“How does she feel?” Sharrah asked. “Did she say?”
“She only said that she does not feel well. It hurts when she vomits. She’s done it so much. She’s very pale, too.”
Turning to Gregor, Sharrah said, “It almost sounds like her body is trying to purge itself.”
“Of a toxin or . . . ” The healer turned to Renata. “Did she eat or drink anything out of the ordinary recently? Does she get into things she shouldn’t?”
“No, not that I know of. She ate a few days ago, the last time we hunted. And she drinks only water. Tonight was the first time she ate anything since—” Her eyes widened and she gasped. “Oh, no.”
“What?” Jessip said.
She turned to him, face pale. “I gave her the cookies you brought for me. She ate them both.” Turning to Gregor, she said, “That’s the only thing out of the ordinary.”
“The chocolate chip cookies?” Sharrah’s gaze was locked on Renata.
She nodded. “Why would those do that to Xochi?”
“Chocolate is toxic to some animals,” Gregor said. “Perhaps it is toxic to dragons as well.”
“Let’s get over there and see what we can find out.” Aeron turned to Gregor. “I’ll take you and Sharrah on Anaya. We can follow Renata.”
“I’ll ride with Renata.” Jessip turned and ran for the girl’s mount.
“I’ll grab a horse from the stable and catch up,” Willem said. “What direction am I going?”
Renata said, “East, about a mile or so.”
“Just out of dragon sense range,” Aeron said.
Her cheeks darkened.
Aeron turned to Willem. “I’ll have Anaya guide you there.”
He nodded and left at a trot.
“I’ll ride with Willem,” Cheddar said, chasing after him.
“Jessip looks to have your horse, Renata,” Aeron said. “Go on, we’ll follow in the air.”
She mounted, then helped Jessip up behind her. Once he was set, they left at a gallop.
“Are we going to be ready in time to catch up and follow?” Sharrah turned back to Aeron as Renata and Jessip passed from view.
“It doesn’t matter,” he said, heading into the stable. “Anaya will be able to find them.”
Gregor helped him saddle Anaya.
“Barbs!” Sharrah said. “We’ll want to take water. She’ll need it after all the fluids she’s lost.”
“I don’t want to wait for that right now,” Aeron said. “Anaya, can you tell Willem to take water?”
I have told him. He will bring as many canteens as they can carry.
Thanks, love.
“Willem will bring canteens. Here put these on.”
With riding belts passed out, everyone mounted and Anaya was airborne soon after. Her powerful wing beats more than made up for the few minutes of lost time.
I have them.
Take us there, dear-heart.
As she began her landing spiral, Aeron spied two lanterns lighting up Jessip, Renata and Xochi. A small camp fire burned a little ways away. This was the place.
She is weak, but her spirit is strong.
“Quickly, now,” Aeron said as he dismounted. “Gregor, Sharrah go see what you can do.”
Aeron walked over to Renata, who had stepped back from the ill dragon as the others began their examination. She stood next to Jessip, eyes on her bond-mate.
“Anaya says Xochi has a strong spirit.”
“She does. So much so, that sometimes it makes me want to kill her.” Renata’s chuckle turned to tears. “Gods, tell me they’ll help her. She’s all I have.” Her delicate fingers gripped her arms so tightly, the knuckles were white.
“We’ll do the best we can,” Jessip said. He placed his hand on her shoulder and looked in her eyes. “Listen. We all love dragons, we all want the best for them. We will do everything we can to help Xochi.”
She stared at him and nodded. “Okay.” Relaxing a bit, she looked back at the dragon laying on the ground.
Watching Xochi’s body purge itself made Aeron wince. His heart went out to the young dragon and her bond-mate.
Gods, I don’t think I would handle you getting sick any better. I’d be wrecked, too.
Anaya let out a soft croon. It is not easy, watching and not being able to help.
I hope neither of us has to ever go through this, sweet-heart. He looked at all those gathered. Though, it is nice to have everyone helping out in what ways they can. A sense of pride lifted his heart.
