A Storm in the Desert: Dragonlinked Chronicles Voume 3 (30 page)

“No. It was the complete opposite, actually.”

“Oh?”

“You know I’m going to meet with Isandath tonight to ask him to arrange the meeting with the Capu, right?”

“Sure.”

“The thing is, I’ve been worried about that meeting. What if Aeron’s discovered by a manis patrol?”

“As long as the idiot doesn’t fly to the meeting on Anaya, how would anyone know he’s anything other than a visitor? Especially if you get him to wear one of those cute robes.”

Polandra’s cheeks warmed. It sounded so different when others talked about it. “I know, it doesn’t make sense, but I’ve been worried that they’ll somehow know. Anyway, Ikan pointed out that with half the manisi over at the company camp, there will have to be fewer patrols elsewhere.”

“That’s true. Dragons can be so smart, sometimes.”

“Well, when they aren’t being lazy.”

The two girls chuckled.

I heard that.

Yes, and what are you doing right this moment?

There was the luxurious feeling of sun–warmed hide and the sense of laying on the ground before Ikan distanced himself from the link.

Exactly! But I love you just as you are, anyway.
She could almost feel his deep, rumbling laugh.

And I, you.

A light affair of sliced cold meats, several kinds of cheese, warm bread and butter, with large, soft cookies for dessert, lunch was very pleasant. Though Liara talking about the joys and annoyances of dealing with her young dragon did make Polandra a little jealous.

“She got so big, so fast,” Liara said.

“It’s been less than a month,” Polandra pointed out.

“True. But flight training with her mother is done. Mia’s been staying with her sister and Coatl, and while the playing around they do is fun to watch and be a part of,” the raven-haired girl glanced past Polandra to Fillion and Gregor and lowered her voice, “I can’t help thinking that we’re imposing.”

Polandra sighed. “I envy you, I think.”

Liara raised her brows. “How so?”

“I never got to enjoy Ikan as a babe.” Polandra shrugged. “As much as you say Mia’s actions sometimes annoy you, the love you have for her is obvious.”

A warm glow lit Liara’s face. With a small smile, she said, “I really do love her, as much of a rapscallion as she can be.”

Polandra tore off a hunk of bread and spread butter on it. She took a bite, chewed and swallowed it, and looked at Liara. “I don’t suppose, ah, that is, would you mind it too much if I spent more time with you and Mia?”

Liara’s eyes widened slightly, and her nostrils flared a touch. “Spent time with us?”

“If it would be too much of an imposition, I understand. It’s just that if I could hang out with you both, I could experience a dragon growing up, if only vicariously.” Polandra cleared her throat. “And, we might even be able to practice some combat things. You’re pretty good at that.”

“I would love it.” Liara’s smile was enormous.

Polandra smiled back. She felt a strange expansion in her chest, like her heart was growing larger and . . . floating?

“Mia would, too.” Liara leaned in closer, as if imparting a secret. “I think she likes Ikan.”

With an equally conspiratorial whisper, Polandra said, “Well, don’t tell him I told you, but he thinks Mia is adorable. As do I.”

“She is adorable, isn’t she?”

“Hey.” Fillion, to Polandra’s right, elbowed her and looked at her tray. “You gonna to eat your cookies?”

“Hands off,” she said. “Those are mine. And, as there is no chocolate in them, one is actually for Ikan.”

Fillion, frowning, said, “I should have saved one, too.”

And Ikan did enjoy the tasty baked item, at least based on the pleased rumble he emitted later while eating it.

Polandra then spent some time in her study trying to come up with ideas for their afternoon combat practice to talk over with Renata, but thoughts about Mia and Liara kept intruding.

You feel strangely happy.

She looked out the door to the den and raised an eyebrow.
Me feeling happy is strange?

You feel happier than usual, is what I meant.

Thinking about it, she realized that he was not wrong.
You like Mia.

He blinked, hiding then revealing large golden eyes.
As I have mentioned before, she is less annoying than most whelps.
The little pulse of warmth through the link belied his casual attitude.

Well, I asked Liara if it would be okay for us to hang out with them more often.

Hang out with them?

It’s an expression. It means spend time with them.

Why not say that, then? Humans have so many ways to say the same thing.

She rolled her eyes.
Anyway,
Liara said she would love it if we did. Spend time with them, that is.

The warm feeling came even more strongly through the link.
It might be fun.

She smiled.
I think so, too.

Later, Renata said that she thought it was high time she and the others started practicing how to slide.

Leaning back on the desk in Renata’s study, Polandra crossed her arms and frowned. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. It’s not
that
difficult. We’ve memorized the enchantment, and they’re all well along in combat training. Their sense of balance should be good enough to handle it.” She grinned. “Besides, we’ve been dying to start using it.”

“I suppose we could, then. I was just thinking about when I first started learning it.” Her butt and back had been sore for a few days, not to mention the lumps on her head.

Renata nodded. “I’ve thought about what you said regarding that, and this,” she held up a very strange cap, “should help.”

“What is that?”

“A padded helmet. It’s used to protect your head while playing lacrosse.”

“La—what?”

“Baaga’adowe. The people here play a game similar to it called lacrosse.”

“Oh. Well, a helmet would definitely help with that. And for sure while training to slide. Let’s go ask Guildmaster Millinith what she thinks.”

She seemed all for it. “As I said when Polandra first mentioned teaching the spell, anything that could give an edge is worth looking into. If you both think they’re ready, then you have my approval.”

“As long as we take some precautions,” Renata glanced at the helmet, “we should be fine.”

