“Anaya’s been tending to it?” Jessip glanced at the tawny dragon.
“Yeah,” Aeron nodded. “She likes it, and it lets her keep an eye on her eggs at the same time. She searched her memories on moss-tenders and how they took care of that kind of stuff.”
“Must be nice to be able to just search for a memory on how to do things.” Jessip twisted his lips. “We have to memorize and study and study and study.”
Renata chuckled. “This week’s spells giving you trouble?”
“Maybe.” He crossed his arms.
Zolin’s rumble was not quite a laugh.
Jessip glanced at him. “Hush, you. They’re not as simple anymore.”
“Apprentice-level spells are a great deal easier than what you’re studying now,” Aeron said. His eyes narrowed. “Speaking of which, I wonder how far along they are.”
He walked closer to the eggs. “Alright candidates, let me see your hand if you can tell me whether Meturato’s Gloom is an active spell or not.”
Hands shot up.
“No, Sharrah,” he said, smiling, “not you. I know you know. I’m asking the new class.”
Cheddar chuckled and Sharrah shot a look at him. He laughed and put his arm around her.
“Korrie,” Aeron pointed to the girl. “Is it active?”
“No.” She lowered her hand and shook her head. “Once you place it, your involvement is done. No more draining of animus.”
“Correct!” Aeron looked around. “Now, if I wanted to play a prank on someone and cast Gloom on their desk, would they be forever doomed to study in darkness? Hands!”
He glanced from one candidate to another. “Jemma.”
She lowered her hand. “It’s sort of a trick question.”
Aeron raised his brows, but he was smiling. “Oh? Please explain.”
“The reason I said it was a trick question is that once you sat at your desk, there would be no darkness apparent to you. Meturato’s Gloom only shrouds its anchor point from outside viewers. If you’re inside the spell’s area of effect, you see no difference. Well, not much, anyway.”
Aeron nodded. “Very good. It was a trick question, but not entirely. What else?”
“Um . . .” Jemma scrunched her nose and twisted her lips. “You could always counter the Gloom if you got tired of it?”
“Exactly. But how does one go about countering an enchantment one did not weave?”
“If you place the same or similar enchantment near it, you can then see the other enchantment. Something about”—she closed her eyes, perhaps to remember a lesson—“focus resonance.” She opened them. “And once you can see an enchantment, you can counter it.”
“Assuming you aren’t trying to save your bond-mate’s life at the time, anyway.” Aeron looked the candidates over, an impressed look on his face. “It’s only been a few weeks, but it seems that Adept Liflin is training you all well.”
“He’s a bit of a task-master,” Terry said, “though he is nice about it.”
“Well,” Willem said, “keep at it and you candidates will be apprentices soon enough.”
Polandra frowned and looked around at the dragonlinked. They weren’t even apprentices yet. She wasn’t even sure the requirements for that rank had been determined. She had to remember to ask the Guildmaster about that.
“And some of you will be bonded even sooner than that.” Aeron glanced at the eggs, then at Anaya. He smiled.
Yesterday, Anaya had announced that her eggs would hatch within a week. Excitement had run rampant throughout the Guildhall and Caer. Polandra was excited, too. She couldn’t wait to see who’d be chosen. The enthusiasm of the candidates for the imminent hatching had everyone in high spirits.
“Candidates,” Aeron said, glancing at his wrist-watch, “we’ve got half an hour before lunch. Let’s head back to the Caer. I need to have lunch now, as I’ve a trip with the Guildmaster soon, and it will give everyone else time to take care of anything they need to before lunch.”
Polandra would have liked to go, too, but Guildmaster Millinith only wanted her and Aeron at the announcement. She didn’t think there was a need to have every dragon and dragonlinked there. Besides, there was plenty to occupy Polandra here.
She looked at the hopefuls still staring at the eggs. They seemed reluctant to leave. Polandra couldn’t blame them. They likely had the same questions on their minds as she did. Who would be bonded in a few days? And who would be left to wait for more eggs?
