The room was filled with a heavy silence as all eyes turned to Chelandra. There had been much discussion about this matter and many feared she would refuse or, even worse, fail. But the Hidden had every faith in the child and refused to select a new protector for the newborn. Chelandra was the one, they were certain. Without her, the Coalition would fail for a second time and all hope would be lost.
Lana's glass jittered on the table as she held it. She could feel dozens of hopeful faces turned her way. She raised her head and searched for her mother and father among the crowd. They were standing by the door. Worry and fear creased her mother's brow, but a glimmer of hope glinted in her eye. Her father held an encouraging smile as a comforting arm slipped around her mother's shoulders. Lana turned to Bolgor and he nodded encouragingly.
Turning back to Tom, she whispered, "Will I go alone?"
"Absolutely not. You will have companions every step of the way. They have already been chosen. In fact, all of them are people are you closely associated with, who have been your friends since you were very young. Well, most of them. One of them I know you would consider a friend if you had any knowledge of his connection to you. Those who will stick with you to the very end are Bolgor, Bellithana, and Prigol, a local Hidden." At this Bolgor squeezed her tight, Belli smiled her classic toothy smile, and a glass on the bar raised in salute.
"You will also be accompanied by Graol's entire Gypsy camp for the first two years. You will stay in a wagon designed specially for you and your charge.
"Now we need to plan how to get the egg from the hatchery to the camp. Suggestions have been made, but it is time to set this in stone. Lana, do you have any questions before we begin?"
She shook her head. Too much had been said tonight for her to really grasp it all. It would take her quite some time to mull it over and really understand what was happening. She listened vaguely as the night wore on, arguments raged, and a plan was hatched. By the time she crawled in bed just before daybreak, her new life was beginning.
Chapter 6
The next two weeks flew by in a whirlwind and Chelandra rushed to prepare for her new role. It was difficult at times to keep up the persona she had created for herself, while incorporating her new duties as the dragon's protector. Her mother helped her pack a trunk of things she would need, along with a few sentimental items. A quiet tension had fallen on the household. All three of the dragon keepers knew there was a strong chance that the youngest would never return home.
When the time was near, Lana's trunk was taken to the Gypsy camp and placed in her new bedroom. Bellithana had given her a tour of her future home. It was slightly smaller than Graol's. The wagon was rectangular and painted jet black. Belli explained that this made it easier to disguise the wagon, should that ever be necessary. The downstairs had a small living area with a table and four cushions, along with a kitchen area and an indoor washroom.
There were two bedrooms downstairs in the back, as well. One was for Bolgor, while the other would be occupied by Prigol, the Hidden who would accompany them. Bolgor and Prigol had already decorated their rooms to their liking. The upstairs was divided into three sections. The first section was located by the stairs and took up two-thirds of the wagon. A large feather bed had been placed in a corner and straw was stacked along one wall. Despite outside appearances, the room would be large enough for a fully matured dragon, though it would be a tight fit. A massive trap door led through the ceiling, to allow the dragon access to the outdoors.
The last third of the upstairs was divided into two bedrooms, one for Bellithana, and one for Lana. Belli let Lana choose first and she picked the room on the left. Lana's room had been decorated beautifully and she couldn't have been happier with it. There was a fluffy bed in the corner, underneath a window with pretty stenciled shutters. It was a bright yellow and birds of all colors flitted along the walls. A small desk folded down from the wall opposite her bed, with drawers inside to hold all her stationery, and an armoire sat next to it. The ensemble was completed by a simple wooden chair, for use with the desk, and her trunk, which she placed under the window by her bed to use as a night stand. Bellithana's room was similar, only blue, with flowers rather than birds. A ladder in each room led to a smaller door, giving them access to the roof, which had been lined with wooden rails and outfitted like a balcony.
