She swapped the top sheet of paper on her clipboard with the one below it. “Polandra!”
“Here, ma’am!” The tall girl’s voice came from somewhere off to the right.
“Get to your starting position,” Adept Olwen called out.
“On the way, ma’am!”
Liara leaned close to Fillion. “I’m helping with this one, too,” she whispered, “and Mia and I are flying back with Ikan and Polandra after, so I’ll see you guys later.” She hurried off.
Adept Olwen glanced at him. “Go on, then, scoot. Your test is complete. We need to start the next one.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Fillion jogged down the row of crates back to the aisle leading to the large doors of the storage building.
Coatl sat on his haunches outside, waiting. We can meet the Departed now?
Yes, once I change.
He rose to all fours. Hurry.
Fillion chuckled. Hang on, big guy. Give me a moment.
He removed the gloves and boots—of softer leather for stealth work—and pulled on his riding gloves and boots, then he swapped jackets. After tucking the prowl gear in the saddle bags, he climbed up and strapped in.
Alright, let’s head back to the Guildhall.
With a rumble, Coatl leapt into the air.
The morning mist was starting to burn off, now, revealing more of the large city of Delcimaar spread below them. The test had been in an Investigation Craft building here. Adept Olwen had obtained permission to use it, as the Dragon Craft Guild had nothing like this as of yet. And of course, on dragonback, it took mere moments to get here from the Guildhall.
Fillion looked up to the sky and cast the gateway spell. At its conclusion, the cloudy portal remained.
Coatl took them into it and out the other side.
Stop at our rooms first, if you would. I have to visit the water closet. All that nervous prowling around did me no favors.
Coatl let out a rough dragon grunt and banked for their ledge below.
Fillion ended the gateway spell and glanced about. Try as he might, he couldn’t see the clearing which, by unspoken agreement, had become the place where Departed would meet with a guild dragon before flying to the Guildhall together. It was lost among the trees as Coatl descended to land.
After making use of the water closet and looking for messages that may have been left on the desk or tucked under the door—there were none—he returned to the balcony.
He climbed into the saddle. Where are they?
In the back, just outside the saddlery.
Let’s go visit!
Coatl barked and lifted them into the air.
There were actually five dragons below, not including those he recognized. Interesting.
Seeing Gregor’s shock of blond hair put a smile on his lips. The healer adept was there with Adept Oran, as was Sharrah with Adept Komako.
Once Fillion hopped off, Coatl quickly padded over to Kisa and touched noses with her. He then turned to the visiting dragons and chirped. The five visiting dragons hesitated only a moment before chirping back. It seemed they were getting more comfortable around the guild dragons.
Coatl sat next to Kisa and let out a happy rumble.
Fillion chuckled to himself. Kisa was probably the main reason Coatl wanted to be here. As she’d grown older, Coatl seemed to want to spend more and more time with her. Not that he could blame his bond-mate. Kisa was just as much a charmer as she’d been when little. And too, from the looks of it, there were a few males in this group of Departed.
“Fillion.”
He headed over to the smiling Gregor and bobbed his head to the two auditors. “Adept Oran, Adept Komako. I trust you’re enjoying yourselves speaking with more unbonded dragons?”
Adept Komako smiled. “Indeed, we are.”
“We’re very excited to have started work on the paper,” Adept Oran said. “Comparing and contrasting bonded and unbonded dragons can reveal a great deal about dragon development as well as dragon society.”
“To prove their sentience,” Fillion said.
“Oh, we aim to demonstrate more than that.” Adept Oran glanced at the five Departed sitting or lying nearby. “Though important, sentience merely means that they feel and perceive things subjectively. Studies have shown that many animals display evidence of such. We want to show that dragons are also intelligent, reasoning, self-aware beings that have a history, a culture.”
Gregor grunted. “That they’re people.”
Adept Komako nodded at him. “Precisely. Aeron has always insisted that dragons are people. We wish to start on a body of evidence supporting his assertion.”
