A Storm in the Desert: Dragonlinked Chronicles Voume 3 (77 page)

Korrie’s family was with them, though, as were the Guildmaster and that group, so Polandra continued past to Cheddar. She wasn’t very comfortable around high-born people anyway.

“Nilbert, I am so proud of you!” Cheddar’s back got pounded several times.

Polandra guessed the man was his father. Her thought was immediately confirmed.

“Aw, dad, no one calls me that. Everyone calls me Cheddar.”

“What’s wrong with Nilbert? I named you after my grandfather.”

“It’s a fine name,” Sharrah said, taking Cheddar’s arm. “Your son just has a rebellious streak.”

“And good taste, it seems.” The man smiled.

“Oh! Dad, this is Sharrah.”

“I’m glad to finally meet you.” He raised a brow. “I’ve read a lot about you in his letters, you know.”

Cheddar looked a little worried. “Now, dad, no need to repeat everything I said.”

His father became very serious. “No worries, son. I promise I won’t tell her how much you dote on her.”

“Dad!”

Sharrah’s chuckle was echoed by Cheddar’s father.

He then leaned to the side a bit, to see behind Cheddar. “Is your dragon shy?”

“He’s just not used to so many strangers, is all.” Cheddar looked behind. “Xoc, these people are friends. You don’t have to be scared.”

I–I am not scared.
Xoc rose up on his haunches, wings flapping briefly for balance, and with forepaws holding on to both sides of Cheddar’s waist, he peeked out from behind.
Hello.

Polandra leaned down. “You are an adorable little fellow.”

He chirped and looked up at Cheddar.

“Yes, Xoc, she is nice.” Still watching the chocolate hatchling, Cheddar gestured to his father. “This is my dad.”

Xoc looked at the man.
Hello, Matthew.

Eyes wide, Cheddar’s father said, “You know my name?”

Xoc tilted his head.
Cheddar knows your name and you know your name.

“I–I see.”

One little paw pointed to Balam.
He is my blood-father. Balam.

Matthew glanced at the dark green dragon and nodded. “And a fine big lad he is. If my son takes proper care of you, you’ll be just as big one day, I warrant.”

“Yes he will.” Cheddar squatted down and scratched Xoc under the chin.

“We’ll see that he does.” Guildmaster Millinith had walked over along with the others.

“Let’s go see Korrie,” Polandra whispered.

Liara nodded and they stepped over to the still excited girl.

“Congratulations,” Polandra said.

“Oh, Polandra, isn’t she just gigantic?”

Polandra drew her brows together. “Golden?”

“Exactly!”

“She’s very pretty,” Liara said.

Nelli let out a large yawn.
I am sleepy.

Liara chuckled. “Yes. You’ll be sleeping a
lot
for the first month or so.”

Polandra looked back at the other group. “Guildmaster, pardon me, but will the hatchlings sleep here for now? The chosen aren’t living in the Guildhall as of yet, so there really isn’t anywhere else for the young dragons.”

“That’s a good point,” Guildmaster Millinith said. “Yes. That will do. The housing section and classrooms will be complete in the next few weeks, so the clutching room will suit for now.”

The Guildmaster glanced at Xoc. “Actually, both hatchlings are getting sleepy. Why don’t we head to the cafeteria for refreshments? Cheddar, Korrie, don’t forget to weigh them before they fall asleep.”

“That sounds like a splendid idea.” High Lady Hasana smiled.

Polandra watched them leave for the dining room then turned to the new bond-mates. “I can help weigh the hatchlings, if you need.”

“Thanks, but I think we’ve got it,” Cheddar said, smiling. “We’ll join you guys once we get them weighed and settled for sleep.”

Korrie nodded. “Yeah. We’ll be right there.”

“Guildmaster!” Jessip ran for the departing people.

“Yes?”

“Nenet says her eggs will hatch soon!”

Polandra turned to Ikan.
Synchronized.

It would seem so.

“What?” The Guildmaster raised her brows, then spun on her heel. “Aeron, Willem, go gather the candidates. Hurry, but be discreet.”

The two nodded and ran for the hallway.

“Jessip,” Guildmaster Millinith said, “go to the dining room and get the parents of the remaining candidates. Parents only, hear? We can’t take everyone into the cavern. There’s just not enough room.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He trotted for the doorway.

She turned to the High Lady. “My lady, I really don’t think going into the caverns is a good idea for you.”

“I agree,” Master Gella said. “We should go to the dining room and await their return.”

High Lady Hasana frowned. “As much as I’d like to see another, you’re probably right. And, too, my presence there will keep people distracted while the Guildmaster and the others attend the bonding.” She straightened her shoulders and smiled. “Capu Cirtis, Isandath, would you gentlemen keep me company in the meantime?”

“Of course, my lady.” Capu Cirtis held out his arm for her. The four of them left, chatting.

Guildmaster Millinith took a breath. “Alright. We’re going to have to ferry them all over on dragonback, so get your dragons ready.”

Incredibly, everyone was heading down the passage to Anaya’s cavern in less than half an hour. As they neared the cavern, Zolin, the only dragon allowed down owing to his relationship to Nenet, began the calming welcome croon.
We come, blood-mother.

When they reached the cavern, Guildmaster Millinith once again took charge.

“Candidates,” she said, “go on down the stairs to the lower ledge. And guardrail or not, please ‘ware that drop-off. Your parents and the rest of us will watch from up here.” She walked to the end of the top ledge, placed her hands on the guardrail, and looked down.

The place was very different now from when Aeron had found Anaya. Stairs and guardrails made the place a little safer. As the candidates made their way down to the ledge below, Polandra and Liara walked over to the guardrail with everyone else. Nenet was down by the eggs, Zolin at her side to keep her calm. There really wasn’t enough room for more dragons, what with the ten remaining candidates taking their places around the eggs and all these observers up here.

