“Shhh,” Áedán hushed her breathlessly. “It came to me earlier. If you are with child, he cannot marry you.”
“That is your plan?” Evie asked furiously. “To get me with child?” Of course he had no idea that she was dragon-chosen, as Islwyn suspected. If she were truly chosen, she couldn’t go off to dragon training if she were carrying a child. It would be too dangerous to train. On the other hand, if she wasn’t truly dragon-chosen, she would still be set to marry. She did see some merit to Áedán’s idea, but she was scared and unsure.
“Yes! It’s the only way to make sure this marriage agreement is broken and will allow us to stay together,” he reasoned. “It would happen eventually after we get married.”
Evie nodded her head in agreement. She bit her lip to hold back her secret about the dragon. Áedán kissed her gently before rolling off to her side, pulling her close to him and covering them with a blanket. Evie shuddered as a loud crack of thunder boomed, shaking the bed.
“I’ve got you,” Áedán whispered sleepily. His eyes were closed, and he was falling asleep quickly. Evie drifted off to sleep in his arms, dreaming of dragons and babies.
CHAPTER 7
Music and laughter filled the air of the great hall of the village council. The long, rectangular, wooden building was packed full. The people of River Town waited impatiently for the day, Rainfall 4, all year. Their day of festivities that commenced the dragon choosing had begun this evening. Everyone in the village stopped whatever they were doing and attended the dragon-choosing ceremony and feast.
Evalina took turns dancing with Áedán and boys from the village as two men sang along with the musicians who were playing melody after melody on harps, drums, bells, flutes, and fiddles. The whole town was there in jovial spirit. It was the most exciting festivity in the village after Yule, but for everyone that ever dreamed of being dragon-chosen, it was the most exciting day of the year.
They spent the day dancing and having fun as they waited for their village’s turn to receive the dragons. River Town was the eighth village to receive the dragons over the course of twelve days, one village per day. Soon, the villagers would all go outside and line up as the dragon keepers paraded the dragons down the streets so the dragons could choose their riders. There was no guarantee that anyone would be chosen at all. There had been years when the dragons passed through and chose no rider from the village. So the dragon keepers, who were also dragon riders, would move on to the next village. After the dragon choosing, they returned to the great hall and feasted and celebrated. Even if no rider was chosen, they feasted and danced until late and enjoyed the festivities.
Right now, Evalina danced with her betrothed, Edwyn, while Áedán sulked jealously along a back wall, watching them. There was nothing she could do. It didn’t bother her to dance with Edwyn, but it bothered her that it bothered Áedán. The music stopped, and Evie stopped dancing. She thanked Edwyn for the dance and then turned around to go take a rest at the tables. On her way to her seat, she ran straight into Islwyn.
“Wyn! You’re here!” Evie exclaimed when she saw her new elf friend, embracing him happily. Though she had only known him a short time, she felt as if she knew him for much longer.
“As promised,” Islwyn said cordially. He held out his hand to her. “May I have the next dance?” he asked as the next song began to play.
Evie took his hand and smiled. “Of course!”
Islwyn’s lips curved up into a smile, and he led her to the dance floor. The pair caught quite a few glances from the villagers, including Edwyn, who now seemed just as jealous as Áedán. The villagers, however, were more than likely looking at the handsome, mysterious elf warrior. Elves rarely ventured into the village, and when they did, it was usually on business, to trade, for the dragon-rider choosing, or out of curiosity. They rarely left the forests of Farryndell, and those who did lived in King’s Citadel as dragon riders or other positions of importance.
Evie glanced around the room. A few other elves gathered in a group, conversing with the village elders on the council. Evie presumed they all came together for the dragon choosing, as Wyn had.
Islwyn led Evie around the room, spinning and turning her along with the rhythm of the music. They dodged other couples trying to navigate the dance floor to the fast-paced song. Evie laughed as they almost ran into another couple.
Islwyn smiled and laughed. “I’m sorry. I’m a tad out of practice,” he confessed.
“You mean to tell me they don’t teach dragon riders how to dance?” Evie asked jokingly.
