Dragon School: Prince of Dragons

by Sarah K. L. Wilson

  Dragon School: Prince of Dragons

  Dragon School, Volume 9

  Sarah K. L. Wilson

  Published by Sarah K. L. Wilson, 2018.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  DRAGON SCHOOL: PRINCE OF DRAGONS

  First edition. April 5, 2018.

  Copyright © 2018 Sarah K. L. Wilson.

  Written by Sarah K. L. Wilson.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  MAP

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Behind the Scenes:

  For the readers who love Raolcan.

  MAP

  Dragon School Map, April 2018. Larger downloadable version available at www.sarahklwilson.com

  Chapter One

  “Now what?” I asked.

  Someone – Leng, I thought - had lit a fire after we bound up his cracked ribs - and we stood around it uncertainly. He favored them slightly, but they weren’t preventing him from moving around almost as gracefully as usual.

  The boy has amazing pain tolerance. I’m impressed, Raolcan said.

  I put the kettle on the fire to brew caf because that’s what Hubric would have done if he were here. I missed him. If he were here he could tell me how worried I should be about Leng’s injuries.

  Let him tough it out. It’s how dragons do it. Definitely don’t say anything. He wouldn’t like that.

  Around us, there were so many dragons that shadows blocked the sun. Dragons herded the Rock Eater warriors and defeated Magikas into a huddle nearby, while others stood guard around them. Dragons dotted the sky where they chased down Ifrits. Dragons gathered up the dead – both men and fallen dragons - for the funeral pyres. My heart ached for Cynos who had given his life and the lives of the other Red riders to fight off this invasion. It ached just as much for the Purple Dragon Rider who had been snatched from behind me by an Ifrit. His body lay among those ready to be shown our respect for the dead.

  “They brought five ships,” Rakturan said. He’d taken on a new life since he left us, like he had found a strong vision. He and Enkenay had flown out over the ocean to survey the ships as soon as the Ifrits scattered. “Three Rock Eater ships and two from Baojang. There are skeleton crews still aboard, but they won’t sail with the dragons guarding them. Are these dragons truly loyal to your dragon?”

  I looked at Raolcan. He could speak for himself.

  I’d rather not. Go ahead and speak for me. Tell him that the dragons will help until we have this situation in hand.

  “They’re here to help. For now, at least,” I said.

  “It’s my intention to take those ships and return to Baojang,” Rakturan said.

  Savette gasped and I felt my own mouth open in surprise. That was the last thing I’d expected him to say.

  “And return valuable assets to our enemies?” Leng asked quietly. He stood with us, but he’d been tending to Ahlskibi as we dealt with other tasks. Ahlskibi was clearly injured, favoring his right side and occasionally coughing out black clouds of smoke.

  “Baojang is no enemy of mine,” Rakturan said. At Leng’s sharp look he shifted uncomfortably and added, “And I do not want my great nation to be your enemy either. I will return to her and warn about what I have seen. We have our own enemies like the Dusk Covenant there and our own tales of the Hasa’leen – the bringer of light, your Chosen One. It’s time that my people heard that she has come to us. We need to make peace between our nations to tackle this greater threat – the threat to peace that the Dusk Covenant brings.”

  “We don’t dare risk Savette that way,” I said quietly. After all, I was a Lightbringer now. She was ours to protect, as well as my friend. Leng gave me a curious look. “Hubric is certain that she is the Chosen One.”

  “He is?” Leng’s eyes ran over her, his jaw clenching at her bright eyes, uncovered by their blindfold.

  Savette pulled the scarf back up to cover her eyes, as if she felt uncomfortable under his gaze. “I am devoted to Truth. Beyond that, I don’t know what I am.”

  Leng straightened his shoulders. “Then she can’t go anywhere. Though that doesn’t prevent this man from leaving. His plan is solid. If war can still be prevented - even after the sacking of Casaban and this invasion force - then peace must be pursued. We’ve all seen what war does.”

  He looked sadly around him at the bodies being laid out in a long line along the riverbank. Did he have friends among them? He certainly had suffered alongside some of them. He didn’t notice Savette grab Rakturan’s hand, clutching it tightly in hers.

  “Were they your friends, Leng?” I asked gently.

  “They were becoming my friends, although they would have died anyway - none of their dragons survived the attack on Casaban. Ahlskibi only lived because he was out hunting in the countryside. He was set upon by an Ifrit and escaped during the battle but was too injured to immediately follow me. We lost our connection for a time.”

  Leng caressed Ahlskibi’s snout as he spoke. They were both still shaken by what they’d endured, and no wonder. I’d be gutted if anything ever happened to Raolcan.

  Nothing will. I’m a tough dragon.

  Behind us, Savette and Rakturan whispered intently together. She seemed distressed as their voices gradually grew louder. With the sun setting red over the dark sea and the dragons laying out the dead, their whispers made me shiver. It was a grim evening, despite my relief that my loved ones had survived.

  “Because it isn’t safe with me,” Rakturan said.

