Dragonbound: Blue Dragon

by Rebecca Shelley

  Kanvar tensed in shock. Dharanidhar's wicked laugh sounded in the back of his mind. The shock of Ihakiron's announcement had caused his Amar to drop the shield around Kanvar's mind. Kanvar could feel Dharanidhar fully now, sense exactly where the blue dragon lay curled in a cavern below. Kanvar had seen that cavern once before. In Parmver's mind when he talked of his little lab in the mountain before the palace had been built.

  "What are we to do?" Amar said.

  Rajahansa shook his great golden head. "I don't know. We can't give him what he demands."

  Kanvar stared from Rajahansa to his father, and the truth sank in. They could not save Devaj. But a desperate idea came to Kanvar. In the horror of Abhavasimha's message, everyone had forgotten about Kanvar. He grabbed his father's sword and the chalice from the floor and limped out of the great hall.

  He rushed as quickly as he could to an old set of stairs that had been carved down into the mountain long ago, disregarded by all except Parmver who still used them to reach his lab and the plants in the jungle below. Kanvar's chest burned and itched as he started down the stairs. Though he breathed heavily, the air seemed to do him no good. He descended into the black rock. So much like when Indumauli had taken him down into the depths of the pool of water. Down to die. Unless . . . unless.

  Kanvar lost his balance and slid down the steep stairs. Using his good arm he managed to flip himself over onto his stomach so he didn't hit the back of his head on the stone as he went down. It bruised his arms and his ribs, but the slide down the steep descent was faster than he could ever have run it. Down, down he went and came to a painful stop in loose rock and sand at the bottom.

  Gasping for breath, heart pounding, he pulled himself up and limped on until the ceiling rose up away from him and the walls spread out. Parmver's lab was at the very edge of the chamber. But Kanvar didn't have to go there. What he sought lay curled up, filling the main space.

  "Dharanidhar," he yelled to the ancient blue dragon. Though blind it had followed him here, pulled by their link. Its intention was to kill Kanvar as soon as it got the chance. Well, it had the chance now.

  Dharanidhar turned to the sound of Kanvar's voice and sucked in air to release his fire.

  You don't really want to kill me, Kanvar said into Dharanidhar's mind. Not when I can offer you what you want most.

  Steam and licks of blue flame escaped between Dharanidhar's jaws. Believe me, killing you is what I want most. You have destroyed my life.

  No. You don't want to kill me. You want your eyesight back. You want to return to power over the blue dragons. I can give you that. Kanvar held the sword and the chalice up in front of his own face and projected what he saw into Dharanidhar's mind. He kept a shield around the idea that Dharanidhar might be crippled by bonding with Kanvar like the gold dragons feared. Maybe it would happen, or maybe it wouldn't. But Kanvar wouldn't let that stop him from taking this last desperate chance to save his brother. I can see, Dharanidhar. If we complete the link between us, you will be able to see through my eyes. Use my sight to fight and defeat Abhavasimha. I give you my eyes, my life, my powers, and in exchange you return my brother to the gold dragons alive and unhurt.

  Kanvar felt his father's mind search for and touch his own and see in that instant what Kanvar had just suggested to Dharanidhar.

  NO! His father screamed into his mind. Kanvar, NO!

  Dharanidhar lifted his head and let out a bellowing laugh from the deepest reaches of his gut. The flames he'd held in burst out and turned the ceiling above red hot.

  Kanvar felt the blue dragon's mind consider the prospect of bonding with a Naga, something the Golden King didn't want him to do. Wouldn't allow. Blues had been forbidden to bond with the Nagas. Only golds. The golds held all the power. Rajahansa and Amar would do anything to stop Dharanidhar from taking the young prince. That in itself was enough reason to accept Kanvar's proposal. And what if Kanvar was right, and Dharanidhar would be able to see out of the boy's eyes? He could go back to the pride and challenge Abhavasimha. All he had to do in return for renewed eyesight and for Naga powers was to hand over the other prince. But what would the other blue dragons think? They'd hated the Nagas since before Stonefountain fell.

  Dharanidhar shook his massive head. No, it wasn't the Nagas they hated as much as the Golden King who bred the Nagas and kept them all for his own ends. Sukhderean had used Khalid's Naga powers to enslave and abuse everyone but the gold dragons loyal to him. It wouldn't be that way if Dharanidhar was bound to a Naga. The power wouldn't corrupt him as it had Sukhderean. The dragons of the pride would understand this great opportunity to finally take real power for themselves.

