“Sh-she talked to me,” Willem stammered, his fingers on his forehead where Anaya had touched him.
Sharrah took half a step back as Anaya approached her.
You are Sharrah, good friend to Aeron. Upon hearing Anaya, Sharrah’s eyes widened and she stood transfixed. Anaya raised up on her hind legs, spreading her wings a bit for balance, and touched her nose to Sharrah’s forehead. She then walked back and sat next to Aeron, facing his friends.
“How,” Sharrah began, “how did I hear her? Her mouth didn’t move.”
“She talks directly to you, in your head,” Aeron said. “And you can talk to her the same way. I wasn’t sure she could do that, would do that, with anyone else.”
“Anaya is a pretty name,” Willem said, standing up and dusting off the back of his pants, eyes fixed on the young dragon. “Where did you hear that from,” he asked Aeron, “what you named your friend?”
“I actually didn’t name her, she knew her name when she hatched,” Aeron said, looking at his companion with pride. “And I think friend isn’t the right word for what we are. It’s more than that.” Aeron stared at Anaya, wonder in his eyes. “We are linked in some way. I can feel her wherever I am. I can sense her feelings, and she can sense mine.” Aeron stood up, his hand on Anaya. “There was some kind of magical process that happened after we met, the Bond. Very powerful.”
We are one. We are the first.
Aeron looked down at Anaya, brows furrowed. “She says we are the first to be linked. Apparently dragons have some kind of, I don’t know, ancestral memory that they can tap into somehow.”
Only after we are linked by the Bond.
Really? He raised his brows. “She tells me that they can only do that after they are linked.”
“Is that ancestral memory how she knows you are the first?” Willem asked.
That, and I think we would know if there were others, Anaya told Aeron.
Curiouser, and curiouser. Aeron looked up at his friends. “For the most part, yes,” he said.
“Was it an accident?” Sharrah asked. “Or is linking a normal part of draconic life?” The details about Anaya were starting to pique the interest of the zoologist in her.
It is part of our purpose. I . . . I think we were created for it.
“Apparently it is normal. At least it is supposed to be. She thinks dragons were created for linking.”
“Created for it? By whom? And I wonder why?” Sharrah scrunched her nose in thought.
We are to help you and be companions. I cannot remember who created us.
Aeron looked down at Anaya, somewhat confused. “To help us somehow and to be companions.” Anaya was eying a formation of stalagmites to the side.
“Us?” Willem asked.
“People. At least that’s the impression I get.”
“If that’s true, I wonder why they keep so much to themselves?” Sharrah asked.
Anaya, now somewhat bored, wandered around examining things along the cavern floor.
“You know,” Aeron said, “from my research it seems that dragons are very shy or nervous. And in fact, when Anaya first hatched, she was extremely shy. She was hiding behind the eggs, and I had to coax her out. After the Bond and linking, however, she’s almost a different person.” He watched as Anaya walked around, sniffing and nosing odd rocks and pebbles.
“She’s a dragon,” Willem pointed out.
“Of course. And she’s the most beautiful dragon in the world,” Aeron said with a smile, still watching her.
“She is gorgeous,” Willem agreed, eyeing Anaya. “She’s stunning, amazing, and utterly enchanting.” He paused and looked at Aeron, “But she’s a dragon.”
“How are you going to keep her a secret?” Sharrah asked.
“I can’t,” Aeron said. “Not for long.” He looked at them both. “That’s why I need your help.”
“Us? Even the three of us can’t keep her a secret for very long,” Willem said. “She’s eventually going to grow up. Then what?”
“No,” Aeron said. “That’s not what I meant. I need your help to figure out how we can introduce her to the Caer. Without them getting all panicky and wanting to have her killed, or worse.”
Aeron looked back at Anaya as she walked along inspecting the area around them. “As big as she will eventually get, I know there is no way I’m going to be able to take care of her without anyone else finding out about her. So I figure before that happens, we somehow introduce her to the Caer in a way that Lord Baronel accepts her, a way that people are not scared of her. How to do that, I have no clue. But nothing can happen to her. I wouldn’t be able to take it. She’s a part of me now. We are one.”
