Trusted: Dragons' Trust Book 1 (18 page)

"Thank you." Renick gasped. He noticed that he was leaning against someone and turned to see Thane supporting him. Renick gave the older boy a thank–you nod, and Thane returned the gesture.

"We will speak aloud and I will mediate." Boren looked pointedly at Derth. "We do not want to overwhelm them. They have been through enough and need answers more than confusion."

"A good plan," Wrytha agreed.

"Hmm …. where to begin," Boren said as Renick and Thane settled themselves on the ground near where Lainey sat.

"How about with the stone?" Lainey offered.

Boren dipped his head. "Very good, Lainey. Derth, you are the one with the most knowledge of these things."

"Very well." Derth shifted a little before continuing. Renick could feel him gathering and sorting his thoughts. "Each dragon has a bony mass just above their heart. We call it the heart stone because of its shape and location. This stone contains all of our magic. In the early ages, the victor of a fight would steal the loser's stone and add it to his own, increasing his strength and power."

"What happens when a dragon loses his stone?" Renick wondered aloud.

"They die," Derth said with a growl. "This custom ended during the time of enlightenment. It is considered a grievous crime to kill a dragon for his heart stone. However, a new custom arose. When a dragon was dying, they could gift their heart stone to another—usually their heir."

"And they can be gifted to humans?" Lainey rubbed her stone again.

"Yes. It started early in our association with your kind."

Renick looked down and pushed a rock around in the sand with his finger. "Louren and his dragon?"

"You know many tales from our past, Renick–Trusted." Derth laughed. "Yes, Louren and Dothar Nathernest."

Renick recognized "nathernest" as the term his father used to identify a hatchling that was rejected by its mother—usually because of a deformity. He had not known the connection to the fable.

"When a dragon stone is gifted to a human," Derth continued, "it gives them access to that magical power."

"So I have magic like you now?" Lainey asked.

"We dragons are limited in the use of our magic. Humans seem to be able to use it in a wider variety of ways." Derth tilted his head. "Someone will need to instruct you on its use."

"We will find someone," Wrytha said. Derth and Wrytha exchanged a look and a message in dragon–speak that was hidden from Renick.

"Very well. Any questions?" Derth turned to Renick and the others.

"Are the stones the reason why humans hunt dragons?" Renick asked.

At the same moment, Thane said, "Derth said we were in danger—why?"

"Renick, yes. But that is a story for another day." Derth turned to Thane. "It has been a long time since a dragon gifted their stone to a human. That, coupled with the uneasiness your presence here has caused and the delicate nature of your position, makes Junther's act a dangerous one."

"He meant well," Lainey said in a hushed voice.

"He did," Wrytha agreed. "But many of our kind will not understand. They will be fearful and wish to destroy you."

"I spoke with Flyn and Junther at length last night. He knew his decision would put you all in danger. My son and I have a way to protect you." Grane looked at each of them in turn.

"Grane." Derth's gravelly voice cut through the other dragon's words. "What are you planning?"

Grane continued without acknowledging Derth. "I wish to adopt the three of you into my clan."

"What?" A jet of flame exploded from Derth's mouth. The heat brushed against Renick's face and he turned away. Plyth let out a surprised yelp.

"Hush!" Wrytha chastised her brother for his outburst with a flick of her tail.

"It is unheard of," Derth grumbled.

"Not entirely," Grane said. "There is dragon law to cover just such a situation. They would be granted all the rights and privileges of the Dragon Kind and be our kin. It will save them."

Derth came to stand face–to–face with Grane, their snouts so close they were almost touching. "But it will not end the turmoil. Many will still not accept them—in fact, many will fear them even more. Junther's decision was a rash one that could cost Lainey her life."

Plyth whined and buried his head in Lainey's lap.

"Shhh, it's all right." She stroked his scales and spoke softly in his ear. No trace of the fear in her face made it to her voice.

"If it puts her in danger, take it out," Thane said.

Wrytha shook her head. "It is not that simple. It is the act of gifting the stone, not her possession of it, which causes the danger. And that cannot be undone."

"We have to do something," Thane pressed. "Maybe we could tell the dragons that Lainey rejected the gift."

