“So, that part of the rumor is true, then.” Renata was surprised, and very interested. “You do ride your dragon.”
Aeron looked at her. “Yep.”
“That’s . . . amazing.”
Thank you for convincing me to come, sweetling. I’m learning a lot today.
Of course. Only the tiniest bit of smugness came through the link.
This morning, Renata hadn’t wanted to come back. The sense of disappointment from yesterday had only increased overnight. But Xochi was adamant she return. They’d argued for hours about it. Her bond-mate had finally yelled at her.
You must go back! Have we not traveled across the entire world to find them? She stood on all fours facing Renata, head lowered, wings lifted, the picture of draconic anger.
Maybe.
Have we not left everything we know behind for this journey?
Renata, sitting on a large rock next to the fire pit, frowned. I hate it when you make sense.
They seemed nice, did they not?
She sighed and looked at her not-so-little dragon. They did.
Then go! We need to learn more. Xochi then let out an apologetic bark, ran over, and nuzzled her chin. And I really, really want to meet Anaya.
She hugged Xochi and left for Caer Baronel a few minutes later.
Everyone was exceptionally nice to her when she arrived, even inviting her to sit in on the Animal Craft training class for ‘dragonlinked.’ She had added dragonlinked to her list of things to learn more about.
Right now, though, she wondered why everyone was staring at her.
“I’m sorry?”
“Did you want to go to dinner with us?” Sharrah smiled at her.
“Lots of good food,” Jessip said. “There. At the place. T–The Dining Hall.” He looked mortified and stared at his hands on the table.
“Oh, ah, sure, that would be nice. Thank you.”
It didn’t take very long to walk to the Dining Hall. Jessip and Willem helped her at the serving counter. There really was a lot of food and it looked pretty tasty. Much of it she didn’t recognize, however. Still, it all smelled wonderful.
They sat together at one of the many tables in the building.
After eating a bit and listening to the others, she said, “What is a dragonlinked?”
Everyone looked at Aeron.
His gaze flicked to the others and a little breath escaped his lips. Twisting his mouth, he said, “Dragonlinked is what we’ve started calling a person who is bonded with a dragon.”
What? Renata glanced at them. “You’re all bonded with dragons?”
Jessip smiled, but some burst out laughing, as did Sharrah.
“No,” she said. “Only Aeron has a dragon. We’re in training, though.”
Renata nodded. It made sense to learn all you could about dragons before bonding with one. “Who decides which people get a dragon?”
“Actually,” Aeron said, “dragons do.”
“Dragons?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Anaya tells us which people would make candidates for dragonlinked. And as far as the actual bonding, it’s more the dragon who chooses their bond-mate than anything.”
“Anaya tells you which? Does that mean there are some who are not candidates?”
“That’s correct,” Willem said. “They might be magic-blind, or unable to hear dragon-speech, or who knows what all else. Dragons can sense things about people, including those things that qualify or disqualify them as candidates. And it is the dragon as well who chooses her or his own bond-mate.”
This was incredible. Renata hadn’t thought in great length about any of this before. You chose me as your bond-mate.
I did!
Thank you, love. She sent a mental hug through the link.
“I have to wonder, though,” she said, stabbing what they told her was a green bean with her fork, “why would anyone spend so much effort training people to bond with a dragon?” She ate the bean. “I mean, I understand a person’s desire to have a dragon, but why is the Caer willing to, I don’t know, pay and house and do all this just so someone can have a dragon?”
“Nahual.”
“What?” She hadn’t quite heard Aeron.
He looked at her, eyes shadowed. “We do this to fight nahual.”
“What are nahual?”
“You really are from far away.” Cheddar looked at her, brows raised.
“I’ve never heard that word before. What is a nahual?”
“They are evil beasts that hunt people,” Aeron said. “They attack and kill.”
“We think they do so to steal animus.” Sharrah looked somber.
“Animus?”
“Think of it like magic stamina,” Willem said.
“If you stop by on Duviday,” Jessip said, “you can sit in on Magic Craft training.”
“When you cast a spell,” Aeron said, “it uses some of your animus.”
“Oh,” Renata said. “They call it ko’na where I am from.”
“Koh nah?” Jessip said.
“Close. But cut the last part off of the o. It’s just the very first part of how you say the letter.”
“Ko’na?”
“That’s better.” She smiled. “It means inside fire, or inner fire.” Turning to Sharrah, she said, “Nahual steal this from people?”
“They do,” Sharrah said. “We think they need it to reproduce, but whatever the case may be, we are sure they need it for something.”
“I see. How do dragonlinked help fight them?”
“Well,” Aeron said, grabbing a biscuit, “we can sense nahual from far away. Then we fly to them and kill them.” He took a bite.
Renata was stunned. “You . . . you sense them?”
“Yeah, it’s kinda weird. You know how you can tell where your arms are? Your hands or legs or whatever? Anaya and I can tell where a nahual is if it is close enough.”
What is wrong?
They can sense those creatures like we can.
Really?
“These nahual, what do they look like?”
Aeron scrunched his nose. “Ugly. Think of abnormally skinny people with thin fur. And a head that’s not quite right with an enormous mouth.”
