Dragonbound: Blue Dragon (21 page)

The crowd gasped and edged back. None of them had ever seen a dragon hunter come back with such a prize. Most Great Blue dragons that died were shot down with the ballistae while in combat with the soldiers. Those dragonstones were claimed by the company that had founded the colony.

Kanvar's dragonstone was gigantic and worth enough money the dragon hunter who won it would spend the rest of his life in wealth and comfort.

Samdrasen cast greedy eyes upon it, and his lips curled in annoyance. He couldn't burn Kanvar now. With a stone like that Kanvar would be a hero, a legend, and a very wealthy man.

The street went so quiet that the distant jungle noises pressed in on the crowd.

Kanvar's hand shook from holding the weight of the stone. "General," Kanvar bowed to Samdrasen. "I'd like to give you this stone in exchange for Raahi's freedom."

"You want to trade the dragonstone for that stunted worm?" Samdrasen's voice shook as he pointed at Raahi.

"Yes. The stone for Raahi."

Raahi stared at Kanvar in utter bewilderment.

"Get over here, boy," Samdrasen ordered. Raahi came forward and stopped beside Samdrasen.

Kanvar held the dragonstone out to the general.

The general grabbed it with both hands and held it over his head. Now he would be rich. He would be the hero.

The crowd cheered.

Raahi raced over to Kanvar and enveloped him in a steely hug. "Kanvar, Kanvar, I can't believe you did it."

General Samdrasen strode away up the street, and the crowd followed, leaving Chandran, Raahi, and Kanvar alone.

Kanvar peeled Raahi off of him. "I'm going back into the jungle." Kanvar looked from Raahi to his old master. "Chandran, you should take passage on the first ship back to Maran. Settle down in style with your daughter and grandchildren. I'm afraid the blue dragons will mount a retaliation for my actions, one this colony might not recover from. You should go, and take Raahi with you. Make sure he has a good life."

Chandran stared down at the stone in his hand. His eyes glinted with joy at the thought of finally being able to give up his life as a soldier and live in peace. "Of course I'll take care of Raahi."

"No way." Raahi folded his stout arms across his chest. "I'm staying with Kanvar. I want to be a dragon hunter too. Kanvar can teach me."

Kanvar shook his head in alarm. "Raahi, you can't come with me."

Raahi narrowed his eyes in a cunning smile. "I'm free now. Thanks to you. Sorry I laughed when he said you would come back rich and famous and free me. But you have freed me. And since I'm free, I get to choose my own path. I do not want to live in Maran. I want to kill dragons and earn enough money to get passage back to my village in the mountains of Darvat."

Kanvar's mind whirled. He had not guessed Raahi would want to follow him. He couldn't bring his friend to live with the blue dragons. It wouldn't be safe, and Raahi was sure to hate Kanvar as soon as he found out Kanvar was a Naga.

Kanvar reached his mind out to Dharanidhar who waited for him out in the jungle.
What should I do?

Take him to the village. You can visit him there, and he'll be safely away from the colony when we start burning crops and things. Tell him you'll teach him to hunt from the village.

"All right, Raahi," Kanvar said, throwing his hand up in acquiescence. "But we'll have to get you some armor and weapons. Until then you have to agree to stay in a safe spot while I go out and hunt."

"Yes." Raahi punched the air in excitement. "I get to learn dragon hunting from the best dragon hunter ever." He headed for the colony gates. "Come on. Let's go."

Kanvar held his hand out to Chandran. "Thank you for everything. Be well."

Chandran shook his hand, then slapped him on the back good-naturedly. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you could survive in the jungle. But do me a favor, and don't get yourself killed. If I hear word that some dragon finished you off, I'll come right back over here and boot you in the rear."

Kanvar grinned. "I have no intention of getting killed. I'm sure I'll live to a ripe old age." Even with as old as Dharanidhar already was, Kanvar figured he'd outlive Chandran, his children, and his great-grandchildren, though Chandran would never know it.

"Kanvar, come on," Raahi called.