  I accept your deal, little Naga. Draw blood now, and let's finish what was started.

  Kanvar pulled the sword free of its sheath and put the tip against his wrist. His father twisted into his mind, trying to once again take control of Kanvar's body. This time Kanvar fought him, throwing up a shield and forcing his father's mind away. But his father was fully linked, more powerful, and more experienced than Kanvar.

  In a shooting dagger of pain, his father stabbed into his mind and took control. Kanvar's hand froze in place. He felt his father and Parmver coming for him, racing down the stairs.

  Dharanidhar reached down and plucked the sword from Kanvar's frozen hand. With a swift movement he used it to nick Kanvar's wrist and then cut through his own scales. Blood flowed. Dharanidhar caught both human and dragon blood in the chalice and then licked the wounds closed.

  Kanvar's father reached the bottom of the stairs and raced toward him.

  Dharanidhar held the chalice to Kanvar's lips and tipped it forward for Kanvar to drink. With all his strength of will, Kanvar fought his father for control just enough to part his lips, take the blood into his mouth, and swallow.

  His father reached him and tried to knock the chalice away, but Dharanidhar lifted it above Amar's head and licked up the rest of the contents.

  Amar froze and stared in horror at Kanvar and Dharanidhar, waiting for the feared deformity to come upon Dharanidhar. Nothing happened. The blue dragon's body remained as it was—old, scared, and blind. Kanvar also stayed the same—young and crippled. No previous hurt or deformity crossed over to boy or dragon.

  Dharanidhar's mind exploded into Kanvar's. Ancient and terrible. It pushed aside all of Kanvar's thoughts and wishes, shattered Amar's shield, which held him immobile, and let out a piercing scream of triumph from Kanvar's lips.

  "Fool," Kanvar heard himself say to his father as his body backed away into Dharanidhar's grip. The blue dragon's claw tightened around him and lifted him off the ground. "Did you think you could keep the Naga powers to yourself forever? So much for all the lies that blue dragon blood isn't compatible. Now we know the truth." Dharanidhar spread his great blue wings.

  Set Kanvar down! Rajahansa broke into Dharanidhar's mind.

  Dharanidhar turned so that he could see the mouth of the cavern through Kanvar's eyes. Rajahansa hovered at the entrance, blocking his escape.

  You know we'll never let you take him. Since you're bound to him, you're staying right here. Rajahansa sucked in, intending to spray Dharanidhar with his Joy Breath.

  Dharanidhar threw the full strength of his new Naga powers of mind control at Rajahansa, tearing through Rajahansa's surprised mind in a violent fury that wracked Rajahansa with the pain of a thousand mental wounds.

  At the same moment, he launched himself at Rajahansa, biting and tearing great gouges out of the gold dragon's pristine hide.

  "No," Kanvar cried, but was silenced by Dharanidhar's iron-hard control of Kanvar's mind.

  You've been stronger than me for far too long, Dharanidhar said to Rajahansa as he tore his wing with deadly back claws. For the first time in history the golds no longer hold all the power. The boy is mine now, to use how I wish. Dharanidhar whipped Rajahansa through the air and tossed him aside.

  Kanvar whimpered as Dharanidhar used his eyes to watch the Great Dragon King plummet into
the leafy canopy.

  Dharanidhar would have loved to stay and finish him off, but he felt the minds of the other Nagas and golds rushing to Rajahansa's defense. He let out a stream of blue fire at the glimmering gold palace and then dove away, flying full speed out of the gold dragon's valley before they could muster a combined attack on him.

  Chapter Eleven

  Dharanidhar flew hard and far, straight into the setting sun, so the golds would not be able to see where he went. Darkness fell. But as a prisoner in his own mind, Kanvar hardly noticed. Dharanidhar controlled his eyes, his body, his mind, making the shield his father had put up around him seem like a comfortable warm blanket on a cold night in comparison.

  Kanvar was too shocked to try and fight Dharanidhar's control. The full realization ate into him. He'd sacrificed all his freedom to the blue dragon. Dharanidhar's mind was so much stronger and more experienced than Kanvar's that Kanvar would remain enslaved to Dharanidhar for the rest of his life. He could only hope Dharanidhar would keep his part of the bargain and free Devaj so Kanvar's sacrifice wouldn't be useless.