+ + + + +
Gregor stared at the polished grave marker. Every now and then, when he moved slightly, sparkles—bursts of reflected sunlight—broke out in the thin granite slab like tiny stars being born.
Fillion took his hand.
Gregor glanced at him and looked back at the gravestone. “I kind of made a promise that I would help fight the things that killed her. There was a side-trip through Healing Craft, but I eventually joined the nahual investigation, the beginnings of Dragon Craft.”
Fillion nodded.
“Dayna and I were sort of seeing each other, before . . .”
When he didn’t say more, Fillion squeezed his hand.
Gregor glanced at the flowers he’d placed upon the marker. “Every year, when the Silver Crowns first bloom, I bring a few for her.” The flowers were more pewter than silver, but they had a metallic sheen to them that was striking.
“I’ve never seen their like before,” Fillion said. “They’re beautiful.”
“Aunt Rora, Lady Rora, grows them in her private garden. I sneak in and take a few each year. I’m pretty sure she knows it’s me.”
He stood in silence for a while, thinking about the survey team he and Dayna had been part of, about how much the Caer had grown since then, and about how much he had grown as well. A gentle breeze played across the dry grasses and the early spring shoots.
Clearing his throat, he said, “Dayna, this is Fillion. He’s my boyfriend. He takes care of me, keeps me out of most trouble. He makes me happy.” Gregor glanced at him and smiled. Looking back at the marker, he said, “Anyway, the dragonlinked have got a guild now, and there are more of us all the time. We’ll keep fighting the beasts. We’ll keep as many people safe as we can.”
Gregor looked up at the sky, smiled, and led the way back to the dragons. As they walked, he said, “Thanks for coming. You didn’t have to, you know.”
Fillion glanced at him. “If it’s important to you, it’s important to me.”
Gregor smiled, nodded, and squeezed Fillion’s hand. He couldn’t wait to introduce this amazing young man to his mother.
Before they reached the dragons, Fillion stopped and turned to Coatl.
Gregor looked at him. “What is it?”
“You’re family is here.”
Gregor’s brows rose. It had been years since he’d seen his mother or sister. He missed them more than he’d realized. “Let’s hurry.”
As Coatl lifted them into the air, Gregor leaned forward. “Where are they?”
“Coatl says your father is close, just over a mile away.”
“They’ll no doubt head to the Residence. Can we meet them in the courtyard?”
Fillion nodded. “Yeah.”
He sat back in the middle seat on the saddle. As Coatl flew them up and over the Caer walls, Gregor spotted a distant carriage on the road beyond South Gate that must be his father’s. At the speed it was moving, Coatl would beat it to the courtyard by several minutes. His chest grew tight and he had to take a deep breath. He was incredibly nervous, all of a sudden.
After hopping off, Gregor looked down at his pants—they seemed fine—then tugged his tunic, trying to straighten it with just his right hand. “How do I look?”
Fillion appeared highly amused. With a smile, he said, “As handsome as ever.”
Gregor frowned. “Seriously. Is anything amiss?”
“Gregor, they’re going to be so happy to see you, they wouldn’t care if you’d sprouted another eye. Relax.”
Why are you so anxious?
My family is almost here.
They are? Where are you?
At the Residence. They’ll arrive in a moment.
Can I meet them?
Of course you can. Come. Fly to me.
I come!
“Kisa’s on her way.” Gregor took another deep breath and let it out.
Fillion chuckled. “You’re so cute when you’re nervous.”
“Hush, or I’ll vomit on you.”
Fillion chuckled again. Even Coatl joined in with a low rumbling laugh.
When Kisa landed, she let out a chirp at Coatl—he chirped back—then padded to Gregor and sat on her haunches just to his left.
I cannot wait to meet your sister and mother.
I can’t wait either. I haven’t seen them in years.
He felt disbelief through the link. Why not?
I never had a good enough reason to return home, I guess. Little swirls of confusion came through. I realize now that I should have made the time to do so. I really miss them.
