Murmurs broke out, and not just among the candidates.
“Make no mistake, dragonlinked, nahual will fight for their lives, as will others we may need to apprehend. For you see, helping people may occasionally require hunting prey other than nahual. You have a great deal of work before you all. But you will have friends to help you, as well as your bond-mate.”
Millinith took a breath and stood a little taller. “At any rate, now is a time for celebration. Normally these symbols of progress are given individually, once they’ve been earned. But seeing as we just received them, I feel we may as well give out those we can, now, with us all together.”
She grabbed a small box. “Apprentice Dragonlinked Aeron. Step forward, please.”
Brows raised, Aeron stood, looked at Willem, and approached Millinith.
She handed him the box. “Congratulations.”
Looking confused, he accepted and then opened it. Eyes wide and smiling, he removed a shiny object and held it aloft. “We have rank pins!”
Cheers broke out again. Doronal added his own applause. The boy—well, young man, now—had come far. “Well done, Aeron!”
“Apprentice Dragonlinked, Willem.”
The rest of the first class were called up, too. Renata, Jessip, Fillion, Liara, Gregor, Polandra, Sharrah and Cheddar. They were all beyond the requirements he and Millinith and the others had determined were those needed to be considered apprentices. They all received their well-deserved rank pins.
“Congratulations, apprentices.” Millinith lifted the side of her mouth in a half-grin. “Please continue to be inspirations to those that follow.”
After a chuckle, they headed back to the table, helping each other attach their pins.
“We designed them after your gold pin,” Sharrah said as they sat down. “Dellia is our supplier.”
“They look fantastic,” Aeron said, pinning Willem’s on.
“Keep in mind,” Millinith continued, “bonding a dragon is not a prerequisite to any of the guild’s ranks. It is the dragon who chooses, after all. Our newest class has worked hard, too, and they deserve recognition for becoming accepted. Congratulations to you all, as well.”
As he clapped, Doronal added his own “Hear, hear,” to those of everyone else. Terry was all smiles, as was Korrie. And why wouldn’t they be? They were the first of their class to bond.
Doronal looked at Lord Baronel. The man and his wife seemed to be enjoying themselves. When the Caer’s lord glanced at him, Doronal inclined his head. Lord Baronel stared at him a moment, a thoughtful expression on his face, before returning the slight bow and looking away. He was probably wondering what Doronal would do now that he’d bonded. It was a good question.
Millinith grabbed the satchel. “Congratulations again to you all. Now, please return to your celebrations.” She bowed her head and returned to the table.
“What of us?” He smiled at her startled reaction to the question. “That is, what rank are we?”
“Oh, right.” She twisted her lips. “I haven’t yet decided.”
“I would think we were at least apprentices, certainly.”
She raised a brow at him. Then, after digging in the satchel, she handed him a box. “Here, you have one. But I am not wearing an apprentice pin.”
Opening the box, he chuckled. “We haven’t settled on journeyman requirements, much less master.”
“I know that. Perhaps I just won’t wear a pin until I can wear a master.” She glanced at him. “And no, it’s not vanity. I don’t want to have something else people can use as evidence that our guild is ‘too new.’”
He glanced at her and back at the silver pin. “The guild is new.”
“I will punch you, Doronal. See if I don’t. You know what I mean.”
He smiled. “Oh, I don’t doubt it. And I do know what you mean. I just enjoy crossing words with you every now and again. I like seeing you stand up for yourself.”
Millinith turned to him, brows drawn together. A smile started to curve her lips.
“Guildmaster.” Fillion was leaning across the table.
Millinith closed her eyes and let out a breath. “Yes?”
“It’s Master Gella.”
“Here?” Millinith looked around the large room.
“No, she sent a message on the ‘writer. Adept Liflin woke one of the hatchlings to get a sending to Coatl.”
“Oh. Did Liflin say what she wanted?”