“Sword dancing, but not this,” Wyn said, dipping Evie and bringing her back up again quickly.
“You’re doing just fine,” Evalina assured him. “Are those other elves dragon riders too?”
“Yes,” Islwyn replied. “I brought them along in case there was any trouble. These riders normally patrol the boundary of the Forbidden Lands and Farryndell. Except for Zeb. Zeb came from the dragon school with me.”
“Why would there be any trouble?” Evie asked.
“Well—” Islwyn began.
Just then, the music ended. The head of the council, Finn Avery, was standing to make an announcement and hushed the crowd. Islwyn and Evie turned their full attention to him.
“Pardon the interruption to your festivities. May I have your attention for a brief moment?” Elder Avery said in a loud, clear voice. “The dragons have all arrived and are ready to begin. Would you please exit the hall and line the streets so the choosing ceremony may begin.” He shouted the last word excitedly.
The younger men raced outside to get a good spot, while the others followed behind leisurely. Islwyn took Evie’s hand and led her through the crowded hall until they were outside.
Evie didn’t see Áedán in the crowd but figured he would find her. She was curious to see if her red-and-black dragon would be here as Wyn predicted. If Islwyn was right, she would be the first female dragon rider chosen in almost five decades. Evie could hardly contain her excitement. She so longed to be a dragon rider.
Islwyn led them over to the group of other elves. He introduced her to his closest friend, Zeb, who was another elf dragon rider.
They listened as Elder Avery announced the dragon keepers. Then, Elder Avery announced the group of elf dragon riders she was standing next to as special guests. He also announced a top dragon-rider trainer from the dragon school and pointed at Islwyn, to Evie’s surprise.
“I didn’t know this about you!” Evie exclaimed. “Why the secrecy?”
“No secrecy,” Islwyn countered and shrugged. “We elves don’t really talk about ourselves that much, and you never asked.”
Evalina laughed. “Well, I would like to know more about you. We are friends now after all.”
“Then I will tell you everything you want to know,” Islwyn said, smiling.
Trumpets blew a melody, announcing the beginning of the dragon parade. After a few moments, Evie spotted the first dragon walking down the street. It was a magnificent, scaly, green-and-white dragon with spikes running down its tail. The triangular tip of its tail was thicker than the shaft and had several white, pointy spikes.
The crowd oohed and aahed as they watched with fascination and fear. Even though dragons could be trained, they were still creatures to be respected and feared.
The dragon moved slowly, led by its keeper. It was very tall, and its large wings were folded by its sides. Suddenly, the dragon sniffed the air and snorted loudly, causing the crowd to gasp in unison.
Islwyn leaned over and spoke in a hushed voice. “Woodland dragon.”
Evie nodded her head. “Woodland dragons breathe acid, have sharp tracking abilities, and can also camouflage themselves to blend into any wooded environment.”
“Impressive! I forgot you know a lot about dragons already,” Islwyn said, smiling.
“There you are,” Áedán said, coming up to her side. “Look, Evie! Isn’t it incredible?” Áedán watched the dragon pass them in awe, n
ot at all fazed that he wasn’t chosen. In previous years, Evalina always noticed a look of disappointment as dragon after dragon passed him by. She figured that maybe as he grew older, he dreamed less like a child and thought more realistically like a man.
When the green dragon was out of their direct sight, they heard a commotion. Then several people began to applaud and cheer.
“What is it? Can you see? Has someone been chosen?” Evalina asked curiously.
Zeb walked off for a minute and returned. He said something to Islwyn in Elvish. Islwyn turned to her and Áedán. “A boy named Colwyn has been chosen. Colwyn Ashby.”
“The baker’s son?” Áedán scoffed incredulously.
“Isn’t he your friend, Áedán?” Evie asked. She thought it wasn’t fair that her parents allowed Áedán to go to town and have friends, while she stayed on the farm, isolated.
“Yes,” Áedán replied matter-of-factly. “I guess I should go and congratulate him.”