Anaya looked up at Aeron. Happy.
Renny was actually in a good mood. He was making very good progress in Wood Craft, and now that he was actually trying, he found he really enjoyed it. He had just spent an hour or so doing some last minute touch-ups on a piece he was working on for Master Pennal’s assignment. He quirked his lips in a small half smile. He would never have spent this amount of time on his craft before, and certainly not right after dinner on a weekend!
He took the steps out of the craft hall two at a time.
“Hey.”
Renny nearly turned his ankle on the last step. Behind him, he saw Jessip leaning against the wall of the hall. He was so surprised all he could say was, “What are you doing here?”
An angry expression flashed across Jessip’s face and then was gone. He walked over to Renny as he spoke. “What, I can’t visit an old friend and catch up on how his life has been the last three weeks?”
Renny looked around nervously and said, “Look, Jessip, I’ve moved on and I really don’t want to get back into that stuff again.”
Jessip stopped close to Renny. “Moved on?” Jessip’s gaze jumped from one of Renny’s eyes to the other and back. “Fine. But you listen to me, you little ingrate, you’re going to help me one last time before you ‘move on.’ Understand?”
Renny nodded, not taking his eyes off of Jessip.
“Where’s Aeron?”
“Aeron?” Renny asked, confused.
Jessip frowned at Renny. “Have you gone deaf? AERON! Where is he? I never see him leaving the dorms or going in.”
Renny took an involuntary step back. “He’s in the Magic Craft Hall now, has his own room there.”
Jessip’s face darkened and Renny took another step back. He knew that when Jessip’s face got red, he was really angry. And his face was so dark now that the small scar under his eye stood out in stark relief, a small pale patch on Jessip’s deep red face.
“His own room?” Jessip ground his teeth.
“Listen, Jessip, I really have to go. I don’t want to get into any trouble. A trade caravan will be here next weekend and I don’t want to miss it. You see, they are letting me sell some of my own items at the Wood Craft stalls . . .” Renny trailed off as he watched Jessip. The older boy had apparently stopped listening. He was staring through Renny, at some unseen vision.
After a moment, Jessip’s face returned to a more normal color and his gaze focused again on Renny. “Wood Craft,” he spat out dismissively. He turned and walked off. “Nice seeing you. I won’t bother you again.”
Renny stood staring as Jessip sauntered off. What had all that been about?
Chapter 12
Therday, Duody 28, 1873
Afternoon
The test went as expected. Aeron performed all the spells perfectly.
“Well done, as usual,” Master Doronal said.
These spells were a bit more complicated than previous ones, and Aeron had had a little more trouble learning them. Anaya had asked many questions about them while he had been studying them. But he had been happy to indulge her. He was glad that she enjoyed magic. If she had been bored or, even worse, scared of it, he didn’t know what he would have done. Interestingly, and probably due to the link, she could see frameworks and spells he cast as if they were wearing the
training bracelets, which Master Doronal was now removing.
“Here are your next spells, with which I am sure you will have no trouble,” Master Doronal said, sliding a small scrap of parchment across the desk to Aeron and thus ending the work for the day.
“Right now, you are learning simple spells. And incidentally, you are doing quite well at it. Once we are done with these initial lessons, however, you will begin learning about compound spells.” Master Doronal leaned back in his chair. “As you probably surmise, compound spells are made up of more than one spell. The globe cleaning spell is one such.”
Aeron smiled and placed the parchment in his satchel. Was it only four weeks ago that Master Doronal had said he would teach him that spell?
“You’ve come a long way in just a few short weeks, Aeron. I hope you continue to apply yourself with the same exceptional focus and care you’ve shown so far.”
“Oh, I will, sir. Magic continues to be one of my most favorite things.”
“Only one of?” Master Doronal asked, jokingly. “I thought it was your most favorite thing.”
