
I strode over to where the dragon stood stiffly, her shoulders back and her head extended as high as it could on her long neck so that it towered far above me. Ridiculous. She was nearly as tall as the trees when she did that. Those Magikas were definitely going to notice her.
“Saboraak?” I said. “That’s your name?”
You know it is.
I felt strangely vulnerable as I pulled out my belt knife. I licked my lips. I probably should know what to say. Maybe Castelans and other dragon riders did. I was going to look like a poor street kid if I didn’t think of something but I was going to look a lot worse if I died because I didn’t do this fast enough. Maybe a modified version of what Hubric had said.
I swallowed. The words were a bit hard to get out. But if I didn’t say them, then it would be too late to run. Besides, I was good at getting around promises ...
I had meant to have a ringing, loud voice, but it came out as more of a stutter.
“I, Tor Winespring, swear to protect you and provide what I can for as long as I can as your rider, that is if you’ll be my dragon.”
Her huge eyes narrowed. Had I missed some part of it? Seriously, we were going to be attacked and she was worried about the details?
“Ummm ... and I swear it by the Truth?”
I nicked my thumb with the knife and offered it to her. My eyes went wide when her huge head ducked down but I didn’t back up or tremble even when that flame-hole of a snout leaned in and pressed against my thumb. Had I just promised to take care of a massive furnace with wings?
She seemed hesitant, like she was as nervous and reluctant as I was. Which was ridiculous. I was the one being asked to gamble my future here with a knife basically to my throat.
After a moment she spoke in my mind – her words heavy, like they meant as much to her as they suddenly did to me.
By the Skies and Stars, I pledge my loyalty and life to you, Tor Winespring. I give you truth and the bond of dragon to man. With your death, I will die, with your life, I will live.
That seemed intense. I shivered.
I’m taking a huge risk here. Don’t disappoint me.
Harsh! She should talk about disappointment. I’d expected an exciting school and classes and being able to choose a dragon from among a dozen options, not forced to swear what was basically a marriage vow in the middle of a smoky forest.
I didn’t even know that there were female dragons.
How do you think we make more dragons?
I’d never heard about one in the Dominion.
I’m the first one to leave the lands of Haz’drazen.
That must be lonely. Was that a pang of pity I was feeling?
A little less lonely now.
Chapter Seven
HUBRIC BOUNCED FROM foot to foot impatiently. “Take the saddle and go put it on Saboraak. These saddlebags tie in behind it. Hurry! Those Magikas are about to attack!”
Like I didn’t know that! I’d been the one telling them to hurry!
There was a crash in the woods and a yell.
I rushed to Saboraak and nervously tried to place the saddle on her back.
“Just get the job done,” Hubric called, mounting his own dragon. “While you two were doing your ooey gooey thing I threw your sack of things into the saddlebags. Hopefully, we won’t get separated, but if we do, you’ll have what you need in there.”
There were more yells coming from the trees around us and I hurried to cinch the belly strap of the saddle.
“If we get separated, I don’t even know where I’m going,” I muttered.
“Saboraak does. You can trust her.”
I fumbled with the buckles that held the saddle in place. A second crash sound made me jump.
Not like that!
I hurriedly tried it a different way. How did she know? Had she ever been saddled before?
I know what will hurt me. Have a little respect, human.
How much more respect did she need
? I already was nervous of her palm-long teeth! A blaze of magenta soared overhead and I ducked.
“Will those Magikas try to steal Saboraak again?” I called to Hubric.
I can’t be stolen. I’m not property!
Boy, she was touchy!
“Are you kidding me?” Hubric asked. Kyrowat ambled up to beside Saboraak and Hubric leaned out of the saddle to help me finish fitting the straps in place for Saboraak. “She’s an invaluable asset and a magical creature. They’d be fools not to try. Here, this is where you put your foot to mount up. There you go. Now, strap in so you don’t fall out if she does a barrel roll.”
The saddle itches.
Yep, touchy.
And you squirm too much!
