The Bond (Book 2) (16 page)

I can.

Sharrah pulled a notebook from her carry-all and began writing.

“I knew she could see spells I was casting, or those I practiced in my mind,” Aeron said, “but I hadn’t really thought beyond that.”

“And so our dragon knowledge increases once again,” Master Canneth noted. “Let’s see what else we can discover, Gregor.”

“Of course.” He continued with the spell, then glanced at the dirt floor in the middle of the den. There, a floating shape appeared, translucent and glowing softly. The odd thing, about two feet on a side, held steady about six feet in the air.

“What is that?” Willem whispered.

“That,” Gregor said, walking up to it, “is Anaya’s neck. Well, her throat.” He placed his finger in the image. “Here, you can see what appears to be the base of her tongue.”

Aeron looked at Anaya. She seemed fine, and he could feel only curiosity, not fear or pain. She stared at the ghostly shape.

He stepped over to it. “This is her throat? How are we seeing it?”

Gregor stared intently at the image. “It’s a kind of model, copied and displayed with magic. And these,” he pointed out a pair of tube-like things, one on either side of her throat, “are not normal. Let’s see where they lead.” He glanced at Anaya. There was a short pulse of magic, and the view changed. More of her lower throat became visible.

“Ah!” Gregor smiled. “They attach to these two organs, one on either side of the base of her neck.” Another glance at Anaya and the view expanded again, showing both organs in their entirety. “Hmm. There are muscles surrounding a portion of each organ. Curious. And the tubes or vessels terminate here. Where do the other ends go?”

More adjustments to the spell revealed that the tubes lead to small orifices near the back of Anaya’s mouth.

“Can she open her mouth for us?” Gregor stepped closer to Anaya. “I’d like to get eyes on those openings.”

Aeron asked her to do so, and interested herself, she was happy to oblige. Willem brought over a lantern and Gregor peered in.

“Fascinating.” Using a long wooden probe, he poked at her mouth. “I’d like to check something.”

He turned back to the floating model of Anaya’s throat. After a quick pulse of magic, it expanded rapidly, though the edges of what was visible remained contained in a cube about five feet per side.

Aeron’s brows rose. The adjustment Gregor made revealed what looked like a nipple, centered in the view.

“One moment.” Gregor turned back to Anaya and then the nipple disappeared. “Oops. Too much.” The nubbin reappeared, but was now translucent. “There we go. Now a little closer.” The image expanded within the cube. “There. If you look here,” Gregor walked over to the floating image and indicated what looked like a ring, “I’m guessing that this tiny muscle is used to control how much this opening dilates. Almost as if whatever passes through the vessels is meant to create a spray or a mist.”

“Her fire breath?” Willem looked at Anaya.

“Hmm? Fire breath?” Gregor looked around the room at everyone.

“You must not be that far in the notebooks yet,” Aeron said, “but Anaya can breathe out fire. We’ve used it to kill nahual.”

“That’s incredible.” Gregor stared at Anaya.

“Can you set the view back to where it showed her throat, including the organs?” Sharrah had a sketchbook out now. “I’d like to diagram that anatomy.”

They spent quite some time looking around inside Anaya, finding out more interesting things—she had three stomachs! Both Sharrah and Master Canneth were utterly fascinated by what they were learning and had Gregor show several areas again in order to diagram them. A small stack of sketches grew on the worktable at the back of Anaya’s den.

Their trek through her insides came to an abrupt halt, however, when she turned to the north and let out a little confused chirp.

What is it, Anaya?

A dragon approaches.

“A dragon?” Aeron said, incredulous. “Where?”

From the north.

“What is it, Aeron?” Master Canneth turned to him.

“Anaya senses a dragon approaching from the north.”

“Willem,” Master Canneth said, voice terse, “go fetch Master Doronal and Millinith. Have them meet us at North Gate.”

Willem nodded and ran off.

“Aeron, you and Anaya fly there now. Be on your guard. We don’t know the dragon’s intentions.”

“Yes, sir.”

“The rest of us will join you as soon as we can.”

Cheddar helped Aeron quickly saddle Anaya before he ran after the others.

Who was this dragon? Where did it come from?

Aeron climbed onto Anaya.
Let’s go, dear-heart. And hurry.

+ + + + +

Anaya launched into the air, thinking furiously. Who could this be? Searching the memories did reveal the existence of dragons who left their House, took up on their own. Recollections of the Departed numbered very few, less than the claws on two paws, but if this dragon was one of them, care would have to be taken. They tended to be even more nervous, more desperate than even the dragons of House Yaot.

Thinking of that place made her wonder: Could it be someone sent by Queen Ixtab to punish them? The feelings from the dragon ahead made it doubtful. There was nervousness, fear, and under it all, determination, but not anger.

Could this be your mother?

Aeron’s question surprised her. She hadn’t considered that possibility. Though thoughts of Malina had not consumed her, they had been at the back of her mind. Memories of a mother leaving children to fend for themselves did not exist. What had happened to Malina? Had she crossed paths with a Departed? Whatever her ultimate fate, this dragon did not feel like her mother.

I do not think so. She does not feel like my memory of Malina.

So it is a she?

The dragon is female.

The female was landing, fifty feet up the road, just as they arrived. She stood there, watching them, wings furling and  unfurling. Anaya put down just outside the gate, and Aeron jumped off. A little spike of fear came from the dragon and she sat back on her haunches.

Be calm
, Anaya said,
we are friends.