Gregor had cast a few spells, probably for diagnosis if Aeron remembered right from training, and continued to study the little red dragon. Sharrah used a more hands-on approach, having checked Xochi’s mouth, eyes, pulse, and who knows what all else.
“She’s just dry-heaving now,” Sharrah said, stroking the back of Xochi’s neck.
“Aye. It looks like her body has cleared everything.” Gregor turned to Renata. “She is a gorgeous dragon, illness not withstanding. All she needs now, I think, is water for the dehydration and some rest. Some food would be good, too, but that should wait until her stomach, ah, her stomachs have settled.”
When Willem and Cheddar arrived, their poor horse looked like some misshapen animal. Aeron couldn’t count the number of canteens hanging from the saddle.
“We would have been here sooner,” Cheddar said, staring at the ill dragon, “but we didn’t know how big she was, so we brought as many canteens as we could get our hands on.”
“Yeah,” Willem said. “Sorry for the delay.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Sharrah said, grabbing a few and slinging them over her shoulder. “You actually arrived just in time.” Returning to Xochi, she knelt and stroked her neck. “Sweetheart, can you try and drink some water?”
Renata rushed over. “Let me, please.” She took a canteen from Sharrah and opened it. “Sweetling, try to drink some water. You need it.”
After making a sad little sound, Xochi lifted her head and opened her mouth.
“That’s a girl,” Sharrah murmured.
“Good girl,” Renata said as her bond-mate took a few swallows.
Xochi threw up again.
Renata stood and turned to Gregor, eyes wide with renewed panic. “I thought you said she was fine?”
“She is,” Sharrah said, “she is. Her body still thinks it needs to do that, is all.”
“She’s dehydrated, though,” Gregor said, “and needs to keep down the water. I do know an enchantment that works on people, let’s see if it does on her.”
Aeron felt a small pulse of magic as Gregor glanced over Xochi’s body.
“There,” the healer said. “Give her some more water. She should be able to keep it down now.”
Renata knelt and sat on her heels. “Come on, sweetling, try some more. Your body needs the water.”
Xochi took a few swallows and lay her head in Renata’s lap, eyes on her bond-mate. A few seconds later, she made a hopeful little chirp.
Good. The spell has helped.
Aeron nodded. She does sound a little better.
Renata smiled and offered Xochi more water. She drank the canteen nearly dry.
“It looks to have worked,” Jessip said. “Good.”
“She does look a sight, though, doesn’t she?” Cheddar’s whisper to Sharrah was nowhere near quiet enough to not be heard by everyone.
He grunted when she elbowed him in the ribs. “She’s sick, you stupid oaf, did you expect her to look like a stage actress?”
Jessip turned to Renata. “I’m going to stay here tonight, if you don’t mind? I’m going to borrow your horse for a quick trip to the Caer for some things, and I’ll be right back.” He didn’t wait for a response.
“That’s actually a good idea,” Gregor said. “Ho! Jessip! I’ll ride with you!”
“I’m sorry about all the questions earlier, Renata,” Aeron said. He stared at Xochi. “But you have to understand their curiosity—we are a rare thing. At least right now, any
way.” He squatted next to the carmine dragon and gently patted her back. “You must be the two Anaya and I felt when you bonded.”
“I wanted to be sure about you, about you all.” Renata held Xochi’s head in her lap, stroking her cheek. “I could not risk that anything would happen to Xochi.”
Aeron gripped her shoulder and smiled. “You don’t need to explain to me. I know exactly how you feel.” He stood and looked at Willem. “That being said, we will have to let the masters know.”
+ + + + +
Sharrah had given her some instruction on things to look out for and things that might ease Xochi’s discomfort. They all left when Jessip and Gregor returned, vowing to drop by in the morning. Renata was grateful.
“Alright, then.” Jessip’s arms were full of . . . towels? “Let’s get her cleaned up, shall we?”
The alarm she felt through the link was echoed by her own. “I, ah, think I can do that.”
“I am going to help.” Jessip dropped the stack of cloths to the side. “So don’t even try to argue.” His gaze was firm, but kind.
