A Storm in the Desert: Dragonlinked Chronicles Voume 3 (22 page)

Aeron just stood there, looking at him.

Willem panicked. Was Aeron angry?

“You snore very softly when you sleep on your back.”

Willem blinked. “What?”

Aeron walked around Anaya and stood in front of him. “You’re embarrassed about your freckles . . .” he reached out, and his fingers were gentle on cheek and nose, “. . . but for the life of me I don’t know why. They’re amazing.”

Willem stared at him. “I don’t—”

“When you
really
smile, you have one, tiny dimple on your left cheek. And your scent,” Aeron breathed in, “I could pick it out from a million people.”

Willem frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Aeron nodded. “Yes, there is that. You sometimes get cranky when you’re tired. And you wake up annoyingly early, too.”

“I’m not perfect. Is that what you’re saying?”

“All those quirks and more I
love
about you.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t know those kinds of things about Polandra. I never will.”

Willem sighed. “I know that you’re not falling in love with her. That’s not what I—” He took a breath and let it out. “I hate that you and Polandra do these exciting things together. That’s what I’m jealous of. We don’t have fun adventures like that.”

“But I have fun just sitting next to you. Being around you makes me happy. Believe me, if I had to choose between the most amazing adventure someone could think up and, I don’t know, eating a sandwich with you, the poor roast beef wouldn’t stand a chance.”

Willem chuckled. He couldn’t help it. “You and food. I swear.”

Aeron smiled at him. “Every minute I’m with you
is
an adventure. Don’t you know that?”

“I just find it hard to believe, I guess.” Willem shrugged. “What’s so special about me?”

Aeron stared at him, all humor gone. “Everything.”

Anaya chirped at him.

Willem swallowed, trying to loosen the sudden tightness in his throat.

Alandra’s merciful heart, how did I get so lucky?

He tried changing the subject. “So, do I really stink so much that you could find me in a crowd?”

“No,” Aeron shook his head. “Gods no. Your scent is the absolute opposite of stink. It is so far from stink that—”

When Aeron misses you, he often smells your pillow.

“Anaya!” Aeron’s face flushed crimson.

Willem was astonished and a little embarrassed. “What do I smell like?”

Aeron cleared his throat. “Well, uh, your scent is rich, yet soft, like the woods after a light rain, and there’s a hint of leather, and”—he rubbed the back of his neck—“gods, I don’t know. But I do know that it makes me feel happy and peaceful, and it makes me feel safe, like I’m home. You smell like . . . you.” He shrugged.

“You ready, Aeron?” Polandra’s head was poked in the dragon door.

Willem had never been happier to be interrupted. On the verge of bawling like a baby, he took slow, deep breaths.

Are you okay?
Balam sounded confused.

Turning to Polandra, Aeron said, “Give me a second. I’ll be right out.” He walked to a worktable and grabbed a few items along with his satchel.

Willem felt a little more in control.
I’m fine, or I will be. Aeron just said the most amazing things about me and I . . . I almost burst into tears. I’m too tired for this!

Balam’s laughter couldn’t be heard from the courtyard, but the feeling of it came clearly thorough the link.

Laugh it up, you pile of leather scrap.

He watched Aeron packing a few last items into his satchel. It was time for them to leave.

Willem took another breath and checked his eyes. They were dry, thank the gods. He turned and hugged Anaya’s neck, whispering, “Bring him back safe, okay?”

She rumbled in reply.

“Well, we have to go.” Aeron, lips crooked in a half-smile, stood behind him.

Willem reached around the satchel and gear as best he could and hugged tight. “Be careful.”

Aeron’s arms wrapped around him. “I’ll try.”

+ + + + +

“I think it’s a great idea,” Millinith said, “and something I completely forgot about with everything else going on. Did you have any ideas on a design?”

Sharrah smiled and held out her hand. “This. Obviously, the ones for the guild will be in silver, and we’d use rank gems instead of the dragon’s eye gemstone.”

Millinith nodded. It was a perfect template, actually. “Yes. How did you get that anyway? He always wears it.”

“Not when they go down there.”

“Ah, of course.” She frowned. “You know, I have no idea how to find a jeweler for the commission. Maybe I can stop off in Delcimaar sometime soon and visit a few there.”

“Actually,” Sharrah said, “I’ve already spoken to the jeweler who made this. I didn’t mention specifics, just asked if she’d be willing to take on commissions. She said she’d be happy to and even told me how to contact her.”

“Excellent. I’ll speak with our accountant about getting a contract ready.”

“We have an accountant?”

Millinith smiled. “As of four days ago, we do.”

“It still catches me off-guard that the guild is real.” Sharrah had a wistful look on her face. “It wasn’t so long ago that Aeron was sneaking off to the caverns to feed Anaya, keeping her a secret, because he was so scared people would be afraid of her and want to kill her.”

“Someone tried to.”

Sharrah frowned. “Well, those people were mislead, were lied to. Everyone else is either indifferent to dragons, or likes them to one degree or another.”

“How about you?”

“Me?”

Millinith had noted the look of relief Sharrah had each time she’d been passed over for bonding and wondered why that was. “Do you like dragons?”

“Of course I do.”

Millinith raised a brow.

Sharrah looked hesitant. “I’ve always liked dragons. I just have some things to think about, things to work out in my head about them and being bonded to one. But I’m getting through it all.”

“I hope so,” Millinith said. “If anyone can document the bonding process accurately, it’s you. All your dragon records are excellent. I look forward to reading your report about it, as you’ll no doubt be bonded before me. I’m not even sure I ever will be.”

“Anaya said all of us were candidates. You never know.”

Before Millinith could say anything more, a not-too-familiar sound interrupted her.

Sharrah looked around. “What is that? It sounds like a . . . metal cricket?”

