The Bond (Book 2) (27 page)

“
How did people react to your having a dragon?”

“
Oh, I made sure to keep Xochi hidden. I know there are some who—” A flash of anger passed over her face. “—who might, ah, fear dragons.”

Confused, Aeron wondered why she would be angry at people who are afraid of dragons.

“We traveled at night and kept as far from people as we could. I didn’t want to risk Xochi being seen.”

Master Doronal smiled and nodded. “Good thinking.” He approached the carmine dragon and looked her over. “And this must be Xochi?”

“Yes, sir.” Renata stepped beside him.

“
Hmm. She’s beautiful. Magnificent coloration.”

Xochi bobbed her head and let out a happy chirp.
Your hair is pretty, too. It is two colors!

Aeron wasn’t able to stifle his laugh in time, though he had covered his mouth with his hand.

Master Doronal’s brows formed two high arches. He ran his hand along the back of his short salt-and-pepper hair. “I, ah, well, thank you, young lady.” He bowed to her.

Renata turned to Xochi. “She says you are nice.”

Master Doronal, still looking off his guard, smiled at the young dragon. “You seem to have recovered from your illness.”

Renata tilted her head, staring at Xochi. “She remains a little weak, but that will pass, I am sure.” She glanced at everyone. “I cannot thank you all enough for helping me with her.”

Master Doronal nodded. “Yes, well, when a dragonlinked needs help, Caer Baronel will always supply it.”

Aeron nodded in full agreement. “Always.”

Renata looked from him to Master Doronal. “D–Dragonlinked?”

The magic master’s smile was warm. “My dear, you are the very definition. Alas, there are only two of you in the world.” Looking back at Xochi, he murmured, “Something we’d very much like to change.”

Seeming unable to resist anymore, Master Doronal reached out and patted Xochi on the head.

Master Canneth cleared his throat. “That being said, we want to proceed in an orderly fashion.”

“Yes.” Master Doronal clasped his hands behind his back. “From now on, anyone interested in becoming a dragonlinked, or even, ah, working for the company in another capacity, needs to go through an application process.” He eyed each of the people there.

“
We will soon have a short application that interested individuals must first fill out. Then they proceed to the next step: an interview with Master Canneth and with myself, whereupon we will make a final approval and determine if the applicant becomes an, ah, employee. At that point, Anaya—Hmm. Perhaps she and Xochi should confer, determine if they both have this sense of who makes a candidate.” His brows furrowed. “Where was I? Oh, yes. If an employee is a candidate, good or otherwise, then dragonlinked training in Magic Craft will begin. All employees will train in Animal Craft as it pertains to dragons.”

“
We are also considering whether we should take applicants in phases.” Master Canneth walked beside Master Doronal. He glanced at Xochi. “We don’t want to interrupt training to catch up a new applicant with past progress in the class.”

Aeron wondered if he was talking about Renata. What she thought about it all, he could not tell. She looked to be having trouble taking everything in.

Master Doronal nodded. “As for those applicants who are not candidates at all, I don’t believe we can accommodate them at this time. In the future,” he glanced at Master Canneth, “once the company is established, there will be many positions to fill besides dragonlinked. Non-candidates with a desire to join will be more than welcome then.”

He turned to Renata. “Now, as for you, young lady
 . . .”

She stared at him, eyes wide.

“. . . I heard many good things about you last night.” Master Doronal smiled. “Things that I am happy to see confirmed. I, for one, have no issues with your approval.” He turned to Master Canneth. “How say you?”

The Animal Craft master leaned over and scratched Xochi under the chin, eliciting a happy, humming purr. “Tell me, pretty one, would you like to have your very own den? We have three available, and one could be yours.”

Turning to her bond-mate, the little dragon said,
Can I?

Aeron looked at Renata. She stared down at her feet, straight black hair hanging down just past her shin. As she stood there, her shoulders moved slightly with each breath.

He wasn’t sure whether he’d be happier if she said yes or if she said no. Yes, probably. Maybe.

Lifting her gaze, she looked around at everyone, stopping with Jessip.

His brows lifted. It looked to Aeron as if his expression meant ‘it’s up to you.’ There was also a hint of something else in his eyes, though. Hope?

Renata turned to her bond-mate.
Why not? After all, we can’t have all the rumors be about a dragon boy. Let’s start some about a dragon girl.

Feeling a bit antsy, Renata sat in the middle of the bench watching Xochi. The red dragon stood in the courtyard, slowly turning in circles, staring at all the people. There were a great number of them along the fences between the four dragon stables. There had not been this many the two times she’d been here before.

I think they’re all here to see you, sweetling.

Really?
Excitement thrummed along the link as the young dragon watched the people watching her.

Renata wasn’t excited. Not at all. She’d spent too long hiding her bond-mate, trying to keep her a secret. And now, all these people were staring at Xochi.

“She’s beautiful!” The high-pitched squeal rose above the general commotion.