“It seems a bit backwards,” Sharrah said, “doesn’t it?”
Adept Oran turned to her. “What do you mean?”
“Why do we have to prove that dragons are people? They can talk. They say they are people, so shouldn’t the burden of proof be on anyone who says that dragons are not people?”
The auditors glanced at each other and smiled.
“That,” Adept Komako said, “will likely be a matter for the courts.”
Adept Oran turned to Sharrah. “Our desire for this paper, aside from the notability gained from it being the first on the subject, is to provide ammunition for the courts should such be needed in the future.”
“And,” Adept Komako said, a slight frown on her lips, “if our past is any example, it will be.”
Fillion lifted his brows. “Our past?”
“As Aeron pointed out the other day, humans haven’t always treated other humans with compassion and respect,” she said, “much less animals. But beyond even that, I expect there to be some who don’t believe dragons should be treated as people, and even some who don’t want them to be.”
“Huh?” Fillion drew his brows together. “Why wouldn’t they?”
“The ability to travel places almost instantaneously,” Adept Oran said, “has great value both from a business standpoint and a tactical one. That ability will not remain secret forever. And if dragons have protections under the law, if they are people, they can’t be treated like horses, say, and be forced to do their supposed owner’s bidding.”
“We would never allow something like that to happen.” Sharrah looked angry. “And I doubt dragons would, either.”
“Also,” Adept Komako added, “as far as some are concerned, making dragons people under the law would remove humans from an imagined pedestal that raises them above all other animal life. It took decades for simple horse welfare laws to be passed because of a few vocal groups arguing against it, arguments that were based on the supposed natural place of man over animal.”
Sharrah scoffed. “As if we aren’t animals? What are we then, plants? Minerals?”
W–Will we be safe?
She turned to the dragon. Of course, you will be. Protecting dragons is one of the reasons we formed a guild. Besides, our purpose is to protect all people, human, dragon, or otherwise.
Fillion glanced at the visiting Departed dragon. He was moss green, the dark coloration shading to orange and red at the extremities. He looked dubious, a little antagonistic even. He needn’t be. What Sharrah said was true.
“Adept Komako and myself have been speaking with you,” Adept Oran said, “because we want to help protect you, too.”
A–Ask us more of your questions, then, if that will make your task easier. He eyed the adept sorcerer.
The other Departed let out chirps and quiet barks of agreement.
“I would be happy to, Uchu.” Adept Oran tapped his lip as he stared back at the dragon. “When you heard us talking about how some humans might not consider dragons to be people, how did it make you feel?”
Frightened.
Sounds of agreement came from a few of the other Departed.
Adept Komako jotted something down. “Why is that?”
After being exiled, I–I felt even more alone than before. The world appears much bigger when you have no House to return to. Bigger, empt
ier, and lonelier. While I did know that somewhere out there were others like me, the Departed, I knew not where they were.
He stared at the ground before him, large eyes unseeing. Everyone knows of them from whispered rumors and, as younglings, from threats to get us to behave. It was said that life out in the vast, terrible world left the Departed scarred, deformed, and hateful—solitary beings of spite, looking for revenge. Other rumors had them organized into a wide-ranging network, an empire of evil, waiting to absorb any dragon that ventured too far. Parents told the unruly that if they did not choose a position and perform their duties for the House, no one could save them from the Departed.
The reality is much more mundane. To dragons in the House, however, what the Departed actually do and where they really are has always been a mystery. I spent days, moons, and seasons searching for them with no success. Eventually, I gave up. Then, on an evening when I felt particularly dispirited because I failed to catch a meal, Matlal approached me.
Uchu looked up from the ground to Adept Komako. As they had with the dragons here, the Departed had been watching me. Their purpose then was to determine whether I was an exile or not. They were satisfied I was, so Matlal came to invite me to join them.
Being part of the Departed is not the same as being part of a House, but there are some things about it that are the same. I still had fears and anxieties, though from different sources. I had company when I wished it, however. I was no longer completely alone. Having other dragons around now and again helped relieve the terrible isolation and solitude.
