A Storm in the Desert: Dragonlinked Chronicles Voume 3

by Adolfo Garza Jr.

  I do not understand.

  Aeron turned and walked out of the room. What a waste of effort. What a waste of hope. He sat in the hallway, back against the wall, arms wrapped around his knees. How was he going to tell everyone? He closed his eyes and tried to think of a way.

  Aeron? What happened?

  How long had he been sitting here? Master Gella—he tried not to think hateful things about her—is going to shut down the Order.

  Why?

  She says it isn’t in her control. The law says they have to be shut down because so many were involved with whatever it was National Transportation was doing in the flats.

  Sadness came through the link. I am sorry.

  Me too, dear-heart. Me too.

  “Do you all feel that way?”

  Aeron opened his eyes.

  Umeron Yiska stood a few feet to the right. “About the Order? Do you all think we do good things?”

  Aeron shrugged. “Yeah. I mean, we did want you to stop killing dragons and change how the pesani are recruited and treated, but most of what the Order does is good. We wanted to help change it a bit, not destroy it.”

  Yiska nodded. He stared at Aeron a moment more, then turned and left.

  + + + + +

  Fillion sat with Gregor in the investigation office. Guildmaster Millinith had called a meeting the moment she and Aeron returned from dropping off Master Gella in Delcimaar.

  She will not tell me anything. Coatl felt a little wounded, but also concerned.

  No matter. The meeting’ll start soon, anyway. It didn’t look like Anaya was telling any of the dragons anything of what happened in the south. All the dragonlinked had sour expressions on their faces. Well, except Aeron. He looked sad, angry, and resigned. Willem was sitting next to him, holding his hand.

  Fillion began to worry. If Master Gella’s findings had turned out the way they’d hoped, surely Aeron would look happy.

  Anaya won’t tell you anything, but how does she feel?

  Sad.

  Barbs and pissing blades. Something must have gone wrong.

  “Apologies for delaying you.” Master Doronal walked in and quickly took a seat on the other side of the Guildmaster from Master Canneth.

  “With everyone here,” Guildmaster Millinith said, “we may begin.” She looked down at a sheet of paper before her. “Special Investigator Gella and her team have control of the mine in Ghost Flats. Its ownership, including that of some of the surrounding land, has been transferred to the Nation under dominium eminens, and Continental Transportation Company, which is in the process of purchasing most of National Transportation’s real estate assets, will be paid fair market value for the land, plus a percentage, in exchange.”

  Fillion glanced at Gregor. Lord Eldin would likely be happy about that. But, where was the bad news?

  “As you all know,” Guildmaster Millinith said, “Master Gella arrived in Bataan-Mok on the day of our talks. Since then, she’s been investigating ties between National Transportation and the Corpus Order. After being confronted with a great deal of evidence against him, Nesch Takatin told her everything concerning his plans. He’s to be put on trial for numerous crimes. Whatever his punishment, it will be reduced, somewhat, because of the assistance he provided Master Gella with her investigation.”

  Fillion grunted. That was bad news. The bastard deserved to get severely punished for everything he did and was involved with.

  “He provided her the names of all who worked with him both in the Order and out. Including himself and umeri, there were eighteen of the Corpus Order’s management knowingly involved in the scheme with National Transportation.”

  Sharrah took a quick breath. “No.”

  Fillion looked at her. What was she surprised about?

  “Indeed,” Guildmaster Millinith said. “Because of that, the Corpus Order will have to be forced into dissolution.”

  Fillion was on his feet. “No! She can’t do that!”

  Renata and Polandra were both protesting as well.

  “How could she?” Jessip said as Zolin trumpeted his own incredulity.

  “Dragonlinked,” Guildmaster Millinith said, “get control of yourselves and your dragons. There was nothing Master Gella could do. Over a third of them were involved. The law is the law. She doesn’t have the authority to overrule it. No one does.”

  Fillion turned to the Guildmaster. “What about . . . Ana? Could she do something?”