The girl looked to be nine years old, maybe ten. Standing with two friends at the fence, she had her clasped hands pressed against her chest, adoring eyes on Xochi.

Renata looked again at the people standing at the fence. All around the courtyard they lingered, chatting or silent, all watching Xochi. But now that Renata looked—really looked—she saw smiles, grins, awe and wonder. But no fear, no hatred, no disapproval. The tightness in her chest began to ease.

They had found the dragon boy. And he was nicer than she had dared hope. They all were. She looked across the courtyard to the third dragon stable. Her stable.

She’d been in Aeron’s study that first day, with Jessip, but she’d never really gotten a full sense of how large the rooms were. Compared to the cramped spaces she’d had to live in at Bataan-Mok, the rooms in the Dragon Stables were palatial. She still couldn’t believe that stable was hers and Xochi’s.

“Anaya is amused by Xochi’s reaction to all these people.” Aeron stood to her left, just outside the large doors to his bond-mate’s den.

Renata glanced at the crowds. “It’s so weird.”

“Weird?”

“Yeah. Not needing to hide, for one, and for another,” she gestured to the crowd, “having so many people
happy
about seeing a dragon.”

His cheerful laugh caught her off guard. The happy reaction came so easily to everyone here. Not so at Bataan-Mok. After the first few weeks, one’s laughter seemed to get lost, buried, extinguished.

“I know what you mean,” he said as he sat next to her. “I was a nervous wreck trying to keep Anaya a secret in the beginning. That, and not everyone was happy about her at first.”

“Oh?”

“People often fear what they don’t know.”

Anaya walked out into the sun and lay near Xochi. The difference in size was more dramatic than Renata would have thought. As much as Xochi had grown, she still had far to go.

The buzzing of the crowd had grown when Anaya walked out, and now Renata heard more squeals and excited whispers as people saw the two dragons together. Xochi did look especially cute next to the older dragon, she had to admit.

“How did you counter that fear? Everyone seems to love them both.”

“We changed the unknown into the known. Lord Baronel invited everyone to come meet her. For nearly two weeks people came by each evening and asked any questions they wanted. Anaya was just as adorable as your Xochi. How could people not love her?”

Aeron stretched out his legs, put his hands behind his head, and leaned back against the wall. “Of course, once I could ride her, it was good to get away every now and then, to be together without so many eyes watching us.”

Renata turned to him. “How long did that take? And how did you do that without harming her muscles with your weight?”

“Well, we’d already had her exercising her flight muscles by flying every day. All we did was put weights on her, increasing the amount every couple of days, so that, eventually, she got to where she could also handle my weight.”

Renata was impressed. Why hadn’t she thought of that? It was much like Manisi fight training, where you added weight to your arms a little at a time to increase stamina. “I see. So, you made some kind of weight straps for her legs?”

“Kind of. We made a large weighted strap, just a leather tarp, really, tied over her back. Later, when we needed her to carry two people, we just put weights in her saddlebags.”

Renata nodded. Logical.

“We could start weight training for Xochi. We’d probably want to take a little more time with her, seeing as she’s a bit younger, but we could certainly start, at least.”

“I’d like that, and I’m sure she would too. She’s a little jealous of Muffin.”

“Muffin?”

“My horse.”

“Oh!” He laughed.

“It looks like Anaya has some competition.” Jessip walked over and sat to her right.

“Competition?” Aeron glanced at him.

“For the hearts of the Caer.”

Aeron chuckled. “There’s no competition. Xochi is winning by a long shot. It’s hard to resist an adorable little dragon.”

Anaya turned to him. Renata thought the dragon looked a little upset. His next comment confirmed her suspicion.

“Oh come now, sweetheart,” Aeron said, “I love you as much as I always have, as I always will. But look at her. Isn’t she just too much?”

Renata smiled at her bond-mate’s antics. The phrase Aeron had used was perfect. Xochi
was
too much. The smaller dragon had her wings lifted and was still turning in a circle looking around at all the people. A happy croon came from her, and every now and then she’d let out a cheerful little chirp at someone.

You’re going to get dizzy spinning in a circle like that, sweetling.

Dizzy?

You’ll know what it means soon enough, if you don’t stop spinning.

“How’d you like your first official day of dragonlinked training?” Jessip said. “You didn’t seem to have any trouble with the magic lesson.”

She wasn’t going to hide anything anymore. Not from these people, at any rate. They were her friends. It was good to have some again. “It was fun. I’ve had a little training in magic before, so I was able to follow along.”

“You have?” Aeron sat forward. “Where?”

“We don’t want to pry, though,” Jessip said, eyes on him.

“Where I come from,” she said, “there is a group of people, a sect of monks. They recruit from nearby villages, mine being one of them. I was . . . chosen as a recruit. Part of my later lessons involved magic training.”

Both the boys stared at her. She could tell they had many questions, but they held back. Which was a relief. Though she’d vowed to tell them everything, doing so was more difficult than she’d first imagined. Some things were still painful to recall.