Kanvar nodded at Chandran and limped off after his friend. They passed through the colony gates and kicked up a swarm of jewel dragonflies which buzzed around them in a rainbow of color. The thought of revisiting the village before returning to Dharanidhar's lair thrilled Kanvar. He'd get to see Tana again, and just maybe she'd hold his hand.

About The Author

Rebecca Shelley loves adventuring and spent a lot of time in her youth doing things like dog sledding, hiking, camping, and horseback riding. She has a special fondness for dragons and fairies and wrote her first book in Elementary School. She loves to hear from readers. To contact her, visit her website at
http://www.rebeccashelley.com
.

Preview

Prologue

Borealis folded his
wings and dove into the ice cave that he and his mate, Saghani, had made their home. Ice crunched beneath his feet as he landed. Saghani looked up at him with hopeful blue eyes. He spread his foreclaws in defeat. It had been so long since he'd found any food, his hunger had given way to a prolonged ache throughout his body and a dizziness that made it hard for him to fly. His wings shook with the effort of getting back to the cave.

I'm sorry,
he told Saghani.
The seals are gone along with the sea lions and walruses. Even the caribou and ice bears have migrated elsewhere. The snow wolves watch for me and hide deep in their lairs the moment I leave this cave. If we want something to eat, we'll have to move.

Saghani let out a weak roar.
You know we can't.

Borealis eased over to the nest and stuck his nose down into the soft scales where the fragile egg rested.
Do you think it will hatch soon?

Yes, soon.
Saghani stroked the little white egg.
And the hatchling will need to eat right away. Borealis, you must find some food. Maybe if you fly farther.

I can't fly much more.
Borealis lifted his shaking wings. It took so much effort he became dizzy and staggered away from the nest.

Saghani whimpered. Her skin stretched tight against her bones. Her head looked skeletal. The dragonstone on her forehead gave very little light.
There must be something out there to eat. If there isn't enough for you and me, there must be something, be it ever so small, that the hatchling can eat.

Borealis dug his claws into the ice in helpless rage.
Saghani, I can't find anything.

What about the humans?

We can't eat humans. They are intelligent beings.
Even in the face of death Borealis didn't think he could stoop that low.

No, I don't mean eat the humans. But I've seen them take their little boats out on the water. They pull fish from the sea with their nets and spears. If you went to the human camp, you could get some fish from them.
Saghani's thoughts were as soft as an evening wind over a snowbank.

The humans would never give us their fish. If I go anywhere near them, they'll think I've come to harm them, and they'll fight me. We can't talk to them. Humans do not hear dragon thought.

Then take the fish from them without asking. Just fly to their camp, grab the fish, and come back.
Saghani lifted her foreclaw to him in supplication.
Please, Borealis, for me. For the hatchling.
She was so near death from starvation it made Borealis's heart ache.

Borealis staggered back out of the cave and leaped into the air, forcing his wings to carry him one last time.

Chapter One

Kanvar's dragon
, Dharanidhar, leader of the Great Blue dragons, lowered his head. Kanvar released the leather straps that kept him safe in flight and slid off Dharanidhar's neck onto the charred ground.

Nothing remained of the Maran Colony's tobacco and cotton crops but blackened stems. The smell of burned greenery rose into the air, and the ashes crunched beneath Kanvar's boots. The great stone gates of the colony stood ajar, abandoned by the Maran soldiers that once guarded them. Kanvar's heart twisted.
What have I done?
he thought.
My people. I betrayed them. Destroyed them.

Dharanidhar snorted.
They weren't your people.
You are Varnan not Maranie. Besides, we didn't kill anyone. We just burned their crops, caved in their mines, and sank their timber flotillas. You were right. As soon as the colony started losing money instead of making it, the Maran soldiers and colonists left all on their own. No more fighting. No more killing. You didn't destroy them. You saved them.
Dharanidhar let out a deep laugh and thrashed his tail, sending up puffs of ash. His sightless eyes glittered with glee.

Kanvar covered his mouth and nose with his arm and squinted to protect his own eyes from the ash as he limped away from Dharanidhar and slipped through the gates, dragging his crippled leg behind him. His stubby left arm swung uselessly at his side.