Kisa made a reassuring chirp. I am sure they miss you, too.
Gregor grabbed Fillion’s hand. It had been just about six years. Six long years. How had his mother changed? How had Elise? She’d been a little girl when he’d left, now she’d be a teenager. Sixteen, if he remembered right. A stab of loss came at that thought. Six years.
Are you okay? You feel a little sad.
I’m fine, love. Just thinking about everything that I missed by not being home, is all.
His arm twinged with the deep sigh he let out. He glanced down at the sling and frowned. The break was a little over half healed but still bothered him every now and then.
He went over a few responses to the questions he knew would come.
“There they are.”
Gregor glanced at Fillion, then at the approaching carriage. He thought he heard a squeal as it drew to a stop.
His father’s voice, exasperated, came from the carriage. “Good gods, Elise, what are you—”
The carriage door flew open and a girl jumped out and sprinted toward him, arms spread wide. “Gregor!”
“Elise?” She was so tall! “Careful, cupcake!” He lifted his left arm up just as she slammed into him and wrapped him tightly in a hug.
With a chuckle, Fillion released his hand a took a step to the side.
“Alandra’s merciful heart, Gregor, I missed you so much.”
“I missed you, too, cupcake.”
She released him and stepped back. With a smile, she said, “You’re the only one allowed to call me that anymore.”
Gregor chuckled, then twisted his lips. “You’ve grown so much.” His voice was more wistful than he’d intended.
“Well,” she looked him over, “you have, too. You’re as tall as father, now.” She frowned. “What happened to your arm?”
He sighed. “Can I wait to explain until mom asks?” His mother and father were speaking with the men unloading the carriage. They’d come over soon enough. He looked back at his sister. “You know she will.”
Elise frowned, and then nodded. “I suppose.” She glanced at Fillion and dimpled. “Hello. You must be Fillion.”
“Hello, Lady Elise.” He returned her smile.
She shook her head. “Please, Elise is fine when it’s just us.” Then, eyes narrowed in the sly expression Gregor still remembered, she glanced up at him and then back at Fillion. “Are you keeping my brother out of trouble? He was such a thorn in father’s side. Always getting into some kind of predicament or another.”
Good gods, she wasn’t going to go into detail, was she? “Hang on, now, cupcake, we don’t need to—”
Fillion started chuckling. “I try to make sure he doesn’t do anything too outlandish. To be honest, though, we can both be trouble-makers at times.”
“Hmm.” She stared at him a moment, then nodded. “Good. Now,” she looked at Kisa and Coatl, “you absolutely must introduce me to your beautiful dragons.”
She thinks I am beautiful!
Because you are!
Gregor chuckled and squatted next to his bond-mate. “This pretty girl is Kisa. She and I are bonded.”
Kisa lifted her wings and stood on her hind legs. Hello, Elise.
“Oh!” Eyes wide, his sister placed a hand at her temple. “What a lovely voice you have.”
With a chirp, Kisa sat back down. She seemed quite pleased.
“And this big, lovable beast is Coatl.” Fillion stepped to his dragon and patted his neck.
Gold eyes shining in the sunlight, Coatl let out a friendly rumble and bowed his head. Elise.
“You’re magnificent.”
Fillion groaned and then chuckled. “Well, you’re now on his favorite person list.”
Elise glanced from one dragon to the other and back again. “I can see why you chose Dragon Craft to settle in, Gregor.”
He stood. “Well, there was a little more to it than that, but, yes. I’m quite happy here.” He smiled at Fillion and turned back to her. “And you? Are to bored to tears yet, learning the ins and outs of Caer management? Or has father tried to rope you into working for his company?”
“I never understood why you hated learning about management so much. I like it.” She shrugged. Her chest bounced a little.
Eyes wide, Gregor looked away. What in Yrdra’s deepest hells? When had that happened? Elise . . . was a young woman, now. Panic filled his heart. Did she even like toy animals anymore? Unicorns, bears, and wolves? Did she still splash through puddles in the rain? Did she steal into the kitchen at night anymore to raid the larder for cheese? His little sister, skinny little cupcake, was she gone?
