A Storm in the Desert: Dragonlinked Chronicles Voume 3 (66 page)

“Yes, Capu,” he said. “These are a uniform, of sorts, though it is functional rather than ceremonial. The riding gear protects us as we fly at high altitude on our patrols.”

“Patrols?”

“Hunting for nahual, mostly,” Guildmaster Millinith said. “Though we also have a contract with Continental Transportation Company to patrol their rail lines for wreckers. Vandals intent on destroying their train tracks.”

“A contract?” Nesch Takatin looked surprised.

“Yes,” the Guildmaster said. “There are many who understand the value in what our guild can provide.”

Polandra kept her face expressionless, though she wanted to smile at Millinith’s subtle jab at the Nesch.

“Indeed,” Capu Cirtis said. “I have to say, it is a pleasure seeing all the dragonlinked here.”

“Oh, we didn’t bring them all,” Guildmaster Millinith said. “This isn’t even half of them.”

Polandra glanced at her. The woman wasn’t lying. Not technically.

Guildmaster Millinith said, “We also brought a few observers from the Magic Craft Guildhall.”

Polandra’s brows lifted. Phrasing it that way made it sound like the Magic Craft Guild had sent the sorcerers. Again, the sentence was not technically a lie. They had literally brought them from the guildhall. Polandra smiled. Guildmaster Millinith was being exceedingly clever.

“Additionally, we brought our Magic Craft Auditor,” Guildmaster Millinith indicated Adept Oran, “and our Animal Craft Auditor.” She gestured to Adept Komako.

Capu Cirtis glanced briefly at Nesch Takatin, turned to Guildmaster Millinith, and smiled. “Well, you are all welcome here.”

Nesch Takatin looked pensive.

Capu Cirtis said, “I understand you have a few words you’d like to say?”

Guildmaster Millinith smiled. “I do, if it isn’t a bother?”

“Not at all,” Capu Cirtis said. “I have a few words of welcome and then I’ll hand over the talks to you for yours. Please, make yourselves comfortable.” The two men turned and headed back to the seating section.

Guildmaster Millinith made her way to one of the chairs in the front row. Everyone else took seats as they saw fit.

Nesch Takatin had not looked at Aeron or Anaya the entire time. Polandra wasn’t sure whether that was good or bad.

The older man is excited and nervous. The other seems to be conflicted.

She glanced at Ikan. He’d sat not far from her, to the side of the pavilion.
Conflicted? Interesting.

Capu Cirtis stopped at the podium, while Nesch Takatin continued into the seating section. The speaking stand, Polandra noticed, had been rotated to face east, so the speaker could address the crowds, the seating section, and the pavilion.

“Members of the Corpus Order, friends from the villages, and honored guests.” Capu Cirtis smiled at everyone. “Today marks an important date in the Order’s history.” He gestured to the dragons around the courtyard. “I’m not sure there have ever been this many dragons in Daelon’s Plaza, no matter the circumstances. But that is only one of the things that will make this day important. Today, we host special guests.” He raised a hand to the pavilion. “Members of the Dragon Craft Guild, Guildmaster Millinith, I welcome you all to Bataan-Mok.”

There was applause from around the plaza and a very few cheers. There were also a few murmurs. Had some not heard of the guild? Or were they surprised at the welcome?

“The purpose of this gathering is to gain knowledge.” Capu Cirtis looked around at those watching him. “Rumors abound concerning the dragon boy, Aeron, concerning the dragon guild, and concerning dragons themselves. Today will be about learning a great many truths.”

Polandra raised her brows. Truths?

Many of the people in those seats are suddenly concerned.

Polandra glanced at Nesch Takatin and was surprised to see his face had gone pale.
Perhaps they are worried that Capu Cirtis will reveal the truth about the First Principle.
She looked back at the Capu. Would he have the courage to do so?

“But enough of my talking,” Capu Cirtis said. “Guildmaster Millinith has a few words she’d like to say.” He turned to them. “Guildmaster?”