“Well, I do have something else I have become very interested in lately.” Aeron couldn’t believe his fortune. He had been wondering how he would bring up the topic of dragons and now it was working out perfectly for him.
“Ah. Is this new thing what was distracting you so much two weeks ago?”
“Two weeks?” Aeron knitted his brows as he thought back. “Oh, no. That was the caverns. I was exploring them quite a bit, but I’ve done as much exploring of them as I want to for now.”
Master Doronal raised his brows, questioningly.
“No, I’m interested in dragons now.” Aeron glanced back over his shoulder to the dragon on the tapestry.
“Ah, yes! Dragons.” Master Doronal stood and walked over to the tapestry. He stopped in front of it, staring at the dragon woven into the hanging. “I myself had a keen interest in them when I was a boy. I still do, to be honest.”
Aeron, Willem and Sharrah had been trying to figure out how to introduce Anaya to the Caer all week long. Willem hadn’t been able to come up with anything, try as he might. Sharrah, on the other hand, had come up with an idea.
“Research,” she had said.
Willem and Aeron had looked at her, confused.
Finally she had huffed with impatience and said, “Look, no one knows much about dragons. There has never been anyone who has been able to get as close to a dragon as we have. I know I can get Master Canneth interested in dragons. You, Aeron, should be able to get Master Doronal interested in dragons too, their magical aspects and such.”
“I think I understand,” Aeron had said.
“I don’t,” Willem had remarked, looking from one to the other in confusion.
Sharrah had turned to Willem and explained, “All we need to do is drop hints every now and then, ask questions, keep the topic of dragons going. You know, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if we could actually get close to a dragon? Study its life cycles, growth patterns, eating habits?’ That sort of thing. Of course, Aeron would focus more on their magical aspects with Master Doronal. Then when we think they are ready, we introduce them to Anaya.” And Sharrah had smiled.
Aeron had thought it was a great idea. Sharrah had started with Master Canneth yesterday. He and the study team had returned from the field study early yesterday afternoon. And Aeron was starting on Master Doronal right now.
Aeron stood and walked over to the tapestry, standing next to Master Doronal. “I actually went to the library to see what real information I could find on dragons.”
“Ah, yes. Did you see the book by Umvell?”
Aeron made a rude noise. “Total trash.”
Master Doronal chuckled. “Yes, I agree.”
Aeron stared at the dragon on the tapestry. “It’s too bad no one has been able to get closer to dragons and learn more about what they are like,” he said.
“Yes, dragons are quite skittish creatures, apparently. Everything we know about them was gathered by watching them from afar.”
“Are they mean?” Aeron asked, rhetorically. “Are they nice? Are they magical at all?” He glanced sidelong at Master Doronal.
Master Doronal was silent, staring at the small dragon hovering over the battle on the tapestry.
“I’d like to think that they are magical in some way,” Aeron said.
“I used to fantasize,” Master Doronal began quietly, “about having my own dragon.” After a moment, he shook off his reverie and laughed. “A fancy of youth, I suppose.”
“But would you say that learning more about dragons, their nature, any magic they might have, do you think it would be something worth spending time and effort on?”
Master Doronal stared at Aeron. “Well, yes. They would definitely be worth studying.” Master Doronal’s eyes narrowed slightly. “But no one has been able to get close enough to a dragon to make such studies possible.”
Aeron nodded slowly. “True.” He glanced at the dragon on the tapestry again before returning to the chair and grabbing his satchel. “It would be amazing, though, wouldn’t it?” he asked, slipping the satchel onto his shoulder. He then smiled at Master Doronal and left the office.
His part of the plan was started! As he walked back to his room, Aeron imagined what life might be like if Anaya could be in the Caer. Almost anytime he chose he would be able to be with her, to feed her, to care for her. There would be no need for secrecy anymore, for the long trip to her cavern and back each time he wanted to see her. No more getting soaking wet! It would be amazing.
He was hardly able to contain himself in his room as he waited for the dinner hour. Master Doronal was just like me, he thought. Master Doronal loved dragons too!
