A Dragon's Bond

by Johnson, S. B.

  "OK Davin, here is the first one." Chloe had put on a very elegant looking dress. It was a soft purple with some frill and lace around the top.

  Davin wasn't really sure what he was supposed to say. "Sure that one looks good." He blurted out.

  Chloe looked slightly irritated at Davin's seemingly lack of interest. "Come on now. Seriously Davin. What do you think.?"

  Davin hesitated for a few seconds. "It's very purple...I mean pretty. It's very pretty."

  Chloe smiled, seeing that Davin was at least now trying. "Ready for the next one."

  "Absolutely!"

  As Chloe turned to head back again, Davin began to roll his eyes in a playful manner. It only took a few minutes for Chloe to slip into the next dress. She came around the corner again and this time had Davin's full attention. The second dress she had picked out was a brilliant red dress. It was a simple pattern like many summer dresses. No frills, just a brilliantly red dress. It really did suit her personality and it made her eyes stand out even more than they had before. Her newly glowing green eyes stood out brightly in contrast with the dress.

  "I like that one." Davin spit out before he had even realized he said it.

  Chloe giggled. Davin felt his face grow warm as the blood rushed to his face. Chloe only giggled harder as Davin's face became bright red. "I like this one too." Chloe said with a final smile as she turned and headed off again.

  Davin waited patiently at the front of the store while Chloe finished up. A few moments later she popped back out from around the corner carrying a couple of small boxes and a bag. She promptly handed them to Davin and headed out the door. He again followed her, this time until they reached the front of her house at the end of town. The Mayor's house was very large and had a display of windows along it's front side. There was a cobblestone courtyard in front surrounded by a small picket fence. As they walked up to the gate they were immediately greeted by Edna. Edna was in charge of all matters concerning the running order of the Mayor's house. She was a very sweet and cheerful woman, but had a mean streak when needed or provoked. She was a short and rather plump woman, with a beautiful smile, deep brown eyes and short curly brown hair.

  She greeted Chloe with a kiss on the cheek and turned and patted Davin on the head. "Well, look at you two." She said with a smile. "Chloe. You need to get inside and get ready." She turned to look at Davin. "Just set those down inside the door dear." She turned and followed Chloe in and up the flight of stairs in the entryway. Davin placed the packages on a small table just to the right of the door. He turned to head out the door knowing he wouldn't see Chloe again until later. He shouted over his shoulder as he passed through the front door. "I'm taking off now. I guess I will see you later Chloe."

  "OK. Thanks again for your help." Chloe's voice came from one of the many rooms upstairs.

  Davin closed the front door and headed back through the courtyard to the road.

  After returning home Davin sat quietly in his room for the next few hours. He realized after tonight, he would no longer be living in the apartment with his father. Tonight would be the first night he spent alone in his own place. He would have his own apartment in the lower sections of the keep.

  He had been so excited about the egg and getting a dragon that he had forgotten about the realities of the move. He would be in charge of attending to his own affairs regarding his new home. All of the bonders within the keep had similar housing accommodations, all located on the same floor.

  Davin heard a soft knock on his door. "Yeah."

  The door opened and his father peaked his head in at him. "Time to get going Davin."

  "Sure thing Dad." He said as he stood up from his bed.

  "You got all of your things packed?" Kimball glanced around the now empty space. Davin had already packed his things up and placed them out by the front door with his name on them.

  "Yeah. I got everything. It's all out front just like I was instructed to do." Davin walked out his door passed Kimball and headed towards the front.

  It was night time now and the lights from the festival in town were twinkling through all of the windows of the keep. Davin stared out into the night as they passed by them. Kimball and Davin walked with the flow of the crowds heading towards the town square. As they got closer to the gates separating the town and the Keep, they could hear the music and laughter coming from the square. The smell of the food was becoming enticingly nice and there were even fireworks going off overhead.