  Not useless, little Naga. We made a bargain, and I do not go back on my word.

  Dharanidhar tilted in flight and dropped down to rest on a mountain ridge. He lifted Kanvar to scan the horizon behind him, but saw no sign of the gold dragons following. Seeing nothing, he set Kanvar on the ground and released control of his body, but not his mind.

  Fetch some vines. I need you closer to my head. Makes me dizzy seeing the world from the height of my claw.

  Kanvar stared up at the blue dragon and realized it did not have the same natural seat for a human to ride on that the golds did. A row of sharp spines ran down Dharanidhar's neck and back. Kanvar might be able to fit in between the two spines closest to Dharanidhar's neck, but he would not be able to hold onto the sharp edges. If he flew on Dharanidhar's neck, he would fall.

  Get vines, Dharanidhar ordered.

  Kanvar staggered away from the dragon in search of vines to tie himself in place on Daranidhar's back. The fever had left him, and his chest no longer itched and burned. But he felt nauseous, weak, and dizzy. The scent of jungle decay and wet greenery turned his stomach. The heavy air settled into his lungs. His heart beat strong and steady. He left the open ridge and half-slid down a fern-covered slope until he found a suitable vine hanging down from a tree.

  A small orange snake slithered down it. Kanvar let it go, then shook the vine to rid it of razor beetles. The constant sawing and chittering of insects fell silent as the beetles took flight. But the frogs in the tree above struck up a melancholy croaking, answered by those hidden in the ferns on the ground.

  I don't have anything to cut the vine free with, Kanvar told Dharanidar.

  The trees shuddered aside as Dharanidhar pushed his way down the slope to join Kanvar. The shaking disturbed a good-sized lesser green dragon which rose up right in front of Kanvar, squealed, and bolted. Dharanidhar snatched the frightened green up in his jaws and shook it, snapping its neck. Then he dropped it on the ground beside Kanvar. Holding unto the carcass with his back claw, he tore into the dragon's flesh with his sharp teeth, savaging the dead body and swallowing big chunks of meat.

  The sight and smell of the blood and gore, twisted Kanvar's already upset stomach. He turned away and heaved into the bushes, but he had nothing in his own stomach to expel. He'd been so sick, he hadn't eaten since the poi Tana had given him in the village. He remembered the touch of her cool fingers as she clasped his left hand.

  Dharanidhar tore a chunk of flesh from the dead dragon and pushed it toward Kanvar. Eat, he said. We'll both need our full strength when we face Abhavasimha.

  Kanvar gagged and backed away from the bloody chunk of meat.

  Eat, Dharanidhar ordered. He forced Kanvar's body back to the carcass and made him kneel, lean forward, and tear at the meat with his own teeth. Kanvar's body rebelled. He gagged and heaved and couldn't stop until Dharanidhar let him spit the raw meat from his mouth and crawl away.

  What's the matter with you? Dharanidhar demanded.

  Kanvar curled into a ball on the jungle floor. Humans can't eat raw meat, he said. He formed a picture in his mind of roast itchiken, turning on a spit over the fire.

  Dharanidhar growled in annoyance. Look over here.

  Kanvar rubbed the blood off his chin and looked at the gored body.

  Using Kanvar's eyes to find the piece of raw meat, Dharanidhar let out a spurt of blue fire, searing it. Better?

  "Yes. Thank you." The smell of roasted meat settled Kanvar's stomach. He got to his feet and limped over to it. He was hungry. He tore the hot meat off the bone with his fingers and stuffed it in his mouth. His stomach accepted it. It felt good to eat as long as he ignored the slurp of raw meat and snap of bones as Dharanidhar finished off his own meal, leaving behind no trace of the lesser dragon besides blood on the ground.

  Dharanidhar sat back and settled his thoughts into Kanvar's mind, experiencing for the first time the feel and taste of cooked meat as Kanvar consumed it. Mmmm, Dharanidhar said as Kanvar stuffed himself, maybe that's not so bad. I've heard the gold dragons eat their meat that way as well.

  They do, Kanvar said between mouthfuls.

  Dharanidhar let out a loud burp, and picked a bit of dragon hide from his teeth. You can't see in the dark, he mused while Kanvar licked the juice off his fingers.

