She couldn’t even bring herself to make a sound, she simply jumped into his arms and hugged and kissed him. Finally, after several moments, she said, “The children will stay with your parents here while we go to Horne. Then we will have to decide where we will raise them once this insane war is over.”
“Perhaps you could stay with them while I go to Horne,” he replied.
The look she gave him at that suggestion would have been answer enough, but she said it anyway. “If you think you are going off to Horne without me, you are sadly mistaken. I don’t care if Geneva is Lineage Holder and orders Fahwn not to take me. If Fahwn won’t carry me, I will bloody well walk there. I’m going, and that’s final.”
“I had a feeling you’d say that. It would have solved two problems for me if you had agreed to stay, though. I would know that you were safe and that I have another experienced Rider to train the newly bonded Riders I’m leaving here.” Then he sighed and said, “Oh, well, it was worth a try. Now I suppose we should go and spend some time with the children.”
After lunch Delno, Rita, and both of Delno’s parents brought the children to the field with them. This would be the first time his father had actually gotten close to the dragons. Nassari looked totally confused when he saw the small procession arrive.
Before his friend could ask out loud, Delno quickly had Geneva relay who the children were and that they were just along to see the dragons. Nassari gave an almost imperceptible nod that he understood.
“So then,” Delno said as he stepped in front of the group of young men and women, “we have some soft cord that is strong enough to rig safety straps. You have been told to wear heavy clothing to avoid being abraded by your dragons’ scales and we have blankets to use for further padding. First, Rita and I will teach you how to rig a makeshift saddle; then we will get you into the air.”
“What, no stable boys to saddle our mounts?” Nassari said.
Everyone laughed a little at the joke.
“Well,” Delno said smiling, “if you would prefer to let someone else rig your safety straps, Nassari, I certainly won’t interfere. After all, it isn’t me who’s going to trust to someone else’s work several thousand feet off the ground.”
All of the new Riders were suddenly wide eyed at the thought of how high up in the air they would be.
“Point taken,” Nassari replied.
It took a little longer than Delno had anticipated to get everyone rigged to fly, but they were still ready to get off the ground in under two hours.
“Remember,” Delno shouted so that everyone could hear him. “You are not flying on young, immature dragons. Your Bond-mates have years of experience doing this. They already know the basics without this instruction. What they need is time to learn to maneuver safely while carrying a rider. If anything happens that really scares you, just lay forward over your Partner’s neck and hold on. She will know what to do instinctively. If you start trying to shout orders at her to correct her flying, you will only confuse her and make the situation worse.”
“Sir,” Raymond held up his hand to be acknowledged.
“Yes, Raymond?”
“What is the likelihood that something like that will happen?”
Delno was pleased to see that the young man was simply curious and not frightened. “It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes you can be buffeted by a sudden gust or strong cross wind. Sometimes when that happens you can suddenly drop like a stone; sometimes for several hundred feet. If that occurs, your dragon will know how to react instinctively and keep both your hides intact.”
Everyone began raising their hands to ask questions and he realized that if he answered them all, he would be all afternoon just getting airborne. He held up his hand for their silent attention.
“As you learn more about flying, you will learn when you are needed to do something other than hang on. There will come a time in your career as a Dragon Rider when you and she will truly be partners up there. That time, I’m afraid, will come very soon for the seven of you. Today, however, you are pretty much just along for the ride. Enjoy the easy work while it lasts; as was pointed out to me, being a Dragon Rider is more than just parking your arse in a saddle and letting your dragon do all of the work.”
They all laughed a bit and then, seeing that he had quelled their questions for the time being, he said, “Let’s get this show in the air. I want to do a few very basic maneuvers, but we won’t do anything particularly difficult today. Remember to brace yourselves for takeoff or your head can be whipped around and leave you with a stiff neck.”
Everyone, including Nassari, appeared to be in high spirits and eager to get started. Delno took off on Geneva first, then the students launched one at a time with Rita watching, then she was the last to join them in the air.
Geneva and Fahwn put the students through a series of basic maneuvers including a stall and reverse, though that was the most difficult of the set. They decided to hold off on barrel rolls until they could be taken up in smaller groups, since that was a much more difficult stunt.
“I’m tempted to have Wanda do a barrel roll, Love. I’d like to see Nassari’s reaction. Of course, so far he seems to be enjoying himself. Perhaps all of that complaining about flying was simply a ruse to allow him to get away with groping Rita after all.”
Delno laughed at Geneva’s comment and said, “Let’s keep that observation to ourselves, Dear Heart; Rita might be tempted to take revenge if she also figures that out.”
Chapter 25
Once they had done the basics and the dragons all signaled that they were beginning to adjust to the added weight and bulk of a rider, he had them head for Stone Bridge. Adamus and Beth were in full view on the Corisian side of the canyon on the ground, out of range of any Bournese bows. Delno had the students each make a quick strafing run on the bridge itself: Geneva went first, making sure that her flame hit the stone about half way across the chasm to avoid the wooden barricade; she was followed by Fahwn, and then the newly bonded pairs each took a turn with Nassari going last. They didn’t flame close enough to be any danger to the Bournese on the other side, but the run was close enough that the soldiers got to be impressed by the sight of nine dragons flaming.
