The Bond (Book 2) (34 page)

“
This is nothing new,” she said, admonishing the young dragons, “so be patient.”

One chest, Xochi’s, was placed onto the scale and Sharrah took a weight measurement, then the next, Zolin’s, was placed on the scale, and she wrote down their combined weight. Once the dragons were finished, she’d take the measurements again in reverse order, and thus know how much each dragon ate, even if some food was left. Which hardly ever happened. Dragons, Jessip amusingly suggested once, may very well be related to pigs.

“Alright,” she said. “Dig in.”

Finally!

Jessip shook his head at Zolin’s impatience.

“
Ah!” Gregor said as he approached. “I didn’t miss the feeding. I don’t know what it is, but I really enjoy watching them eat.”

“
It is fascinating,” Master Millinith agreed.

Liara flinched and frowned. “I could do without the sounds of bones crunching and snapping.”

Cheddar laughed. “I completely agree.”

Fillion snorted. “Babies.”

“Once you’re bonded, you will just be happy that
they
are happy.” Renata’s lips curved in a small smile as she watched Xochi eat.

“
Yeah.” Aeron watched the two dragons.

Jessip nodded. He’d felt something like this with horses, being glad when they were content. But it was so much more with Zolin.
I love you, you know.

The little black dragon looked up, muzzle somewhat bloody.
And I, you.

“
I think I am ready to tell my story,” Renata said. “All of it.”

+ + + + +

“The horse disease, equine influenza they are calling it, continues to spread.” The woman, Gillian, arranged flowers in his office as she spoke.

Blossoms, branches and other items Lord Eldin had no name for were arrayed around a vase on a small table. “I understand it has been detected mid-continent?”

She looked up at him. “My lord is well-informed.”

“You are not my only source of information.”

“Of course.” A slight head bow and she returned her attention to the blooms. Small metal snips trimmed stems, and she placed the cut flowers into the vase. “If my lord would not be offended at a suggestion, he might consider limiting horse travel in and out of the Caer, soon. And separating any horses that become ill.”

He’d already met with his Animal Craft master to arrange matters in just such a fashion. “Any other news?”

She adjusted the items in the vase, moved them around with no rhyme or reason. “Rumors continue about the dragon boy. But now there is tell of a dragon girl as well.”

“Oh?”

“Both are at Caer Baronel.” With a final pull and twist, she stepped back, examining the vase from all sides. “There is a third dragon rumor as well, though I hesitate to mention it, as all versions of it so far lead back to the same source.”

He waited for her to continue.

When she didn’t, he said, “Go on,” and kept a tight reign on his temper. Though merely a flower merchant, her ear reached far and wide.

“Again,” she said, “keep the salt handy, but there is talk that another dragon was seen at Caer Baronel before the girl arrived with hers.” Apparently done with both the flowers and her news, Gillion stood before his desk. “Lord Baronel may have three dragons.”

“I see.” He kept his face impassive, but the news concerned him. It was not the first rumor he’d heard about there being more than one dragon in Caer Baronel. And with multiple sources telling him the same tale, he could not afford to discount it. “Thank you. Same time next month?”

She bowed. “As my lord commands.”

Once the door closed behind her, Lord Eldin drummed his fingers on the desk.

He’d done so five times when the quiet knock came. “Come in.”

“Did the florist bring good news or bad?”

“Good news. For you, anyway.”

“For me?”

“You’ll be making another trip to Delcimaar.”

“A private train is a wonderful thing. What do you bid of me?”

“Apparently, our previous obstacle isn’t slowing Baronel enough. He may overcome it. I want you to find out where we are with the Investigation Guild.”

“Ah, yes. I will take care of it.”

“See that you do. Take whatever steps you need, short of starting riots in the streets. But discreetly, understand? Discreetly.”

“As you say, my lord.”

When he was alone again, Lord Baronel rose and began pacing.

Why hadn’t Gregor mentioned anything about there being more than one dragon? And why was he sending letters less frequently? Those he wrote only contained the barest mention of Baronel’s dragon plans—the same nonsense about a business focused on investigating or fighting nahual. Instead, they were mostly filled with his findings about Anaya and, by extension, dragons in general. Gregor seemed to be more focused and genuinely interested in his new vocation than in anything he’d ever toyed with before.

As his father, Lord Eldin was happy that Gregor had finally displayed an interest in something that didn’t involve getting naked and into bed with someone. While Lora hadn’t worried overmuch on Gregor’s many dalliances, Lord Eldin was happy that his son seemed to have moved beyond that. Gregor could make a career out of this, a future.

But why did it have to be dragons?

Frowning, he returned to his desk and drew out an envelope and sheet of paper. He’d ask Gregor about the rumors. They were likely true, and the boy could tell him exactly how many dragons there were.

After a bit of warm wax and the press of his seal, the letter was ready to be sent.

+ + + + +

Jessip’s stomach was in knots and his chest felt tight. There was something Renata had been holding back all these weeks, and though he was sure there was good reason, he was still anxious about what she would reveal.

Renata’s suggestion that they summon Master Canneth and Master Doronal had been set aside by Master Millinith. She would let them know what she felt they needed to know.

“This is Dragon Craft business.”

While most had nodded, Aeron had stared at her. Jessip had also felt a little surprised, but was impressed, too. She was to be Guildmaster, after all, and this was guild business. The sound of the investigation office door closing caught his attention.

“Alright, then,” Master Millinith said, sitting down. “Tell us your story.”

“Take your time,” Jessip said.