Evie nodded her head in agreement, but she also knew what he was thinking. He was wondering why a baker’s son would be chosen and not him. But Evie knew there was nothing he could do or not do to be chosen. The dragons sensed their riders. This was the exact reason the dragon-training school was founded, to train unlikely and unskilled villagers into trained dragon-rider warriors.
A few more dragons passed through the town. A beautiful white-and-silver dragon and a metallic blue-and-silver dragon. They didn’t chose anyone. Those dragons would continue on to the remaining villages until all of them had chosen a rider.
Suddenly, there was a loud screech. Evie looked up at the sky. Her red-and-black dragon swooped over the street and landed down in front of the great hall. Everyone turned and stared. There were a lot of gasps and loud talking about a red-and-black dragon. Evie heard people exclaim the red-and-blacks were extinct or that they thought they never really existed. The village elders gathered together and pointed, talking rapidly to one another.
The dragon keepers rushed over to contain a possibly bad situation. Her red-and-black dragon walked slowly over to her. Evalina stepped forward with her arm outstretched and the palm of her hand open. Her dragon rested his snout on her palm. Evie smiled and stroked his spiky-maned head with her other hand.
The crowd gasped and talked rapidly to one another.
Evie looked at Islwyn, who was smiling. His group of elf companions, on the other hand, didn’t look so happy, except for Zeb. Evie glanced around the crowd. The village elders didn’t seem too happy either she noticed. Áedán was talking to their parents with looks of concern on their faces.
“Um.” Elder Avery stuttered, “It seems we have another dragon rider chosen!” He tried to sound enthusiastic about it. Most of the crowd cheered at his announcement. “This magnificent and rare red-and-black dragon that we saved for last has selected…what is your name, girl?” He approached her carefully as to not provoke the dragon.
“Evalina Voll,” she replied. Evie could sense that Elder Avery was trying to cover up the sudden landing of the dragon by saying they saved him as a surprise for last. She knew that the elders had no clue this dragon even existed.
“Well, Miss Voll,” Elder Avery said, “There hasn’t been a female dragon rider chosen for as long as I can remember, almost five decades, I believe. Come along now. The elders and the dragon keepers will want to meet you. Bring your parents with you, child.”
“Yes, Elder Avery,” she said respectfully.
The dragon keepers approached the red-and-black dragon to see if he would let them take him away to where they were keeping the other dragons. Her dragon tensed as they approached.
Evie stroked him and spoke calmly. “Go on now. They won’t hurt you. They will keep you safe. I’ll find you later.”
He snorted a puff of smoke out its large, moist nostrils and followed the dragon keepers.
Evie went over to her parents with a large smile on her face. “The elders want to speak with us.”
“Evalina,” her mother said with a worried expression. “What is this all about?”
“Mother, I have been chosen,” Evalina explained happily.
Áedán didn’t look too happy, nor did her parents.
“How can you have been chosen?” her father asked angrily. “Elder Avery is clearly lying. He looked just as surprised as everyone else. That dragon was not one of the keepers’ dragons. Where did it come from?”
“I’m sure the elders will explain everything,” Evie said, trying to calm her distraught parents. She wasn’t surprised that her father had picked up on Elder Avery’s lie. He was a very perceptive man.
CHAPTER 8
Evalina’s parents followed her back inside the great hall, past the rows of long wooden tables, to a private room in the back where the elders held council meetings. She walked through the door and saw that Islwyn was there along with the other elf dragon riders, the dragon keepers, and the village elders.
“Come in, young lady,” one of the elders said. “Have a seat.”
They closed the door behind them and took their seats at the council table. The music began to play again in the hall as the festivities continued. She smelled the food cooking and knew it was almost time to eat. Her stomach rumbled in response, but she had to get through this meeting first. She and her family sat around the council table nervously.
“Áed Voll,” Elder Avery began, “Your daughter, Evalina, has apparently been chosen by this red-and-black dragon. As far as we knew, red-and-black dragons disappeared from existence a long time ago. This dragon is rare. It must go to the school to be trained and your daughter with it.”