Guildmaster Millinith made her way to the podium. With a smile at the Capu, she stood behind the lectern. “I want to thank everyone in the Corpus Order for allowing us to have these talks. Knowledge and communication are key to any relationship. And I would like the Dragon Craft Guild and the Corpus Order to eventually have a relationship. One built on the truth.”

She smiled. “As Capu Cirtis said, there are many rumors about the dragon boy. Let’s start the sharing of knowledge with this: The dragon boy is real. His name is Aeron, and yes, he is bonded with a dragon. Her name is Anaya. They were the first to be bonded.” She gestured to them. “Aeron, could you stand by Anaya, please?”

Aeron grunted. Brows lifted, he stood and jogged over to his bond-mate. He placed his hand on her shoulder and waved. They both bowed their heads.

A few in the crowds cheered and many raised their arms, clenched fists held high. Polandra had seen that same gesture, the one Aeron had used to signal for the portal, many times in the days since while she and Ikan hunted nahual around the villages.

“Another dragonlinked pair that came with us today, are Jessip and Zolin.”

Guildmaster Millinith presented them, pair after pair. Willem and Balam, Fillion and Coatl, Liara and Mia, Gregor and Kisa, and Renata and Xochi. Everyone bowed when they were announced.

“And the last pair here today,” the Guildmaster said, “are Polandra and Ikan.”

With the last of them introduced, people in the crowds clapped, as did some of the umeri. Polandra was heartened by that.

“Thank you dragonlinked, you may return to your seats.” The Guildmaster glanced at the tiered section, at the people in it. “Some of you may know Renata and Polandra. They were manisi before they left to learn the truth of the dragon boy rumors.”

A few of them are suddenly angry.

Polandra glanced at those sitting in the tiered seats.
Keep monitoring everyone. We don’t need something stupid to happen.

“I wanted everyone to meet our bond pairs,” Guildmaster Millinith said. “To introduce them, yes, but also to put a face on them. Dragon. Dragonlinked. Those aren’t just words or abstract concepts. They are real people. I wanted to be sure everyone understands that as we have our talks. Talks that I suppose we should start now.”

Turning to the umeri, she said, “Thanks to Renata and Polandra, we at the Dragon Craft Guild have an initial understanding of the Corpus Order, so why don’t we open the talks with any questions the Order may have about the guild?”

Nesch Takatin stood. “Guildmaster, you said something about Aeron and Anaya being the first bonded. What exactly does that mean?”

“As far as we’ve been able to determine,” she said, “Aeron and Anaya were the first human and dragon to be bonded.” She glanced at the pavilion. “Renata and Xochi were the second bond pair.”

“Yes,” Takatin said, “but what does that mean, bonded?”

“Perhaps it would be best if Aeron explained how he met and bonded Anaya. Aeron?”

With a quick inhale and exhale, Aeron stood and walked over. Guildmaster Millinith gestured for him to stand behind the podium. After doing so, Aeron looked around at everyone staring at him.

“I am not special,” he said.

With a grunt, Polandra raised her brows.

“I am no better than anyone else,” Aeron continued, “and am likely worse than some.” He looked at his bond-mate and chuckled. “Anaya disagrees. Well, one thing I
am,
is lucky. And sometimes very, very stupid.” He looked at Nesch Takatin. “I almost died the night I stumbled upon Anaya.”

Polandra stared at Aeron as he recounted his journey through the dark caverns. He’d traveled the entire cave system with only a small hand-lantern while sketching his progress in a notebook.

Incredible. Stupid, yes, but incredible, too.

She’d never heard this story, not entirely. When he told of the ledge collapsing under him, her heart nearly stopped. She wasn’t the only one, apparently. Many a gasp came from the crowds of people. To fall into the unknown depths, no one knowing where you were? Good gods, that was frightening. Then he told of seeing the large eggs. He heard Anaya trying to escape hers, trying to break through the incredibly tough shell. In the end, they had to work together to free her.