Renata stared at her plate. So. Those things are nahual. It felt good to put a name to them.
“Are, ah, are you okay?” Jessip looked worried.
“I’m sorry. I was just remembering something.”
“Have you seen one before?” Aeron’s brows rose.
She stared at him. No. She wasn’t ready to tell them everything yet. “I think those creatures, the nahual, have been attacking villages where I am from for the past few years. Your description sounds like them anyway.”
“Then you understand why we want to fight them,” Sharrah said.
She nodded at the brown-haired girl.
“It’s our purpose.”
Aeron’s words immediately drew her attention. “Your purpose?”
“Yes. Dragons, dragonlinked, we have a purpose and that is to fight nahual. It’s why we train.”
They know of the purpose. They train to fulfill it.
I knew they were good people!
Finished with her dinner, she nibbled on a cookie. It was actually quite good. “What kind of cookie is this?”
“Chocolate chip.” Sharrah smiled. “It’s good, isn’t it? You were lucky to come with us tonight. Chocolate is a special treat we only get occasionally.”
“It’s delicious!”
“So what did you think of dragonlinked training?” Willem was taking his time with his cookie. The fool.
Licking crumbs from her lips, she said, “There was a lot I had never even imagined about dragons. It gave me much to think on.”
“You’ll come back, won’t you?” Jessip asked. “We have training every Duviday and Therday afternoon.”
“I–I’m not sure.”
“It’s no trouble, really,” Willem said.
“Anaya—” Aeron st
ared at her. “Anaya did say you were a good candidate.”
Why did he look guilty all of a sudden?
“She did?” Jessip turned to her. “See? You’re practically a dragonlinked already.” His smile lit up his face and did alarming things to her breathing.
“W–Well, you all have been very nice to me. I certainly have no complaint there. But I would still like to think about it.”
“While you do, why not stay at the girls’ dorms?” Willem said. “They’re much more comfortable than camping out in the woods.”
Renata didn’t know what to do. They had good arguments, but she still wasn’t ready to—
“Boys, boys.” Cheddar looked sternly at them. “Give the girl some breathing room, will ya?” He turned to her and smiled. “Take your time. You’ve traveled a long way and these lands are probably strange to you. You’ve taken in a lot the last two days, so feel free to think everything over.”
“He’s right,” Sharrah said, placing her hand on his arm. “Don’t let these idiots pressure you into anything. Think about what you want to do and let us know. We’ll be here for the foreseeable future.”
“And know, too, that Master Doronal and Master Canneth have been very obliging about candidates joining us.” Aeron smiled, but he seemed troubled about something.
“Thank you, all. Really. I appreciate it. I do have much thinking to do. And I should return to my camp before it gets full dark.”
Later, as she crammed her backpack into one of Muffin’s saddlebags, Jessip came running up to her.
“H–Here,” he said, breathing heavily. “Sorry, I ran back to the Dining Hall to get this. I’m a little out of breath.”
She took the small wrapped bundle from him. It was two cookies.
A smile parted her lips. “Thank you! But you really shouldn’t have. Sharrah said that these were—”
“Don’t worry about it. Just . . .” He looked down at his feet. “Think seriously about being a dragonlinked, okay?”
She stared at him a moment. “Okay.”
He looked at her and cleared is throat. “G’night, then.”
“Good night.”
He sure was acting odd. She watched him walk away. Even through the shirt she could tell he had muscular shoulders. He must have worked hard at something to get those. Blacksmith, maybe? Her gaze wandered. And, too, his bu—
Renata?
Yes? She quickly turned back to Muffin, and with cheeks burning, stuffed the cookies in her backpack. What is it?
I haven’t heard anything from you in a while.
Oh. I’m about to head back, sweetling. I should be there soon.
Okay. Can I go hunting then?
We’ll see.
Thoughts of all she’d seen and learned swirled through her mind as she rode back. They did seem to be good people. On the other hand, so did the Order, at least until you learned more of them. She shook her head.
Gods. What should I do?
It wasn’t quite full dark when she got to camp. After she dismounted, Xochi came bounding up and nearly knocked her to the ground.
Laughing, Renata said, Careful, love! I don’t want to break any bones.
I would never break your bones.
I know you wouldn’t mean to, but if I fall down and land on a rock just so, who knows?
Oh, I see.
No worries, though, give me a hug. The scent of Xochi, her warmth, it all helped relax Renata. I missed you so much!
I really am almost too big to hug you anymore.
Hugs from you are not dangerous yet. I want to get as many as possible while I can.
After one last squeeze, Renata unpacked her things from the saddlebags and set them near the fire pit.
Xochi sat nearby on her haunches, tail wrapped around her paws. In the dim light, she again looked remarkably like a cat. An enormous, winged cat. She tilted her head, watched as Renata worked on the fire.
You said they know of the purpose?
They do. Renata grabbed wood from the pile gathered earlier. It seems as if all dragons know that they have a purpose. They may not know what it is at first, but, like us, they eventually figure it out. She tossed some kindling and branches over the coals. It would soon be ablaze again.