  The two stopped by one of the first of many food carts and purchased a large bag of popped corn. It had been coated in a honey glaze giving a taste of sweet along with the added sea salt.

  There were so many unfamiliar faces. Kimball had mentioned to Davin before they had left, to be wary of the many strangers. He insisted that not all of them had good intentions. Davin was a bit puzzled by the outwardly cautious tone he had carried. He was not sure of why his dad would be so concerned. They had been to many festivals and nothing ever happened at any of them.

  When Davin and Kimball finally made it to the center of town where a good majority of the people had gathered, Davin scanned the crowds for Chloe. He had spotted her. She was standing directly across from them with her back turned as she spoke with her father.

  Davin darted across the floor over to where she was standing. He walked up behind her. Just as he was about to say something, she turned and the music began to play. Davin found himself staring right into the face of his childhood friend. She giggled when his face started turning red again. Chloe grabbed Davin's hand and pulled him out on to the floor. "Perfect. I have been waiting for someone to dance with. Come on Davin." He didn't get a chance to refuse and he found himself out on the dance floor, clumsily dancing around with Chloe. She clearly had been subject to some formal training and he had not. Either way they both laughed and enjoyed the music as they spun each other around the floor. Kimball had made his way over to Stewart and they were both watching joyfully as their children enjoyed each other's company.

  It seemed like the music and dancing had gone on for hours when the music died down and the crowds fell silent. Everyone's attention had shifted to the stage where Myrdinn stood solemnly. He raised his hands. "It is time once again that we get to honor our new found bonders." He picked Davin out of the crowd and gave him a slight wink. "I will call the names of those that will be receiving an egg tonight. They will step forward and we shall depart for the evening. When you see them again they will be bonders."

  Myrdinn reached into the pocket of his large robe and pulled out a rolled up piece of parchment. He slowly began reading off the names, waiting for those he had called to join him on stage. Among the names he had already called were Blake, Toby and James.

  "Chloe Collins." He said in his loud and boisterous voice.

  Chloe gave a little jump as she clapped her hands together. She ran off and up the stage to stand with the others. She had an ear to ear grin as she shook Mydrinn's hand. She looked down towards Davin and gave him a quick wave.

  "And finally." Myrdinn paused before continuing. "Davin Willis."

  Davin turned and nodded to his father and steadily walked over to the stage. Even though he was really excited, he kept his cool and maintained a respectful posture. Once on the stage, Myrdinn shook his hand and gestured for him to stand next to the others.

  "I congratulate all those that stand up here before us tonight. They have been given a great honor. Those that have been chosen will now follow me and we shall make our way to the Egg Chamber."

  Myrdinn turned and began walking towards the gate of the Keep. The students followed closely behind. The crowd applauded and cheered as they walked away and a series of fireworks went off above them as they entered the keep.

  They walked down several familiar hallways and then turned down between two guards. It was the hallway that would lead them to the entrance to the chamber. At the end of the hallway they came to a large door. Myrdinn opened the door and began down a small soft slo
ping staircase that lead into the depths of the keep. They walked out into a wide hallway that opened up into an entryway. There were six guards standing in front of a set of double doors. Davin glanced up out of the corner of his eye, to the vent along the top of the high wall. He looked up towards Chloe and saw that she had been doing the same. This six guards parted and lined up, three on either side of the doors. Myrdinn stepped forward and placed a key he was holding in his hand and turned it until it made a rather loud click.

  Myrdinn turned back around facing the students. "I will escort you, one at a time into the chamber. Once you have received your egg you will immediately place it into an incubation box and exit the chamber." Myrdinn pointed to a door on their right. "You will exit through this door and from there you will be shown to your new quarters. I will take you in the order I called you tonight. From this point forth, you are not allowed to speak to each other."