The wagon was drawn by four heavily muscled horses, all pitch black and covered in thick fur. They were Gypsy horses, short and unnaturally strong, slow to tire, and able to pull multiple times their weight. All four were mares, and they were named Lila, Lola, Lily, and Lolli. Lana couldn't tell them apart. All in all, Lana was quite pleased with her new home. She knew it would take some getting used to, but there were worse places to live, she was sure.
By the time the egg cracked, everything had been set into place. The plan had been rehearsed repeatedly and everyone knew their part. All that remained was its completion. Early in the morning, the first fractures appeared in the shell. Mynora alerted Lana's father and he set things in motion. Under the veil of a Hidden, a wagon was moved to the side of the hatchery. The plan was to wait until dark, when the egg would be moved to the wagon and Lana would accompany it to the Gypsy camp.
In the morning, the empty shell would be returned and the excuse would be made that the hatchling died during birth. It was common practice to burn dead hatchlings, so a fire pit was already prepared. The guard on duty at the hatchery was a member of the Secret Coalition and was to handle any unexpected visitors. By dusk, it looked as if everything would fall into place smoothly. Lana was having her last dinner with her parents, after which they would head to the hatchery to move the egg, when a member of the SC burst through the door.
"Nilon knows!"
Before anything else left the woman's mouth, the family was in the hall throwing on their boots and grabbing their sweaters. All four raced through the darkened streets toward the hatchery. Despite the expected commotion, no sound could be heard from the building. The woman explained that the Hidden had put a sound lock on the area to minimize the attention. They were all out of breath as they reached the hatchery door.
Lana's father stopped them from entering and pressed his ear to the wood. The others followed suit. Sounds of struggle and angry shouts could be heard inside. A sliver of light crept across the snow as he peeked in. A spreading pool of blood could be seen just inside the door. There were signs of a struggle, but no one in the immediate visible area. As they entered, they were forced to step around the SC guard, now deceased. It was clear that a fight had occurred, but he had been on the losing end. Slashes covered his face and hands. A bright red stain grew from a tear in his shirt. Chelandra's mother checked for the man's pulse, but none was to be found.
A scream of pain and hatred brought them back to the task at hand and they proceeded cautiously down the aisle. The door to Mynora's stall was open, straw spread out onto the dirt floor. Mynora was inside the tiny stall, desperately trying to protect the cracking egg. Nilon had slipped past her to the back corner, using her bulk to protect himself from the two Gypsies near the door. The Gypsies could not use magic and Mynora could not turn around in the cramped space without endangering the egg. Nilon knew that and used it to his advantage. He had a long dagger in his left hand and was swinging it wildly. Slashes along Mynora's neck and back showed that he was not afraid to use it. She had her flank to him, protecting the treasure.
At random intervals, Nilon would lunge, attempting to strike the egg and wound the hatchling inside. His attempts had not succeeded to this point, though Mynora's strength was failing quickly. Blood soaked the straw underneath her and she moaned in pain. One of the Gypsies attempted to thrust a spear over Mynora's bulk, but it stuck in the wall next to Nilon and did the man no harm. He grabbed the shaft and yanked the object out, whipping it toward the egg. His assault was blocked and the spear tip sunk past thick green scales. Mynora thrashed briefly at the attack and a scream ripped through the enclosure. Nilon leapt back
ward to avoid the backlash.
When the Gypsies saw the newcomers, one screamed, "Get the egg out!" He pulled out his dagger and climbed over the dragon. As Nilon struggled violently with his attacker, Lana helped the others move the egg onto a cart that had been brought from the wagon outside. She and her mother pushed the cart quickly toward the door. A startled gurgle caused Lana to look back toward the stall. The Gypsy who attacked Nilon lay gasping for air across Mynora's tail. Blood spilled from his mouth and nose. Mynora pinned Nilon against the wall as he slashed violently at her hide. The second Gypsy was preparing a burst of energy that would engulf the entire stall.
"Go!" Mynora screamed.
