A Storm in the Desert: Dragonlinked Chronicles Voume 3

by Adolfo Garza Jr.

  There was applause from around the plaza and a very few cheers. There were also a few murmurs. Had some not heard of the guild? Or were they surprised at the welcome?

  “The purpose of this gathering is to gain knowledge.” Capu Cirtis looked around at those watching him. “Rumors abound concerning the dragon boy, Aeron, concerning the dragon guild, and concerning dragons themselves. Today will be about learning a great many truths.”

  Polandra raised her brows. Truths?

  Many of the people in those seats are suddenly concerned.

  Polandra glanced at Nesch Takatin and was surprised to see his face had gone pale. Perhaps they are worried that Capu Cirtis will reveal the truth about the First Principle. She looked back at the Capu. Would he have the courage to do so?

  “But enough of my talking,” Capu Cirtis said. “Guildmaster Millinith has a few words she’d like to say.” He turned to them. “Guildmaster?”

  Guildmaster Millinith made her way to the podium. With a smile at the Capu, she stood behind the lectern. “I want to thank everyone in the Corpus Order for allowing us to have these talks. Knowledge and communication are key to any relationship. And I would like the Dragon Craft Guild and the Corpus Order to eventually have a relationship. One built on the truth.”

  She smiled. “As Capu Cirtis said, there are many rumors about the dragon boy. Let’s start the sharing of knowledge with this: The dragon boy is real. His name is Aeron, and yes, he is bonded with a dragon. Her name is Anaya. They were the first to be bonded.” She gestured to them. “Aeron, could you stand by Anaya, please?”

  Aeron grunted. Brows lifted, he stood and jogged over to his bond-mate. He placed his hand on her shoulder and waved. They both bowed their heads.

  A few in the crowds cheered and many raised their arms, clenched fists held high. Polandra had seen that same gesture, the one Aeron had used to signal for the portal, many times in the days since while she and Ikan hunted nahual around the villages.

  “Another dragonlinked pair that came with us today, are Jessip and Zolin.”

  Guildmaster Millinith presented them, pair after pair. Willem and Balam, Fillion and Coatl, Liara and Mia, Gregor and Kisa, and Renata and Xochi. Everyone bowed when they were announced.

  “And the last pair here today,” the Guildmaster said, “are Polandra and Ikan.”

  With the last of them introduced, people in the crowds clapped, as did some of the umeri. Polandra was heartened by that.

  “Thank you dragonlinked, you may return to your seats.” The Guildmaster glanced at the tiered section, at the people in it. “Some of you may know Renata and Polandra. They were manisi before they left to learn the truth of the dragon boy rumors.”

  A few of them are suddenly angry.

  Polandra glanced at those sitting in the tiered seats. Keep monitoring everyone. We don’t need something stupid to happen.

  “I wanted everyone to meet our bond pairs,” Guildmaster Millinith said. “To introduce them, yes, but also to put a face on them. Dragon. Dragonlinked. Those aren’t just words or abstract concepts. They are real people. I wanted to be sure everyone understands that as we have our talks. Talks that I suppose we should start now.”

  Turning to the umeri, she said, “Thanks to Renata and Polandra, we at the Dragon Craft Guild have an initial understanding of the Corpus Order, so why don’t we open the talks with any questions the Order may have about the guild?”

  Nesch Takatin stood. “Guildmaster, you said something about Aeron and Anaya being the first bonded. What exactly does that mean?”

  “As far as we’ve been able to determine,” she said, “Aeron and Anaya were the first human and dragon to be bonded.” She glanced at the pavilion. “Renata and Xochi were the second bond pair.”

  “Yes,” Takatin said, “but what does that mean, bonded?”

  “Perhaps it would be best if Aeron explained how he met and bonded Anaya. Aeron?”

  With a quick inhale and exhale, Aeron stood and walked over. Guildmaster Millinith gestured for him to stand behind the podium. After doing so, Aeron looked around at everyone staring at him.

  “I am not special,” he said.

  With a grunt, Polandra raised her brows.

