“Some of those creatures? Invisible?” Eyes wide, the umeron sat down.
Another umeron immediately stood.
How many nahual has the guild eliminated? What do dragons eat? How big do dragons get? How many eggs do dragons lay? What kinds of services does the guild contract for?
The questions went on for what seemed days, but a glance at her wrist-watch showed only two hours had elapsed. Polandra sighed and slumped in the chair.
A long, drawn-out growl emanated from her stomach. Liara glanced sideways at her and chuckled. Polandra couldn’t help it, though. Lunchtime, at Caer Baronel, was an hour past and they’d had nothing to eat since breakfast.
Thankfully, when the current umeron sat, Capu Cirtis stood. “I think we should take a break to allow our guests some refreshment and to give their speakers a chance to sit and rest for a while. Let’s take an hour, shall we?”
“Thank the gods,” Fillion murmured.
Gregor chuckled.
Jessip said, “I’m with you on that.”
Renata elbowed him.
“What?” he said. “I’m starving.”
The pesani walked along the rows, handing out menus—small sheets of paper with items listed—and taking requests for food and drink. Polandra asked for a sandwich and fruit juice.
“That sounds good.” Liara handed the menu back to the pesan. “I’ll have the same.” When the boy had moved on, she leaned close to Polandra. “Does Ikan sense the anger in some of the umeri like Mia does?”
Polandra nodded. “Yeah. Not in many, but definitely more than one. Especially Umeron Yiska.”
“Poor Mia.” Liara looked at her young bond-mate. In the bright southern sunlight, it was clear the little dragon was a deep, dark blue and not black. “She’s keeping close to Ikan. People hating her just because she’s a dragon has her feeling a little nervous and scared.”
Ikan had one wing lowered a touch, so it was over Mia. Polandra resisted the urge to tell him how cute that was. “Yeah, people can be stupid. But maybe these talks will open some eyes. Did you see Nesch Takatin after the little girl said what she did?”
Liara said, “Yeah. He looked like someone had punched him in the gut.” She looked around the plaza. “So, this is Bataan-Mok. It’s pretty, in its own way. Big. Solid. Majestic, almost.”
Polandra looked again at the place she’d lived in for half her life. “I guess so. But if you think this is majestic, I should take you to Daelon’s Shrine. Those statues are inspirational.”
“I’d like that.”
The sandwich was surprisingly delicious.
“Good gods, this is fantastic.” Liara spoke around a mouthful of the bread and roasted meat.
“Food always tastes good when you’re starving.” Aeron was grinning.
Polandra chuckled. “I guess it does.”
She looked up at the tiered seats. Capu Cirtis cast occasional glances their way while he ate. As far as Polandra could tell, the talks were going well. She glanced at Ikan and Mia. Perhaps one day, no dragon would feel hated while in Bataan-Mok. Or anywhere else.
Polandra took another bite of the sandwich. It really was especially tasty.
+ + + + +
Umeron Yiska handed the bulging leather coin purse over. “Do not fail me.” The two were alone in the rarely used hallway.
The pouch disappeared into the man’s robe. “I don’t understand you, Yiska. Finance, commerce, and transportation are the things of the modern age. Those and the industries to support them. That is why I’m happy we sold land to National Transportation. A rail line that close will broaden our horizons. But you . . . why are you so set on keeping that old tradition?”
Modern age? What a wagon-load of shit. Yiska made a fist. “If we lose sight of the past, we lose sight of ourselves.” He didn’t understand why people couldn’t see that.
“The Order maintains every other tradition that I know of. I haven’t seen any loss of your so-called past other than the killing of dragons. And that because we couldn’t find any more.”
“We found some now, didn’t we?”
“They found us, you mean.”
Yiska frowned.
The man raised his hands. “Regardless. Change is coming, Yiska. That is the way of all things. Nothing remains the same forever, not even the stars.”
The Corpus Order would. Yiska would see to it for as long as he had left. “Just make sure they know what to do when the time comes.”
The man shook his head and sighed. “They are ready.”
Yiska spun on his heel and headed back to the common areas of Bataan-Mok.