  He turned and opened the door to let the first of them in. As the door shut behind them the room was silent. What had been several minutes had seemed like hours to Davin. He would be the last to receive an egg. There were hundreds of eggs for each of them to search through. The thought of how long he could be waiting made Davin even more anxious. The latch on the door began to shake just before the door opened. Myrdinn stepped out first followed by one of the new arrivals. He had an incubation box clutched tightly in his hands. Much like a mother with her new baby. He walked by, not giving notice to any of the others in the room. He walked to the door Myrdinn had directed them to and exited the room. Myrdinn continued to take them in one by one. Each leaving the chamber in the same sort of trance.

  All of the others had taken their turn in the chamber. It totaled around three hours. Chloe had now been in the chamber for about thirty minutes. As soon as she was finished it would be Davin's turn. Another few minutes went by and the door finally opened. Myrdinn stepped out and Chloe followed closely behind. Davin thought to himself that she would at least look up at him, if only for a brief moment. Yet Chloe simply walked past, just as the others did. She was intently focused on her box.

  Davin looked up and Myrdinn was eying him inquisitively. Myrdinn simply nodded his head and lead Davin into the chamber. Once they were both in, he turned and closed the door.

  Myrdinn turned back to Davin. "Best for last right?" He paused for a brief moment. "You will walk amongst the rows of eggs until you find the egg that calls to you. It will light up, calling out to you. That is when you know it is yours to receive."

  Davin walked to the left towards the first of the rows. He was within feet of the eggs when they began to light up. Myrdinn's eyebrows raised at the sight.

  Davin stopped and looked at Myrdinn. "Why do they all light up like that?"

  Myrdinn folder his arms. "Based on your question, it seems you have experienced this before somehow and have been waiting to ask that question."

  Davin's eyes widened, realizing his mistake. Myrdinn did not question any further and simply said. "It seems more than one dragon calls to you. I have never seen this before. But surely there must be one that calls to you the most."

  Davin turned and began slowly walking down each of the rows. He walked for quite some time. He began to sweat from the hot humid air that filled the room. As Davin had walked each of the eggs lit up. All had been equal in the way they glowed. Myrdinn followed behind as he walked up each of the isles.They had continued walking up and down each of the rows and there had been no change in the way any of the eggs glowed. They were on the last row when they approached the second to the last of the eggs. It began to glow just like all the others had. But this time as Davin passed it, It grew even brighter. It was glowing so brightly that Davin had to partially shield his eyes. He turned to Myrdinn who was watching him closely.

  "Well, pick it up boy. I believe it has shown itself to you." Myrdinn stepped closer and placed an incubation box on the floor and opened the top.

  Davin reached out with both of his hands. He placed his fingertips on the egg and then rested his palms on it's surface. His mind immediately went blank. It was as if he was half awake and half asleep. He felt a tingling sensation run from the top of his head, down the back of his neck and in through his chest. He pulled the egg closer and cradled it in his arms. He slowly lowered it down into the incubation box and softly closed the lid. He picked up the box and held it tightly against his chest.

  Myrdinn looked down at him. "Well best for last almost again." He laughed. "Though it seems the other eggs called to you as well. Quite interesting in deed. Tell me Davin. Have you ever been up close to a dragon?"

  Davin did not immediately acknowledge him.

  "Davin!" Myrdinn said more loudly.

  He finally looked up. Pulling himself from the strange trance he was in, gazing at his egg just as the others had. "I'm sorry Myrdinn. What did you say?"

  "Have you ever been up close to a dragon? I mean close enough that you could touch it."

  Davin answered almost immediately. "No. Not that I can remember. Why?"

  "Just curious. That's all."

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  INCUBATION

  Davin had been lead to his new quarters. It made the previous place he shared with his dad seem substandard, even though it had been quite nice. His new place had a large common seating area and a fabulously furnished kitchen and dining area. His bedroom alone was the size of he and his fathers place upstairs. It had a large bed fit for a king along one wall. The room opened up to a large bathroom with a large roman tub in the center and a shower in one corner. There was a large sink on the other wall surrounded by an elegant solid granite counter top.