“You did mention in class that your trip here took a month.” Willem stood in the large doorway, leaning on the frame. “I’d be interested in hearing more about where you’re from.”

How long had he been there?

“Whenever you’re ready, of course,” Jessip said.

“Willem!” Aeron turned to him. “Could you make a weight belt for Xochi? I was telling Renata we could start her dragon on weight training so they could eventually fly together.” He turned to her. “You don’t know how amazing it is to fly with your dragon.” His eyes were as bright as his smile.

Willem stared at Aeron. He looked worried. The blond boy cleared his expression when he saw her watching him. “Sure. I suppose we’ll be needing some for dragons as we get them, anyway.”

+ + + + +

Lord Eldin sipped on brandy. The smooth drink generally helped to calm him, and he needed it at the moment. The letter he’d received from his head of employment had infuriated him.

I’m having trouble hiring guards at the pay rate you’ve authorized. Also, many I’ve spoken with don’t seem to want to work part of the time. Considering that they will have to relocate to a town or village near a station, they’re looking for full-timer employment at higher rates.

The rate the company was offering was only slightly lower than the rates offered by others! And he was not going to hire them as full-timers. Pay rates were higher for those. No, if they wanted more money, they needed to work more shifts or find additional employment.

Some people were so ungrateful. It was ridiculous. They should be happy for the opportunity to work at all. The horse disease in the east was forcing some companies to close up shop, leaving many out on the streets. That’s why he’d sent his man there to find guards. Average wages were better than no wages at all, weren’t they?

His upset was such that even enjoying dinner had been impossible. When he left the lobster unfinished, Lora asked if anything were wrong. He assuaged her concern, but he couldn’t even enjoy the desert. He’d had to choke down the chocolate cake before taking his leave to return to the office.

The warmth of the brandy sliding down his throat felt good. Swirling the caramel-colored liquid in his glass was also relaxing. The elixir was working its magic. He felt like he could write his response, now. At least he’d had other news. News of a much better variety.

Lord Paxton’s contact at the Investigation Craft Guild assured them that, with a little time, she could arrange for the guild to vote against Baronel. And the contact at the Animal Craft Guild confirmed that they would be voting against the man, as well.

The registration of Baronel’s provisional company names was complete, Lord Eldin had learned. The final meeting for approval of both companies was to be in Delcimaar on the second of Nony, a little over five months from now. Thus, the date for his demonstration had, too, been set.

He’d have it end with the arrival of the passenger train in Delcimaar the day before. The positive reaction from its complete success would carry him to the meeting the next day, where he’d get to watch as
both
of Baronel’s companies got declined.

With a large smile, Lord Eldin put pen to paper and began writing.

+ + + + +

Master Doronal stopped at the top of the stairs. It was windy out tonight and a bit cool. He buttoned his jacket.

Master Canneth said, “It took less work than I would have thought to convince him.”

“I’m not surprised,” he said, starting down the steps from The Residence. “Once Millinith returns, we’ll have a lot of work to do in order to be ready in time. Having all of us in on the plan will make it easier. Lord Baronel understands that.”

“I just wish we had more dragons.” Master Canneth had a slight frown on his face.

“Indeed. At the very least, a male for Anaya. There is still enough time before the meeting for her to produce young and have them old enough to travel to Delcimaar.”

“Even though we have Nenet’s egg . . .” Master Canneth shrugged.

Master Doronal frowned. “I know. We can’t assume that it will be male.” He hoped it was, but he wasn’t going to presume anything.

“Cheddar’s research hasn’t yielded anything useful, as of yet.” Master Canneth glanced at him. “We’re going to have to press the girl.”

The braziers at the base of the stairs threw wild shadows across the flagstones that the street lamps did not completely dispel. He stared at them, unseeing. “I know.”

“She has been revealing details of her home, slowly, but we need to determine from where she got Xochi and whether there are more dragons we can make use of there.”

“Yes,” he said. “However, based on what we’ve learned from Anaya, the egg should hatch soon. I’d like to give Renata that time to reveal her past to us of her own accord. Though she seems willing to share everything, there is something in the past that she is trying to come to terms with, I think.”

Master Canneth nodded. “Well, as long as the egg hatches within a week or two, we can give her until then. Bear in mind that her trip took around a month—”

“On horseback,” he said, raising a finger.

“Aye, on horseback. In any case, we are running out of time. We need four dragons in case the requirement carries over.” Master Canneth rubbed his chin. “We may want to have Aeron try House Yaot again. If he and Anaya take Renata and Xochi with them, perhaps the Queen will see that their words were true.”

Master Doronal grunted. He really didn’t want to have to send them back. From what Aeron described, it was not safe to do so. Still, they now had three possible ways to get dragons.

Which would it be? Nenet’s egg? Xochi’s home? Or would he be forced to send Aeron and Anaya back to the dragon warren?