Dragonlinked

by Adolfo Garza Jr.

  Along with the goose, she had been roasting several kinds of vegetables, including carrots, potatoes and beets. There had been two pies ready to bake, cherry and apple, along with loaves of bread. It was a strangely detailed memory. He had been maybe seven, or eight? Seven. His little brother was still wearing his hair long. Jessip smiled. It was a great meal, he recalled. But soon his smile faded. He’d never have that kind of meal again, he didn’t suppose, with a family who, at least at that time, loved each other.

  The wagon jerked a bit as it moved off, nearly knocking him from his makeshift seat and returning him to the present. He could see the other two workers sitting up next to the drivers of their wagons. He frowned for a second. Why was the Proctor going on the delivery trip? From the little he had been able to gather asking around about the deliveries, he got the impression that she normally did not go. So why now? He wouldn’t be able to ride up front with the driver, either on the way out or back. That annoyed him a little, but then he remembered how hard wagon seats actually were, even with the thin covering, and the sore butt he had from his trip out to the Farm. He realized that the broccoli would probably make for a better seat anyway, so he settled in and got as comfortable as he could.

  Jessip stared at the two horses hitched to the second wagon. They walked steadily along the crude road. Ambled really, he thought grimly. He would not have thought it possible, but the pace of these wagons was even slower than the wagon that had first brought him out here. It was going to be a long ride to the Caer. He put his hands in the coat pockets and leaned back. Maybe he could catch a nap.

  A rather large rut in the road caused the wagon to lurch mightily, waking Jessip from sleep. He jerked as he woke, unsure where he was, his whole body giving one big twitch. The scents of the herbs, vegetables and horses, along with the creaking sounds of the various wooden containers, brought him back to his place on the bushel. He glanced at the wagon behind and saw the large smile on Ash’s face. He’d seen him wake up in a fright. Jessip returned a rueful smile and looked around. They were almost there. Ahead, he could see the start of the cobblestone road, and beyond it, East Gate. He must have slept for quite some time. And in fact, he did feel very rested, though he had a minor twinge in his neck. He must have slept crooked or something. He rubbed the complaining muscle and stretched.

  The wagons followed the road into the Caer until it ended at North Road just past the courtyard, then they turned right and headed up to the Dining Hall. They pulled in on the side of the hall, between it and the north wall. Jessip’s wagon, the first, pulled up to the side doors and stopped. The other two wagons pulled up behind, waiting their turn.

  Everyone got down off the wagons and the unloading began, supervised by Proctor Josephine and someone from the Dining Hall. Jessip caught the name Master Tallah. If he remembered right, she was the Culinary Master who ran the Dining Hall. She was quite attractive, for all the ten or more years she had on him. Her light-brown, nearly blonde hair was tied up under her hat, but tendrils were visible at the nape of her neck. She had very tiny beads of sweat on her forehead and nose. For some reason, that made her even prettier to Jessip. Her bright eyes were tracking everyone and everything and she was smiling a lot. And she wasn’t skinny either. She had nice curves, which Jessip really liked.

  “Jessip! Don’t just stand there gawking, hop to it!” Proctor Josephine gave him a push on his shoulder.

  “Sorry, ma’am.” He picked up a bushel from the ground, the one he had sat upon during the trip here, actually, and followed everyone into the hall with one last glance back at Master Tallah.

  They were lead into the kitchens and then down some stairs. Eventually they reached the storage rooms and left the items where requested. They grabbed empty bushels, barrels and crates, from previous deliveries he supposed, and took them back upstairs. They put them next to the wagon. After one more trip, he had to take his coat off as the work was making him too warm.

  Down and then up, and down and then up, over and over they went. Once the first wagon was unloaded, they loaded it with the empty creates and other containers. The second wagon was then brought up and was unloaded in a similar manner. By the time the third wagon was finished, Jessip was exhausted. He just stood by the wagon, muscles weary and sweat on his brow.