Renata smiled at him and his heart jumped. She looked around the table and said, “As I’ve mentioned before, I am from far to the south, from a village on the eastern end of the Shining Sands, a vast desert that covers many hundreds of miles. There are a few villages in the area, and a place, a building almost of a size with Caer Baronel. It is called Bataan-Mok. There are monks that live there, men and women of the Corpus Order.”

A little crease formed between her eyebrows and she cleared her throat.

“Go on,” Jessip said. “You are amongst friends.”

She nodded. After a quick look at the faces around, she stared at the table, gaze unfocused. “The Order has existed for over a century. They send out scouts, Ojoni, looking for new recruits. Many consider it an honor for someone from their family to be chosen.”

She let out a breath. “My parents gave me to them when I was eight.”

A little gasp from Liara drew her eyes for a moment. “I was sad to be leaving my home, but I was not surprised. It happens all the time.

“Life as a Pesan, the first position a new recruit is given, is . . . desperate, highly competitive. Children grasping for rank and power. Cruelty, humiliation and pettiness reign supreme. True friends are few to none. They can’t be afforded, you see, as they might betray you for a chance at better standing.”

Muscles moved in her jaw. “Eventually, you are sent down, made a Crusan. Lowest of the low, Crusani are barely even allowed to speak to those above them. Now, the humiliations must be endured with no chance at recourse.

“The Order raises children up to this imagined pinnacle of power and then tosses them down into a dank basement of subservience.”

Jessip stared, wide-eyed. How could someone do that to Renata? To any child?

Renata smiled. “I did have one friend, though. I met Isandath near the end of my time as a Crusan, just before I . . . was chosen for another job.

“Once you have served as Crusani for a few years, you see, they test you and place you in a new position based on your abilities. Once transferred, promotion is then possible.”

“But for what purpose does the Order do this?” Master Millinith frowned. “What is accomplished by treating children so?”

Jessip wondered this, too. It seemed as if they did it for cruelty’s sake.

“Isandath and I think it is to shape their minds. They are given a taste of power. When it is then taken away in such a drastic fashion, it drives members to strive to rise in the ranks to gain that power back. The Oder twists and bends recruits’ desires so that they serve more fervently.” She scowled. “I can only imagine it is to perpetuate the Order itself, for their supposed purpose is based on a lie.”

“What do you mean?” Jessip asked.

Renata glanced at him a moment. “There are several principles that guide the Order’s purpose, and the First Principle is based on a lie. As such, the rest of the principles, each based on a previous one, are all complete or partial lies themselves.”

“What is the First Principle?” Cheddar said.

Renata looked at him. “Yrdra created dragons.”

“What?” Aeron looked surprised.

“Why is that a lie?” Master Millinith didn’t look upset or surprised. Instead, she seemed curious. “Or, rather, how do you know it is a lie?”

“The principles are based on a book, said to have been revealed to the Order’s founder during a summer of meditation. It is called the Book of Days. The creation story within, the Hour of Creation, turns out to be based on a legend from one of the nomadic tribes that live in the desert. It tells how the universe was created by Ulthis.”

She snorted. “The Hour of Creation was plagiarized. At any rate, The Hour is inscribed on stone tablets twenty feet high so that all may see it and be inspired by it. Isandath found an original translation of the legend hidden away in the Order’s archives. The Hour of Creation does not match the original. The line in the Hour that the First Principle is based on was changed. A word was added to the end.”

“What was the line?” Fillion’s eyes were large.

Renata looked at him. “‘A secret smile crooked the corner of her mouth, and she quietly added one thing more to the world before she turned and left, dragons.’”

“So, originally,” Cheddar said, “there was no name put to what she added, but in their version, they name dragons?”

She nodded.

“Why would someone do that?” Aeron looked angry.

“I don’t know.”

“What is the Order’s purpose, Renata?” Master Millinith’s voice was quiet.

She returned Millinith’s gaze for a moment before looking down at the table. She took a deep breath and said, “There are people in the Order, the Manisi. A Manis is the highest position one can hold outside of the leader and his second in command. Manisi train in magic and in hand-to-hand and ranged combat. Their purpose, the purpose of the Order . . .” She closed her eyes. “. . . is to kill dragons.”

Stunned, Jessip could only stare at her.

People leapt to their feet. Everyone talked at once, and in response, voices rose to be heard. Shouted questions followed, one after the other.

“Where is Bataan-Mok” “We have to stop them!” “Do they know about Xochi?”

Renata sat huddled in the chair, staring at a spot on the table. Her eyes. She looked—

What is happening?
Zolin’s voice was tinged with worry.
Xochi is upset and so is Anaya.

“
Enough!” Jessip’s yell seemed to bring a little order to the chaos. “Can’t you see she’s terrified?”

Turning to Renata, he said, “Hey, it’s okay. What you told us about the Order is important to know. But that isn’t why you’ve been worried these past few days, why you’re scared right now, is it?”

A minute shake of her head was her response.

“
Tell us what troubles you,” Master Millinith said. “It can hardly be more surprising than what you’ve already revealed.”

Renata placed her elbows on the table and rested her head in her hands. “I was a Manis.”

Jessip swallowed. “Did . . . did you kill dragons?”

“No,” she said, “thank the gods. Dragons haven’t been seen in decades.”

“Are you a Manis, now?”

Renata looked up at Master Millinith. “No. Once I learned the truth, I couldn’t stay there. I left that terrible place with Isandath’s help.”

“Then there is no reason for you to worry.” Sharrah smiled at her.

“You don’t understand. I would have killed dragons. I trained for months to do so.”