“Where do the Departed call home?” Sharrah asked.
O–Out of respect for them taking us in when no House would before, we have agreed not to discuss where the Departed call home or any details that might reveal its location. Uchu turned to Adept Oran. I hope you understand.
Adept Oran nodded. “Of course, Uchu. Have no worries on that count.”
Fillion grunted. That was why the visiting dragons had been vague about those things.
When we heard tell of Queen Anaya, of her accepting any and all dragons who wanted to live a life free of the fear, it seemed impossible such a tale could be true. We watched. We waited. And when hope was kindled, Matlal approached you.
When Queen Anaya agreed to let us join, I cannot put into words the happiness, the joy, and the relief we felt. We could be safe again.
He blinked at Adept Komako. Then we learn that we might not be safe after all. It is a frightening thing.
“I can see that.” Fillion glanced at Coatl, then back at Uchu. “Unfortunately, there is no place that is completely safe. However, you can rest assured that in the guild, in Anaya’s House, you will be surrounded by friends. We fight for each other. Always.”
Coatl barked.
“Right.” Sharrah, gaze fierce, nodded in agreement.
“And,” Gregor raised a finger, “should you bond, you’ll have a companion,” he glanced at Kisa, “who will be by your side no matter what.”
Kisa turned to him, eyes sparkling, and chirped.
“And you’ll find no shortage here of those who want to bond with a dragon,” Adept Oran said.
Gaze on the adept sorcerer, Uchu blinked. T–That is good to hear.
See? One of the female visiting dragons ducked her head at Uchu. It is as we said. The virtue we saw in them the other night remains.
Uchu nodded at the sand-colored dragon. So it would seem, Chuki.
We have but to determine what conditions are like here. Chuki turned from Uchu to gaze at those watching her.
Alarm shot through the link. Fillion glanced at Coatl. What is it?
Anaya is summoning all of us. Chel, Nenet, and Tozi approach.
Oh. But why are you worried?
They have been exiled!
“What?” Gregor stared at Kisa a moment, then he turned to Fillion.
Sharrah, too, was in apparent conversation with her bond-mate.
Adept Oran looked from one dragonlinked to another. “What’s happening?”
“Chel, Nenet, and Tozi are coming,” Fillion said. “They’ve been exiled from House Yaot. Anaya called us to meet them.”
“Where?”
Coatl stood and padded to Fillion. At a clearing to the north. The one where Jessip fought the nahual-ton.
“Why there?” Adept Komako closed her notebook.
Anaya did not say. Coatl turned to him and barked. We must hurry, Fillion.
Alright. He nodded and reached to mount up.
“If Sharrah and I could impose upon you, Fillion?” Adept Komako stood and walked over with Sharrah. “Citlali cannot carry us.”
He blinked. “Oh. Of course.”
Sharrah was already handing a belt to Adept Komako. Adept Oran climbed behind Gregor, and Kisa lifted them into the air. Wings beating hard, she flew off.
W–What about us? Uchu stared at Fillion. Should we remain here until you return?
That was a good question. Did Anaya say anything about the visiting Departed?
She did not.
Fillion scratched his head. “I don’t know. I guess you could come, if you’d like, but I would stay to the side. I’m not sure what’s going on, yet.”
I see. Uchu glanced at the other Departed around him.
“We’re ready.” Sharrah sat atop Coatl in the rear position, Adept Komako in the middle.
Fillion hurried up into the saddle and strapped in. “If you decide to stay here, Uchu, we’ll be back as soon as we can.”
Coatl crouched, then leapt into the sky. The visiting dragons below stared up at them as they flew off to the clearing.
Why would Chel and the others have been exiled?
I do not know.
Did Queen Ixtab find out they’d clutched here and exile them for that?
I do not know.
Fillion looked down at the glade as they approached. That was a lot of dragons. All fourteen of the other dragonlinked and their dragons were in the clearing, facing north. Polandra and Liara were back from Delcimaar, it seemed. Fillion fleetingly wondered how she’d done on the test.