  “That was good work,” Proctor Josephine said, looking the three helpers over. “And having finished in time for dinner, we can eat here instead of at the Farm.” She looked at them a bit longer. They were all similarly numbed by the long repetitive slogging up and down the stairs and in and out of the Dining Hall. With more than a little laughter in her voice, she said, “Well, come on then, let’s go have a sit and eat.” She motioned to the drivers as well, and they all walked into the hall.

  Jessip was hungry, but what he really wanted was something to drink. Anything cold and wet would do. He walked with the rest to the serving area and got some food along with a glass of water and a glass of juice. They made their way to a clear spot at the lower tables, and as soon as they sat down, Jessip drank the entire glass of water. He felt much better for it and, after a moment, dug into his dinner.

  Though the food at the Farm was good, it didn’t quite compare to the food here at the hall. Farm food was simple, though tasty, where the food at the Caer had more shine, more flair. Not that he wasn’t happy with the food at the Farm, it was good. It’s just that the extra touches in the food here were another reason to make the trip every now and then. Jessip was just finishing the last of his juice when Proctor Josephine stood up.

  “Alright then,” she said. “Meet back at the wagons in an hour and a half.”

  Jessip raised his brows. They had leave to do whatever they wanted? He looked at the others and they were all smiling, staring at the Proctor.

  “I’m off to see this dragon I’ve heard so much about at the question and answer they are holding.” She looked at each of them briefly. “This has been a good evening so far. Don’t make me look for you after.”

  Everyone stood up and bused their trays. Jessip placed his on the stack as well, his utensils, plates and glasses in their places, and ran after Proctor Josephine.

  He caught up to her at the top of the steps. “Madam Proctor?”

  “Yes, Jessip?” she asked, not stopping.

  “You mentioned a dragon?” He followed her down the steps and walked with her along the road.

  “Indeed. Lord Baronel is housing a dragon at the Magic Craft Hall, apparently. They have invited people to come see it, to see her that is, and ask questions about her each evening after dinner.”

  “I’d like to see her as well, if you don’t mind?”

  “Not at all.”

  Jessip continued along with her as she made her way down the cobblestone road toward the Magic Craft Hall. “Anaya is an amazing creature. It’ll be great to see her again.”

  Proctor Josephine glanced sideways at Jessip a moment, then returned her gaze to the road ahead. “You’ve seen, Anaya, before?”

  “Briefly,” Jessip said and absently rubbed his chest.

  There were a number of people on the road heading the same direction they were. Jessip wasn’t sure, however, whether all the people he saw were on the way to see the dragon or whether they were on their way to the fair, which ran through the weekend. The answer, at least for a great number of them, became clear when he and Proctor Josephine arrived outside the magic hall.

  There was a rather large crowd forming around a fence outside what used to be a horse stable. Jessip didn’t remember the fence, it must be new. Also, the building no longer faced the road as it used to and as its twin across the road still did. It now faced the yard enclosed by the wooden barrier. At several locations along the fence, children and others were sitting on the lower rail, arms over the top rail, talking excitedly. The crowd gathered around the fence was also full of whispers, murmurs and an occasional burst of laughter.

  Proctor Josephine made her way over to one of the last clear spots near t
he fence and Jessip followed. She stood next to the fence, arms crossed, waiting primly. Jessip stood next to her and, with nothing else to do, examined the one-time stable closer. As he did so, he noticed other additions to the building that he did not remember.

  There was now a large street lamp in the yard, just between a door on the left and a very large pair of wooden doors, like one would see on a barn. Several feet beyond those large doors was some sort of contraption, which consisted of an enormous metal plate on the ground and a nearly man-tall mechanical device to its left. Its purpose was unknown to Jessip. There was also a new smaller building on the right side of the yard, near the far fence. Jessip shook his head. So many changes had been made in less than a week. He leaned on the top rail and waited for whatever was going to happen to start.

  Aeron paced back and forth on the clay floor inside the dragon stable. He could hear the crowd outside, many of them talking excitedly, though he could not hear them clearly enough to make out the words. Anaya watched him, her eyes golden in the light of the wall sconces.

