As he stepped back into the clearing, he saw that the dragon was now lying with the egg between her front legs. When he asked why, she stated, “Now is the time for you to get your first taste of what it is like to ride a dragon.”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Well,” she said, “it is one thing for a wild dragon to live up here on this small plateau, but you can’t be expected to climb it everyday to feed her now that she has bonded with you. Therefore, I will fly both you and the egg to a more suitable place in that valley closer to your town.
“Closer to town?” he said. “Won’t that be more dangerous?”
“A little” she replied. “However, unless you plan on growing your own wings in the next fortnight, I don’t see that we have any choice. Once she hatches, my daughter will need you almost constantly to feed her and keep her safe until she is about a month old. Now climb onto my back, and let’s get going.”
With a little coaching from the dragon, Delno found that it was quite easy to climb using her front leg as a step and that, even without a saddle, the space formed where the neck ridges stopped and her neck joined her body made a niche that fitted as though it was designed for the purpose of carrying a rider, and was even big enough to accommodate a passenger as well. He mentioned this to the dragon.
“Yes,” she said, “that space is sufficient to keep a rider safe and comfortable in normal flight, though you would do well to wear leather britches and long underpants, as the scales can abrade your legs on a longer flight. Of course, when you are going to do more acrobatic flying, you will need the security of a saddle and leg straps.”
The flight, all too short by Delno’s way of thinking, was smooth, and they were soon back on the ground. While he would have loved to have spent much more time flying, there was a sense that the flight caused great sadness for the dragon. In fact, all of her movements and speech had seemed subdued today. He reasoned that, now that she had ensured her daughters safety and care, she was feeling the loss of her rider more and more. He didn’t mention his thoughts to her. Like the incident of finding her crying in the night, it was a subject they didn’t discuss by unspoken mutual agreement.
The dragon had chosen the location well. The clearing, not much more than a thin space in the trees, was near a small creek and accessible only by a couple of game trails. While it was closer to town, it was still about three miles to the nearest human dwellings. This part of the forest spent a portion of the year underwater when the spring thaws swelled the river, which accounted for the lack of development, but it was nearly high summer now, and they would be long gone by the time the river again turned the area into little more than a swamp.
“You will have to go to your town and make what arrangements you can concerning the care of your partner,” she said. “The egg will hatch sometime within the next two weeks. You must be here when that happens. If she cannot immediately find you when she hatches, she will go looking for you. A newly hatched dragon is vulnerable to predation. Get what you need and return. I will watch over the egg while you are gone.”
Sensing that the dragon would appreciate the solitude, he gathered himself up and started off to town.
The trip to town was uneventful. He met no one on the way, which was to his liking, as he enjoyed the opportunity to think about his current situation. In many respects, becoming bonded with the dragon had solved his problems, even though it would undoubtedly create more. His future was certainly decided. He had no choice but to head south with his partner—he was really beginning to like the sound of that very much—and try to find someone to help him become the best dragon rider he could become, whatever that meant. The old female had been a bit vague on that issue. She had said that many riders did good works for folks. However, she had also hinted that some riders simply indulged themselves as they saw fit, even when those indulgences where at the expense of others. “I won’t misuse my position,” he said out loud, as if it were an oath.
Thus his morning went, musing on how to be the best dragon rider he could, until he found himself at the northern gate of Larimar.
Chapter 7
Entering the city felt almost surreal. He had been born and raised here, and though he and Nassari had often spoken together as children about leaving Larimar to go adventuring, he had never really expected to do so. He walked more slowly than he otherwise would have, realizing that this would be one of his last opportunities to look around the city of his birth. He was already beginning to feel a bit homesick, and he hadn’t even left yet. He also hadn’t decided how he would explain to his parents that he must leave.
The only sure course of action he had decided on was to visit the military pension offices and convert his five crowns per month, barely enough for one person to live on, into a lump sum. He was entitled to collect that pension for up to thirty years. He could, however, at any time within the first year of becoming eligible for the pension, opt to take a lump sum that amounted to ten years worth of pay all at once. He had initially thought that doing so was a very bad idea, since he had planned on settling into a career and remaining right here in Larimar. Now it looked as though one large payment would be necessary. Also, if he moved out of the kingdom, he couldn’t very well collect on the pension anyway.
Eventually his path led to the city’s official buildings. Well, one building really, but divided into several sections that had been added after the original construction as the city grew and its government’s headquarters required more space. The additions looked more like out buildings that butted up against the original structure and vied for dominance of the space rather than part of an integrated whole. Of course, that seemed only fitting since the different sections of the government often didn’t work well together and frequently found themselves at odds over policy.
As he entered, he heard one of the things he had most wanted to avoid for the time being: the sound of Nassari’s voice calling his name.
“Delno,” Nassari said as he approached him at a swift walk, “I had wondered where you had gotten off to. When I stopped in at your parents’ home last night and they said you hadn’t returned from your hike, I had worried that something had happened to you.”