“You and me to meet her at the Gallia country estate. She wouldn’t say more, apparently.”
Doronal twisted his lips. “It seems your talents are required again by the special investigator.”
Her eyes went flat for a moment and she smiled. “Take me back to the stables, Fillion. I think Ikan’s spare saddle will fit Itzel well enough for now. She wants to go, and I’ll be damned if I’m not riding her everywhere I go from here on out.”
Fillion chuckled and nodded.
Millinith stood and glanced at Doronal. “We’re going to continue our conversation when I get back.”
He smiled. “Looking forward to it. Do give my best to my mother.”
She shot him a look before turning back to Fillion. “Pack for an overnight stay, there’s no telling what she needs.” She waved down Gregor and beckoned him to follow. “We’ll have Gregor pack as well, in case we need to return for him.”
I like her.
As do I, Huemac, as do I.
Doronal watched them leave the room. Millinith was off on another adventure. He leaned back in the chair and sighed. He swirled the wine and had a sip. She’d worried about allocating her time, but he had a different concern. Where exactly would he end up? Would he stay with Magic Craft? With Lord Baronel? Would he switch to Dragon Craft and move to the Guildhall?
He frowned. Probably not. But—
“I used to wonder what would become of the dragon stables when everyone moves into the Guildhall.” Cheddar scooted his chair a little closer. “But with you a dragonlinked now, perhaps you’ll move into one?”
“That’s not a bad idea, actually.” And, as more and more dragonlinked completed their studies and moved on to whatever positions they ended up with, there’d be a need for the stables to house any dragonlinked visiting Caer Baronel. He could imagine there’d eventually be a need for dragon stables in many communities, just as there was need for horse stables. Certainly in the cities.
But what about until then? Where would Huemac and Itzel stay before the others moved out of the stables?
I would not mind staying in this sand room.
The clutching room? No. I want you near me.
A bit of surprise came through the link, tinged with hope. You do?
Of course I do! We are one. Those aren’t just words to me anymore. I didn’t really understand their full import before.
We are one. The feeling of the pleased bark came through the link.
“Huemac likes the idea, I take it?”
Doronal smiled. Cheddar must have seen his gaze go flat as they spoke. “He does, though we’ll need to figure out where our newest dragons will live until then. There is one thing I am sure of, however.” Leaning across the table, he said, “Willem.”
“Sir?”
“I’ll need to be fitted for riding gear and formal dress as soon as possible. And Huemac will need saddles, too.”
“Of course.” Willem lifted his goblet. “Welcome to the dragonlinked, sir.”
“Hear, hear.” Cheddar lifted his glass.
Bowing his head slightly, Doronal lifted his goblet and then drank. He set the glass down and picked up the apprentice pin. The small silver rank badge was quite attractive, actually. The little dragon almost seemed alive. He rubbed his thumb over it and smiled.
Where he would end up, he had no idea, but for now, he’d fly with Huemac whenever he could and just let the rest work itself out.
Flying wherever we want without fear will be fun.
Doronal smiled, imagining himself in the s
ky astride Huemac, the dragon’s enormous wings pounding at the air. Yes it will!
+ + + + +
Fillion hadn’t even left the saddle when Master Gella emerged from the back of the main house.
“No need to dismount,” she said as she descended the steps. “I need you to follow me.”
“Follow you?” Still on Itzel, Guildmaster Millinith put her hands on her hips.
“Who is this gorgeous girl?” Master Gella walked over to the light gray dragon.
“How did you know she was female?” Fillion, brows raised, glanced from the pale dragon to the master investigator.
“Really, now, Fillion. Have your powers of observation left you?” Master Gella gestured to Itzel. “If you’ll note, her hips are wider than Coatl’s. Wider even, I think, than random differences would allow for. So, I made an educated guess.”
Guildmaster Millinith chuckled. “And a good guess it was.” She patted her bond-mate on the neck. “Master Gella, this is Itzel. She and I were bonded earlier today.”