I was just trying to find a good place to sit. She could ease off with the criticism any time now!
“What about reins?” I asked, but before Hubric could answer a fireball splashed across the ground beside us, so close that my skin felt singed. I smelled burnt hair and then Saboraak crouched down, muscles bunching, as she launched into the air. Pine branches scraped and scathed me as we gained height. With every powerful flap, I was buffeted by them.
Great. Of all the dragons in all the world, I got the one who didn’t know how to fly with a rider. I’d have to watch out for my own well being, she certainly wasn’t going to. And the reins were still in the saddlebags, so I was at her mercy when it came to direction.
Stop complaining.
Whoever said girls were more nurturing was full of dragon-
My thought cut off at Saboraak’s sudden barrel roll. I would have screamed, but the breath was ripped from my throat. Blood rushed to my head with my stomach following quickly. Just as I thought I was going to lose that nice beef jerky, we spun around and I was upright again. I swallowed. Well, she’d proven one thing. She could make both of us green.
I felt her laughing in my mind as we continued to climb.
Hubric says to stop goofing around. He says to look down at the Magikas.
I wasn’t the one goofing around. That was this dragon I’d been fool enough to pledge to.
Are you going to sit and sulk or obey orders?
I leaned over in my stirrup to look down below us. Fuchsia and green fireballs arched up, losing speed and height before they could reach us, only to crash harmlessly in the forest below.
Not harmlessly. Those could start a forest fire. Do you see how many trees are burning? We’ll be lucky if the fires stay localized. We dragons are much more careful with our flames.
I pushed back memories that tried to bubble up. Memories of snatching little children from buildings just before the licking flames consumed them. Memories of helping Hubric pull an old man out of the flames. Memories –
Now is not the time for bad dreams. Concentrate.
Well, there wasn’t anything we could do about Magikas except to fly away, which suited me just fine. It seemed strange, though, that they were traveling north so poorly supplied and in such numbers.
Haven’t you heard about the great battle around Dominion City?
Sure. Everyone heard of that. The Dominar destroyed the Ifrits and freed us all.
That’s a real garbling of the story! But you should know – the Magikas fought against your current Dominar. She had a –
She?
You need to get over whatever prejudice you have against girls.
I didn’t have a prejudice. I liked girls – a lot, in fact. Girls with long golden hair and girls with raven curls, tall girls, short girls, girls with curvy-
Agh! Stop it. Why did I swear my life to a simpleton? Back to world events. I will teach you to think or die trying! Your Dominar – a girl, now – made an alliance with the ancient elders of dragonkind and with our Queen. Together with the Chosen One, they fought the pretender, the Magikas who allied with her, and the Ifrits. They destroyed the pretender and the Ifrits, but the Magikas were scattered. Some are dead. Some are fleeing.
The ones below weren’t dead.
They’re fleeing north, to Ko’Torenth, which is also where we are headed.
Because they lost the war?
Partially. They also have a big problem – and so do we. The magic they have always tapped – in seams beneath the ground – is running out. There are only so many more colorful fireballs they can throw.
Well, that didn’t seem to be stopping them. What did I care if their magic was fading?
They’re hurrying to our enemies because together they are trying to find another source of power. They think they can get it from dragons.
Still, not my problem.
Ahem.
What?
You swore an oath to me just now. I’m afraid, Tor Winespring, that from now on, dragons are very much your problem.
Skies and Stars! The freer I tried to get the more I got tangled up. I never volunteered to join a war. I never volunteered for more trouble.
In life, you are only guaranteed one thing: adventure.
Chapter Eight
WE FLEW ALL DAY UNTIL I thought my inner thighs were so chapped that they would never recover. Maybe this was why real Dragon Riders wore leathers. I’d have to ask Hubric about leathers when we got where we were going.
My stomach rumbled viciously. There had been no food – except that mouthful of jerky – and no stops all day. We flew above the trees, still keeping an eye on the knots of Magikas working their way north through the forest. How were there so many little trails and paths in a forest no one ever entered?