  “I am no better than anyone else,” Aeron continued, “and am likely worse than some.” He looked at his bond-mate and chuckled. “Anaya disagrees. Well, one thing I am, is lucky. And sometimes very, very stupid.” He looked at Nesch Takatin. “I almost died the night I stumbled upon Anaya.”

  Polandra stared at Aeron as he recounted his journey through the dark caverns. He’d traveled the entire cave system with only a small hand-lantern while sketching his progress in a notebook.

  Incredible. Stupid, yes, but incredible, too.

  She’d never heard this story, not entirely. When he told of the ledge collapsing under him, her heart nearly stopped. She wasn’t the only one, apparently. Many a gasp came from the crowds of people. To fall into the unknown depths, no one knowing where you were? Good gods, that was frightening. Then he told of seeing the large eggs. He heard Anaya trying to escape hers, trying to break through the incredibly tough shell. In the end, they had to work together to free her.

  When he spoke of being linked with her through magic, the experience of it, Polandra couldn’t help but smile. She recalled the sudden sense of Ikan, of being able to feel him breathe, feel his heartbeat pulsing through his veins, feel his incredible wings stretch and fold. She could even feel his love for her through the link, could sense all his emotions, as he could, hers. It was as if a floodgate had opened within her breast. The memory brought all the emotions of the experience back to her.

  Thank you for choosing me, Ikan.

  Why would I not? We are one.

  She smiled. Yes, love. Yes we are.

  “The enchantment that linked us, we call the Bond.” Aeron turned to Anaya. “When a dragon chooses a partner, a bond-mate, and when the dragon knows that they are one, their touch triggers the spell.” He looked back at the tiered seats. “The Bond uses spirit focus in its anchors. Those of your members knowledgeable in Magic Craft can verify what that means. Our very souls are linked.”

  Polandra glanced at Nesch Takatin.

  His eyes were shadowed. “You really can feel what she feels.” He glanced at Anaya and sat down.

  “So, according to you, getting a dragon is easy.” An umeron had stood. He was an older man with a pinched expression.

  “Easy?” Aeron’s brows were drawn together. “Did you listen—”

  “If that’s so, why aren’t we waist deep in you bastards. What do you call yourselves? Dragonlinked?”

  “Umeron Yiska!” Capu Cirtis stood. “You will maintain a civil tongue, or you will leave.”

  Polandra had never seen the Capu upset before. It kind of surprised her. His entire demeanor was different. Where normally he was serene and smiling, now he was angry, with eyes flashing and a hard expression.

  Umeron Yiska glanced at him, frowned, and turned back to Aeron. “If what you say is true, why aren’t there even more dragonlinked? Why only in the last year has this happened?”

  “Dragons in the wild,” Guildmaster Millinith said, “are somewhat different than bonded dragons.”

  “I knew it!” Yiska pointed to Nesch Takatin. “I told you there was something wrong with that damned dragon.”

  “Yiska,” the Capu’s voice was quiet, but firm. “I will not ask you again.” He stared at the umeron a moment, then turned to Millinith. “Guildmaster, how are they different? And why?”

  “Dragons that are not bonded are anxious and fearful.” The Guildmaster glanced at Anaya. “If you’ll recall Aeron’s story, even Anaya was very shy and nervous when she hatched, hiding behind the eggs. He had to coax her out with food. As to the why of it . . .”

  “Guildmaster!” Liara stood, jogged over, and whispered something to her.

  Millinith turned at Ikan. “Perhaps it would be best if you heard the why of it directly from th
e horse’s mouth, so to speak. Ikan? If you would?”

  Polandra glanced at Liara. The raven-haired girl smiled at her and nodded. Ikan. These people might not be as knowledgeable about such things as the auditors. Can you make it simple enough that a child might understand?

  I will try. Ikan turned his gaze on the tiered seats and stood up on all four legs, facing them. He chirped and gave a quick bow of his head. Capu Cirtis, Nesch Takatin, Umeri.

  His sending had not been limited. It had in fact been expanded, widely. Gasps came from the crowds behind all three magical barriers as well as from many of the umeri. Surprised murmuring passed through their ranks.

  Ikan unfurled his massive wings, stretching them up and out. He then sat back on his haunches, settling them on his back. The plaza was completely silent.