  Millinith shook her head. “She can’t ignore the laws. If anything, she’s even more bound by them than anyone else.”

  He sat. This was a dream, a terrible, horrible nightmare. It had to be.

  “So what happens now?” Liara clasped Polandra’s hand. “Where will all the members of the Order go? What will they do?”

  “I don’t know.” The Guildmaster looked down at the paper. “The Order will be shut down over the course of the next several weeks. That should give them time to figure something out.”

  “At the very least,” Willem said, voice quiet, “we don’t have to worry about the manisi anymore.”

  “And that jackass Takatin will be sent to gaol.” Sharrah looked at Aeron. “It’s not a punch in the stomach, but it’s something.”

  Fillion shook his head. All their work, for naught. “I can’t believe this shit!” He slammed his fist on the table.

  “Fillion,” Master Doronal said. “I understand your frustration, but please—”

  “I’m with him,” Aeron told Master Doronal. “I can’t believe it either. We worked so hard to save the Order, to change it for the better, and now it’s being forced into dissolution.”

  “Exactly!” Fillion said. “After all our efforts, the only one who’ll benefit is Lord Eldin.”

  “You make it sound as if my father was colluding with Takatin.” Gregor looked confused, but also a little defensive. “He’s taking advantage of the situation, yes, but he didn’t cause it.”

  “I didn’t mean it like that,” Fillion said. “It’s just that with National Transportation being shut down due to the investigation that we helped with, he gets to acquire all their land for mere mills on the pale, and meanwhile, Master Gella goes and shuts down—” An idea sprang into being and, eyes wide, he gasped.

  Coatl roared. That might work!

  “Fillion?” Gregor stared at him. “What is it?”

  Heart beating a thousand times a second, he murmured, “What if we could remake the Order precisely as we wanted it?”

  “I don’t understand,” Guildmaster Millinith said.

  Fillion looked at her. “If I let her ride Coatl as much as she wanted for the rest of her life, how cheaply do you think Ana would let the guild buy the assets of the Corpus Order?”

  Master Doronal’s eyes grew large and Guildmaster Millinith leaned back in her chair.

  Master Canneth started chuckling. “Now that’s as bold a move as I’ve ever heard of.”

  Cheddar had a large smile on his face. “With us only being a few months old, would opening a Dragon Craft Hall in the south so soon be considered impudent?”

  “Fillion.” Aeron stared at him, eyes wide with incredulity and wonder. “You are a certified genius!”

  “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Guildmaster Millinith said. “If, and I stress if, we do this, I’d have to be in charge there, too. There are no masters to helm the place. Hells, we haven’t even defined how to determine if someone is a master in Dragon Craft.”

  “You’d not have to be both places all the time,” Polandra said. “I’d be more than happy to help in the South as much as needed until a master is placed there.”

  “Me, too,” Renata said. “Besides which, we could hire Capu Cirtis and Isandath and any former Order members who are willing to join Dragon Craft to help as well.”

  “And I can keep an eye on things here,” Adept Liflin said, “when you are in the South.”

  “Don’t forget that most of what went on in the Order could continue in the same f
ashion,” Willem said. “Maintenance, dining, laundry, community services, farming, and such. Those you rehire will already know how to do all that already, so they won’t need to be taught.”

  “Certain former positions could be eliminated, too,” Master Doronal said, “like the manisi. There’d be no need for them with dragonlinked doing pretty much everything they did. That being said, I would imagine that any former manis that wanted to apply to be dragonlinked, and was approved by a dragon, would be welcome.”

  “This could work,” Master Canneth said. “As Renata said, the infrastructure positions are already there. All you’d need do is hire the few that are not.”

  “And train them,” Guildmaster Millinith pointed out. She didn’t look argumentative, though, she looked thoughtful, if a little nervous.

  Master Canneth nodded. “And train them, yes. But we’ve got a nice group of candidates here ready to be presented for bonding, and we’ve got instructors enough to handle them, so there isn’t as much of a rush. You’ve got time to get everything sorted down there.”