  In the main room there was a wood stove that was designed specifically for his incubation box. He had placed it in it's place atop the already lit stove. The heat radiated from the small iron stove. It warmed the entire room as it blazed away. Just past the wall that housed the stove there was an archway with a staircase leading down. Below were the stables that housed the dragons once they had hatched. There was a large set of double doors out of the stable that lead into the central pits of the keep. The pits were four large open areas that were deep beneath the keep. They were known as the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Pits. They were used for both training and as common areas for the dragons and their bonder. Davin stayed in his room the rest of the night. He only took his eyes off of the box when he finally felt sleep calling him and went to bed.

  The following morning all of the new bonders attended classes together. They were instructed to bring their boxes with them. They were each provided a very thick leather glove that would shield their hand from the smoldering heat of the boxes. That and a thickly coated rubber handle was the only thing protecting them from immense burns.

  Davin woke early to find the incubation box just as he had left it. He got dressed and went to collect his box. He slipped on the heavy leather glove, picked up his box and headed out the door and off in the direction of his class.

  He had walked down the hall passing a few other doors, when he saw Chloe coming out of one, about five doors down from his own. He caught her eyes as she stepped into the hallway.

  "Hey Chloe, wait up." He shouted at her.

  She began walking his direction to meet him. "Hey. How was your first night?"

  "Not bad. The bed was amazing along with the rest of the place." He replied. "How about you?"

  "I didn't sleep much last night. I was pretty excited."

  They continued walking towards their first class as bonders. It wasn't long and they came to the classroom marked "Incubation Training". They walked through the open door to find that they were the first to arrive. At the head of the class, a short fat man stood next to a desk.

  "Hello. My name is Professor Wilson. You may address me as such." The short man walked around behind his desk and sat down. "Please. Take a seat. And what are your names for the roll?"

  Davin and Chloe quickly introduced themselves as they sat in two of the desks on t
he left front side of the class against the wall. The desks were lined up by twos in three separate lines. There were two rows, just enough seats for the twelve new bonders that received eggs the previous night. The other students had started entering the class one at a time, except of course for the three trouble makers who strolled in together. Blake, Toby and James all would be in their class with them. Hopefully they would not continue to be a nuisance like they always had been. All of the students had finally arrived to class. The class was made up of Davin, Chloe, Blake, Toby, James and three others that had been in school with them, Jordan Craig an overweight elf, John Paul Stevens a human and Todd Brenner another human. Joining them as new students were Michael Franco a human from one of the nearby cities, Kayla Jennings another human from outside of a small town someplace down south of the keep and Derrick Greenwood, an elf. His family knew of the Academy and rushed him there as soon as they found out about his gift.

  Professor Wilson stood up from behind his desk. "Now that we are all here, let's begin shall we." He turned around and started writing on the board behind him. After a few seconds of quick scratches with the chalk, he stepped to the side and pointed. "Incubation period." Reading what he had just wrote. He faced to address the class. "Who knows how long the incubation period is, for a dragon waiting to hatch from an egg?" He paused and silence filled the room. "Anybody?" Pausing again. "Not even a guess huh?" He cleared his throat as he began. "Once a dragon egg is removed from the chamber which keeps it from progressing in development due to its constant temperature and humidity, it takes three weeks for the egg to hatch. Once placed in the incubation boxes to be heated and cooled, the egg will begin to harden. As it does your dragon will begin to grow. At the end of the three weeks, the shell will have become very brittle. Your dragon will have fully formed and will begin to eat the shell from around itself. The incubation box takes the place of the mother dragon's body heat. Female dragon's breast plate splits after dropping an egg. They place the egg behind the plating on their chest and use their immense body heat like an oven. I had all of you bring your eggs today as this is their cool down period. During the day you will take your eggs everywhere you go. At night, you will place them on the wood stoves to heat them. This is all your eggs will need until the three weeks is up. At which time you will open your boxes. They are not to be opened at any time during the three weeks. This is how long you have to prepare for your new companion."