Embers at Galdrilene (34 page)

The servants cleared the tables and everyone began filing through the Great Hall out onto the inner terrace of the caldera. On one side of the massive doorway a large group of musicians tuned their instruments on the recently erected stage. Mernoth and the young dragons found perches on a large pile of boulders by the lake as the humans spread out from the door.

It didn’t take long for the musicians to set up. Within a few short minutes, lively music filled the air and dancers moved onto the smooth rock of the terrace. The towering rock walls of the caldera rim made for perfect acoustics and the music traveled easily over the massive plateau. The setting sun silhouetted the dragons and washed the dancers in rosy golden light.

Kellinar roared with laughter when Marda snatched Vaddoc from where he leaned against the wall and pulled him out onto the terrace. The plump older woman pushed him into dancing over his protests. Kellinar’s laughter cut short when Serena grabbed his hand and pranced out onto the smooth stone, towing him behind her.

Maleena smiled at the look on the two men’s faces as they were dragged away. Kirynn plainly enjoyed their discomfort as well. She laughed and called out friendly jibes at the two men until Mckale stepped in front of her. He smiled. “You’re not getting off that easy, warrior woman.” He grabbed her arm and twirled her into the dancing.

“Oh, now you’re asking for it borderman. I will dance you into the ground!” She laughed at him as the musicians picked up the tempo of the music and a fast paced, intricate dance began.

Maleena clapped her hands in tune to the music and called laughing encouragement to the men as the women put them through their paces. Despite her age and weight, Marda was light on her feet and possessed plenty of stamina.

A tall, rail thin man with an age lined face stepped forward and offered his hand to Maleena. He had wispy white hair, bushy eyebrows of the same color and sharp blue eyes. She recognized him as the Headmaster of the University. His mind was quiet and with Mckale so close, coming into contact with the man wouldn’t cause discomfort. She happily took his hand, eager to join in the fun. Soon the only people not dancing were the musicians. Maleena laughed with pleasure when her partner proved to be quite spry and a very capable dancer.

When the music changed tempo again, her partner twirled her into the arms of another man. Delighted at the lack of pain, she greeted him with a smile then burst out laughing when she looked over his shoulder and saw Kellinar tripping over his feet as Emallya twirled into his arms. Kirynn now danced with a townsman; Mckale with a serving maid. Marda pressed Bardeck and Vaddoc swept Serena around.

Each time the music changed, the women twirled into the arms of a new partner. Maleena danced with Kellinar, Vaddoc and several men from the city before ending up in Mckale’s arms.

His eyes twinkled with merriment as they moved about the floor. He wasn’t even breathing hard. The same could not be said of all the participants. One man stood with his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath and a serving maid leaned against a wall fanning herself.

Bardeck and Serena whirled past as did Hemmen and Anira. Marda had hold of Kellinar, but Vaddoc and Kirynn paused to get a drink from the pitchers of tea set out on a long table.

When the song ended, everyone stopped to applaud the musicians and take time to crowd around the tables for a drink. Conversation and laughter filled the interval as the musicians also took a moment to take in refreshments.

When the music struck up again, it was a slower beat interwoven with haunting notes. Maleena marveled at the skill of the musicians. The most she’d ever heard was a couple of villagers who could play a fiddle and a flute. These notes and beats were made by instruments she’d never seen before.

She closed her eyes and allowed the beautiful sounds to flow through her, enjoying the feel of Mckale’s arms around her as they moved slowly to music.

“I like this,”
came the sending from Nydara.

Maleena smiled.
“You like the music?”

“And the dancing.”

“But you’re a dragon, you don’t dance.”

“You are dancing and we are one. I can feel what it’s like through you. It is nice. So is the man. I like him and his Tellnox.”

The dragon enjoying the experience of dancing through her, surprised Maleena. As did the dragon’s obvious fondness for Mckale and his dragon. She remembered what Emallya said about bondmates and realized she’d felt somewhat worried the older woman might be wrong. This was the first time they’d really spent any time together since the Hatching.

Mckale looked down at her. “Is something the matter? For a moment, it seemed as if your mind was somewhere else.”

She smiled up at him. “I was talking with Nydara.”

Mckale nodded in understanding. “I still find it hard to believe all of this is real. That my father really knows about this place and he actually knows Emallya and Bardeck. I wonder if he knew I would bond with a dragon, or if he just thought I would be safe and become a mage. I wonder if I will get a chance to tell him about it. I would love to introduce him to Tellnox.”

“I’m sure you’ll get the chance. Eventually the secret will get out and the dragons will be known to the world again.”

“Do you think so?”

“If there are still Benduiren out there and they are still trying to get hold of magic users, there has to be a reason. The only reason I can think of would be because there are still black eggs to be hatched,” Maleena said, a small shiver running through her body at the thought.