Can I go hunting now?
Not quite yet. It isn’t dark enough. I don’t want you to be seen.
I’m hungry.
I know, love, I can feel it. Oh! She rummaged in her backpack and removed the wrapped cookies. She took a bite of one. It was just as delicious as she remembered. Here, try these. They’re very good.
Xochi sniffed at them, dubious. They do smell good.
Oh, they are.
Carefully, with the claws of one paw, Xochi grabbed a cookie and placed it in her mouth.
Oooh, it does taste good!
After enthusiastically munching down the first one, she took the second and ate it as well.
What were those?
Cookies. Chocolate chip cookies.
Chocolate chip cookies are delicious.
Yes they are. Now, we only have to wait a little while before it is dark enough to go hunting, so try to survive those few minutes, will you love?
Xochi let out a breath. I will try.
Let’s head east.
Xochi padded beside her as they walked. Whenever they were near a settlement, they would always head away from it to get some extra distance before Xochi took flight. She was difficult to see at night, her coloration tended to darker shades, but the extra precaution lessened Renata’s worry.
About a quarter hour later, Xochi took down a buck. It took her much less time than that to eat it.
Nice catch, sweetling. That should hold you for a few days.
As they walked back, Renata couldn’t help but notice Xochi’s digestion was a bit noisier tonight. The deer not sitting well with you, sweetling?
I . . . am not sure.
They had nearly reached the camp when Renata realized that something was definitely wrong. There were alarming sounds coming from Xochi’s insides, and her color was off. She was very pale.
You don’t look—
A particularly long and loud gurgle ended with a gasp from Xochi and a violent release from her backside. Fear, embarrassment, and confusion came through the link. The dragon took one step, moaned, and sank to the ground. I do not feel well.
Renata stared in shock as her bond-mate lifted her head and vomited. Xochi! What’s wrong?
I do not know. A pitiful wail was cut off as she vomited again, followed by another elimination.
Renata dropped to her knees and placed her hand on Xochi’s neck. Sweetling, what can I do?
She looked over her pale bond-mate, mind and heart racing. What was wrong with Xochi? She couldn’t remember anyone experiencing anything like this. But maybe Xochi could!
Sweetling, can you remember any other dragon going through this?
I do not. Another terrible retching fit followed, then she took a ragged breath. It hurts!
Sitting next to Xochi, unable to ease her pain, was the most horrifying thing Renata had ever gone through. Squeezing her eyes shut, she raised her hands to her head. Tears from fear and frustration ran down her cheeks.
What do I do? Gods, how can I help her?
Xochi began panting. Maybe they know what is wrong.
Of course! They’ve had a dragon much longer, they must know something. Renata stood and ran to Muffin. I’m going for help!
+ + + + +
“Jessip, you going to write down the last measurement?”
Willem’s question brought Aeron out of his thoughts. He looked at the older boy who was standing, pencil in hand, staring at the logbook.
“Jessip? Did you hear me?”
He seemed to come to his senses then. “What? Oh, yeah. Sorry, was distracted.” He scribbled the numbers down.
“Distracted by what?” Sharrah had a knowing smile on her face.
“Or, more importantly, by whom,” Willem s
aid, also smiling.
Aeron was surprised to see color rise in Jessip’s cheeks. He’d never seen him blush before. “And just who—”
Aeron, she returns. Something is wrong.
A horse approached at a gallop. It skidded on the cobbles of the road as its rider hauled back on the reigns, and nearly fell when it’s hooves met the grassy edge of the yard.
Renata threw herself off, even before the horse had come to a stop. “You must help me!”
Jessip dropped the logbook and hurried to her. “What’s wrong?”
Eyes red and swollen, she said, “Something’s wrong with Xochi. I think she’s dying!”
“Dying?” Gregor’s eyes were wide as he walked over.
“Who’s Xochi?” Cheddar had moved to stand near Sharrah.
“She’s—” Renata looked around at everyone, then at Jessip. A tear ran down her cheek. “She’s my dragon. But something’s very wrong with her, she’s throwing up and—”
“A dragon?” Aeron’s surprise was reflected in the expressions of everyone around him.
Questions started flying around. “Where did you get a dragon?” “Where are you from again?”
Aeron had his own questions to ask. But he just stared at the pretty girl with the dark hair and brown skin. She looked terrified.
She is near panic with worry for her dragon. Why do they not help her?
“Why didn’t you tell us you had a dragon?” “Do you think there are more dragons where you got yours?” “Is there—”
“SHUT UP!”
Everyone turned to Aeron.
He walked to Renata. “None of that matters right now.” He looked at the others. “There is a dragon out there, deathly ill, and all you do is nearly scare her to death with your stupid questions?”
Gregor cleared his throat. “True enough.” He turned to Renata. “What are her symptoms?”
“Symptoms?”
“What happened to her? What does she look like, how does she feel?”
Renata ran a trembling hand through her hair, then wiped her cheek. “We were hunting—she caught and ate a deer—and we were on the way back to camp when she started vomiting. She also has diarrhea. She can’t seem to stop either.”
The Bond (Book 2) Page 22