A Storm in the Desert: Dragonlinked Chronicles Voume 3 (76 page)

Fillion, Gregor, Master Gella and a woman Polandra had never seen before, walked in from the dragon landing passage, followed by Coatl and Kisa. The brown dragon, humming, took up a position along the sand. Kisa sat next to him, head and wings raised in song.

Quiet gasps came from behind and from the Guildmaster. Master Doronal was quietly speaking to those around him. After fierce whispers, everyone in the second row rose to their feet. Polandra glanced at them. What was going on?

Guildmaster Millinith leaned over and murmured, “Polandra, if you two could make room? I think High Lady Hasana and Special Investigator Gella should sit next to me.” She then stood, waiting.

High Lady Hasana? Polandra glanced at the approaching people. The leader of the nation was here? She and Liara quickly moved over, making room for the two women, and stood.

Fillion had an enormous, smug grin on his face as they walked over.

Guildmaster Millinith bowed. “High Lady Hasana, welcome to the Dragon Craft Guildhall.”

More whispers, gasps, and murmurs broke out in the seats. Those that had heard and were not already standing immediately got to their feet.

High Lady Hasana smiled and inclined her head. “Thank you, Guildmaster.”

“We are honored by your presence.” Guildmaster Millinith shot a look at Fillion. “Had we but known you would be attending, we could have prepared a more appropriate welcome for you.”

“Please, worry not on that count. The unannounced visit is completely my fault and I do apologize, but I feel I must witness this. I want to learn as much as possible about dragons. I suspect they will become very important to the nation. Even so, I cannot remain long from the palace on such an abrupt trip.”

“As your time is short,” Guildmaster Millinith gestured to her side, “please, be seated. The eggs will hatch soon.”

All the dragons went silent.

With a tiny gasp, and with eyes wide and sparkling with excitement, High Lady Hasana quickly moved next to Guildmaster Millinith and sat. In a kind of wave expanding out from the leader of the nation, everyone else who’d been standing began to sit down as well.

Fillion and Gregor ran to Liara’s left and sat. Polandra would have to ask Fillion about this later, but right now, she focused her attention on the candidates and the eggs.

It is time, precious ones, is it not?
Anaya’s voice held a hint of humor.
Come. Meet those who would bond with you.

The egg on the left trembled and sharp tapping came from within. Blows that sounded even more forceful came from the other egg and it shook with each strike. Again and again the eggs wobbled and trembled as the little dragons worked at escape. Reassuring barks and chirps came from the dragons as they encouraged the young ones in their endeavors.

“Come on, you can do it!” Polandra turned to the guests, but she couldn’t tell which child had shouted her own encouragement.

The candidates, perhaps emboldened by that shout, began to cheer on the little dragons themselves.

“You can do it, I know you can!”

“Keep at it!”

A loud crack came from the egg on the right and a thin, jagged split formed in the shell. After a moment of shocked silence, humans and dragons resumed their support even more loudly and fervently.

“Don’t give up, you can do it!”

“That’s it! You’re almost there!”

A crack appeared in the left egg, and from within both, muffled grunts could be heard as the hatchlings worked to free themselves.

Come on, you can do it little ones. Polandra nibbled on her lip and clenched her fists, trying to send strength and encouragement through the very air.

The left egg seemed to explode in shards and flakes of shell, and a little dragon tumbled to the sand.

As they had been trained, the candidates remained where they were standing, though every one of them had eyes only for the little winged form, struggling to regain its feet.

With a quiet, frustrated bark, the dark brown hatchling, as deep a color as chocolate, stood up, wings raised.

Is it a boy or a girl?
Polandra glanced at Ikan.

He is male.

“It’s a boy,” she whispered to Liara.

Liara whispered back. “I wonder who he’ll bond with?”

Taking a half-step back, and only looking a little wary, the male hatchling eyed the candidates.

A muffled, angry bark came from the other egg. Little clawed fingers poked out the thin fissure in the shell, gripped tightly, and with a loud grunt and a sharp crack, the egg split open. The turquoise hatchling stepped out of the bottom half of the shell and calmly walked next to the other young dragon.

Female, yes?

She is.

Polandra smiled. This one was full of confidence. Who would she choose?

The candidates stood nearby, glancing from one hatchling to the other. From what Aeron mentioned during their training, candidates used to spend this time introducing themselves to the hatchings. Now, introductions were taken care of on their visits to the eggs, and hatching time was for the hatchlings. They would use it to choose who they would spend the rest of their lives with.

Gods, I’m as nervous as when I faced you and Itzel all those months ago.

Would it make you feel better to know that at least one of the candidates is close to throwing up from nerves?

She stifled a chuckle.
A little. But don’t you dare tell me or anyone else who you’re talking about. This is a special time for the candidates. Let’s not ruin it, okay?

Humor came through the link.
As you wish.

The hatchlings passed their gazes over the nervous hopefuls once again. The boy hatchling chirped at the girl, and she chirped back. Then, after touching noses, they turned to the candidates, let out happy barks, and ran to their choices.

Eyes on the little chocolate hatchling, Cheddar fell to his knees. Nodding, he said, “I do, little one, I do. Were you hurt at all?”

Korrie stared at the proud, blue-green hatchling standing before her. Eyes wide, she said, “Uh huh.”

Polandra looked at Sharrah. Pride shone in the girl’s eyes as she watched Cheddar, but there was also sadness. Polandra didn’t think Sharrah should worry over much, though. Two more eggs were close to hatching, and one was female. Sharrah would have another chance, soon enough.

“Daddy!” Korrie threw her arms around the young dragon in a hug. “Isn’t she beautiful?”

Polandra glanced at the row behind. Lady Rora and Lord Baronel both had large smiles on their faces.