Much sooner than in the clutching room, Zolin and Nenet ended the welcome croon.

Zolin turned to the eggs.
Come, younglings, meet your candidates and choose.

Polandra watched Sharrah. Would she be chosen? Hands clenched at her sides, Sharrah stared at the eggs.

Sudden loud pounding made Polandra and a few others jump. The hatchlings were trying to break free!

The eggs wobbled and shook with their efforts as the young dragons worked to escape.

“Come on,” Sharrah’s voice called out. “You can do it!”

Other candidates and observers began to shout encouragement. Zolin, too, barked at the eggs. For her part, Nenet glanced around a bit nervously, Polandra thought.

Can you speak with Nenet and let her know we’re all cheering her babies on?

I have told her. She says the loud voices and sounds make her a little nervous, is all.

See if you can keep her calm, love.

I will try.

This time, both eggs burst open at the same time. Two little dragons walked from their broken shells, wings held high, and looked about them. Everyone stared, breaths held. The same thought was on everyone’s mind. Who would they choose? The only sounds in the entire cavern were the faint drips of water coming from here and there about the enormous cave.

The hatchling on the left, a lovely slate gray, walked right up to Terry and barked.

“I do!” The boy threw his arms around the dragon. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Polandra’s heart began to pound. She looked at Sharrah. Because Cheddar bonded a male, Sharrah would likely be bonded by a female.
Was that the male who chose the boy? Please tell me it was the male. Can you even know from outside?

Humor came through the link.
I can, and it was.

This isn’t funny, Ikan. Sharrah so wants a bond-mate.

The dragon chooses who he or she will. It is useless fretting over it. If not now, Sharrah will eventually be chosen. Worry not.

Telling me not to worry isn’t helping at all.

His laughter, the feeling of it, came through the link.

Polandra chose to ignore it. Sharrah still had a chance, then.

Nine pairs of eyes were locked on the dark plum hatchling as she looked over the remaining candidates. Sharrah had her hands clasped in front of her, nervously rubbing her left thumb with her right. She let out a breath and looked at the ground.

The hatchling furled her wings and sat back on her haunches.

Sharrah’s head snapped up and she stared at the little dragon. “Copper? What does he—”

The hatchling chirped.

Sharrah leaned forward. “Of course you are.” She looked confused and concerned.

The hatchling stood and let out another chirp.

Sharrah gasped. A tear caught the light from a lightglobe, sparkled, and dropped from her eye. She nodded furiously. “Yes.”

The hatchling padded over to Sharrah and sat before her.

Sharrah dropped to her knees. Hesitantly, almost as if she were afraid, she reached out and caressed the dragon’s cheek.

Polandra found Liara’s hand and clasped it in hers. Sharrah had been chosen!

Choices obviously having been made, the remaining candidates made for the stairs. Most tried to keep disappointment from their faces, but their slumped shoulders made plain how they all felt. As for the chosen, Terry had eyes only for the gray. Likewise, Sharrah stared at the hatchling before her.

She gently held the hatchling’s face in both hands and smiled. “Citlali.”

Light blazed forth, and forking lines of incandescence spread across them from the point of contact. Almost immediately, another Bond filled the cavern with its brilliance: Terry and the male.

Polandra had to shield her eyes from the double-Bond. The lines of illumination were often described as veins or webs of branching light, but it occurred to her that they also looked remarkably like bolts of lightning, forking and spreading across the soon-to-be bond-mates in little surges.

“I’m so happy for her,” Liara whispered, fiercely.

Polandra glanced at her and smiled. “Me, too.”

Did I not say you need not worry?

I swear on Ulthis’s bone dice, Ikan, if you knew Citlali would choose Sharrah and you didn’t tell me, I will beat you with something!

Again the feeling of laughter.
Not even the dragon knows for sure who he or she will bond with until the moment of choice, but it seemed likely Sharrah would be chosen.

Polandra was about to give him a sharp retort, but cheering had broken out with the completion of the Bonds. She turned to offer her own well-wishes.

Cheddar bumped into her. “Sorry!” He’d grabbed a sack of meat scraps and was hurrying to the stairs.

“Who has the other sack?” Guildmaster Millinith looked around.

Aeron grabbed the other one. “I’ve got it, ma’am.” He quickly headed down as well.

Polandra leaned against the guardrail. “Congratulations, you two!”

The newly bonded, enormous smiles on their faces, looked up and waved.

“You have lovely children, Nenet,” Liara said. “Congratulations to you, too.”

Nenet looked up at her.
T–Thank you.
She turned back to her children.
I am happy they found bond-mates.

“Tenoch,” Terry said, laughing, “slow down, little man. This is all yours.”

The slate hatchling barked and continued to eat with enthusiasm.

Should you ask the Guildmaster about Itzel now?

Polandra had forgotten about that.
Yes. Now would be a good time, actually.

The young woman was speaking quietly with Fillion a few feet to the left. She was no doubt asking him about High Lady Hasana.

Fillion, head bowed, said, “I know. I just thought she’d like to see it, too.”

“Well, no harm done, but a little warning next time you think to do something would be nice.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Polandra stepped closer. “Excuse me, Guildmaster. I’ve got a question. Well, Ikan does.”

“Of course. What question did he have?”

“He wonders when it would be convenient for his sister to come seeking a bond-mate.”

The Guildmaster’s brows rose. “I hadn’t thought that she might want to bond, that dragons older than Ikan might want to. Have you spoken with her recently?”

“Yes, ma’am. I saw her again when I took the auditors to speak with Nayra. Itzel was very impressed with the changes in Ikan. She asked if she could come and try for a bond-mate.”