Of Gods, Trees, and a Sapling: Dragonlinked Chronicles Volume 4

by Adolfo Garza Jr.

  They hovered high above Stronghold, where a strong evening breeze fluttered her hair. It wasn’t likely they’d be able to see the fire quite yet, but they would soon enough. Even if a fire brigade got there within minutes, the accelerant guaranteed that the building would be quickly engulfed in flames.

  “I can’t believe it’s still burning!” Fillion pointed off to the left. “Coatl says that’s the tenement fire.”

  The entire city glittered with festival lights, but a more sinister red glow lit the far off area he pointed to. She couldn’t see the tenement itself, it was hidden by other buildings, but its flames cast a baleful light onto its surroundings.

  She clenched her jaws. Damn those bastards! It was beyond frustrating. She wanted to stop the fires before they started, but with so many potential targets, the best she could hope for was to save as many lives as she could.

  To the north.

  Both their heads turned that direction.

  Gella squinted. Dragon senses were definitely more powerful than human. All that was visible to her that way were more festival lights, street lamps, and—Wait. There.

  Distant reddish-yellow light flickered like a flame, was gone, and flickered again.

  “Pissing blades.”

  She nodded to herself. Pissing blades indeed. “Alright, take me—”

  The cricket went off.

  What in hells? Another fire? So soon?

  Nantli relays a message from Quillan. Light candle four.

  She grabbed Fillion’s shoulders and leaned forward. “They’re picking up the pace! Take me back down!”

  + + + + +

  Jessip stood sideways behind Renata, planted his right foot firmly behind her heels, and held tightly onto the waist of her riding pants, at the back. He nodded at her and she leaned forward.

  “What do you think you’re doing?”

  He looked at the booth operator. “Keeping her from falling. Why?”

  “You can’t do that!”

  “Why not?”

  “It’s cheating!”

  “It doesn’t say we can’t do this.” He pointed to the hand-lettered sign. “And she’s not touching the counter, either.”

  The operator glanced at the posted rules and frowned.

  1. No magic!

  2. Customers may not lean on counter when tossing rings.

  3. A winning toss is when the ring rests completely around a bottle’s neck.

  “Come on,” Renata murmured and tossed her first small ring.

  It clattered around the neck of a bottle before bouncing off and away.

  The operator grunted. A small smile curved his lips.

  “Bad luck, there,” Cheddar said.

  “You can do it,” Sharrah whispered fiercely.

  Renata nodded and took a deep breath.

  Jessip held tight.

  The next ring fared no better.

  “Damn!” Renata pounded the counter with a fist.

  “One more left, little lady. Good luck!”

  Little lady? Jessip pressed his lips together. Renata was a fighter, even in a festival game like this. That was one of the things he loved about her.

  Renata tossed the last ring.

  It arced up and then down toward the middle of the empty wine bottles. It bounced up, flipping, and came down on another bottle whereupon it bounced up again and came down upon a third bottle. The small ring clattered a moment before coming to a stop, one end somehow angled up onto the lip of the bottle.

  “Ohhhh! So sorry, little lady, that’s not a winn—”

  The ring fell with a little ‘clink’ sound and rested completely around the neck.

  Renata leapt into the air, arms raised, and let out an excited scream.

  People walking nearby turned to her and stopped to see what was going on.

  “Well done!” Sharrah clapped.

  “I won, I won, I won!” Renata spun around to face him, and with a huge smile on her lips and her eyes bright with excitement, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  Jessip hugged her and couldn’t help but smile. We are never, ever, going to make her worry again. I much prefer this look on her face.

  Indeed.

  He felt Zolin’s rumble of agreement through the link.

  When he’d entered their bedroom that day, the brave front she’d had on for Chanté was gone. Tears dampened her cheeks and worry twisted her features. That look, that vulnerability plainly evident on this strong young woman had done more than anything else ever could to convince him.

  He would never do something foolish and worry her again. Certainly not by his own actions.

  With a little squeal, she released him and turned to the booth. Arm outstretched, bobbing finger pointing, she said, “That one!”