“Bon—” Her brows lifted. “Congratulations!”
The Guildmaster smiled. “Thank you.”
Itzel let out a happy chirp.
“Well, as much as I’d like to spend more time catching up on news, my people are waiting.” Master Gella unhitched a horse that had been tied near the bottom of the steps. “Let’s get going.”
Fillion twisted his lips and glanced at the Guildmaster. She looked at him and shrugged.
Coatl glided high above Master Gella as she rode toward the city. Itzel and Millinith were off to the right, keeping pace with them all. Fillion had been trying to figure out what Master Gella had summoned them for. Was she taking them to another scene of a crime? Possibly. She said her people were waiting. Protecting, perhaps, the scene from being disturbed?
When Gella left the road about half an hour later, Fillion’s curiosity was piqued. So it’s not in the city, then? He had Coatl lower his altitude and follow.
There are people in that clearing.
Fillion glanced to the opening in the trees, perhaps a hundred yards ahead. They weren’t close enough yet to see anything but the fact there was a gap in the woods.
Master Gella waited at the side of the clearing for them to land. She spoke as she led them to the group of people in the middle of the clearing. “When I met the train bringing everyone from the South, I had a most interesting conversation at the station with a gentleman by the name of Bertram.” She glanced at Fillion.
He raised his brows. “I know him.”
“Yes, he mentioned as much. He also mentioned certain abilities Coatl has, which I assume all dragons possess.”
“Oh?” Guildmaster Millinith looked interested.
They’d arrived at the group of people. Several men and women stood in a rough circle around other people, six of them. Those six had shackles on their wrists and ankles, and were seated on tree stumps.
“As I finished up with the rest of my investigation,” Master Gella said, not trying in any way to keep anyone else from hearing her, “I turned my attention to this little group, the ones who handled all of the dirty work for Tiberius.” She began pacing in front of the six. “Bertram mentioned that Coatl can tell when someone is lying. He said that ability was quite useful in questioning the wreckers.”
Fillion nodded and glanced at the mahogany dragon. “That’s true. And like you said, I’m pretty sure all dragons can.”
“Would you have them approach, please?” Master Gella gestured to a spot a few feet behind them.
Fillion said, “Sure.”
Can you come near us, big guy?
Okay.
Guildmaster Millinith must have told Itzel the same thing, because both dragons padded over.
All six prisoners watched their approach.
Master Gella addressed the seated group. “What I discover here today,” she said, “will determine your sentences. That is to say, which of you six will spend a few decades in a gaol cell and which of you will hang from the neck until dead.”
Fillion’s brows rose and he looked at them. Most of their eyes were wide, all but the man at the far left. He seemed fairly calm.
“In a little bit,” Master Gella said, “I’ll get to the questions of who was directly involved with kidnapping the villagers in the South, and who was involved with their murder in order to fake the dragon attacks. But for now . . .” She turned to face the man at the left. Her gaze was chilling. “Pivin, tell me, did you kill the special investigator in Delcimaar?”
Coatl and Itzel leaned in, gold eyes locked on the man.
Pivin looked from Gella to the dragons and swallowed.
Dragonlinked Chronicles
Thank you so much for reading A Storm in the Desert, Dragonlinked Chronicles Volume 3. If you enjoyed this book, you may like the other books in the series. At this time, titles are only available in English. Some links are included below, but all titles are also available at amazon.fr, amazon.es, amazon.it, amazon.nl, amazon.br, and amazon.mx.
Dragonlinked, Volume 1 of the Dragonlinked Chronicles series
Fourteen-year-old Aeron is dealing with bullies (if running and escaping can be considered ‘dealing’), he’s trying to make his dad proud (though he’s failing at that), and when he hears any rumor about deadly nahual attacks, for some reason it makes him very nervous. Progress on the ‘making dad proud’ front (he finally gets invited to train in Magic Craft) comes with its own strangeness. How is he so good at sorcery? Then he rescues a baby dragon.