Lana's father burst through the door and helped Lana and her mother push the cart to the wagon. Lana felt her hair stand on end as the energy bomb was released inside the building. She stopped and turned back as the stench of burnt flesh filled the air.
"Lana, you must go." Her mother was pushing her to the wagon. "You have to."
The girl climbed up next to the egg as tears began streaking her face. The remaining Gypsy shouted a command and the horses took off at full speed. By the time Lana turned back, her parents were barely visible. She waved desperately until she could see them no longer, then collapsed in misery.
Chapter 7
The wagon raced through the wilderness, surrounded by pitch black on every side. Lana closed her eyes to shut out the darkness, but it consumed every part of her being. She stroked the pale object next to her, wondering what could be so important that she had to lose everything she knew and loved. She pressed her face to the shell and felt an unusual warmth. It was not fire. She knew what that felt like. It was like the sun, but better. She struggled to find the right word. Her lips stroked the smooth surface and she knew immediately. Love. The warmth she felt was pure, unadulterated love.
Pressing her palm to the egg, she let the feeling fill her. As she connected to the creature inside, she somehow knew that she would never be alone again. She might be separated from everything, even this being, but she would never be alone. He would always be there in her heart and she would always be in his. She sat there in the dark and cold, and she knew how much he appreciated her sacrifices. He knew her suffering, and he would not let her pain be for naught. Together, they would accomplish all they were meant to accomplish. They would not give up until they had reached the end.
Chelandra opened her eyes and saw a light rapidly approaching. It took her a moment to realize that the light was not approaching them; they were approaching it. She quickly became aware that it was the Gypsy camp. As they drew near, she could see activity through the shadows.
When the wagon broke into the clearing, the scene that greeted her was far different from the one she had seen two days ago. All the pens and fences had been dismantled. Not a chicken or child was in sight. A long line of wagons led through a break in the woods to the south. Only a few still remained in the camp. Graol's bright blue wagon was no where to be found, but the new wagon, which Bolgor had nicknamed The Beast, was waiting by the cold fire pit. The roof was open and a milky-colored dragon stood nearby.
Lana's driver pulled up next to the dragon and spoke with it briefly. He then turned to her and said, "You need to get down, honey. Leucile will lift the egg into the wagon."
Lana pressed her face to the shell one more time. Her fears subsided briefly and she climbed off the wagon with the help of a nearby Gypsy. As she stood watching, the dragon lifted herself into the air. With a gentleness Lana did not think dragons could possess, she grasped the egg in her claws and carried it to the wagon. Placing it gently inside, she closed the roof and settled on top. A touch at her elbow made Lana jump. When she saw her best friend standing next to her, she threw her arms around him and began to cry. He said nothing, but stroked her hair and held her tight. Fears, frustration, and sadness soaked the heavy shirt he wore as they poured down her face. Her body shook with heavy sobs and only his strength kept her from collapsing in a heap of misery.
For a few minutes, the two stood alone in the world. Then her eyes cleared and she saw that the others were ready to go. Bolgor helped her into the wagon and they took their place in the Gypsy train. Lana looked out the windows and saw that they were protected on all sides. The wagon she had come in on was to their left. The driver had collected three others, all of whom carried weapons of some sort. To the right, there was another open wagon loaded with Gypsies. Behind them, the remaining Gypsy homes had fallen in line. By the time the first ray of light cracked the sky, the clearing looked as pristine and perfect as it had the day before the Gypsies arrived.
As Lana and Bolgor settled around the table, Bellithana came from the kitchen with a pot of tea and a tray of biscuits. The three sat in silence for a few minutes before Lana spoke up.
"Who's driving?" It struck her then that three of the current occupants were sitting around the table and the others couldn't drive.
"My father." Belli smiled. "He's going to stay with us for a few days. We're also surrounded by a contingent of Hidden. Not to mention Leucile above us, Filise at the front, Klya at the very back, and Lilson flying guard up and down the train."