“He has no idea,” thought Delno. Out loud he said, “I’m fine, I just have some business to. . . .”
Nassari cut in before he could finish his thought. “Your parents were worried also. You have told them you’re all right, haven’t you?”
“I was going to see them as soon as I. . . .”
“Well, never mind that now,” Nassari said. “We have much to discuss, and big plans to make, and little time to do it all. We have to get your name on the special ballot.”
“I have to go into the pension office, Nassari. I have to. . . .”
Again Nassari cut him off before he could complete his thought, “There’s damn little time right now, Del. We have our work cut out for us at the city council office. Councilwoman Oran’s husband has died. Seems he retired early yesterday eve with a headache and died in his sleep. She sent her resignation over this morning, saying that she could not bring it in person because she had funeral arrangements to make. She resigned because she feels that she can no longer give her full attention to the council with no one to help her raise her children.”
“Well,” Delno began, “I’m very sorry to hear about the Councilwoman’s troubles. Please convey my sympathies. However, I must get to the pension office; I have important business of my own.”
“Del,” Nassari looked at him like a parent who intends to scold an errant child, “Whatever business you have can wait. The council was in session when Councilwoman Oran’s resignation arrived. They immediately voted that since it will be over eight months until her seat is to be put up for election, and her district will still need a voice in the council, a special election will be held within a fortnight to fill the vacancy. We have to get you on the ballot now if you hope to stand a chance of winning that seat.”
He
grabbed Delno by the arm and began to physically pull him along. Delno planted his feet and refused to move, saying, “Enough! I have no intention of going anywhere besides the pension office.”
Nassari was startled and opened his mouth to begin some argument, but Delno was quicker. Before Nassari could utter a syllable he said, “If you will allow me to get a few words into this conversation, I will explain.”
Nassari looked as though he would like to argue, but he had known Delno long enough to realize that it would do no good. He released Delno’s arm and bowed by way of apology, indicating with a wave of his hand that he would listen.
“Good,” said Delno, “now that I have your attention, I will explain my business here today. I have come to cash in my pension.” He paused to let that sink in.
Delno had expected Nassari to be shocked; however, the look on his face was one of sheer delight. “Wonderful,” he said, “I was going to suggest that you do just that.”
Delno was the one who was shocked, “You were?” he said. “I thought you wanted me to run for that seat on the city council.”
“I do,” Nassari went on as though there had been no real break in his train of thought, “I was going to talk you into cashing in your pension as soon as we had you registered as a candidate. How did you think we would finance your campaign?”
“Ah, well, that,” said Delno, “I have also decided not to enter into politics.”
Delno realized by the look on his friend’s face that he couldn’t have given him worse news if he had told him that a favorite pet had died. In a way, he supposed, he had done just that.
“Del,” he said, “we’ve talked about this. You are sure to win. Right now, the war is still fresh enough in everyone’s mind that a veteran, and a war hero to boot, will find his path to a council seat paved with rose petals. If you wait, even until the normal election in eight months, you run the risk of people forgetting that you are the Hero of the Battle of Stone Bridge. Not to mention that those who would like to run for that seat have geared all of their machinations to running for it after the New Year: they have their campaign money tied up now for the next few months. If you run now, you will be virtually unopposed.”
“Nassari, my dear friend,” Delno said, “Though I hate to disappoint you, I have decided not to pursue a life in politics.”
Nassari looked at Delno as if he had just grown horns and started speaking blasphemy. “Not pursue a life in politics?” he said. “What, then, do you plan on doing with your life?” After a pause he went on. “Let’s face it, Del, your other career choices haven’t exactly worked out for the best. What do think you are going to do? Cooking? Wood working? Perhaps you’ve decided to become a traveling entertainer?”
Being taunted like this was infuriating and Delno had had enough. “I will do as I please,” he said. “What pleases me at this point in my life is not running around licking the boots of politicians hoping to be thrown a few scraps like some mongrel. I never told you that I would buy into your plans for my future. In fact, if you recall, that was why I left yesterday, to think this whole issue through thoroughly. While I may not know precisely what it is that I am, I do know that I am not a politician.”
They stood there glaring at each other, staring each other down exactly the way that they had when they had fought as children.
Then they both began to see how ridiculous the argument was. It was Nassari who cracked first. He smiled and said “I guess I have been pushing you rather hard. I suppose I’ve been quite a pain in the arse, huh?”
Delno chuckled before answering good-naturedly. “Only enough to drive me from my home to spend the night in the wilderness.”
“Well, then,” Nassari continued, “you’ve obviously made a decision about what to do with your life, so tell me what it is.”
“It’s only a partial decision, my friend,” he said. “I am going to cash in my pension and leave Larimar.”
“Leave Larimar?!” Nassari was shocked. “Larimar is your home. You’ve never been anywhere else.”
“You forget, my dear Nassari,” he replied, “I spent more than two years away from this city. I’ve seen more of the wide world than you have, old friend.”