"Enough," Boren called. "What is done is done."

"Well said, Boren." Grane turned to Renick. "Renick–Trusted, I invite you to be my kin, to join my clan and to be counted among my own."

"Grane." Derth gave a warning growl.

Grane ignored Derth. "Do you accept, Renick–Trusted?"

Renick's mouth fell open. "I … I'm honored, but … but I …"

"Grane, you are confusing the boy," Wrytha hissed. "Renick–Trusted, if you are made a part of Grane's clan, it would mean that you would be held to all dragon laws, that you would be part of our society and one of our kin. It is a decision that should not be rushed."

"My thoughts exactly," Derth grumbled.

"We do not have time for this." Grane started pacing back and forth.

"Being rash will not help them," Derth started to argue.

"I accept," Renick said firmly.

"Renick," Lainey whispered.

"Are you sure?" Thane asked.

Renick turned to his friends. "We're in danger anyway. And I for one would …" He could not find the words to express his feelings. He faced the dragons again. "I've never given up hope that my father's stories held some truth. And here I am, standing in the middle of a place built out of the stories. I want to be a part of it, no what matter the danger."

For a long while, everyone was silent.

It was Grane who finally spoke. "Thane–Brave, I make you the same invitation. Do you accept?"

Thane squared his shoulders. "Yes."

"And Lainey–Kind, do you—"

"Yes," Lainey answered before Grane could finish his question.

"There." Grane turned to Derth, a sly look in his eye. "It is done."

"You have always been too proud for your own good. Now we have much to deal with before tomorrow morning."

"What is happening tomorrow morning?" Lainey asked as she nuzzled her nose against Plyth's.

"The council is meeting to decide your fate." Grane sat and watched Derth's agitated movement.

"We need a plan of action. They will be safe here, but one of us should stay with them just in case," Derth said.

"Derth." Grane waited until the dark–blue dragon stopped to look up at him. "I intend to suggest that they," he tilted his head toward Renick, Thane, Lainey and Plyth, "be spoken."

Lainey turned to Renick, a question on her face. "What is being spoken?" she asked in a whisper.

He shrugged and answered in just as quiet a tone. "I don't know."

There was a thump as Derth sat down hard. "Does your audacity know no bounds, Grane? Our society exists in a state of delicate balance—do you plan to topple it altogether?"

Renick whispered to his friends, "Whatever it is, it seems to be important."

Lainey and Thane nodded, and then they all turned back to watch the adult dragons argue.

"Would you choose war or peace?" Grane asked Derth.

This made Derth's mouth fall open. Then his jaws snapped shut. "I have always opposed the war. You know that better than anyone."

Grane nodded. "And I once vehemently disagreed with you. But my stance has changed. We can never attain peace—never stop the war—unless we make a change. Talking is not enough. I am acting to upset the balance so we can realign ourselves to a new way of thinking."

"You are playing a dangerous game with three lives." Smoke curled up from Derth's nostrils.

"Their lives were already in danger."

"I dislike being discussed like this," Thane said just loud enough for Renick and Lainey to hear.

"Then why don't you speak up?" Lainey rolled her eyes at him.

"Because they are
dragons
, and they breathe
fire.
"

Wrytha sighed. "Enough. You both have the same goal in mind—you just go about it in different ways."

"We still need a plan for how to iron out Grane's mess," Derth insisted.

"While you two were squabbling, Wrytha and I have formulated just such a plan," Boren said with a yawn.

"And?" Derth flapped his wings just enough to stir the dirt around him.

"You and Grane must elicit aid in your petition to have the young ones spoken. Boren and I will watch over them while you are gone." Wrytha nodded her head once, as if there would be no further discussion. Grane and Derth looked at each other and then both dipped their heads.

"We will return by nightfall," Derth promised, and he and Grane disappeared into the cave opening.

"What is being spoken?" Lainey asked of Wrytha.

"When a dragon comes of age, his or her name is spoken in the dragon hall. That is when we are placed in the circle to which we belong. It is rite of passage," she explained.

"And humans can be spoken too?" Renick asked. His heart jumped a little at the thought of such a wondrous possibility.