Mckale looked over her head out into the fading evening, his eyes troubled. “You’re most likely right. I hope it doesn’t come to another war with black dragons though.”

“I hope not either.” She sighed. “Let us not think of such things tonight. Let’s take tonight and enjoy the fact that we are surrounded by people who not only know we can use magic, but are honored to have us here.”

He smiled down at her, his silver eyes catching the sunset. “And so we shall my beautiful and wise woman.”

“Mckale, what is the dance they have in the spring in Calladar?”

His arms tightened around her as he laughed softly. The deep timbre of it warmed her heart. “Who told you about the Spring Dance?”

A smile tugged at her lips. “Kirynn mentioned it earlier, when I asked if her dress was appropriate. She said the dance they do in Calladar in the spring is more scandalous than her dress. What dance do they do?”

He shook his head, amusement in his eyes. “It’s a dance the women do in the spring when they are ready to choose a husband.”

“When they are ready to choose a husband? Do the men not decide that?”

He laughed again. “In Calladar, it’s not a man’s place to ask a woman. It’s up to her. And when they ask during the Spring Dance, the man had better not refuse or he risks the honor of both his family and the woman’s.”

“But what if he doesn’t want to marry her? Or at all?”

“If he doesn’t want to marry, or believes a woman he might not want is going to ask him, he makes sure he is nowhere to be found when it’s time for the dance.”

They danced in silence for a while. Then Maleena asked, “So how do the women dance?”

Mckale cleared his throat and hesitated. “I’m…I can’t…It’s not my place to discuss such things.”

She tipped her head back and looked at him. “Why? What harm is there?”

He sighed. “If we ever go to Calladar and my grandmother finds out I’ve been discussing the particulars of how the women dance, she’ll take my ears off. Only a woman is allowed to talk about it with another woman.”

Maleena smiled. “Alright then. I guess I will have to make sure we go to Calladar sometime. Maybe in the spring.”

Laughter rumbled in his chest again and he brushed her lips with a soft kiss. “If you wish.”

The music and dancing lasted well after dark and the moon rode high in the sky when the Dragon Hold finally cleared of its last visitor. After Nydara ate and washed one last time, Maleena fell exhausted onto the sleeping platform in the lair.

M
ckale woke early the next morning. It was habit. Never able to sleep late as a child his training as a Border Guard only reinforced his natural tendencies. Tellnox opened one large silver eye when Mckale stood up, but soon closed it again and he settled back into a heavy sleep. It would be some time before the young dragon woke.

He placed the blankets in order on the platform and moved quietly into the sleeping chamber adjacent to the dragon’s lair. He opened the wardrobe and pulled clean clothing out. The Crafts Guild had worked over time in the days since he and his companions arrived. Each of them had several articles of comfortable, sensible clothing made from high grade material.

The everyday wear bore no embroidery, no scroll work. He liked it better. The plain clothes suited him. The soft, supple clothing fit well and didn’t restrict his movement in any way.

After he dressed, he crossed the plateau. Rather than trying to find the small private dining room, he made his way up to the inner terrace and the open faced cavern of the kitchen with its many long tables.

The head cook turned and her eyes went wide. “Di’shan Mckale, what are you doing here?”

“I thought to take my morning meal here, unless you have objections, or if I will be in your way.”

“You want to take your meal here?” She smoothed her apron. “Well, I have no objections, there are plenty of open tables. I’m surprised you’re not taking it in the Dining Hall now that you‘ve been properly introduced.”

He smiled at her. “When it’s not a formal requirement, I prefer simpler surroundings. I’m more comfortable in them.”

She bowed slightly to him. “Yes of course, I understand.” Her expression made it clear she didn’t really understand at all.

He abandoned the idea of offering to serve himself and sat down at an empty table. Within minutes a serving girl brought his morning meal along with a pitcher of tea and a heavy cup of coffee. He’d developed a taste for the strong brew and found it much to his liking.

Several other tables sat groups of servants, already enjoying their morning meal. None of them tried to join him, but they glanced at him several times as if they weren’t sure what to make of having him in their midst. He hoped he hadn’t upset them by coming to the kitchen instead of sitting in the grander place of the Dining Hall.

He looked out over the plateau. Long shadows cast by the towering rim lay across it from the rising sun. At the far end, the shadows gave way and the lake sparkled in the early sunlight. He reached out to Tellnox and found him still sound asleep. Maleena also would be sleeping for a while.

He was still astonished he could know so much about her physical and mental condition. Would their dragons really be compatible when they matured? Would he be able to sense her if they weren’t bondmates? So many questions he didn’t have the answers for. Perhaps Emallya or Bardeck could answer them.

He glanced up as Vaddoc, Kirynn and Serena wandered into the cavern. They took seats at the table with him and mumbled morning greetings. This time the cook said nothing and the serving girls delivered the food and drink as if it were perfectly normal to have Dragon Riders eating in the kitchen amongst servants.