“That’s different,” he retorted, “you were a soldier then, marching when and where you were told.”
“Not so different. As an officer, I was often the one doing the telling. However, I don’t intend to go north this time. I have decided to go south, probably all the way to the southern kingdoms.” Delno hoped that this sounded well thought out. He was making it up as he went along to avoid telling his friend the truth about where he was going and why he had to leave.
“South?” Nassari was more astounded with each new revelation, “The southern kingdoms are a very long way from here. Only a few traders dare the trip. The southerners are a strange lot with even stranger customs.” Then he whispered, “I’ve heard that everyone practices some magic in the southern kingdoms,” as though this was confirmation that all people from the south were insane. “Of course,” he went on, more as if thinking out loud than actually talking to Delno, “I’ve also heard that women are known to bathe naked in the rivers down there, too.”
In response to the last statement, Delno laughed and playfully punched his friend on the shoulder, saying, “There’s the lecherous sixteen-year-old I’ve always known and loved.” Then he said, “Seriously though, I intend to travel to the port city of Idor and hire on as a guard with a caravan heading to the southern kingdoms. Along the way, I will learn as much as I can from the merchants. Then, once I get to the southern kingdoms, who knows?” He hadn’t outright lied, but he still felt a bit ashamed about misleading his friend.
“Delno the trader,” Nassari laughed. “Well, at least it’s almost honest work.”
“Yes, just slightly more honest than politics,” said Delno, returning the barb.
The two friends laughed for a moment, and then Nassari said, “Look, Del, I have to be about my business. I wasn’t kidding about needing to get a candidate registered. Since you aren’t going to do it, I have to find my back up man and get him to the council before noon.”
“Back up candidate? Didn’t take long for you to get over my decision, did it?” Delno said, though he was smiling, happy that he hadn’t truly left his friend with no options.
Nassari returned the smile, “Never bet all your money on just one horse in any race.”
There was a moment of awkward silence as they were reluctant to part company. Then Nassari laid his hand on his friend’s arm and said, “Del, I’m going to be extremely busy over the next two weeks. However, don’t leave the city without at least finding me and saying goodbye.”
“I’ll find you,” he said, “and we’ll have a dinner fit for royalty before I go.”
Nassari looked as though he had more to say, however, he just stared into Delno’s eyes for a moment, then, squeezing his friend’s arm, he turned without a word and strode away.
Chapter 8
The remainder of his day in town had gone much more easily than he could have hoped. He had had no problem collecting the lump sum for his pension. Then he had gone to his parents’ home and told them of his plans to go south. They took the news even better than Nassari had. Since he had served honorably in the army, they considered him to be a grown man capable of making his own decisions. In fact, since his younger brother showed the aptitude for carpentry that he never did, his leaving solved the problem of which one of them would inherit his father’s business. They didn’t even object when he told them he intended to move out that afternoon, ostensibly in order to take quarters closer to the traders with whom he intended to travel. They made no argument. He hated lying to them, but, he reasoned, they wouldn’t want to know the truth anyway. Also, he rationalized, he had never in his life been able to lie to them successfully, so if they believed him this time, it was because they wanted to. Besides, his father’s business was doing so well that he was taking on another apprent
ice, and he would be expected to provide quarters for the new boy. Delno’s bed was all but occupied by the time he left his parents’ house.
As he stepped out the front door, he met his younger brother, Will. Will was tall like Delno, and since their father was short, as were his paternal grandparents, Delno figured they got their height from their mother’s side. Their height was where the similarities ended. Will was blonde like their father, while Delno had black hair, unlike either parent. Neither parent had dark eyes, but his were a rich dark brown, while Will’s were light blue: the exact shade of his sire’s. Delno was definitely the better looking of the two: Will, though not ugly, had inherited the roughly handsome look of the mountain folk.
The brothers didn’t dislike each other, but they had never been friends. They exchanged greetings, and then Delno explained that he was going south to seek his fortune. Will simply shrugged and wished him good luck, and they shook hands and parted company.
The next item on his agenda, procuring food for the hatchling, was such a stroke of luck as to be nearly unbelievable. When he went to the stockyard, he found a man with a small flock of sheep, and a few pigs all for sale. Further inquiry led to the rental of a small, somewhat isolated patch of pasture land less than two miles from the clearing where the egg would hatch. While the loss of a few animals to other predators could be foreseen, there was a low, stone wall around much of the pasture, and dense brush closed off the rest, so the animals shouldn’t stray. All in all, it couldn’t have worked out better, so, after hiring two boys to herd the beasts to their new home, and procuring a tent and some other basic supplies for himself, he left the city somewhat lighter of coin but brighter of spirit.
Returning to the clearing, he was startled to find the dragon gone and no trace of the egg. He was just beginning to panic when a huge shadow blotted out the sun. It was, of course, the dragon returning from wherever she had been.
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