  With a resigned expression, the operator grabbed one of several crude tubes that looked like they had been hacked from stalks of bamboo, reached up to the shelf, and retrieved the small glass bowl Renata had indicated.

  He showed it to her—she nodded excitedly—and he walked over to an apparatus Jessip had noted earlier. Its use became apparent when the operator used its metal funnel to easily pour the water from the bowl, including the small gold fish, into the bamboo tube.

  “We have a winner, folks!” He lifted the tube and looked around at the crowd that had paused at Renata’s earlier shout. “Come try your own hand at the ring toss!”

  Jessip’s lips curved into a grudging smile. That was clever—using a loss as a marketing ploy.

  Renata accepted the wood container, and clutching it to her chest, she turned to them with a very happy smile. “I won him.”

  Cheddar laughed. “How do you know the fish is a he?”

  “That’s a good point.” Brows drawn together, Renata stared into the wooden tube.

  Jessip smiled at her. “I’m still not sure why you wanted to win a fish so badly.”

  “Free-standing water is practically unheard of in the desert, and fish are a rare thing because of that.” She clutched the tube to her chest. “The idea that I can have and care for one is just so wondrous to me.”

  He put an arm around her waist, pulled her close, and kissed her on the head.

  She looked at him. “What was that for?”

  He smiled. “Just because.”

  “Aeron! Willem!” Sharrah waved the two over. As they approached, she said, “Have you guys been having fun?”

  “Yeah,” Aeron said, smiling. “After we took Quillan’s alchemy order to his workshop, the two of us wandered around the fair for a while.”

  Sharrah looked around. “Speaking of Quillan, where are the others?”

  “They had to go to Stronghold to help Master Gella,” Willem said. “That’s why we dropped the supplies from the alchemist off for him.”

  “Supplies?” Jessip looked from one to the other. “What does a machinist use of alchemy stuff?”

  Willem shrugged. “A polishing powder and quite a bit of metal ore.”

  “Tin spar, I think he said it was called.” Aeron glanced from Willem to Jessip. “He says he uses it to make thin metal enchantment plates for his devices.”

  Renata grunted. “Tin spar? I wonder if that’s the same as tinstone.”

  “Actually, it is,” Aeron said. “The alchemist called it that. You’ve heard of it?”

  “It’s fairly common,” she said. “At least in the rocky desert east of Bataan-Mok. People occasionally search for dragon’s eye crystals in dry river beds out there and the tinstone along with gravel and non-enchanted quartz are discards. Not many dragon’s eye gemstones are found in that area anymore, but there are mounds and mounds of discards from what I hear.”

  “That’s all quite interesting,” Jessip said, “but can we go get something to snack on? Helping Renata get a new friend made me hungry.”

  “Good idea!” Aeron rubbed his hands together. “I think I want a turkey leg.”

  Willem glanced at Renata and they shook their heads at each other.


  “What?” Jessip looked from one to the other.

  The two chuckled and everyone headed for the food stalls. Once they’d all obtained their choice of afternoon snack, they retired to the tables near the central courtyard. Polandra, Liara, Korrie and Terry happened to be there, and they all sat together to eat.

  As Polandra ate her beef wrap, she mumbled around a mouthful. “Has anyone seen the auditors this evening?”

  Willem shook his head, as did the others. “Not I.”

  “I wanted to talk with them about joining the guild as instructors at Bataan-Mok and also about an idea I have for a school there.”

  “I can see asking them to join, but a school?” Aeron tore off a bite of turkey leg. “You want the guild to start a school?”

  Polandra nodded. “Yeah, sort of. Benji, Stoltz’s brother, was telling me the other day that the village schools are being overwhelmed with all the former pesani returning to their families because they are too young to remain in the guild. Children eight to thirteen will no longer be recruited, and that means more in that age range will need to go to school at the villages. I wondered if we could teach a few classes ourselves to help with that, at least until more schools can be built or expanded.”