  Large, gold eyes stared at those before him. Imagine a place where all birds hatch without wings. In this land, birds never get to experience the joy of flying—the feel of air under them, of being lifted into the sky, of wind rushing over their bodies. They never get to see the land open before them for miles and miles. They never get to experience the full freedom of flight that they were made for.

  Ikan blinked. It is sad to contemplate, is it not?

  Polandra raised her brows. She’d never heard him speak like this before.

  Capu Cirtis stared, seemingly mesmerized.

  He was not the only one. Glancing around the plaza, she saw that all eyes were on her bond-mate.

  Ikan’s gaze swept across the tiered section, across the faces turned to him. Because they never had wings, these birds do not know to care that they do not have them. Even so, somewhere deep in their hearts, they know that something is not right, that they are broken. These birds live their entire lives knowing—being absolutely certain—that they are not whole.

  Polandra stared at her bond-mate. Is that how he’d felt? Broken? The idea horrified her.

  Ikan turned to Nesch Takatin. Imagine that you are one of those birds. What would living like that do to you? What would living like that for centuries do to your people?

  He turned his amber gaze on Capu Cirtis. That is how dragons are in the wild. That is how I was before I found Polandra. It is not wings that dragons lack, however. When dragons bond, we become one with our bond-mates. Our souls are linked. Our missing part is found and we are complete. For the first time, we can soar.

  Ikan turned to Polandra. And it is glorious.

  She had never really understood the lives of wild dragons, not like this. Staring at him, tears blurring her vision, she nodded. It is.

  “Good gods,” Gregor whispered. “That was beautiful.”

  Capu Cirtis and Nesch Takatin were both on their feet. Their expressions, however, were markedly different. Capu Cirtis’s face was suffused with wonder, while Nesch Takatin looked troubled and, perhaps, guilty?

  “Dragons are people.” Capu Cirtis stared at Ikan. “Aeron kept telling me, but I didn’t understand. Not like—”

  “Rubbish!” Umeron Yiska stepped into the aisle between sections. “This is sorcery. A trick! Dragons cannot speak. They’re just animals!”

  Ikan laughed. His deep, grunting rumble drew all eyes. A cricket’s chirp does not cease to exist just because a person covers their ears so as not to hear it. Dragons are people whether you believe or not.

  “Guards!” Capu Cirtis stared at Umeron Yiska. The two watchmen hurried down the aisle from their posts at the archway above. “Escort Umeron Yiska to his quarters and then return. The heat seems to have addled him. He can rejoin us later once he’s had a chance to rest, and once he agrees to apologize to our guests for his behavior.”

  Hatred burning in his eyes, Umeron Yiska turned from Capu Cirtis and made his way up the aisle, the guards following behind.

  “Someone should keep an eye on him.” Adept Oran stared at the leaving umeron.

  Polandra frowned. Can you sense that man?

  He is very angry. And worried.

  Keep watch over him, as you can. I would not be surprised if he was part of the old guard.

  “Excuse me!”

  The child’s voice had come from the crowd standing on the eastern side of the plaza. Polandra caught sight of a little hand waving in the air. People, surprise on their faces, moved back a step from the girl and a woman who was probably her mother. They stood just behind the barrier. The girl looked to be perhaps six or seven.

  “Capu Cirtis? Nesch Takatin?” She waved her hand over and over to get their attention.

  Nesch Takatin turned from Ikan to her. “Yes?”

  “I have a present for Anaya. Can you give it to her?” She held up something in her tiny hand. It looked like it might be a doll of some sort.

  “She’s so adorable.” Liara, a smile on her face, watched the little girl. Everyone was watching, dragons included.

  After a glance at Capu Cirtis—he nodded and smiled—Nesch Takatin walked over to the barrier.

  The girl thrust up her hand, the doll held in it.

  Nesch Takatin stared through the barrier at the girl.

  She placed her other hand on the barrier and stretched up to hold the doll higher. Blue and purple light shimmered at her touch. Polandra agreed with Liara. The girl was pretty adorable.

  Nesch Takatin glanced at the doll and back at the girl. “Would you like to give it to her yourself?”