  “After all your work getting the Guildhall staffed and ready,” Master Doronal said, smiling, “you know what’s needed to run a guildhall and, by extension, a guild branch. Meet with Capu Cirtis and discuss the details of what positions could be—converted?—to the guild, which could be eliminated completely, and you’ll then know which remain to be filled.”

  Guildmaster Millinith played with a lock of her hair, twining her finger around it again and again. “Alandra’s merciful heart, Fillion. You may end up putting me in an early grave, but I do like this idea, indeed I do.” She chuckled. “Just when I thought I was close to having a little time for breathing and sleeping.”

  She took a slow deep breath and then let it out. “Masters? I think we need to meet with Lord Baronel, immediately. We don’t want life to be disrupted down there for very long. Fillion, you should get yourself and Coatl ready. Once the meeting with Lord Baronel is complete, you and I will need to return to Delcimaar to talk with Master Gella, and possibly with Ana. In fact,” she pulled over the ‘writer, “I’m going to send Master Gella a request for a meeting, right now.”

  Fillion, large smile on his face, nodded furiously. This will be so golden!

  It is a good idea. Perhaps you are as magnificent as I am.

  Fillion’s chuckle was echoed by Coatl’s grunting laughter from the courtyard.

  “Gentlemen?” Guildmaster Millinith looked at the masters and stood. They left together.

  + + + + +

  As her hair whipped about, stinging her face, Millinith realized she probably should have accepted the riding cap Fillion had offered her. There’d been a great deal on her mind, however, so she’d refused. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.

  At the meeting, Lord Baronel had been a little concerned. She couldn’t blame him. None of them had any idea how much it would cost to acquire the Corpus Order’s assets. Doronal had even offered his family’s coffers, if needed.

  Millinith smiled. What would Lady Erindia think of that? They’d find out soon enough.

  Coatl banked down for a landing in the back yard of the Gallia country estate.

  Master Gella had said she’d be happy to meet with them here. And, she’d said ‘Ana’ wanted to meet with them as well. Whether that was a good thing or not, Millinith didn’t know.

  Kaiden waited for them at the door. “Guildmaster, please, follow me. Everyone’s waiting.”

  Fillion glanced at Coatl—the dragon curled up on the ground—and then followed her and Kaiden into the house.

  “Before we begin,” High Lady Hasana said, “I want to tell you how sorry I am at what must be done. If there were anything I could do to spare the Corpus Order, I would. Unfortunately, the law is the law.”

  They were in the same room, almost like a library, that they’d met in before going to the South. A small table had been cleared and they all sat around it. Master Gella, High Lady Hasana, Lady Erindia Gallia, Millinith, and Fillion.

  “We completely understand,” Millinith said.

  Master Gella’s brows furrowed.

  “You, my lady, must hold to the laws even more tightly than anyone. You cannot be seen to be favoring one cause over another.”

  High Lady Hasana blinked. “E–Exactly. I’m beyond happy to see that you understand. That being the case, however, I have to confess to confusion as to what you want to discuss.”

  “If I may?” Fillion turned to Master Gella. “You mentioned to me that Lord Eldin will be acquiring land from National Transportation once it has been shuttered.”

  Master Gella nodded. “That’s correct.”

  “The Guildmaster mentioned that you said something about him being allowed to purchase the land at fair market value less a discount?”

  “That is also correct.”

  “Now,” he said, “even as little as I know of the man, I can’t help but wonder if he made inquiries about increasing that discount as much as you could.”

  Master Gella chuckled. “He did. And, in consideration for services rendered, the High Council often grants further price concessions in cases like this. I’m not at liberty to discuss how much of a discount he will receive, but it is appropriate for his company’s assistance.”

  Millinith nodded. “He helped transport your people to and from the South, so it seems a fair enough trade-off.”

  “Indeed.” High Lady Hasana smiled.

  Millinith returned the smile. “The Dragon Craft Guild wishes to purchase all assets of the Corpus Order.”

  The silence was broken a few moments later by a grunt. Master Gella looked at Fillion then at Millinith.