A rush of air came out from between Wrytha's teeth. "Once, yes. Back in the old days when relations between our two kinds were best, there was a special circle—a circle for the humans whom the dragons wished to honor. But that circle has been empty for many generations."

"And Grane feels we have earned such an honor?" Thane's eyes narrowed when Wrytha bobbed her head in confirmation. "That is quite a different view from what he held just a few days ago."

"Thane–Brave," Wrytha turned so she could train one eye on him, "not all dragons are as stubborn as Derth. Some of us have a fluid view of the world. Grane is one of them. He has seen that he was wrong and now stands behind his new beliefs just as adamantly as he did his old."

"Question is," Boren said, "is it enough?"

Wrytha looked after Grane and Derth. "We can only hope."

Renick shifted his weight to his other foot, which throbbed in protest. At least the dragon hall was growing warmer now that the sun poured light directly down into it. Next to him, Thane stifled a yawn. Derth trained a stern but knowing look on the boy. Plyth let out a little yip of laughter at their exchange, and Wrytha had to wrap her front claws around him to silence him.

"Enough," the gold dragon roared into the chaos around them.

The entire audience gathered in the dragon hall fell quiet.

"The time for debate is over; the facts remain." The gold dragon spread his wings wide and rose to stand on his hind legs. "The dragon–named found our city and returned Plyth Firetongue to us. They rescued two of our own at great peril to themselves, and as a reward, one was gifted a stone and all were accepted into a dragon clan."

Unrest began to trickle through the dragon council again. The gold dragon spewed smoke as a warning.

"We cannot change what is in the past," he continued. "All that remains is to decide. Are there any who wish to speak on behalf of the dragon–named?"

A chorus of dragon bugles filled the hall. Renick turned to look behind him. Wrytha and Derth both had their heads raised, deep tones coming from their open mouths. He scanned the hall and saw that Boren and Mryx were also lending their voices to the chorus. On the pedestals of the Second Circle, Grane roared too.

The chorus stopped and the sound faded. "Very well, Boren Underwing, speak."

Boren took a few swaying steps forward. "I speak for the dragon–named." What followed was a stream of images and feelings that were so deep and concentrated that Renick's tired mind had problems sorting them out. He thought what Boren was saying went along the lines of, "These three have shown valor and courage. They have done much with great effect on me. I would put my life in their hands without a second thought."

The human words did not seem to do the dragon–speak justice. But Renick could feel Boren's meaning, and the dragon's confidence in him pressed heavily on his heart.

When Boren finished, he spread his wings wide. "I vote they be spoken."

The hall filled with a clatter of flapping wings, trumpets, and growls, but a warning jet of flame from the gold dragon calmed them.

"Mryx Clawmender, speak."

Mryx moved to stand where Boren had been moments before. "I speak on behalf of Junther Swiftwing, who is no longer among us. He votes with Boren. They should be spoken." This was met by an even greater response than Boren's words.

There was an uneasy shifting among many of the dragons in the hall. The gold dragon ignored this and turned to Wrytha. "Speak."

Renick turned to watch her. She dipped her head. "I speak for Plyth Firetongue, whose name has not yet been spoken. He trusts those he named."

Her words struck Renick. Something deep within him stirred and would not settle.

"Derth Wisescales of the Second Circle, speak." The gold dragon's words brought Renick back to the moment at hand.

"There is little I can add to what others have said. I offer only this: Plyth Firetongue's trust is well placed." Derth stepped back. Again, that something in Renick fluttered, its unrest growing.

The last to be called on was Grane. He sat back on his hind legs, stretched his neck and wings out, and then bowed to Renick and his friends. Everything seemed to hang still. No one moved. No one spoke. The breath was locked in Renick's chest and only his heart felt free to move.

In the center of the hall, the gold dragon looked thoughtful. His head was lowered almost to the ground. "Lainey–Kind, do you have anything to say for yourself?"

Lainey looked a little startled. She wrapped her arms around herself and cast a weary glance at Renick. He nodded in support and she stepped forward and dropped her hands. "I'm deeply touched by Junther Swiftwing's gift and vow to use it as he asked—to help and assist others. I'm honored …" Lainey stood there for a few moments opening and closing her mouth. Eventually she stepped back.