“Y–You can wash her face,” Renata said, “I’ll, ah, do the rest.”
He must have sensed her feelings, because he glanced at Xochi only a moment before he said, “Alright.” He picked up most of the towels and handed them to her. “I suppose all people, including dragons, have a sense of modesty. I would be a stupid oaf to disregard that.”
Xochi lifted her head and blinked at the tall young man. I like him.
Renata nodded at Jessip, not trusting her voice. Gods dammit, why am I so close to tears?
“Can you roll over this way, little one?” Jessip’s voice was gentle, soothing. “That way you are clear of all . . . that.”
With a grunt, Xochi rolled onto her left side and even scooted a bit further away from the messy ground.
“That’s a good girl.” Jessip smiled and patted her.
“Ah, good.” Gregor walked over and handed them a few canteens. “Nothing like a bath to improve one’s outlook. Thanks to their over-zealousness, we have more than enough water so that some can be spared for the task.” He winked at Jessip and headed back to the campsite.
Despite her best efforts, a sob escaped her throat. They were all so damned kind!
“Hey, now.” Jessip turned to her. “She’ll be fine. She already has better color.” He patted Xochi’s neck. “You’re a good strong girl, aren’t you?”
Though short, Xochi’s rumble sounded happy.
Renata nodded. Xochi being sick had thrown her badly, and this would hopefully give her time to regain control.
As she worked at her task, she’d glance at Jessip every now and again. He was surprisingly gentle as he cleaned Xochi’s face and neck, constantly murmuring words of encouragement. He caught her watching him.
Cheeks warming, she refused to look away. I will get control of myself, dammit. “You’re good with her.”
A shrug lifted his shoulders. “I like animals.” He gave Xochi a loving pat on the neck and told her, “Not that I think of you as a mere animal.”
He glanced at Renata. “I haven’t always been the nicest person. I never had many friends.” He looked at Xochi, used a clean towel on her neck. “Aeron helped me a while back, helped me see some things about myself and helped me stay in the Caer. Soon after, animals, horses especially, took my interest. They weren’t judgmental, didn’t know my history. They took me at face value. I really appreciated that.”
Tossing the towel aside, he examined Xochi’s face. “When you care deeply about something, you see things, realize things you never did before. It changes you.”
Renata thought on his words as she finished up. It wasn’t only his hair that was remarkable.
With a final, unneeded swipe, Renata stood and stretched her legs. “There.” She dropped the towel atop the others. With her nose scrunched, she said, “I do not envy the launderers their task.”
“I can take care of that.” Jessip spread the towels out on the ground.
Renata felt pulses of magic from him as he moved from one towel to the next. With each weave of magic, soil lifted from a towel and settled to the ground next to it.
“You know sorcery?”
He turned to her and smiled, and her heart beat a little faster. “I worked at the Farm. Spot cleaning is a task everyone is required to do there now and again.”
“The Farm?”
“Yep. It’s further east of here, where most of the food for the Caer is raised or farmed. I worked there for several months as part of a, ah, trial period. But I was able to return to the Caer, thanks, in part, to Aeron.”
“I see.”
When he was done, he gathered them up. “I’ll return these to the laundry tomorrow. Right now, though, I think Xochi should try to walk to the camp.” Looking around the area, he said, “She’ll be more comfortable away from here.”
“You’re probably right.” Renata turned to Xochi. “Do you think you can walk, sweetling?”
“Don’t stand up too fast,” Jessip cautioned. “I know when I’ve been sick, I get light-headed. Stand up slowly; take your time. We’re in no hurry.”
Xochi rolled onto her belly. Then she sat up on her haunches and blinked a few times. With hardly any shakiness, she got to all fours. Looking at Jessip, she said, You are very kind. Thank you.
It took Renata by surprise. Her bond-mate must really like him. She glanced over at Gregor, though she doubted he had heard it. The sending was limited in strength. Whether that was deliberate or due to weakness, she didn’t know.