Lana had met the four dragons who guarded the train a couple times before. Leucile was the milky white dragon who had lifted the egg into the wagon. She had no special abilities, but was vicious in close combat. Filise was a blue male with a penchant for sheep. He had been scolded more than once for eating without asking, but his exceptional vision made him the perfect point guard on the train. Klya was a bright green with an orange pattern on her wings. Her spit was venomous and could be launched dozens of feet when necessary. Lilson was the fastest flier of the group. He was a dark gray and had built-in sonar. Moving up and down the train, he could monitor everyone's actions and detect any anomalies moving in on the Gypsies.
The three humans sat around the table for the next hour, drinking tea and munching biscuits. Bolgor drifted off to sleep with his head on the table and Lana and Belli were close to doing the same. As Lana lay down her head, she had a nagging feeling that she was forgetting something.
"The egg! I forgot about the egg!" Lana jumped to her feet and raced up the stairs. Belli and Bolgor were on her tail and the three fell into a pile when Lana stopped dead at the top. Standing in the wreckage of the shell lay a slimy, scaly creature, much like those Lana had seen throughout her life at the hatchery. He was a deep red with yellow, piercing eyes that he turned on Lana. The newborn opened his mouth and cried, a cat-like sound that made the trio jump, and he took a shaky step toward the group. Lana's face broke into a grin and she picked up a cloth from the corner. As she wiped the little creature down, she stroked his brow and he rested his head in her lap. A sense of appreciation filled her, almost as if the creature were saying thank you. Bellithana and Bolgor picked up cloths of their own and joined Lana. As Belli touched the beast, she gasped.
"He's telepathic!"
"Um, what?" Lana didn't understand what that meant. Telepathy was a very rare gift among dragons and she had never encountered it before.
"Do you feel that? The happiness? He's saying thank you, I think."
Lana looked down at her new friend and asked, "Is that true?"
The little hatchling nodded and its eyes shone brightly.
Lana looked at Belli. "I thought telepathy was when they could tell you what they're thinking. I mean, without actually telling you."
"It is, but he hasn't learned to speak yet. You know that dragons learn to speak much like human children. It takes them a couple weeks to communicate properly. That's why you usually keep them at the hatchery and spend a lot of time with them. He can't talk yet, so all we get are feelings."
"Oh." Lana thought for a few minutes. "I think he was talking to me on the wagon. When I pressed my face to the egg, I had a sense of... warmth, I guess."
"He probably was."
After they had the hatchling cleaned, Lana found some meat in the ice box in the corner. She placed
a large cloth on the feather bed in front of him and fed him chunks of the raw food. After he had eaten his fill, she wiped up the blood and lay down next to him. Pressing her cheek to his, she thought, What is your name? Confusion floated back to her. You don't know your name? He shook his head. We'll need to give you one then. We'll come up with something good tomorrow. She sat and stroked the newborn until he dozed off. After awhile, she drifted off next to him.
The sun was high in the sky when she woke. She didn't feel the wagon moving and looked out the window. They were stopped in a snow-filled field, surrounded by Gypsy wagons. They were in the center circle, closest to a new fire pit. Lana made her way down the stairs, followed closely by the newborn. She pulled on a thick sweater and her boots and they stepped outside. She felt eyes focus on her from every direction as she made her way to the log Bellithana was sitting on. The Gypsy woman greeted her warmly as she sat down and the hatchling settled by their feet. Belli handed Lana a bowl and pulled a thick slab of meat from the fire for the dragon. Both ate ravenously.
"He needs a name," Lana mumbled through a mouthful of porridge.
Belli agreed. "Do you have any suggestions?"
Lana finished her cereal and set the bowl down. The hatchling licked it clean.
"I was thinking about Sigurd, but that seems kind of, well, lame. His best dragon captain was named Ychthorn. I kind of like that."
Blood of the Dragon: An NA Epic Fantasy Page 4