  “And we’d like to do so at whatever discount you feel is appropriate for an organization that assisted in dismantling a massive currency counterfeiting ring.” She clasped her hands on the table.

  “You’re going to be one to watch, I can see.” High Lady Hasana raised a brow and smiled.

  “So she is,” Lady Erindia said. Did she look impressed?

  Chapter 29

  Therday, Tershy 16, 1875.

  Afternoon

  “A number of people in the Order have left,” Polandra said, reading over her notes. “From what I gather, most of them we’re better off without, anyway. Egomaniacs, cruel bastards, and the like.” She frowned. “How the Observers know these things is a mystery, but that’s what they tell me.”

  She looked up from the notes to Guildmaster Millinith. “And speaking of which, why are we keeping any of them? The guild has no need to spy on itself.”

  “No, but Fillion made a good point.” She glanced at the young dragonlinked. “They could teach us much about blending in and about unobtrusive observation.”

  “Exactly,” Fillion said. “If we need to help Master Gella or anyone else with investigations again, those kinds of skills could be important.”

  “Think of it as another kind of Investigation Craft training.” Guildmaster Millinith’s lips curved in a crooked smile.

  Polandra twisted her own lips, but in a grimace. “I suppose. At any rate, Capu—” She frowned. “That is, Cirtis is more excited than I ever remember seeing him. He’s working with the Quartermaster to make sure their property catalogs are updated and correct. There are also a great number of art pieces—paintings, statues, tapestries and the like—depicting dragons in an unfavorable light that he wishes to dispose of through sales or other means. He’s also going over membership rosters with Renata, and they’ll have an organization listing finished soon. Surprisingly, Yiska has been vocal in getting Order members to help us in any way they can. With all the assistance we’re getting, things are progressing well.”

  “Good.” Guildmaster Millinith nodded. “The trial isn’t for another week, but I want to have as much ready for us as possible for when we acquire them.”

  “What of the Hour of Creation tablets in the entrance?” Sharrah looked from her to the Guildmaster. “When will they be fixed?”

 
“A correction for the last tablet has been commissioned,” Guildmaster Millinith said, “as well as a full—correct—set for the Guildhall itself.”

  “Fantastic.” Cheddar smiled. “I really like that story and love that we’re incorporating it into guild lore.”

  “It’s as good an explanation as any and better than most.” A tiny crease appeared between her brows. “’Ulthis’s luck, like lightning, never strikes twice.’”

  Polandra raised her brows. One of the names they knew Ulthis by in the South was Bearer of Lightning. Apparently they associated him with the stormy bolts here in the North as well.

  It is nearly time! Ikan’s excited pronouncement drew all eyes to the courtyard door.

  Polandra’s heart began to race. Whose eggs?

  Anaya’s.

  She nodded. “Anaya’s eggs are ready to hatch.”

  How long?

  Perhaps two hours.

  Damn. It was good families had been brought in yesterday. Well, those that wanted to, were brave enough to, anyway.

  “We’ve got maybe two hours.” She turned to Fillion. “You two were going to take Gregor’s family and Willem was going to take Lord Baronel’s, right?”

  He nodded, said, “Yep. We better get started, we’ve got another trip after,” and ran off, Gregor on his heels.

  Polandra watched them leave. Another trip after?

  “We’ll continue this tomorrow.” Guildmaster Millinith made shooing motions with her hands. “You all worked out who was going with who already, so go on, I’m sure you’re all dying to get the the clutching room and find good seats.”

  Chuckles and laughs were followed by pounding feet as people ran for the door.

  “Jessip was going to contact Renata, wasn’t he?” Polandra turned to Guildmaster Millinith.

  “Yes. He’s picking up Isandath and can let her know at the same time. When the ‘writer for Bataan-Mok comes in, it’ll make communicating with the South so much easier.”

  She shook her head and headed for the door. “At any rate, I need to change. I’ll meet you in the courtyard in fifteen minutes.”

  Polandra turned to Liara. “We should get ready, too.”