  “I could see the guild allowing use of rooms for classes,” Jessip said, “but hiring instructors for non-guild purposes seems a bit odd.”

  Polandra popped the last of her wrap in her mouth. “That’s a good idea, actually,” she said around the food. “The guild only provides rooms for the classes. The instructors are hired by the villages and start teaching immediately at Bataan-Mok. When schools are built, the classes move to them.”

  She nodded and then punched him on the shoulder. “Good work!”

  Laughing, he rubbed it and said, “Sure.”

  “Aeron!” Adept Liflin was jogging toward them. “Thank the gods I found some of you.”

  Aeron stood, brows drawn together. “What’s wrong?”

  Liflin bent over, arms on his knees, breathing heavily. “I was enjoying the fair, when an urgent message came through on the ’writer from Master Gella.” He patted a pocket. “She needs immediate assistance, but I cannot find the Guildmaster.” He looked around at their faces. “Do any of you know where the Guildmaster is? Or, can one of you have your dragon contact Itzel?”

  “Um.”

  They all turned to Renata.

  A bit pink-cheeked, she said, “I–I was told by her in no uncertain terms that she did not wish to be disturbed for the rest of the day if at all possible.”

  Adept Liflin leapt at her, grabbing her by the shoulders. “Where is she?”

  + + + + +

  Millinith sat in the saddle on Itzel, arms raised high, lips curved in a serene smile, and rushing air whipping the bits of hair extending out of the bottom of the cap. They flew over hectares of Gallia family grapevines.

  “I had forgotten how peaceful it is to fly with no particular destination,” she said. “Just you and your bond-mate.”

  “And the two of us, as well.” The humor in Doronal’s voice was plain, even over the comm device.

  She chuckled and glanced to the right at them. “Indeed. Huemac is looking especially handsome right now.”

  Itzel let out a happy bark, which Huemac answered.

  “You look sporty, too, in the riding gear.”

  “Do I, now?” He sat a little taller in the saddle.

  She laughed.

  Light reflected off his goggles with a flash as he turned to her. They wore the prototype comm set caps, so his smile was only evident in his eyes, visible in the large glass lenses.

  Smiling herself, she took a deep breath and faced forward, content. Taking time away from the responsibilities of the guild and spending it with those she cared about most was perfect. It was a wonderful way to wind down after the show and the long lunch with the lords and ladies.

  “I have to say, you’re taking the loss very well.”

  She glanced at Doronal. “Honestly, I would have suggested we come here even had I won.”

  “Oh, ho.”

  Chuckling, she shook her head. “He did ask if I had time next week for a meeting. Though he didn’t mention what it would involve, I am certain it will be an attempt to renegotiate our contract.”

  “I, too, thought Lord Eldin would bring up the contract. I was surprised he wasn’t more forthcoming about it.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “You clever, clever man.”

  He chuckled. “Win or lose, I would be with you.”

  Ignoring the lightness in her chest, she said, “Well, at least it won’t be too much longer until I find out what you intend with the feather.”

  Laughing, he said, “I do love how persistent you can be. Fine. As you have taken the loss so graciously, I will give you two hints.”

  She pressed her lips together and harrumphed. Hints indeed.

  “Hint number one: a light, feather touch can do much more interesting things than tickle. Hint number two: it was trying to figure out my intention that was the punishment, rather than what I was going to do with the feather . . . or where.”

  “Where?” Her brows drew together, then lifted. Her heart began to beat a little faster. “Oh.”

  The more she thought about it, the faster her heart beat.

  This is going to be interesting.

  She nodded. Yes, indeed.

  As she stared ahead at the distant hills, she twisted her lips. Well, hells. Now she wanted to get back to his house.

  She turned to Doronal and Huemac. “Hey, if we had an early dinner—”

  Renata says we must return to the Guildhall. She waits for us at the house.

  Millinith glared down at her bond-mate. I told you—and her—that I did not wish to be disturbed by guild matters for the rest of the day.

  Unless it was important. Master Gella needs our assistance in Stronghold.