Millinith lifted a few sheets of paper, found the tablet, and slid it in front of her. “It’s the guild’s ‘writer.” Lifting the leather cover, she touched the metal plate in the right locations and sequences, unlocking and silencing the device. Words began to appear.

Greetings. Master Investigator Gella, here, looking to speak with the Guildmaster ~

Millinith was surprised. It had been weeks since she’d heard from the woman. She slid out the stylus and wrote her reply.

Greetings. Guildmaster Millinith, here ~

I’ve discovered where the sample came from. Could you meet me at the Gallia country estate in an hour? ~

After scanning the schedules on the wall—he was free—Millinith turned to Sharrah. “Could you speak with Fillion for me? Tell him I’ll need him to give me a lift within the hour.”

“Of course.” Sharrah stood and made for the door.

The stylus made little clicking sounds as she ‘wrote’ on the metal plate.

Yes ~

See you then ~ ~

Thankfully, the snow had let up a great deal by the time they had to leave. Slow, fat flakes continued to fall, but only a fraction of their former number drifted lazily to the ground. The other dragons and dragonlinked had abandoned the courtyard earlier in the afternoon. The cold must have finally gotten the better of them. Their churned up piles of snow were now softened by the accumulation since. A thick, white mantle covered everything.

Millinith checked the riding belt once more, it was snug, and walked over to the waiting dragon. He lifted his foreleg for her. “Thank you, Coatl.” Using it as a step, she lifted herself into the saddle behind Fillion.

A minute later, and they were off.

It was sunny and clear near Delcimaar. The layer of snow covering everything, however, was evidence that a storm had passed through recently, perhaps even the same one now at Caer Baronel. Coatl made for the yard at the rear of the large house, the same place they’d landed on that trip a few months ago.

Lady Erindia stepped out the back door after they landed. “So good of you to join us, Guildmaster.” She smiled.

“I couldn’t resist.” Millinith removed the riding belt and tucked it into one of Coatl’s saddlebags. “I’m curious as to what the Master Investigator learned.”

“Dragonlinked—Fillion, isn’t it?”

Fillion, brows raised, nodded. He was probably impressed that Lady Erindia remembered his name. Millinith was of a mind that Gella had told her he’d likely be along, too.

“Feel free to stable your dragon in the barn. Please join us after.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Fillion bowed his head and walked off with Coatl.

Lady Erindia tucked an arm though Millinith’s and led her to the house. “You seem a little thin. Does leading a guild not agree with you?”

Millinith frowned. “Doronal said I was thin, too.”

“Doronal?” Lady Erindia shot her a look and raised a brow. “Hmm. Well, my son is an observant man, after all.”

“It’s a bit more work than I expected, but nothing I can’t handle, I’m sure.”

A smile lifted the corners of the woman’s lips. “Good.”

The room Millinith was taken to was off the main living area. It appeared to be a library of sorts. Books filled shelves and cases, and there were scrolls, too, along with sea charts and even three globes. A large table dominated the middle of the place, and Master Gella stood next to it. She turned as they entered.

“Ah, Guildmaster.” Her brows drew together. “And Fillion?”

“Stabling Coatl,” Millinith said. “He’ll be along shortly.”

“Would you care for something to drink while we wait?” Lady Erindia moved to a sideboard.

“Actually, a hot cup of tea would be most welcome.” Millinith smiled. “The trip was short, but chilly.”

“Two sugars and no cream, if I recall?”

Okay, maybe the woman did recall Fillion’s name. “That’s correct, Lady Erindia.” The only time they’d ever taken tea together was months ago, and yet, her preference had been remembered.

As Millinith accepted the steaming cup, Fillion was escorted into the room by a young man. It was Kaiden. His eyes lit up when he saw her and his mastery-level smile burst forth.

“Millinith! So nice to see you again.”

“That’s Guildmaster Millinith, Kaiden.” Lady Erindia’s lips were quirked in a smile.

He grew serious. “Ah, yes. My apologies, Guildmaster.”

“None needed, Kaiden.” Millinith sipped her tea. Now that she saw it again, Kaiden’s smile had much in common with some of Doronal’s.

“Thank you for bringing Fillion to us,” Gella said.

“Yes,” Lady Erindia said. “Thank you, Kaiden. I’ll call if we need anything else.”

“Of course, my lady.” With a short bow, Kaiden left the room, closing the doors behind him.

Fillion, having stood and watched the short conversation with a look of confusion, walked over to her. “You know that guy?” he whispered.

“He’s Master Doronal’s nephew,” Millinith whispered back. “I met him the first time I went to the Gallia mansion in Delcimaar.”

“Hmm. Yeah, well, he needs to flash that smile somewhere else.”

Millinith successfully kept from laughing. Just.

Fillion glanced at the closed doors. “I don’t like poachers.”

Millinith thought about it for a second, but didn’t understand the reference. “Poachers?”

“Sure, if Mas—”

“So,” Master Gella said, “you must be curious about the sample, yes?” She’d unrolled a large map on the table.

Millinith walked over. “Actually, I am.” It was an incredibly beautiful map of Muirgen. The entire continent was depicted in various highly saturated colors.

“Gregor tried to figure out that salt, too,” Fillion said, approaching the table. “He hasn’t yet been successful in locating the beach, however.”

Gella smiled. “That’s because it isn’t from a beach.”

“Huh?” Fillion looked at her. “Where else are you going to get sand and salt?”

“From here.” Her finger jabbed the map.

Everyone leaned in.

“Ghost Flats?” Fillion’s head spun to Millinith.

She stared at him and shook her head slightly. That was guild business. She’d hear out Gella first, then decide whether or not to share.

His brows drew together, but he said nothing and merely turned back to the map.