“That she is, sweetheart,” Lord Baronel yelled out to her.

Korrie’s little brother and sister were practically bouncing on the bench in their excitement.

“I knew she’d bond,” Terra said. “I
knew
it!”

“Can we go see the baby dragons?” Gareth grabbed his father’s arm. “Can we?”

“Once the bonding is complete,” Guildmaster Millinith said, “friends and family are welcome to join them. Until then, for our safety, we must remain seated.”

“There you have it,” Lord Baronel said. “We can go to Korrie in a few minutes.”

“Candidates,” Guildmaster Millinith said, “exit the sand, please. You may join your friends and families. Chosen, please attend to your dragons.”

“Good gods, of course.” Cheddar stood. “I’ll be right back, Xoc.”

The two chosen candidates moved quickly to the side of the sandy area where trays of meat waited on a low table. After grabbing a heaping tray each, they returned to the hungry hatchlings.

“Separate,” the Guildmaster called out to them. “At least ten feet between you.”

Cheddar and Korrie led their dragons apart, then sat down and proceeded to feed them.

Laughing, Korrie said, “Goodness, Nelli, that’s not very lady-like.”

The little dragon let out a bark around the meat in her mouth, and continued to eat her fill.

“They’ve been in the eggs for weeks, Korrie.” Cheddar shoved hunks of meat toward the end of the tray where Xoc was making them disappear. “Of course they’re starving.”

“Good point.” Korrie nodded, staring at Nelli as if she were dreaming. And in fact, she then pinched herself. “It’s real!” She looked at Cheddar, eyes sparkling, lips clenched as if to hold back sobs, before looking back at Nelli.

“I can’t believe it either,” Cheddar said.

Nelli burped loudly and turned to Korrie. Letting out a little chirp, she leaned toward the blond girl, nose first, neck stretching.

“Yes, we are one,” Korrie murmured, hand reaching out to Nelli.

If Polandra hadn’t known those words, she’d likely not have understood them, so quietly had they been spoken.

Brilliant white light burst forth from where they touched, the initial activation of the enchantment.

Several in the crowd gasped and rose to their feet.

“Ladies and gentlemen, remain calm.” Master Doronal stood. “You are now witness to what few have ever seen. The Bond is the powerful enchantment that links dragon to human.” He gestured to the two slowly being covered in thin lines of violet light. Soon, he and others had to shield their eyes from the increasing intensity.

Korrie and Nelli were almost completely covered in the branching lines of light. Polandra had to look away, too, so bright had they become.

She looked at Ikan and he turned to her.

Images flashed through her mind from the link. The sky at night, filled with a purple and indigo haze and countless stars sparkling; Suule, fat and yellow, rising from the horizon in a cascade of colors; Flying through wispy banks of clouds with laughter in her heart and on her lips; And through it all, Ikan there with her.

Love so strong it almost had a physical presence reverberated back and forth through the link.

Polandra couldn’t hear it directly, they were too far apart, but Ikan let out a happy chirp at her.

Eyes a little misty, she smiled and nodded at him.

“Once the enchantment is complete,” Guildmaster Millinith said, “they will be bond-mates for life.”

As the brilliance began to fade, another burst of light came from Cheddar and Xoc.

Shielding her eyes, Polandra rose to her feet. Four more would get to share in this incredible adventure. Four more would share their lives, human and dragon. Four more were bond-mates.

When the second bonding was complete, Polandra began to clap furiously. “Congratulations!”

Liara immediately jumped to her feet and joined in. “Way to go Cheddar, Korrie!”

Applause, cheers, whoops and whistles broke out from everyone. The dragons, all on their haunches, wings spread, made their own congratulatory barks and rumbles and roars.

Guildmaster Millinith turned to those in attendance. “Thank you all so much for being with us on this very special occasion. Food and drink are available in the cafeteria. Adept Liflin,” she gestured to the sorcerer adept, “will guide you there now. We’ll join you shortly.

“Friends and family of our new bond-mates,” Guildmaster Millinith said, “please join me on the sand.” In a quieter voice, she said, “Master Gella, High Lady Hasana, Capu Cirtis and Isandath, I’ll introduce you to them, if you’d like. Please, come.” She walked off, and they followed her.

Polandra turned and watched the people leaving the clutching room for the hallway. They all seemed pleased and excited. Good. The more people that had happy experiences here, the better. Master Doronal and Master Canneth were heading out, too, talking with the auditors. Polandra liked the two representatives. It seemed they actually understood what the guild was about.

Turning back to the newest bond-mates, Polandra let out a breath. So many memories had been relived by witnessing the bonding.

“It really brings it back, doesn’t it?”

She looked at Liara. The raven-haired girl was watching Cheddar and Korrie and the newest dragons. Gaze darting from one thing to another, every now and then her lips would curve in a little smile and her expression would change to one of fond remembrance. Liara was unaccountably pretty, right now.

Polandra’s heart did a little flip.

Ask her, already.
Humor and exasperation came through from Ikan.

She turned to him.
Hush, you! I was going to.

Polandra looked at the small crowd gathering around the new bond-mates. Taking a quick breath, she bumped her hip into Liara’s. “Hey.”

“Hmm?”

After a gulping swallow, she said, “Would you like to move in with me?”

“Gods, yes.”

Polandra’s heart expanded, seemed to grow so big that she thought it would surely burst from her chest.

Liara’s hand found hers. “Let’s go see them.”

Feeling as if she were soaring through the sky, Polandra nodded and led the way.

The excitement of everyone brought her back to Lethera from the cloud she’d been floating on. Smiles, laughter, and excited voices surrounded the four bond-mates. Even the proud Nelli was a little taken aback by all the people and emotions she must be able feel from them. Standing behind Korrie, the little hatchling only peeked out every now and then.