That’s probably a myth. There are no truly untouched places in the world. If you set down there, I bet you’d find someone who has been living in that forest all their life.
How would you know? This is your first time around here, too. It’s not like you traveled the world. You were just in Haz’drazen’s lands all your life.
I studied. How do you think I can speak human? Besides, you were just in Vanika.
Oh, so she was going to throw that in my face, was she? I was going to have to travel a lot. I didn’t like having a haughty dragon rubbing my nose in my own inexperience.
Everywhere you go, I’ll go too.
I made an annoyed noise in my throat, but I wasn’t really upset. I was starting to get used to her voice in my mind. It was like a steady stream of entertainment. I could probably get her pretty riled up if I wanted to.
Don’t even think about it.
We caught our first glimpse of the mountains when the clouds finally lifted an hour before dark. I squinted at the frosty peaks. Cold as I was, it looked colder there.
I hate the cold.
Something we could agree on. But we were headed north and by all accounts that should mean warmer weather.
Not in Ko’Torenth. Oh, they have deserts on the plains, but they don’t live there. They live in the great mountains and those are cold and frosty.
Wait. What?
It’s cold in the mountains of Ko’Torenth.
But why would we be going there? Wait, she had mentioned that, hadn’t she?
Didn’t Hubric tell you that he wants us to be spies? I did mention Ko’Torenth before and you didn’t seem surprised.
I just hadn’t realized what she was saying before. It made sense for her to be a spy. She could easily disguise herself. She could hide in plain sight. I wasn’t interested in risking my neck to steal secrets.
I can only disguise myself if we go somewhere with other dragons.
But what if the place we went to was full of Magikas? A dragon was an impressive thing, but she was hardly magical.
Sometimes the best magic is hiding in plain sight.
I’d always been good at hiding. I’d been good at pulling fast cons. But that was just for fun. Or for food. Or for something to do. The worst I could expect was to have my stuff – what little there was – stolen, or to be turned out of wherever I was holed up, or to be taken by the city guards – back when there were city guards. Somehow, spying on a foreign country seemed a lot more int
ense. Like the kind of intense that I definitely wasn’t going to agree to.
I stole a last look at the Magikas forging through the woods towards Ko’Torenth. I could barely make them out in the fading light. What would happen to a man who tried to pull a con on a Magika? Was it true that they could turn people into toads?
No.
That they could send you into a deep sleep for a thousand years?
Your body would starve and rot long before that. You’d have geraniums growing through your ribcage.
Pleasant thought. Could they ... torture me?
Undoubtedly.
With magic?!
Does that make it worse?
Yes! My breath stuttered like my lungs wanted to force me to panic. I frowned and forced myself to breathe normally.
I don’t know what you want me to say.
What had I gotten myself into?
I felt something that seemed like a mental sigh.
You made all those promises to me with no idea whatsoever of what it would mean for you, didn’t you?
Ummmm ... well, there had been a bit of urgency to save all of our skins from fireballs.
Here’s some advice: think before you leap.
Great. I’d accidentally committed to a suicide mission with a dragon playing the role of my conscience. Worse, now she was dispensing advice that should be obvious.
It’s called common sense. You should try it.
As darkness fell, thick as a blanket, lights blossomed on the edge of the mountains.
They were always there. Your eyes just couldn’t see them until it got dark enough.
We were headed straight for those lights. Did that mean shelter and warmth?
Hubric says yes.
Did that mean a warm meal?
Hubric says yes again.
Then speed up, old girl! Let’s get there fast! I’d figure out how to say no to the suicide mission once I had a full belly and a night of sleep.
Fine by me. And I’m not old. I’m barely forty.
Saboraak sped up, and I didn’t even mind that the icy wind bit harder because very, very soon I could warm up these frozen dead weights I used to call feet and these poor clumsy stones I used to call fingers. My mouth was already watering at the thought of food.
Dragon Chameleon: Episodes 1-4 Page 4