  Barbs and pissing blades! She let out a frustrated breath. Why?

  It is on fire.

  What’s on fire?

  The city.

  Chapter 26

  Therday, Diamy 28, 1875.

  Early Evening.

  Aeron stuffed extra safety straps and belts into Anaya’s saddle bags. Gregor and Kisa?

  They come with Renny and Hunter.

  Good.

  He glanced around the area outside the saddlery. Willem, Jessip, Polandra and Liara were packing extra riding gear into their saddle bags as well. Along with a few other guild members, Sharrah, Cheddar, Terry, and Korrie stood along the perimeter, watching. They’d asked to return to the Guildhall with them.

  As far as what she needed help with, Master Gella’s message said something about rescuing people from burning buildings, but nothing more specific than that. The only thing Aeron thought that could mean was getting people from rooftops, and to do so would require this gear. Once Millinith returned, she could instruct them further.

  The sound of wing-beats drew his gaze upward. He grunted. Uchu? Chuki? Why are you here?

  Uchu hovered. R–Renny said to meet him here.

  As did Hunter.

  The two landed to the side.

  Aeron drew his brows together. He had not felt a bonding, but— Renny spoke to you? And Hunter to you?

  Willem stepped over. He does not mean to take you two to task—he is merely confused as to your close association with Renny and Hunter.

  We speak to them often. Uchu glanced at Chuki.

  She looked from him to Aeron. Is that not typical?

  Aeron laughed. My apologies. Nothing about having so many adult unbonded dragons around is typical. As Willem said, I was merely confused. Though now, I’m intrigued.

  Kisa’s arrival and landing interrupted them.

  As her riders dismounted, Aeron looked from Hunter to Renny. “Uchu and Chuki said you two told them to come here?”

  Renny blushed. “I know Hunter and I aren’t dragonlinked, yet, but it sounded like you could use as many as you could get t
o help Master Gella.”

  “If there’s any way we can help,” Hunter added, “we want to. There are non-custom saddles that work well enough, so could we get Chuki and Uchu fitted with some?”

  “Wow.” Aeron stared at her.

  Hunter’s cheeks pinked, but she stood her ground.

  Humor came through the link. They will not be dissuaded, it seems.

  Good. He smiled. “I really like your self-confidence.”

  Renny nodded and Chuki chirped.

  “And you’re right,” Sharrah said. “If Citlali could carry me, I’d go, too.”

  Willem headed in to saddlery. “Come, Uchu, Chuki, let’s find saddles for you.”

  We choose candidates well, do we not?

  Aeron chuckled and patted Anaya on the shoulder. That you do, dear-heart, that you do.

  They had returned outside, Renny and Hunter eyeing the saddles critically, when Guildmaster Millinith, Master Doronal, and Renata arrived.

  Aeron stepped toward the Guildmaster. “Exactly how she wants us to help, Master Gella did not say other than rescuing people from fires, so we’ve gathered every spare strap and belt we could find.”

  Guildmaster Millinith glanced at him and the others. “I see.” Her gaze stopped on Renny and Hunter and the two dragons next to them. She grunted.

  “Everyone who can fly is here,” Aeron said. “Even some we didn’t know about.”

  They are here.

  Aeron gazed upward. A portal glowed softly in the late afternoon sky and from it, Coatl and Fillion emerged. They quickly descended to land.

  “Fillion,” Gregor said, “why are you so dirty? And your arm!”

  Definitely looking dirty—or was that soot?—Fillion raised his arm. “We’re twins, now.” Blood-stained bandages wrapped his left arm at the bicep.

  Gregor scowled. “Fillion, that’s not—”

  “What’s going on in Stronghold?” Gaze on the soiled bandages, Guildmaster Millinith frowned.

  “Fires have been started in various places throughout the city,” Fillion said. “Started, by the way, using those devices Quillan was looking into. Four fires have been started thus far, though it has been half an hour since the last one has started, so that may be all of them. I certainly hope so.”

  “Itzel said the city was on fire . . .”