Jessip, apparently, had also been taken by surprise. After a quiet intake of breath, he said, “Y–You’re welcome, little one.” He smiled broadly and they followed Xochi as she made her unsteady way to the campsite.
Once there, Renata saw what Gregor had occupied himself with as they’d attended to Xochi. There were two additional bedrolls laid out. One was a few feet from hers, and the other was set apart, across the campfire from those.
“Oh,” she said. “Good. I didn’t have any spares.”
“Jessip thought to bring those,” Gregor said.
“W–Well, I figured we’d need them to stay here. You know, to keep an eye on Xochi, make sure nothing happened overnight.”
“Exactly.” Gregor smiled.
Renata plopped down on her bedroll and sighed heavily. “You people are so . . .”
Jessip raised his hands and said, “If we’re imposing—”
“So nice!” Tears fell from her eyes, brushed her cheek, and made little damp circles on her pants. “Gods dammit, I promised myself I would stop crying!”
Xochi let out an inquisitive chirp. Why do you cry? I am better.
I don’t know!
She looked at her bond-mate and realized that perhaps she did know. “Xochi is all I have. She’s my friend, my family, my everything. If I had lost her . . .” Renata looked at Gregor, at Jessip. “I am and will ever be in your debt.”
Sympathy in his eyes, Jessip handed her a towel.
Using it to dry her eyes, Renata said, “It would be a comfort to have you both stay. Thank you.”
She pulled her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around them. “Though, I don’t think I’ll be able to fall asleep anytime soon. Which, I suppose, will give me time to tell you the truth of our journey, of where we are from. I owe you that much at the very least.”
“No.” Jessip’s gaze held hers. “Do not tell us because you think you owe it to us. When you want to tell us, I will be more than happy to hear your tale.”
Gods. Was he real? “You need to stop.”
His brows furrowed. “Stop?”
“A girl can only take so much.”
He shook his head. “I don’t—”
“A smile like yours and you’re a gentleman?”
Jessip’s expression alternated between confusion and embarrassment, though his cheeks maintained their deep crimson shading throughout.
There are those
shoulders, too. And his—
I don’t know what you’re talking about!
Gregor burst out laughing. “Yes, well, I must say, I agree with Jessip. Tonight has been very difficult for you. And while I am exceedingly interested in hearing your story, I do think you should take some time to recover.”
She nodded, though her mind was already made up. She’d spend the time thinking of how to tell them, but she would tell them.
They are good people.
Chapter 15
Leday, Tershy 17, 1874.
Morning.
“They are the two Aeron and Anaya sensed?”
“Undoubtedly, my lord.” Master Doronal leaned back in the chair, fingers tented, thinking. They really were going to have to formalize candidate selection and training attendance.
“They must be,” Master Canneth said. “Only one bond has been sensed.”
“It’s unfortunate this new dragon is female.” Lord Baronel frowned. “It would have made things more convenient had it been male. A breeding pair would be nice. At any rate, they’ll be moved into the Caer, of course.”
“Absolutely.” Master Canneth sat forward. “We’ve already started preparing the third stable.”
“The third?”
“Yes,” Master Doronal said. “I imagine Anaya would like her partner to be housed next to her. As would Aeron, I’m thinking.”
“Oh. Oh, yes. Good point. What’s she like?”
“The girl? She seems nice enough.” Master Canneth drummed his fingers on the table. “She was attentive in class, curious, and seemed self-assured. According to what she’s said, she’s from the south and traveled here in search of ‘the dragon boy.’ We’re going to her camp after breakfast to check on her and Xochi, her dragon.”
“She apparently arrived on Hemday,” Master Doronal said, “and attended Animal Craft training yesterday, where Canneth met her. It wasn’t until last night that we discovered the entirety of who she is.”
“Why was she in training, and how?” Lord Baronel looked from one master to the other.
“I invited her to attend,” Master Canneth said. “Anaya said she was a candidate. Besides, we haven’t really spelled out how we add candidates, nor who can attend training.”
“I thought all that was going to be specified in the rules and regulations?” Lord Baronel raised his brows.
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