His elation had been going on for so long and was of such a fever-pitch that Anaya was roused from her sleep. She drowsily asked him why he was so excited.
Our plan to get you out of the cavern and into the Caer is starting to look like it might work!
Oh, that is good, she said, muzzily. I do not like being so far from you all the time. She then promptly fell back asleep.
Eventually it was the dinner hour and time to let his friends know about Master Doronal.
Aeron nodded to the server in thanks, grabbed his tray and left the food bar, thinking again about Anaya. He completely agreed with her. He was tired of being so far from her all the time as well. He hoped their plan worked out.
In anticipation of the trade caravan and the fall trade fair that would start at sunrise, the Dining Hall was serving a light dinner tonight. On offer were small loaves of fresh-baked bread, slices of cheeses, dry-cured meats and sausages, and for dessert, chocolate cake. It all looked quite tasty to Aeron. He hurried to the lower tables to look for his friends. He found Sharrah already eating her dinner.
“Hello,” Aeron said as he sat across from her.
She smiled and said, “Hi.”
“I’m not sure how you’re doing with Master Canneth, but tonight went very well with Master Doronal,” Aeron said, removing the plates from his tray and placing them in front of himself. “Once Willem gets here I’ll tell you guys about it.” He tore a chunk from one of his small loaves of bread and spread some butter on it before devouring it.
Sharrah nodded in agreement. She grabbed a slice of cheese from her plate and asked, “Anything special you’ll be looking for at the trade caravan?”
“Honestly, I hadn’t really thought about it much,” he said, absently nibbling on a slice of sausage. “I suppose I can get something to wear. Now that I have a few spare marks, I can get some personal clothing. And I could use a new winter coat. I’ll spend a few marks on those kinds of things, I guess.” He looked at Sharrah. “How about you?”
“I’ll be looking at the jewelry,” she said, a faraway look in her eyes. “They always have such amazing jewelry.”
Willem arrived then and sat next to Aeron. “Hey,” he said, removing his plates from the tray.
�
��Hello,” Sharrah said.
“You okay?” Aeron asked. Willem seemed subdued.
“Yeah. It’s just—” he sighed. “I can’t think of anything I can do to help you with Anaya, and I don’t like not being able to help.”
Aeron looked at Willem, who seemed pretty down on himself, and said, “I know that if there was something you could do, you would do it.”
“I just feel so useless.”
“You are not useless,” Aeron disagreed. “You’re my best friend. Ever since we met, you’ve always stood by me. And true friends are hard to come by.”
Willem smiled a little and asked, “And what about you two? How has the plan been coming along?”
“My part seems to have turned out golden,” Aeron said. “I waited until today to talk to Master Doronal because I was going in for this week’s spell test anyway. I didn’t want to make a special trip to his office. I was worried that would seem unusual and might make him suspicious. In any case, it worked out perfectly.” Aeron looked from Willem to Sharrah and said, “It turns out, Master Doronal is a huge fan of dragons!” Aeron quickly recapped his talk with Master Doronal earlier in the afternoon.
“Golden!” Willem said after Aeron was done. “He confirmed that he thinks dragons are worth the time and effort to study? That’s big. We have one master we can probably count on. How about you, Sharrah?”
“It was a pretty busy time, yesterday, when they arrived back from the field study,” she said. “Everyone was helping unload the wagons and put things away. I wanted to wait until things had settled down, so I didn’t get a chance to talk to Master Canneth about it then.”
Aeron’s expression grew glum. “You haven’t had a chance to talk to him about dragons yet?”
“I did,” Sharrah replied, “but not until this morning. Oh, and by the way, Martin said to thank you both for helping with Smoke. He was very happy to find Smoke in good health and good spirits.”
“It was fun,” Willem said.
“Yeah,” Aeron agreed.
“And he apparently fell in with someone on the trip, too. Valentin. He’s a journeyman who also went on the study. They’re both very nice, so I wish them the best.”
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