  “Could I?” Even from thirty feet away, Polandra could see the smile on the girl’s face.

  “Barrier at half-height!” Nesch Takatin called out. There was a pulse of magic and the barrier dropped to only four feet tall. He held out his hands over the barrier and said, “Someone help her.”

  The girl’s mother picked her up. Nesch Takatin then took her, lifted her over the barrier, and set her down.

  “Come,” he said and led her to Anaya. Their footsteps were plain to hear as the quiet crowds watched.

  Aeron walked over to his bond-mate. The rest of the dragonlinked stood and moved to that side of the pavilion. They all wanted to see this.

  Anaya sat up on her haunches, eyes on the approaching pair.

  Nesch Takatin, an unreadable expression on his face, stopped several feet back.

  The girl didn’t even hesitate. She walked right up to Anaya and curtsied. “Hello.”

  Anaya tilted her head. Hello, little one.

  The girl giggled. Looking up at Anaya’s large eyes, she said, “I came with my mommy to see you when you were here before.” She glanced at the remnants of the execution platform. Then she shot an angry glare at Nesch Takatin and leaned in to Anaya. Her whisper was very loud. “I’m glad you got away.”

  Polandra couldn’t quite stifle her laugh. A few of the dragons didn’t even bother trying. Their grunting laughs echoed around the plaza.

  “This is a present for you.” The girl held out the doll.

  Anaya blinked and glanced at the gift. What is it?

  The girl turned the doll and looked at it. “It’s my rag man.”

  The dolls were made from scraps of rags, stitched together, with buttons or beads for eyes— usually mismatched—and stuffed with more rags or grass or even leaves. Polandra still had hers from when she was younger. It sat on her bed back at the stable.

  “He protects me from the monsters under my bed.” The girl held him out to Anaya.

  I see. But who will protect you from the monsters if you give him to me?

  “My daddy. And besides, you need rag man more than me. He’ll protect you in case anyone tries to kill you again.”

  Polandra was stunned. The incredibly selfless act made her want to run over and hug the little girl. A quiet gasp came from the right. Hand to her mouth, Liara stared at the girl.

  Anaya carefully accepted the doll and held it against her chest with booth paws. Thank you. She briefly bowed her head.

  “You’re welcome.” The girl curtsied again, smiled, and headed back to the barrier, almost skipping.

  Nesch Takatin did not accompany her. He
stared at the ground, a dismayed look on his face. One of the manisi at the barrier had to help the girl back over before the barrier was restored to its former height.

  “I have much to think on.” Capu Cirtis looked from the girl to Ikan. “While I do so, I will let others ask questions.” He sat. “Nesch Takatin?”

  “Yes?” Nesch Takatin looked up. “Oh.” He glanced at Anaya and returned to his seat.

  An umeron stood. “Guildmaster, what exactly is the purpose of the Dragon Craft Guild? It isn’t exactly a craft guild, is it?” The man looked at Ikan.

  As Guildmaster Millinith moved behind the podium, Polandra and the others returned to their seats.

  “It is, and it isn’t,” Guildmaster Millinith said. “Much like Animal Craft or Healer Craft, Dragon Craft is also about learning and sharing information. Information about dragons, in our case. The core purpose of our guild, however, is protecting people whether human or dragon. Primarily we do so by fighting nahual, but we will help in whatever ways we can.”

  “Nahual.” The umeron turned to her. “Those terrible creatures that have been attacking villages?”

  “Exactly. Nahual exist everywhere. We battle them in the North, and we’ve been sending dragonlinked down here to the villages to help kill them as we can.”

  “The villages thank you!”

  Polandra didn’t see who’d shouted, but a great number of people in the crowds had their left arms up again, fists clenched.

  With a faint smile on her face, Guildmaster Millinith turned back to the umeron. “Dragons and dragonlinked, once bonded, can actually sense a nahual if it is within ten miles of them. That ability makes them invaluable in fighting the beasts. Especially nahual-ton.”

  “Nahual-ton?”

  “A new kind of nahual. They are not very common, as of yet, and I pray they remain rare. They are invisible, you see, to everyone except bond pairs. Fighting them is near-impossible unless you are a bonded dragonlinked.”