When he spoke of being linked with her through magic, the experience of it, Polandra couldn’t help but smile. She recalled the sudden sense of Ikan, of being able to feel him breathe, feel his heartbeat pulsing through his veins, feel his incredible wings stretch and fold. She could even feel his love for her through the link, could sense all his emotions, as he could, hers. It was as if a floodgate had opened within her breast. The memory brought all the emotions of the experience back to her.

Thank you for choosing me, Ikan.

Why would I not? We are one.

She smiled.
Yes, love. Yes we are.

“The enchantment that linked us, we call the Bond.” Aeron turned to Anaya. “When a dragon chooses a partner, a bond-mate, and when the dragon
knows
that they are one, their touch triggers the spell.” He looked back at the tiered seats. “The Bond uses spirit focus in its anchors. Those of your members knowledgeable in Magic Craft can verify what that means. Our very souls are linked.”

Polandra glanced at Nesch Takatin.

His eyes were shadowed. “You really can feel what she feels.” He glanced at Anaya and sat down.

“So, according to you, getting a dragon is easy.” An umeron had stood. He was an older man with a pinched expression.

“Easy?” Aeron’s brows were drawn together. “Did you listen—”

“If that’s so, why aren’t we waist deep in you bastards. What do you call yourselves? Dragonlinked?”

“Umeron Yiska!” Capu Cirtis stood. “You will maintain a civil tongue, or you will leave.”

Polandra had never seen the Capu upset before. It kind of surprised her. His entire demeanor was different. Where normally he was serene and smiling, now he was angry, with eyes flashing and a hard expression.

Umeron Yiska glanced at him, frowned, and turned back to Aeron. “If what you say is true, why aren’t there even more dragonlinked? Why only in the last year has this happened?”

“Dragons in the wild,” Guildmaster Millinith said, “are somewhat different than bonded dragons.”

“I knew it!” Yiska pointed to Nesch Takatin. “I told you there was something wrong with that damned dragon.”

“Yiska,” the Capu’s voice was quiet, but firm. “I will not ask you again.” He stared at the umeron a moment, then turned to Millinith. “Guildmaster, how are they different? And why?”

“Dragons that are not bonded are anxious and fearful.” The Guildmaster glanced at Anaya. “If you’ll recall Aeron’s story, even Anaya was very shy and nervous when she hatched, hiding behind the eggs. He had to coax her out with food. As to the why of it . . .”

“Guildmaster!” Liara stood, jogged over, and whispered something to her.

Millinith turned at Ikan. “Perhaps it would be best if you heard the why of it directly from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Ikan? If you would?”

Polandra glanced at Liara. The raven-haired girl smiled at her and nodded.
Ikan. These people might not be as knowledgeable about such things as the auditors. Can you make it simple enough that a child might understand?

I will try.
Ikan turned his gaze on the tiered seats and stood up on all four legs, facing them.
He chirped and gave a quick bow of his head.
Capu Cirtis, Nesch Takatin, Umeri.

His sending had not been limited. It had in fact been expanded, widely. Gasps came from the crowds behind all three magical barriers as well as from many of the umeri. Surprised murmuring passed through their ranks.

Ikan unfurled his massive wings, stretching them up and out. He then sat back on his haunches, settling them on his back. The plaza was completely silent.

Large, gold eyes stared at those before him.
Imagine a place where all birds hatch without wings.
In this land, birds never get to experience the joy of flying—the feel of air under them, of being lifted into the sky, of wind rushing over their bodies. They never get to see the land open before them for miles and miles. They never get to experience the full freedom of flight that they were made for.

Ikan blinked.
It is sad to contemplate, is it not?

Polandra raised her brows. She’d never heard him speak like this before.

Capu Cirtis stared, seemingly mesmerized.

He was not the only one. Glancing around the plaza, she saw that all eyes were on her bond-mate.

Ikan’s gaze swept across the tiered section, across the faces turned to him.
Because they never had wings, these birds do not know to care that they do not have them. Even so, somewhere deep in their hearts, they know that something is not right, that they are broken. These birds live their entire lives knowing—being absolutely certain—that they are not whole.