Once the strafing run had been made, Delno had all of the dragons land far enough back away from the canyon that the Bournese wouldn’t be able to see that none of them wore proper saddles.
After introducing all of the newly bonded Riders to Adamus and the officers stationed at the bridge, he had the human students work in groups of twos with him and the other two experienced Riders. Nassari joined his group which also included Nadia and Raymond. They spent the remainder of the afternoon working on healing and shielding.
Before they got back in the air for the return trip to Larimar, Delno said to Raymond and Nadia, “I took you two in my group for a reason. Tomorrow, Rita and I will leave for Orlean to settle the eggs that will be laid there by Gina. We will also meet up with Brock, who is my teacher and one of my most trusted lieutenants, and any other Riders he has managed to bring along with him. Most of the un-bonded dragons who have remained up to now will depart, and we will again meet up with them in Horne.”
Nadia and Raymond were a bit confused as to why Delno was telling them all of this. He was impressed that they held their questions and waited for him to come to the point.
“The reason I am telling you this is simple. I would like to take as many Riders to Horne as possible. Nassari is going along and will continue training as we go. I have observed you two and believe you both show enough good sense and fortitude to come with us also. The choice, however, is yours: I won’t try to order you to go if you wish to remain here to train.”
“I will go with you,” Nadia said immediately. “I have been talking a lot with Pina and the other dragons, and I know that what has happened here in Corice was all due to the machinations of our enemies in Horne. I think it is better that we take the fight to them rather than stay at home and w
ait for them to bring the war to our door again. My father nearly died in that plague that was brought to us by our enemies. It was only through the intervention of your friend, the half-elf physician, that he survived. I don’t wish to wait around to see if my family will fare better next time. I’d like to prevent the next time from happening.”
Delno was nearly shocked. That was more speech out of the young woman at one time than he had heard since he’d met her.
“I’m not as eloquent as Nadia,” Raymond added, “but I feel the same. Stay or go, either way we end up fighting the same enemy. I say take the battle to them before they endanger our loved ones again.”
“It’s settled then,” Delno said smiling broadly. “I was going to try to leave directly from Orlean, but my plans have changed because of circumstances here in Corice. When Rita and I have settled the eggs there, we will return here. By that time, your saddles should be ready, and you will have had a few more days to practice flying. We will all travel together to Horne. It’s a two-day trip each way to Orlean, and we will most likely need two days there. Nassari will make sure the saddles for the four of you get priority over the others. Be ready to travel in one week.”
“Excuse me, sir,” Raymond said, “but you’ve said four. Who is coming besides Nassari, Nadia, and me?”
“My brother Will is coming along also. In fact, I would like the four of you to train together at weapons practice and flight training during the day, and then get together every evening to go over the books on magic he has been reading in the palace library.”
There was stunned silence for a moment at the revelation that there were books on magic at the palace, but then all three Riders looked at each other briefly before turning and saluting Delno.
Later that night after he had gone through his gear, a task he had been putting off for a long time, he came into the sleeping chamber that the children shared. His mother and Rita had just gotten the kids into bed, and they were still settling down and getting tucked in. He put the small reed flute he had made so many months ago to his lips and began playing the tune that he remembered from the lullaby that Rita had sung so many weeks past.
The room that had been given over for a nursery had a window looking directly out on the wall where Geneva was perched. As Delno played the flute, Geneva joined in with her hauntingly beautiful multi-toned voice. The dragon was far enough away that her voice was a very soft accompaniment.
Rita started humming and smiled warmly at Delno. Soon she began to sing softly:
Hush now child, the night is warm,
Daddy’s safe, the sea is calm,
Tomorrow’s sun will bring no harm,
Hush now chi-l-d and Sleeeeep.
Sleep my daaar-ling, Sleeeeep.
Now the moon is riding high,
The fish swim on the rising tide,
So Daddy’s gone to-night,
Hush now chi-l-d and sleeeeep.
Sleep my daaar-ling, Sleeeeep.
The children, tired from their long day, where asleep within minutes.
Laura opted to stay with them while Rita and Delno went off to finish preparing for the trip to Orlean the next morning.
Chapter 26
Dawn was a faint glow on the horizon as Geneva and Fahwn rose high above the plain on the northern side of Larimar. The dragons were in high spirits as they both strove for altitude.
“Tell me, Love,” Delno asked, “why is it that dragons appear to like flying early in the morning so much more than any other time?”
“I’m not sure why, Love,” she responded, “but there is just something about flying up to greet the sun as it comes over the horizon. To be the first to see it appear is a joy to all dragons. Even wild dragons like to take wing early when they are rested and awake at dawn. I have no other answer to your question than: because it makes us happy.”
“Then that is answer enough,” he said with a laugh. “I am glad it makes you happy because your happiness is contagious, and I am pleased to be infected with it.”