  “It’s not safe apart from you! Together we are stronger, and I can’t bear the thought of you being hurt or killed across the sea from me.”

  “I will be fine, Savette. I am a prince of Baojang. I will not be killed. We both are stronger than we were before.” He was pleading with her, but I wasn’t so sure he was right. After all, the diplomatic party he was with and even his own bodyguards had been willing to risk him before. This was a risky choice.

  “When you are gone, they’ll marry me off to someone else just like they were planning to do before.”

  His mouth was open to argue but he shut it at those words. A moment later he smiled.

  “What if I married you before I left?”

  She still looked uncertain, though more hopeful than before.

  “There’s a ship of Baojang drifting out there and a ship will have a captain and a Captain of a Baojang ship has the right to perform marriages. I’ll marry you before I leave, right here where the Feet of the River meets the sea.”

  She stood on tip-toes to kiss him, their long hair intermingling in the breeze.

  I guess that’s a yes, then.

  They were so sweet together. But wasn’t this place supposed to be significant for their magic? Why hadn’t we seen any of that happen in the battle?

  You didn’t notice dragons pouring out of the ground? That didn’t seem significant to you?

  Well, obviously I’d noticed that.

  That’s the magic of this place. Both Dragons and Ifrits can be
called up here. Ifrits because this place has deep ties to the earth from which they are created, and dragons because Haz’drazen keeps the cavern system open and one outlet is here.

  They came through caverns under the ground?

  Yes. I started calling to them when you and Hubric first met with the Reds two hours north of here. Even with that much time, it was difficult for them to come so quickly.

  But they came. They came for their prince. I was still trying to wrap my head around the idea of Raolcan as a Prince! Would he tell me more about it if I asked him?

  I’ll tell you something else, instead. My friends have found Findar with Hubric’s messages.

  Chapter Two

  They’re bringing Findar here. He’s wounded from the battle.

  Excitement filled me. If only Hubric were still here. He’d be relieved that the messages were safe. I turned to Leng.

  “Is there some protocol about accepting Hubric’s missing messages back?”

  “So that’s what brought you here. I wondered why Hubric would leave his duty.” Leng nodded his head thoughtfully. “Protocol says that the highest-ranking member is always offered the messages unless there is some reason to do otherwise. Since you are Hubric’s apprentice, that would mean that you should take them, even though I rank higher than you do.” He glanced to where Rakturan and Savette were whispering together and cleared his throat. “I think we can recover the messages on our own.”

  Raolcan led the way down the rocky river banks, giving our prisoners a wide berth. Ahlskibi walked so close behind us that I was worried about being singed by his smoky black coughs.

  “Can we do anything for Ahlskibi’s injuries?” I asked Leng.

  “Not really. They’re magical. He needs time to heal. The medicine of the Whites would help, but there are none here and our own first aid practices are of little use to an injured dragon. He needs rest and time. He will survive this.”

  I hadn’t even thought about him dying. Thinking of it now filled me with horror. He wasn’t close to death now, was he? If he was that injured, we needed to get him help right away.

  Listen to Leng. He knows what he’s talking about. Ahlskibi is fine. He’s a big complainer at the best of times.

  The black sooty cough that burst past me was laced with flames. It scorched the right side of my leathers and I gritted my teeth in annoyance, chastising myself. It was wrong to be annoyed at a hurt dragon.

  Even one who did it on purpose? He didn’t like my dig at his irritability.

  Maybe Raolcan could keep the teasing to a minimum. Especially since I was standing between the two of them. Leng snorted from beside me and I jumped. I wasn’t used to anyone else except Hubric following along with our silent interactions.

  Leng took my hand with care, like he was afraid I might pull it away but also like he was leaving room for me to do that if I wanted to. I felt my cheeks heat and I turned my gaze away, afraid to let him see what I was sure my eyes were showing. His callused palm felt hot and certain against mine. I had very little certainty in this life.

  “I’m glad we came in time,” I said. How did I tell him that my heart would have broken if we hadn’t? How did I tell him that he filled my thoughts without sounding like I was pining for him?

  You are pining for him. Why didn’t you suggest that the boat captain marry the two of you? You’re as far gone as Rakturan is.

  How did I tell Leng that I didn’t ever want to let go?

  Oh, for pity’s sake, tell him something before I start fake-coughing fires.

  “I’m glad you rescued me, too, Amel. If you’d been any later, Ahlskibi would have tried on his own and I couldn’t have borne his death.” He stopped for a moment, his dark gaze meeting mine with warmth and affection, as if he was also holding in more than he could express with words.

  Did you hear that? Ahlskibi the snappy-one owes me. I plan on reminding him of that.

  I thought Raolcan was supposed to be a prince. Was it too much to ask for a little dignity?

  Not you, too. I left to get away from all of that.

  He did?

  Well, technically I was sent, but I’m not getting into that.

  Leng was still looking at me and I felt my cheeks heating.

  It was impossible. I had to speak. “I couldn’t have borne your death, Leng Shardson.”