  Why are you so agitated?

  Aeron stopped and turned to Anaya. I’m nervous about this whole question and answer thing.

  You will be fine. Your friends are here as well as the two big ones.

  Aeron glanced at Willem and then at Sharrah and Cheddar. He looked at Masters Doronal and Canneth who were near the door to his study. They were talking quietly with the chefs who had come to retrieve their dinner chests.

  Aeron smiled. Anaya called the masters the big ones. Well, they were adults and taller than himself and his friends, so he supposed the description worked. But she hadn’t mentioned the chefs. They would be leaving, though, as soon as Anaya ate her dinner. And now that he thought about it, he wasn’t sure why Master Doronal had said to wait on feeding her.

  You’re probably right, he said and walked over to the magic master. “Master Doronal? Why did you want to wait on feeding Anaya?”

  The magic craft master looked at Aeron and smiled, a wicked gleam in his eye. “I just think it will be . . . instructive . . . for people to see her eating.”

  Cheddar burst out laughing, quick on the uptake.

  “Oh,” Willem began, “that’s wonderfully wicked.” He had a large smile on his face.

  “It will certainly make people think twice about unauthorized visits.” Sharrah also was smiling.

  “Nothing wrong with putting a healthy dose of respect into people,” Master Canneth said, a slight smile on his face.

  “Indeed,” and Master Doronal rubbed his hands together, eager to get started. “You remember what we talked about?” he asked Aeron.

  “Yes. No mention of where we found her or anything that would hint at the location.”

  Master Canneth nodded. “Right. We don’t need hoards of people swarming those dangerous caverns trying to find their own dragon.”

  “Exactly.” Master Doronal looked at everyone in the room. “Well, I suppose we may as well start. Aeron, are you and Anaya ready?”

  Aeron looked at Anaya, sighed, and then nodded.

  The masters walked out the door of Aeron’s study. Outside, a hush fell over the crowd. Aeron and his friends waited inside, near the large doors. Aeron peeked out a very slight gap between the doors. They would open them when they got their cue from Master Doronal.

  “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.” Master Doronal smiled and looked over the large crowd. “As everyone has doubtless heard, we have a new member of Lord Baronel’s holding. A most unusual member. She is quite the amazing creature. Her name is Anaya, and she has just awakened for the evening.”

  Aeron was watching the crowd, at least what little he could see of it. They were watching Master Doronal intently. No one was talking.

  I woke up some time ago, Anaya said. Why did he say I just woke up?

  I think he’s just being dramatic, Aeron replied, smiling back at the young dragon. This is a show after all, and we want people to be impressed with you. Though, truth be told, that won’t be hard. You’re amazing.

  Anaya emitted a happy rumble at the compliment, her eyes a deep yellow-gold, sparkling in the light from the sconces.

  “Now, when we bring her out,” Master Doronal continued, “please refrain from any loud or sudden sounds. She’s somewhat shy and we don’t want to scare her. Some might be shocked by her, I suppose, but please, if we could maintain our decorum, it would be for the best.” Master Doronal walked in a small circle as he talked, looking around the crowd and gesturing with his hands, much as he did when lecturing Aeron on various aspects of magic.

  “We will begin with Aeron, to whom the dragon is linked. He will talk about how he found her, how they were Bonded, how she is not a pet, so much as a companion. We will then move on to describing Anaya herself. And finally, we will move on to the question and answer portion. Those of you with questions will hold up your hands, and Master Canneth will select one person at a time to ask their question. If someone before you asks your question, please lower your hand or come up with another question.

  “Remember that we will be doing this tonight and tomorrow night and next week again starting on Minday evening, so do not fret if we do not get to your question, as you may return another night.”

  Master Doronal walked off to the side where Aeron could not see him. “And now, I am proud to present to you, Anaya.”

  That was their cue! Willem grabbed the left door and Aeron the right, and they slid them fully open. The four of them walked out into the yard and separated, Willem and Aeron moved left, Sharrah and Cheddar moved right. From within the stable, Anaya slowly padded out.