He didn’t know it was a dragon, but the poor thing couldn’t seem to break out of its egg, and unable to ignore the piteous whimpers, he helps her hatch. Powerful magic bonds them together, mind and soul, making them friends for life, and he wonders how he is going to care for her. He is doing really well at sorcery and worries about risking his studies. On the other hand, he’s got this adorable dragon who needs him right now. When he learns she will eventually get to be twenty feet long and weigh around four thousand pounds, he panics. How in Yrdra’s deepest hells is he going to keep her a secret?
Direct amazon links: US UK AU DE CA IN JP
The Bond, Dragonlinked Chronicles Volume 2
A mysterious enemy works against the masters’ plans and tension with his friends makes life tough for Aeron. When a mysterious dragonlinked arrives bringing startling news, it becomes even more important that their plan succeeds. Everyone must mend their differences and prove they’re capable of their expanded purpose because their future, the future of all dragonlinked, rests on their shoulders.
Direct amazon links: US UK AU DE CA IN JP
You might also enjoy a short story that is set just before the beginning of the Chronicles.
Moonflower (includes Brilliant Points of Light)
Millinith has always lived her life following others, doing as she was told. When a deadly nahual attack shakes up Caer Baronel, the horrifying event opens a door for Millinith. But will she have the strength of conviction to walk through, even if it means crossing the threshold alone?
Direct amazon links: US UK AU DE CA IN JP
About the Author
Adolfo Garza Jr lives in central Texas, so only rarely sees the phenomenon called rain. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (and with a minor in English), he is apparently one of the rare few who actually get a job that has anything remotely to do with their major. He worked as a computer programmer (also filling in, sometimes for years at a time, as a customer service representative, a merchant service representative, and as the graphics designer) and as a systems analyst before moving to IT Manager. After nearly two decades at the same company, Mr. Garza left to pursue his writing career. It hasn’t always been easy, as most worthwhile things are not, but he is slowly gaining knowledge about this art of writing thing and will be crafting worlds for the foreseeable future.
You can read about his writing exploits at Adventures In Lethera where he posts news about life, writing updates, b
ook release dates, fan extras (maps, sketches, etc), as well as things he’s learned about the whole writing craft thing.
Pronunciation Guide
Note: The IPA symbols listed below may not render properly on all eReaders, particularly older models. Other than e, the symbols are part of the IPA Extensions and Combining Diacritical Marks font subsets. A PDF version of this guide is available in the Library section on the author’s blog.
International Phonetic Alphabet Symbols
ɪː - Long E, as in eel, read
e - Short E, as in men, ten
ɑɪ - Long I, as in kite, my
ɪ - Short I, as in bit, writ
eɪ - Long A, as in ate, day
æ - Short A, as in cat, sat
ʌ - Short U, as in bus, rut
eə - Wear, air [if no ‘r’ follows, leave off the ‘r’ sound]
ə - America, collide
ɔː - Sort, ore [if no ‘r’ follows, leave off the ‘r’ sound]
ɒ - Short O, as in ox, not
uː - ooze, too
ɜː - bird, word
əʊ - Long O, as in go
g - as in glorious
ʔ - Glottal stop, a sudden pause while speaking. In the word ‘that,’ for example, you may notice that you only actually breathe out air during the first three letters ‘tha.’ As you shut off airflow, you lift your tongue to the roof of your mouth just behind your front teeth to make the final ‘t’ sound happen. The sudden stop, the blocking of your glottis, is called a glottal stop.
A list of some names, by location, is shown below. Where ‘ts’ is shown, it sounds like the ‘ts’ in cats. If an apostrophe is shown, its syllable is stressed. If none is shown, no syllable is stressed more than another. Pronunciations listed are how the author pronounces the names himself, and may not be the most frequently used pronunciations for names entirely or partially based on Earth names.
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