You are welcome in our home.
Aeron stepped to Anaya’s side.

The dragon’s fear lessened.
T–This is the right place! It t–took me some time to find you both.

To find us?
Aeron placed his hand on Anaya’s neck.
You were looking for us?

Realization made Anaya sit.
You are from House Yaot.

I am, and I was looking for you. I flew just past the second mountain range, but it t–took some time to find this place of h–humans.
The dragon looked beyond them, and her wings made little twitches, waving in the air.

Anaya turned to see what the dragon was watching. A crowd had formed at the gate and was starting to spill out, toward them. She could even make out a little of what they were saying. There was talk about the overheard dragon conversation.

Her growing concern was allayed somewhat with the arrival of Aeron’s friends.
Aeron, there are too many people, they are making her nervous.

Her bond-mate turned and saw the crowd. He also saw the others. “Master Canneth! We need to keep the crowd back, it’s making her nervous.”

The Master spoke with the guards, and the men in metal began moving the crowd back inside the Caer. It didn’t stop people from moving to the battlements, however, or from continuing to fill the gate.

May I ask your name?
Aeron had turned back to the dragon.

M–My name is Nenet.
She still watched the gathered people, still gave off fear.

You have traveled far, Nenet.
Anaya walked closer to the brown dragon. Perhaps she could draw her attention from the crowds, keep her focused.

And at some risk.
Aeron moved over to Anaya.
Highest Mother Ixtab was not pleased when we left House Yaot, yet you come seeking us.

I had to!
Nenet dropped to all fours and began swaying before them, shifting her weight from side to side.
When I first heard your words, I did not listen. I was too afraid. But later, alone, I could not stop thinking about them.
She stood still, looked at Anaya.
You went before Queen Ixtab and did not bow your head. It was the Queen who stepped back! I will never be able to do that. And you!
Nenet turned her gaze upon Aeron.
You stood at Anaya’s side, protected her, even from the Watchers. You stood with her
. She tilted her head.
As you do now.

Hope filled Anaya’s heart. Some
had
heard their words! They hadn’t failed after all, not entirely. This dragon was proof.

Nenet turned back to Anaya.
Your words opened my eyes, but it was your actions that gave me the courage to come.

Her gaze lowered to the cobbled road.
I want my child to have a purpose, to be more than we are now. I want someone to stand with my child.
Nenet looked up at Aeron.
I want my child to have a bond-mate.

Her gaze darted between Aeron and Anaya, then lowered.
Or children, if I lay m–more than one egg.
Nenet looked up at Anaya.
T–That would not be too much to ask, would it? If I have more than one child, c–could they each get a bond-mate?

Anaya was confused.
Can you not sense the life within you?

S–Sense the life?

With a quick glance at Aeron, Anaya said,
Can you not feel your child? There is but one.

I–I know that later, not long before hatching, I will be able to speak to my child. But
 . . . sense my child? Now?

It must be another ability granted by the Bond.
Aeron turned to the brown dragon.
There is no need to worry. Just know that you have a child to look forward to.

Searching her memories, Anaya could find no recollections of the ability to sense life nearby. Aeron was likely right about the Bond.

I can see that all these people, these humans, make you nervous.
Aeron took one step toward Nenet.
But if you are willing, I’d like to show you where Anaya was born. It is away from here, though not too far, and isolated. I think you’ll like it.

That is a good idea.
Anaya was pleased at his choice. Even without the bias for her birthplace, she thought it a very nice den.

I’ll go speak with Master Canneth
, he turned to look at the crowd behind them,
and I see Master Doronal has arrived, too. I’ll tell them our plan, and then we can take her to your cavern.

+ + + + +

As they cut through the air, Aeron couldn’t have been happier.
Our trip to House Yaot was actually a success!

Anaya let out a happy rumble.
It was!

Nenet had been nervous at first, but as they lead her through the passage from the sinkhole and on to the large cave, she grew calmer and more confident. She was very pleased with the location, and when they left, she was cleaning the two gravel beds and patching them up.

We will have been seen flying with Nenet. There will be those who will follow. If not now, then soon.

That’s true.
He’d need to speak with Master Doronal and Master Canneth when they landed. Guards should be posted at the sinkhole to keep prying eyes away from the dragon and her child. For Nenet was going to lay her egg soon.

That thought made him even more excited. Willem might very well be getting a dragon! Worry about that had bothered Aeron forever, and now, the possibility was more real than ever.

As Anaya neared the dragon stables, Aeron saw that there were several people standing along the fences. Did they think Nenet would be staying here? Not a bad assumption to make, he supposed, but that was not going to happen. She was entirely too nervous about people, well, humans, to stay in the Caer.

Anaya backwinged and landed in the courtyard. Willem and the two masters, along with the others, and even Jessip and Liara, stood in the large doorway. Aeron lead Anaya inside, and even as he and Willem removed her saddle, the questions started.

“I could hear all of you talking,” Cheddar said. “How was that possible?”

“
Where did she come from?” Master Doronal’s questioning gaze was on Aeron.

“
All of us could hear you talking,” Sharrah said. “Did you do something to make that happen? Is that a kind of spell?”

“
Is there any way we can examine her like we did Anaya?” Gregor looked hopeful. “We might learn a great deal comparing the two dragons for similarities and differences.”

“
Why did she come?” Master Canneth said. “Your rushed explanation before you left was brief.”

“
As there are many questions,” Willem said, “perhaps it would be best to continue in the office.”