  He leaned down and very gently kissed me. “I haven’t received permission yet, Amel Leafbrought, but life feels like something that can’t be promised from one day to the next – not anymore.”

  “Our futures were never certain, Leng.” I fought to look into his dark grey eyes despite my galloping heartbeat. Did he see all the way in when I looked at him? What would he think if he knew how frail I was inside?

  “I promise to use what days I have left making your days better.” His voice was so deep and gentle when he spoke to me – like he had his own tone for me. “If you’ll let me.”

  I swallowed. “I’d like that.”

  Why did I have to sound like such a fool? Why couldn’t I have clever, romantic things to say back? Things like a character in a story? Why couldn’t I sound like someone worth devoting yourself to? Instead, I was tongue-tied and blushing and my head felt too full to think.

  “You’re wearing my davari,” he said. “And whose promise is this other one?”

  “Hubric’s.” Was that relief I saw on his face? “He promised to come back for me.”

  He nodded and his smile grew. “We’ll find him before he can look for us and return his messages and his honor.” He leaned his forehead against mine in a gesture so tender that my heart fluttered like a trapped butterfly in my ribcage. “Remember, you have my heart in your palms.”

  This time it was me who kissed him. He held me very gently, like he was afraid of breaking me.

  Here’s Findar. Unless you plan on putting on a show for him, I think kissy-time is done.

  A red dragon stepped out from behind one of the broken statues. In his mouth, a limp Findar hung like a fish dredged up from the river bank.

  Chapter Three

  This is Saifmid. He recovered Findar for us.

  Saifmid – the red dragon – shook Findar like a puppy with a stick in its mouth. A rain of small objects fell from him, including a dozen message cylinders. I scrambled forward while Saifmid dropped Findar to the ground. Falling to my knee and propped against my crutch, I gathered up the precious messages as quickly as I could. Hubric would want them kept safe. He’d want them to be secure.

  “Your Dragon Rider belt has slots for them. I don’t know if Hubric told you that,” Leng said, helping me up. My hands were full of messages, so he lifted me to my feet and helped me settle against my crutch. “Look.”

  On the inside of my belt was a cloth panel. I’d known that. What I hadn’t realized was that the cloth could be pulled out slightly, revealing loops. Leng gently took a message from my hand and showed me how to slot it into the belt.

  “They’re uncomfortable there, but you know they’re safe. Not everyone uses them, especially not for long journeys. They’re just too uncomfortable, but until you have somewhere else to put them...”

  “It’s perfect.” I smiled at him, slotting the messages into the loops in my belt. When I looked up again he was kneeling over Findar.

  “He’s alive but unconscious.”

  “Can we help him?” I asked.

  Leng snorted. “He’ll live. He has no obvious injuries to bind. He probably slipped – or was pushed in the battle - and hit his head. He can wait with the other prisoners until we decide what to do with them.”

  Leng hoisted Findar awkwardly into a half-drag, half-carry. He winced at the pain of his ribs, stumbling slightly under the other man’s greater weight. Ahlskibi nudged him with his snout.

  “You’re not carrying anyone until you have time to heal.”

  Ahlskibi coughed, flame flashing across the rocks in a harmless direction. I agreed with the sentiment. Leng had no business carrying anyone,
either.

  “Fine. You can guard him. Will that make you feel better?”

  It must have been satisfactory, because Leng put Findar down, leaning him against the feet of a stone statue and Ahlskibi settled himself gingerly on the rocks beside the unconscious man. We all liked to feel useful. I understood Alhskibi’s frustration.

  “What are we going to do about the prisoners?” I asked.

  Leng pulled at his ear with one hand as he thought. “The closest city to here is Casaban and it’s in enemy hands. There’s a city north of here along the coast – Saldrin. We could go there for help. Or we could head northwest toward Leedris City and try there. Obviously, we can’t take care of this ourselves. We simply don’t have the manpower.”

  My brothers will stay and watch these prisoners until humans can come and take over their charge.

  I hadn’t even asked Raolcan if the dragons wanted to deal with the prisoners themselves. Hopefully, he wasn’t offended.

  Why would dragons want to deal with human problems? My brothers will stay and watch the prisoners until you can bring humans here, but we should leave soon. My brothers don’t wish to stay too long.

  “Ahlskibi told me what Raolcan says,” Leng was nodding as he spoke. “I think we’ll need to leave immediately.”

  After the wedding.

  “To Saldrin or Leedris City?” I asked aloud.

  Leedris. It’s time we found out if Savette’s family will support her as the Chosen One.

  “I agree,” Leng said. “Leedris makes sense. It’s about two days flight from here.”

  “Do we bring the prisoners with us or fly alone?”

  “That’s a good question. We’ll have to think about the logistics of it.”

  But right now, we need to fly to the ship or we’ll be late for the wedding.

  What?

  You did want to see your friend get married, didn’t you? Don’t worry about the prisoner. Ahlskibi will guard him.