Áed sighed. “She is betrothed to Edwyn Hult. The deal was already promised upon by both parties.”
“A simple matter we shall remedy,” said one of other elders at the table. He stood up and went to the door. The elder opened the door and poked his head outside, telling one of the village guards to seek out the Hults.
“Do you want to go to the dragon-rider school, Evie?” Freyda asked. She was wringing her hands worriedly.
“Yes, Mother,” Evie said without hesitation. “I want to go.” She looked at Áedán, but he would not meet her eyes. His jaw was tense and his hands rested on the table.
Her mother sobbed and pulled Evie into her arms.
“Mother, all will be well,” Evie reassured her. “I’m happy to be chosen.”
“It’s so dangerous,” her mother said through sobs. Áed comforted her, stroking her back gently.
“Yes, it will be all right,” Áed said, to Evie’s surprise.
Áedán looked at his father with a look of surprise on his face. Then he stood up and walked out of the room.
“Áedán!” Evie called out after him, but he ignored her, slamming the council-room door behind him.
A few minutes later, the Hult family walked through the council door.
“Please be seated, Edgar,” said Elder Avery.
The Hults took their seats across from the Volls. Edwyn smiled at Evalina, so she flashed a quick smile back. She didn’t think being nice would encourage him, given what they were about to discuss.
“As we all witnessed outside during the procession, young Evalina here has been dragon-chosen,” Elder Avery said. “Therefore, the council sees fit to dissolve the marriage proposition and void all obligations agreed upon by either party. I am sorry, Edwyn. Evalina is a beautiful girl. She would no doubt have made you a happy man. The council would like to offer their services in finding another suitable partner for marriage to compensate for this unexpected bad news.”
Edgar Hult looked angry, while his wife, Rose, and their son, Edwyn, just looked disappointed. Edgar was about to protest, but his son spoke first.
“Maybe after her training, the marriage can go through as planned,” he said in meager attempt to rectify the situation.
“I am afraid that would be impossible,” Islwyn said, speaking up for the first time. “After training, Evalina will have to spend consid
erable time in service to the king. A marriage right away would be unthinkable. She would not be home to take care of her husband, nor would it be wise for her to be with child and fly. A marriage for her is a long time off in the future.”
Evalina sighed with relief. She knew Wyn would come through for her. He winked at her.
“That is all very true,” Elder Avery agreed. “It would be a difficult marriage and hard on the young couple to be apart so long. I am very sorry Rose, Edgar, Edwyn, Áed. If Evalina and Edwyn should still desire to marry after a few years of Evalina serving the king, then a new marriage agreement can be proposed.”
Áed nodded in agreement. “Very well.”
“Very well,” agreed Edgar.
“I can wait,” Edwyn said quietly.
“Edwyn,” Evie said softly. “I would not ask you to wait.”
“I know,” Edwyn replied solemnly. He stood up and left the room, followed by his mother and father.
Elder Avery turned back to her. “Well then, that is all settled. You will leave in a fortnight to the dragon school in King’s Citadel. A letter will be sent to your family explaining all of the details. Congratulations, my dear.”
“Yes, congratulations,” murmured the other elders.
“Now, let us go enjoy the feast, shall we?” Elder Avery said happily.
The elders stood and left the room one by one, followed by the dragon keepers and the elf riders. Evalina and her family left the room last. Evie went to look for Áedán immediately, but when she didn’t spot him right away, she took her seat with her family as the food was being served.
Numerous servers walked around, loading food onto the plates in front of them: large pieces of chicken and meat, potatoes, and other vegetables. They placed several bowls of hot and fresh-baked rolls in the middle of the tables. The food was certainly generous.
Evie reached into a bowl and grabbed a warm roll. While she had been starving a few moments ago, she was now too excited to eat. She forced a few bites down anyway. As she was taking a bite, Áedán sat down next to her. He grabbed a roll and chewed it hungrily. Evie looked at him curiously. He smiled sadly and kept eating. It’s not a good time to talk.
Dragon Chosen: The Dragon Riders of Eryieth Page 7