  Hushed gasps as well as several excited whispers could be heard here and there in the crowd when they spied her. There was a bit of shuffling in the crowd as people in back moved around trying for better vantage points.

  Anaya stopped next to Aeron and sat on her haunches. She looked around at the crowd and blinked, seemingly unruffled by the large number of people staring at her. Suddenly, she rose on her haunches and unfurled her wings fully. More gasps and whispers could be heard from the crowd. After a moment, she settled back down, resting her wings on her back. She rumbled happily.

  Show off. Aeron smiled and put his hand on her shoulder.

  I needed to stretch them. I just woke up.

  Aeron stifled a laugh, changing it into a cough at the last moment.

  “Because she just awoke,” Master Doronal said from the side, “she hasn’t had a chance to eat. She’s very hungry, so, if you will indulge us for a moment, we’ll let her have her dinner.” He motioned to the young chef with the chest, who brought it out in front of Anaya, opened it and stepped back.

  With her usual gusto, Anaya dug in. She chewed and wolfed down the various cuts of meat and scraps. The bones made the biggest impression on the crowd, emitting loud crunching and cracking sounds as she chewed and ate them. When she was done, she walked to the water trough and drank her fill. She then padded back to her spot next to Aeron and sat. The crowd was intensely quiet.

  From the side, there was a sudden murmuring, and the crowd parted. Aeron glanced over to see what the commotion was about. It was Lord Baronel! He, his three children, and Lady Rora, made their way through the crowd, through the gate and into the yard. They walked past them and stood by the scale.

  “Carry on,” Lord Baronel said, nodding to the masters. “We’re here to see and listen just like everyone else.” He smiled and took on an attitude of studious attention.

  “Yes, my lord,” Master Canneth said.

  The chest was removed, and Aeron glanced nervously at Lord Baronel and then at Master Doronal, who nodded at him.

  Aeron returned the nod and faced the crowd. He took a breath and began. “My name is Aeron.”

  “What?” came a shout from the left. And “Louder!” from somewhere else in the crowd.

  Aeron cleared his throat, and a bit louder, began again. “My name is Aeron, and as Master Doronal mentioned, Anaya and I
are linked for life.” He looked at Anaya and smiled at her. “She’s not a pet. She’s more a companion, a partner. But let me start at the beginning.”

  He turned back to the crowd, and leaving out what they had agreed to, he explained how he had found her egg by chance, how at first he had been worried about just what kind of creature could have laid the egg, how he had helped her with her egg once he realized she was trapped inside, how he had fed her the strips of jerky, and then how the magic of the Bond had linked them.

  “I could feel in my bones how we would be together forever, how we were meant to be together,” he finished, looking again at Anaya. She turned to him and leaned into his side. “We are one,” he said, squatting down and hugging her.

  He heard soft sighs from several of the children sitting on the fence, from Lord Baronel’s daughters and young son, and even from some of the adults. He looked out at the people beyond the fence. “The link is permanent and for life. From our studies so far, it looks like even our spirit is linked.”

  “As you can see,” Master Doronal said as he and Master Canneth moved out in front of them, “theirs is a special relationship. Anaya is the first dragon anyone in recorded history has been able to get close to, and as such, we are studying her here at the dragon stable.”

  There was some whispering at that, but Master Doronal gestured to Aeron. He and Anaya walked along the fence, several feet in so as not to tempt anyone to touch her, as the zoology master began listing her statistics.

  Master Canneth gave out her length from nose to tail-tip, her wingspan and on and on. How much food she ate was also mentioned along with her growth rate thus far and what her expected full size would be. There was murmuring at that.

  “So there you have the long and short of our Anaya,” Master Doronal said, looking fondly at the young dragon. Aeron liked how he kept calling her ‘our Anaya,’ which implied that she was part of the Caer and belonged to the people of the Caer. If they felt she was part of them, they would be more accepting. Aeron smiled to himself. Master Doronal was very clever.