Several heads turned as they landed.
Guildmaster Millinith watched from near Aeron and Anaya—Itzel, Master Doronal, and Huemac at her side. Balam and Willem watched from the other side of Anaya, her left.
As soon as Coatl set down, Adept Komako climbed to the ground and headed over to Adept Oran. The two auditors, Quillan, and Elizabeth, those present who were not bonded, stood in a group near the edge of the clearing, several yards to the right. Chanté and Nantli stood next to Quillan. Interestingly, the younger dragons and their bond-mates huddled near Chanté and, in particular, Nantli.
“That’s the last of us,” Guildmaster Millinith said and turned north. “Let’s try to maintain our composure, please. We’re here to support Anaya. There’s no telling what will happen, but she has a plan.”
A plan? For what? Fillion hurried over to Gregor, Coatl padding behind. “Did I miss something by being last? What is she talking about?”
Gregor glanced at him. “We’re getting visitors, it seems.”
Fillion grunted. The three had been exiled, so they had no home anymore. He looked around the clearing. “I feel a little uneasy,” he whispered, “you know? Why summon all of us for this?”
Gregor nodded and whispered back, “Do we really need a show of force?”
Aeron, Fillion noted, also looked worried.
Where are Chel, Nenet, and Tozi?
Close. Coatl turned to the north.
The three dragons approached, small dots quickly growing larger in the sky.
Balam let out an angry rumble as he looked north.
Fillion stared at him. Why was Coatl’s blood-brother angry at the three? Chel was their blood-mother.
Even after the three dragons hovered above the clearing, however, Balam continued to stare angrily to the north.
Fillion turned his gaze that direction, but with only human eyes, there was nothing he cou
ld see.
After landing, the dragons panted where they stood, wings drooping.
Coatl gave a welcome chirp to Chel, as did Balam, though the forest green dragon’s gaze quickly returned to the sky.
Chel glanced from one to the other, whined, then ran toward Anaya. They come! After we were summoned and exiled, we saw them leaving and flew as fast as we could to pass around them and get ahead, but they are not far behind.
Fillion drew his brows together. Who comes? Were these three not the visitors Gregor mentioned?
I understand. Anaya chirped. Please, the three of you, stand by Coatl. She glanced at Coatl briefly before turning back to the sky.
Surprise came through the link, then sharp determination.
Fillion looked at Coatl, but he was watching the flight-weary dragons make their way over.
Coatl touched noses with his blood-mother, then he faced north and barked. We will protect them.
Fillion stared at him, not sure what was happening. Of course, we will. He looked up to the sky, to where everyone watched. “Who are the visitors? I thought you meant the exiled dragons.”
“Oh,” Gregor said. “No, it’s Queen Ixtab.”
Fillion glanced at Gregor. Queen Ixtab was coming? She’d exiled Anaya from House Yaot and warned her and Aeron to never return. Why would she want to visit?
Even more confused, Fillion looked back at the sky.
A long, hazy line appeared in the blue just above the trees. After a moment it resolved into a row of many dots, growing larger.
“Barbs and pissing blades,” Fillion murmured. “That’s a lot of dragons.”
They are here. Anaya stared at the approaching dragons. There was something in her tone, in her fierce gaze—she was not happy.
At her side, Balam let out another angry rumble and barked.
Angry barks came from more than a few others.
Fillion glanced at those near him. Anaya’s anger is spreading. Why is she so upset? Just because Queen Ixtab exiled Chel, Nenet, and Tozi?
Balam says it is because of the reason they were exiled, and also because Ixtab comes with so many. My blood-mother counted fifteen dragons, many of them Watchers.
Fifteen? Fillion looked again at the dragons in the clearing. There were only fourteen dragons in the guild, and four of them were still quite young. They were all bonded, however, so—
Of Gods, Trees, and a Sapling: Dragonlinked Chronicles Volume 4 Page 71