  "No, sorry. I can't replace that part of your sight." He knew blue dragons hunted at night.

  Of course. Dharanidhar growled deep in his throat. I suppose now I'll have to hunt in daylight. Better that than starve.

  Kanvar realized that Dharanidhar had been famished since Kanvar blinded him. He'd tried to hunt all through the night Kanvar had spent with Indumauli, but had been unsuccessful. He needed Kanvar's eyes to spot his usual pray the big leather-winged birds that filled the skies above the jungle at night. Dharanidhar was too big to hunt on the ground and in the trees like the Great Green dragons.

  I know how to hunt in daylight. My grandfather taught me. Kanvar rubbed his hand along his crossbow. He only had three bolts left and didn't know how he'd ever get his hands on more. At least bonded with Dharanidhar he wouldn't have to feel guilty about being a dragon hunter. That is if Dharanidhar ever gave him the freedom to do it.

  Come here. Dharanidhar grabbed Kanvar and pulled him up against his chest as he settled to the ground and folded his wings. The jungle isn't safe at night, and we aren't going anywhere until you can see. We'll deal with Abhavasimha in the daylight.

  A sudden jerk woke Kanvar from a sound sleep. He found tight black coils wrapped around his chest, pulling him away from Dharanidhar. The pale dark just before sunrise hung in the air.

  Help! he cried.

  Dharanidhar came awake with an angry roar. His mind crashed in on Kanvar's as it had when they'd bonded. Dragon thoughts, dragon senses, very angry dragon emotions. Dharanidhar made Kanvar twist his head to see what had hold of him. He was stunned to recognize Indumauli. The Great Black serpent was a long way from his river.

  Dharanidhar roared and lunged for Indumauli, planning to grab him, break his spine, and tear off his head. But Indumauli snapped around in a quick strike, not at Dharanidhar, but at Kanvar. He stopped with his fangs deep in Kanvar's dragonhide jacket, the tips just barely sticking through the armor, touching the skin over his heart on his back and his chest.

  Your saliva won't save the boy if I finish this bite, Indumauli said to Dharanidhar.

  Dharanidhar froze with one claw wrapped around Indumauli's coils.

  Kanvar's heart fluttered in panic. He broke out in a cold sweat. Indumauli, please. Don't.

  Sorry, little one. I have orders from Rajahansa.

  I should have known Amar would see his own son killed before they allowed a blue dragon the Naga powers, Dharanidhar growled. If you kill the boy, I'll take you into death with us. Release him.

  I'm fully willing to die for my king. Indumauli tightened the coils around Kanvar. But that's n
ot what he wants. Not the boy's death nor yours.

  Blue fire seethed behind Dharanidhar's bared teeth. What does he want?

  Indumauli's jaw clamped down a fraction more, so the tips of his fangs almost broke through Kanvar's skin. He demands the boy's freedom.

  Dharanidhar pulled his claw away from Indumauli. Impossible. The bond cannot be undone. Everyone knows that.

  Not freedom from the bond. Freedom from your mind. The Nagas are not slaves. They are equal partners to be treated with respect. You should never hurt him with your mind. Never force him against his will. Rajahansa demands your solemn vow to free the boys mind and leave it unharmed, or you both die. Freedom or death. Your choice.

  Dharanidhar opened his jaws as if willing to sear both Kanvar and Indumauli rather than relent to Rajahansa's demands.

  We don't want to die, Kanvar whispered to Dharanidhar. You and I, we're both too stubborn to end it now. Just tell Indumauli what he wants to hear. None of it matters once he's gone. But Dharanidhar wasn't listening to Kanvar, his mind slipped into a vivid memory.

  He was a young dragon, just come into his prime. Confident. Defiant. He'd fought his way through the ranks of the blue dragons and that morning killed the previous blue leader. Blood and triumph sung in his veins. The whole pride bowed to him and waited on his every command.

  But out of a cave at the base of the cliffs where the blue dragons nested came the Ancient One. Few had seen him in the last hundred years. He seldom came out of his cave anymore. It was the lowest dragon's duty to hunt and bring him food, but all the pride revered him, Akshara, The Great Liberator. Scars left long ago from heavy chains around his feet, claws, and neck looked ghastly in the light of day. His wings dragged behind him, unusable.

  Dharanidhar, the ancient one called him down from the high rock where he had spread his wings in triumph and bellowed his victory.