“Good. Besides, what the spell does sounds fascinating. In fact,” she turned to the young Adept Sorcerer, “Liflin, keep an eye on the office. I’m going to talk with Master Doronal to see if he’d like to be here for the practice.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Polandra watched Guildmaster Millinith leave. The young woman usually delegated tasks unless they had to do with the Guildhall construction. So why was she running this message herself?

“You’ll be there, too, Adept Liflin?” Renata asked.

“Absolutely. It’s an interesting spell, and I’ll have to learn it at some point, yes?” He smiled. “It wouldn’t do for me to fail at the thing while trying to teach it.”

“True enough.”

When he wasn’t in instructor training, Adept Liflin spent time with the Guildmaster, apparently trying to learn all he could about the part magic played in dragon craft. Polandra’s brows lifted when his words reminded her of his position: someday soon, he would be teaching magic craft lessons to newly accepted.

“I’m going to see if I can get a few more helmets.” Renata tossed the one she had to Polandra and headed off.

After catching it, Polandra turned it in her hands. These should serve well enough to protect their heads from knots, but what about their backsides?

Polandra and the others waited in Ikan’s den. As he did when they practiced indoors, the large dragon lay in a corner of the space, giving them as much room as possible to practice in. The weather outside was still cold, and the courtyard was damp and a bit muddy with slush, the remains of the last snow. Apparently, when the snow was over a foot deep, they didn’t bother clearing it.

When Renata returned, Polandra stared at what floated behind her a few inches above the ground. “Is that a . . . door?”

“It is.” Renata dumped several items from her arms onto the floor. More helmets. “I also brought some padded cuffs for elbows and knees.” She gestured to items piled on the wooden door. A rope had been tied to the hole where a doorknob would normally go. Renata had been dragging the door with it.

“You could have just brought all that with a moving chest.” Aeron grabbed a helmet from the ground and looked it over.

“Ah, but we need to the door for the first lesson.”

“Huh?” Fillion looked from Renata to Polandra and back. “I thought we were finally going to actually cast and practice sliding?”

Renata grinned. “We are. But there’s something we have to do first.” She grabbed a padded leather cap and a set of elbow and knee cuffs. After slipping them all on, she cleared off the door and stood atop it, arms lifted a bit for balance. “Polandra, grab the rope and pull the door a few feet.”

Unsure why they were doing this, Polandra nevertheless did as instructed. Moving in front of Renata and the door, she grabbed the rope. She looked behind and said, “Ready?”

Renata nodded. “Go ahead.”

Polandra gripped the rope and pulled while walking forward. It took a little effort at first, but once the door started moving, it almost went on its own.

Renata, with a slight twitch of arms and upper body, kept her balance as she rode the levitating door. After a moment, she let her arms fall to her sides.

After six feet, Polandra stopped pulling, but the door kept going.

“Oops,” Renata said. “I didn’t think of that.”

Polandra jumped to the side and stuck her foot out to try to stop the door. When the door met her foot, it just rotated around it and continued, but now with a spin added.

“That didn’t help!” Renata flailed with her arms, trying to keep her balance.

A pulse of magic came from the side, and the door collided with something. A muted flash of light at the collision briefly revealed a barrier. The sudden stop made Renata lose her balance, and her feet flung the door in the opposite direction of her fall. It crashed into the wall between the den and Polandra’s bedroom.

“Ow.” Renata had managed to land on her butt.

“That was not what I expected to see demonstrated.” Master Doronal, with Guildmaster Millinith and Adept Liflin at his side, stood in the open dragon door. His brows were raised and a wry smile twisted his lips.

“Nor was it what I expected to happen.” Grimacing, Renata stood and rubbed her backside.

“I do think I understand what she was trying to do, though.” Polandra stared at the door. “The toughest part of using the spell is actually just being able to maintain your balance as you start to slide.”

“Exactly.” Renata walked over and bounced the door with her foot. “But it’s like riding the door on extremely slippery ice. We need to figure out how to make a controlled stop.”

“Why not just remove the levitation spell?”

Everyone turned to Fillion.

“You, sir, are a genius.” Aeron stared at him and nodded.

“Indeed,” Master Doronal said. “Sometimes the simplest solution is the best.”

“To make it even simpler,” Adept Liflin bowed slightly to Master Doronal, “someone not part of the practice session should levitate the door. Then, when it reaches the end, they can remove the spell.”

“Yes,” Guildmaster Millinith said. “That will allow the person on the door to only have to focus on their balance.”

“Excellent idea.” Master Doronal turned to Polandra. “If you would be so kind, I have not seen the spell in action. Could you show me what the end result of all the practice will be?”

She nodded. “Of course.” Stepping to the middle of the den, she said, “At it’s simplest, think of sliding as exactly that.” After a glance around, she leaned forward slightly, crouched the merest bit, supporting her weight with the muscles of her legs, and cast the spell. She slid six feet the direction she was facing in about a second.

“Golden.” Fillion stared at her, eyes fierce. “I’ve been itching to practice this spell. It could be handy for getting out of potentially dangerous situations.”

Polandra gave him a sly smile. “Even more so than you think.” She leaned slightly and slid back to where she had started.

“Wow!” Liara’s face was full of awe. “You can slide any direction?”

Polandra nodded, still smiling. “That’s right.” A slight lean and she slid to the right.

Master Doronal burst out laughing. “Wonderful!” Clapping, he said, “Bravo, Polandra. That is a fantastic ability to add to our repertoire.” He turned to the magic adept. “Liflin, make sure to get a copy of that spell. I’d like one for the Magic Craft Hall records. I’m sure Guildmaster Millinith wouldn’t mind sharing the spell?” He turned to the blonde young woman and smiled.