Why didn’t people understand? If you let one thing slide, soon everything else would go with it, like sand suddenly giving way on the lee side of a dune and becoming an avalanche to bury you. If they allowed traditions to be ignored, there was no telling what the Order would become.
Yrdra’s curse on everyone else. He would be the retaining wall of the Corpus Order. He would hold back the slipping sands of change.
+ + + + +
Anaya lifted her head and looked at Aeron. He was having trouble keeping his eyes open. The pleasant warmth, coupled with his full belly, must be lulling him to sleep.
Aeron. Now is not the time for a nap.
His body jerked and he sat up in the chair.
I wasn’t asleep.
Perhaps not, but you were about to be.
Willem whispered something to him and chuckled.
Aeron punched him on the shoulder. Embarrassment came through the link.
Anaya smiled as much as any dragon could. Dragon mouths, their lips, were not as flexible as a human’s, but dragons could still smile. A little. She could not recall many dragons doing so in any of her memories. Of course, there had not been much reason to. There was now.
She glanced at Balam, who lay a wing-length to the right. He watched Willem. The slight blue tint on the dark green dragon’s paws, head, and tail was more obvious in the bright sunlight. When he noticed her gaze on him, he chirped at her and then returned to keeping an eye on his bond-mate. She chirped back. Balam was a little like Aeron. Playful, at times, but able to be focused when needed. And he had an enormous heart.
That thought made Anaya turn and search for the little girl. She and her mother were sitting behind the barrier. Earlier, when the talks had paused for food and drink, those outside the barrier had taken a break, too. The girl and her mother ate from a basket they had brought. Now they waited, along with everyone, for the talks to resume.
The girl had been very serious about wanting to make a gift of her doll. Anaya lifted the small toy and looked at it. Such a simple thing, but it meant a lot to Anaya. To her, it was a sort of symbol of the good hearts of the people here.
Guildmaster Millinith was having a whispered conversation with the dragonlinked. Anaya felt agreement coming through the link. Aeron seemed to like her words.
She looked at him. What is it?
Millinith wants to propose that the umeri come down and speak to dragons face-to-face.
That is a good idea. The more we speak with them the more difficult it will be to only think of us as animals.
My thoughts exactly. She warned all of us to be on our guard, though. There’s no telling if any of those that feel upset will try something.
I will be watchful.
Guildmaster Millinith stepped to the podium. “Capu Cirtis.”
The Capu stood. “Yes, Guildmaster?”
“Ikan’s wonderful explanation seemed to have raised interest in several of your compatriots. I wondered if you, Nesch Takatin, and the umeri, would like to join us in the courtyard for an opportunity to speak directly with the dragons?”
He smiled. “That is a salutary suggestion and one that I was preparing to make myself. I have indeed received many a request for just such.”
Guildmaster Millinith glanced at Master Enora before looking back to the Capu. “I should mention one thing, however. Please be aware that dragons
are not used to having too many people too close, so I only ask that you not overcrowd the dragons.”
Anaya glanced at Aeron. The Guildmaster is smart. Too many people nearby who are anxious or even angry, might make us uncomfortable, especially the young ones.
He nodded. Exactly.
“Fair enough.” Capu Cirtis turned to the tiered seats. “Keep that instruction in mind, ladies and gentlemen.” With a smile, he turned, and with eyes on Anaya, started toward her. “Let’s talk to the dragons.”
Guildmaster Millinith left the podium and made her way toward Anaya. Aeron followed her. Everyone left the pavilion for the dragons. It seemed they were forming into the same groups as had been brought over from Delcimaar.
Though a few rose immediately after the Capu, most umeri were slow to make their way down. With a tinkling sound preceding them, those brave enough approached the dragons.
Anaya rose to her haunches as Capu Cirtis approached. He was very excited. Even had she not been able to feel it from him, his face would have made it plain. Nesch Takatin followed, though several steps behind. Uncertainty came strongly from him, floating above a swirl of other feelings.
The Capu stopped a few feet from her and bowed his head. “Anaya. I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to meet you in these happier circumstances.”