Elise giggled.
He looked back at her. Maybe she wasn’t. The giggle was the same as he remembered.
“You’re right, though. Father is trying to convince me to join the company.” She shook her head. “I have no interest in it, however. I want to take over the Caer from mom, eventually. He keeps telling me news of company goings on anyway, hoping I’ll join him at CTC.”
“He did the same with me,” Gregor said.
“He was really excited last week,” she said. “He received confirmation that the company will be able to acquire some land at well below market price from an east-coast company that will be closed down.”
“National Transportation?” Fillion asked.
“Yes.” Elise looked at him with a surprised expression. “That was the company.”
“So he was able to acquire their assets after all.” Fillion nodded.
“Not all of them,” Elise said. “He only wanted their tracks, or more precisely, the land they sit on. He’s going to have to replace the tracks, you see. CTC rail cars have a slightly wider wheel gauge, requiring wider tracks.”
Gregor lifted a brow. “Wheel gauge?” She knew that much about father’s business?
“It’s the distance between the left and right wheel on a rail car,” Elise said, “measured from the flange of one—” Her eyes narrowed, then she pulled her arm back and punched him in the shoulder.
Gregor laughed. There was his cupcake!
“Are you making fun of me?” Her eyes flashed.
“Not at all.” He chuckled. “I’m just surprised you know so much about rail cars.”
“Well father talks to me about the company all the time, I can’t help but absorb some of it.”
“True enough, I suppose. And speaking of him . . .” His parents were walking over.
Gregor took a breath.
Best behavior, love.
I like your sister.
Gregor nodded. She was taller now, older, but she was still the sister he remembered.
“Gregor!”
He smiled. “Hi mom.”
“Oh, I missed you so much!” She half walked, half ran, and embraced him.
He reached around her with his good arm and hugged tight.
“I missed you, too.”
She pulled back, hands on his shoulders, and stared at him. “Just look at you, a grown man, now.” She placed her hand on his cheek. “My baby’s all grown up.”
Cheeks warming, he said, “Mom, you’re embarrassing me.”
“Indulge your mother, Gregor,” Lord Eldin said. “She hasn’t seen you in a while.” He glanced at Fillion and bowed his head. “Dragonlinked Fillion.”
Fillion returned the bow. “Lord Eldin.”
Elise turned from them and rolled her eyes at Gregor.
He clamped his lips against a chuckle.
“Mom,” Elise said, wrapping her arm around Fillion’s, “this is Fillion.”
Gregor looked at his mother and held his breath. He was certain his father had told her about meeting Fillion. Had he filled her mind with negative things? How would she react?
She smiled. “I can’t tell you how excited I am to finally meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Lady Lora.” Fillion bowed from the waist and was smiling when he stood back up. “I can see where Gregor gets his looks. If I may say so, you’re dazzling.”
“Oh, I like you,” Elise said, nodding. She held tighter to Fillion’s arm.
Gregor smiled. Just like him to—
“Why, thank you,” his mother said, a smile curving her lips. She glanced at Lord Eldin and then back at Fillion.
Gregor’s brows lifted. Was that a faint blush in her cheeks?
“Perhaps I was wrong to worry as much as I did,” she said. “Gregor does seem to be making better choices. Which makes me wonder,” she looked at the sling, “what happened to your arm?”
“It wasn’t my fault.” The oft-repeated words were out of his mouth without him even thinking about saying them.
“Here we go again,” Elise murmured, looking to the sky.
“Again?” Fillion looked from Elise to Gregor.
“Remember how I told you he was always getting into trouble?”
“Did you get into a fight?” Lord Eldin looked resigned.
“Well, yes.”
“Gregor.” His mother’s brows were drawn together. “Just when I said you were making good choices.”
“But mom, it was official guild business. And they started it. We were only defending ourselves.”
A Storm in the Desert: Dragonlinked Chronicles Voume 3 Page 62