The winds were strong but blowing in the right direction. They were able to soar quite well and made good time all morning. By the time Delno called a halt at noon, they had already traveled nearly as far as he had hoped to travel that whole day.
“If we can keep this pace up for the rest of the day,” he said to Rita as they ate a simple lunch of sandwiches, “we will be in Orlean tomorrow morning instead of tomorrow evening.”
“That would be nice,” she replied. “I like Larimar just fine, but I was beginning to fear that beating the Bournese had begun to lull us into a false sense of security. I would like to get this business in Horne over with so that we can get on with the rest of our lives.”
Delno had the definite feeling that she was a bit put out about leaving the children behind and wanted to get back as soon as possible. “We are on our way, Beautiful; hopefully events will start moving at a brisk pace now. However, we do have to settle the eggs in Orlean and then make sure that we do the same in Larimar before we do anything else. They are as much a part of the next generation as are the human children we are dealing with.”
“Am I that transparent to you?” she asked.
“You have just been made a guardian to three wonderful children; it’s only natural you would chafe at anything that takes you away from them. When this is all over, Darling, you will have the leisure to raise those children as you see fit.”
“Careful what you promise, My Love, but I do appreciate the sentiment.”
They finished their lunch and were back in the air in under an hour. Since the dragons had spent most of the morning soaring on the prevailing winds rather than expending energy flying, they were still quite eager to travel. Delno decided to push the limits and kept them in the air until after the sun had gone completely down. In fact, if the humans hadn’t needed a rest from riding, the dragons could have finished the trip in one night.
He decided that since the weather was so mild and there was no sign of rain, they would forgo unpacking and just sleep curled up with the dragons. They made a small fire and heated some water for tea, but ate a cold meal of jerky and fruit. Rita was unusually quiet; her thoughts were obviously turned towards Larimar and the children. He leaned back against Geneva’s front leg, and Rita lay down with her head on his chest.
He hadn’t been practicing using much of what Geneva’s mother had taught him because he had been trying to concentrate on Jhren’s lessons. Tonight, however, he decided to extend his feelings outward and check the life forces in the area. He pushed out as far as possible and found that he was now able to feel every living creature within a three and half mile radius of their camp. He damped down his sensitivity enough to concentrate on only those big enough to be a threat as individuals. It took him nearly a quarter of an hour to complete the check, but he was sure that nothing within that circle was hostile to them.
“Have you completed your inspection of the area, Love?” Geneva asked.
“Yes, Dear Heart, and there is nothing more dangerous than a couple of wild pigs rooting around in the darkness,” he responded.
“Then go to sleep, Dear One. I will keep watch even if I doze, and Fahwn will do the same. We are safe for now; enjoy it while lasts.”
“Thank you, Love. I will sleep better knowing that my serenity will be temporary. I’d hate to think that my life is suddenly about to get boring.”
Geneva chuckled both mentally and out loud. Rita stirred beside him but didn’t wake. “Raising children is never boring, and being a Dragon Rider who is raising children should be proportionately more exciting. Good night, Love.”
“Good night,” he replied. He didn’t think he was exceptionally tired, but he was asleep almost instantly.
“Wake up, love,” Geneva called softly in his mind. “Brock approaches and he is not alone. Leera says that we are needed, the eggs are laid and we should be there the first time the candidates see them. If you and Rita would like to attend to bodily functions befor
e we have company, you had better get up and do so now.”
Apparently Rita had gotten the same message from Fahwn because she got up grumpily and walked toward the relative privacy of the bushes. He decided that similar action was in order. While he and Rita were attending to their individual concerns, the dragons waded into the nearby stream and bathed as best they could.
“Leera has relayed that Brock says you should get bathed and dressed in the best clothes you brought with you, since the boys’ parents will be there when the boys are presented to the eggs. Fahwn and I have wallowed out a place that is now plenty deep enough for you and Rita to both bathe comfortably if you choose to do so,” Geneva said.
“Thank you, Dear Heart. While I don’t relish the idea of a cold bath first thing in the morning, it is very thoughtful of you and Fahwn to accommodate us by making the stream deeper.”
“You’re quite welcome, Dear One. We try to be thoughtful.”
He and Rita quickly gathered soap, bath sheets and clean clothes before going to the stream. The cold water wasn’t as bad as he had feared. It wasn’t chilled enough to take their breath away, but with fall in the air it was too cool to want to languish there for longer than needed, so it actually worked out well. They were bathed and dressed by the time Brock, Jason, Lawrence, and someone Delno had never met landed.
As the Riders dismounted, Delno noticed that this new Rider was different than what he expected when he thought about Riders in general. First, while the other Riders he had met went to great pains to keep themselves physically fit, this man, though not grossly fat, was well-rounded, more as if he tended to keep to sedate activities rather than sword practice or other such endeavors.
“Craig?” Rita asked. “What brings you out of your libraries and into the wide world?”
“Hello, Rita, my darling, I heard you had taken up with this fine young man,” Craig responded. “I had to come and see who had made an honest woman of you.”
Dragon Blade Page 21