Anaya returned his head bow. As am I, Capu Cirtis.
His smile got larger, and he raised a hand to his temple. “Your method of speaking is so incredible.”
The Nesch had stopped even farther back than the Capu. “I agree.” The man was a storm of mixed emotions. “Is this method of speaking enabled by that spell Aeron mentioned? The Bond?”
Anaya stared at Nesch Takatin. Confusion came from him and embarrassment, rising above the rest. She supposed a dragon speaking, him talking with one, might be as strange as having a conversation with a rock. Dragons can talk even before we are hatched.
A pulse of anger mingled with sorrow burst from him. He took a step closer. “Then why have dragons never spoken before? Do you know how different—”
“As I said earlier,” Aeron moved between them, “dragons are nervous and shy. They don’t talk to just anyone.”
Anaya looked over Aeron at Nesch Takatin. Dragons never thought to do so before. It never occurred to them to even try. Their first instinct is not to talk, it is to flee. And when captured, fear, panic, and anxiety must overwhelm them.
“I can certainly understand that,” Capu Cirtis said. “Especially for dragons here in the South.”
It is so for all dragons, I think. The dragons from the North are that way, and Polandra and Renata say the same of dragons from here.
“Why did you speak to Aeron, then?” Nesch Takatin asked. “When you first met.” The anger had subsided, somewhat, though the sorrow remained. And growing curiosity.
Perhaps because I never knew my mother, never felt her nervousness and anxiety, perhaps that is why. I was afraid, it is true, but not beyond all reason. I had listened to him, sensed his feelings. He was nice. And, too, he saved my life. I felt I had to thank him, even though I was nervous.
“So,” Nesch Takatin said, “you can sense people’s feelings, even those to whom you are not bonded?”
Aeron nodded. “They can, all dragons can.”
The longer I am around someone, the better sense of them I can get, though it is not as strong as what I feel from Aeron, not as clear. I can hear his actual thoughts, if I listen.
Nesch Takatin stared at her, but his eyes were unseeing. Love, loss, and old hate swirled and mingled.
Capu Cirtis glanced at him. Apparently thinking the Nesch was done with his questions, the Capu said, “Guildmaster Millinith mentioned that one of the guild’s purposes is to hunt down nahual. What do you think of those creatures, Anaya?”
She rumbled. They must be fought. It is why dragons were created.
“What?” Nesch Takatin looked up at her. “Who told you that?”
I was not told. It was something I felt. She tilted her head as she thought of an example. You have been in love. Do you remember the first time you realized it?
He hesitated a moment, then nodded.
You look at the person, and suddenly, the thousand and one little signs in your mind, heart, and body make sense, and you know. You are in love.
He stared at her, mouth slightly open.
It was like that. Once Aeron and I were bonded, I knew that I was supposed to be with him. I was supposed to help him with something. Then, when we first sensed a nahual, it became clear. That is what I was supposed to help him with, fighting those creatures. Doing so is my purpose. It is our purpose. She glanced at Aeron and back at Nesch Takatin. We have more duties now, but that is our first one.
Nesch Takatin’s eyes lost focus.
Anaya sensed thoughts—memories?—passing through his mind. They swirled like leaves in a whirlwind. She blinked. If you read the original text that the Hour of Creation is based on, it seems to me that Yrdra created the nahual and Ulthis created dragons to help fight them. We are the gift attuned to their magic.
Eyes troubled, brows drawn together, Nesch Takatin looked at her.
“Wouldn’t it be better to change the Order,” Aeron murmured, “rather than destroy it?”
Nesch Takatin closed his eyes. “The Corpus Order has betrayed everyone who believed in it. It’s based on nothing but lies. Lies that everyone from the umeri on up have known about since its inception.”
“But we can change that,” Aeron said, “fix it.”
Nesch Takatin opened his eyes and turned his gaze on Aeron. “How do you fix a building whose foundation is rotten without razing it all and starting over?”
Anaya understood his pain, his grief. But he was reacting to it in a terrible way. Renata and Polandra both felt betrayed by the Order, but their first thought had not been to destroy it.
“The Corpus Order isn’t a building,” Aeron said. Exasperation came strongly through the link. “And it isn’t a person dying of sand wasp poison, either.”
Nesch Takatin’s brow rose up. “How did—”
“While she was chained in this very plaza,” Aeron said, “Anaya sensed many who believe absolutely in the Corpus Order, like you used to.” He stared at Takatin. “Don’t you understand? If you destroy the Order, you will betray those believers. You will become the very thing you despise.”
Eyes wide, Nesch Takatin’s gaze dropped to the ground.
Anaya sensed surprise from him and shock, and underlying it all, regret.
Everyone stared at Aeron. Guildmaster Millinith had a faint smile on her lips. Capu Cirtis had a brow raised. Master Enora’s expression was blank, though Anaya could feel she was impressed. Anaya let out a pleased rumble.
“Some of the old ways must end,” Capu Cirtis said. “But the Corpus Order is more than those, and certainly more than killing dragons.”
“Which should have been obvious,” Guildmaster Millinith said. “The Order appears to be as strong as ever despite not having seen, much less killed, a dragon in decades.”
Movement at the tiered seats drew Anaya’s attention. The section was nearly empty, though three umeri remained seated about the area, refusing to come meet the dragons. An umeron walked down the center aisle toward the courtyard. His gazed flickered to one of the three seated, a woman, as he descended.
Aeron. The angry, frightened one returns. She wasn’t the only one who’d noticed. All the dragons turned to him briefly.
Aeron watched the umeron approach. Does he intend anything stupid? Can you tell?
His thoughts are . . . calm.
Why are you surprised?
Before, when he left, his thoughts were a jumble. Anger, fear, injured pride and more swirled around him. Now, I sense determination and serenity. And, oddly, delight.
I see. Perhaps the rest did him some good after all.
Anaya was not certain that was what had happened. She watched the man draw closer.
“Umero
n Yiska,” Capu Cirtis said. “Welcome back.”
Eyes on Anaya, the umeron stopped several dozen feet back. “Capu Cirtis. Nesch Takatin.” His eyes flicked to Aeron before he turned to the Guildmaster and curved his lips in a horrible imitation of a smile. “Guildmaster Millinith. I’d like to apologize for my earlier outbursts.” He inclined his head in a quick bow.
The serenity wavered slightly, like a small upwelling of water rippling the surface of a lake. Something loomed below. Something angry.
Anaya glanced at Balam. Beware. Something is amiss.
I sense it, too.
She sent the warning to all the dragons.
“Thank you, Umeron Yiska.” Guildmaster Millinith returned his bow. “Did you have anything you wanted to ask Anaya? Or any of the dragons?”
Aeron, be wary.
I know. I have never seen a more false smile.
“Actually,” the umeron said, “I have a question for you, Guildmaster. The Dragon Craft Guild must desire, at some point, for us to end our dragon hunts and executions. What would you have us do, instead?”
“As I understand it,” the Guildmaster said, “the core principle of the Order, if you strip out the specifics, is to hunt down and destroy Yrdra’s creations.” She glanced at Capu Cirtis. “Is that correct?”
He nodded. “I think we could all agree that that is correct.” He turned to Yiska. “Wouldn’t you say?”
The umeron nodded. “Yes.”
“I’m sure you’ve read the original text,” Guildmaster Millinith said, “so you know that Yrdra’s gift was never actually named.”
Umeron Yiska’s jaw muscles twitched and more ripples disturbed his serenity. His breathing increased.
“To answer your question, we want you to continue what you’ve already begun. Kill nahual instead. We believe nahual are what Yrdra created, not dragons.”
A chuckle burst from him. He took a deep breath and let it out. It seemed to calm him. His thoughts were once again serene. “I see.” He turned to Anaya. “I knew you were different.”
The way he said it, the emotions coming from him as he said it, implied ‘wrong’ or ‘evil’ instead of just ‘different.’ Anaya rumbled.
A Storm in the Desert: Dragonlinked Chronicles Voume 3 Page 59
