The Bond (Book 2) (32 page)

The egg looked nearly identical to Xochi’s, though of different coloration. It sat a few feet from the back wall upon a raised bed made of soil and gravel, maybe five or six inches high. Splotches of color, brown and black, covered it, reminding her somewhat of an incredibly over-large quail egg.

Nenet hovered protectively near it. Quiet, nervous barks came from her now and again. The two dragons above made encouraging chirps after each one, which seemed to be keeping her calm.

The candidates formed a loose semi-circle around the egg. Though, owing to the anxious mother dragon, they stood a good dozen feet back from it.  Sharrah and Cheddar were on the left, then came Willem, Fillion, and Liara, with Jessip at the far end. All looked unsure what to do next.

Everyone else stood together back near the ramp, watching. Renata wondered if there was going to be some kind of ceremony.

“Anaya tells me the sex of the hatchling is male.” Aeron sounded excited. The look he gave Willem was clearly ‘Good luck.’

“
What, ah, do we do?” Cheddar stared at the egg.

“
As we know nothing of this,” Master Doronal said, “we leave it to you two, Aeron, Renata.”

Renata was as surprised as Aeron looked. Thinking about it, though, it made sense. Of them all, only she and Aeron had bonded a dragon. Even so, she was hesitant to take charge.

“You go ahead, Aeron,” she said. “This is where you bonded with Anaya. This is your place, and hers.”

Aeron took a breath and nodded. After a moment, he walked forward and bowed to the mother dragon.
Nenet, these six stand ready and happy to be chosen by your child. Of course, the final decision will be up to the hatchling. It is the dragon that makes the choice. It is the dragon that knows.

Nenet ducked her head and let out a chirp that sounded almost happy.
I thank you.
She glanced at the egg.
We thank you.

Aeron stared at the egg a moment, then turned to the candidates. “I think it might be a good idea to step forward, one at a time, and introduce yourselves.”

After a glance at each other, one by one the candidates stepped forward. Willem was first.

Seeming a little hesitant, he glanced at the egg and then at Nenet. “My name is Willem, and I’d be honored if your child chose me.” He then gave a little bow and stepped back.

The others followed his lead. Cheddar, Sharrah, Liara and Fillion each approached the mother dragon and egg and repeated Willem’s words and actions.

Finally, Jessip stepped forward.

“My name is Jessip, and I, too, would be honored to be chosen.” He glanced at the masters and back at Nenet. He cleared his throat and said, “Being bonded helps fulfill our purpose—fighting nahual—but all of us have another desire as well, I think. We want to save dragons.”

All the candidates nodded.

Renata drew a short breath as her eyes widened. The more she learned of these people, the more she came to believe that coming here had absolutely been the right thing to do.

“
From everything we’ve learned, the life of an unbonded dragon is not pleasant,” Jessip said. “We all want to change that.” He glanced back at the other candidates before turning again to the mother dragon. “I know these candidates, and your child will not choose badly no matter which of us is chosen. Thank you for the opportunity.”

Everyone stared at Jessip.

He bowed to Nenet, bowed to the egg, and stepped back.

Renata stared at him.

I like him even more, now.

Renata shot a glance up at Xochi before looking back at Jessip. She agreed with the young dragon.

Sharp tapping, loud in the quiet of the cavern, drew everyone’s eyes to the egg. It shook on its bed as sounds of struggle came from within. With a loud bang, the egg lurched and tipped a few inches to the side. A long crack appeared in the shell, running from the side up to the top.

All the dragons, even Nenet, encouraged the young dragon with chirps, barks, and hums.

Keep working, little one. You are almost free.

Anaya’s words were picked up by others, who called out support to the dragon attempting to escape its shell.

“That’s a boy,” Fillion said. “Keep at it, you’re almost there!”

“
You can do this,” Sharrah said, eyes on the wobbling egg. “Don’t stop, keep going.”

Jessip was murmuring something, but he was too far away for Renata to hear him.

Even the three masters and Gregor gave the hatchling encouragement. Renata glanced at Aeron, who caught her look. With a big smile he turned back to the egg, adding his own shouted support.

“
Keep going! We’re all rooting for you!”

He is free!

Xochi’s words drew her gaze back to the egg. A large, ragged hole ran down its side nearly from top to bottom, and a little dragon lay between its former prison and the candidates standing a few feet away.

The hatchling was mostly black, shading to dark gray at the paws, and he had a patch of white in a distorted diamond shape under his chin. Struggling to his feet, wings lifted clear, the hatchling took in everyone, gold eyes flicking from one person to the next. His wings furled and unfurled and his tail twitched slowly. Letting out a little nervous bark, he ran to Jessip and hid behind his legs.

Jessip crouched down. “Hey, now. There’s no need to worry. All here are friends.” He lifted the little dragon’s head and their gazes met. Jessip smiled. “Come on little man, take a look around. We’re all here for you.”

It is t–true, my son. They are all friends.
Nenet let out a happy chirp.

What is your name, little one?
Renata walked over to the candidates.

M–My name is Zolin.
Gold eyes turned from Renata back to Jessip.

“
He says he’s very hungry,” Jessip said. He gazed into the dragon’s eyes, a beatific smile on his face.

Renata stared at the young man. His appearance
 . . . his face seemed to be glowing. The sheer joy was almost embarrassing to witness. Looking away, she caught sight of the other candidates. Resignation and disappointment marked most of their faces.

“
So, has he chosen?” Fillion’s lips were curved in a slight frown, and his brows were drawn together. It seemed as if he suspected that the answer was yes.

Aeron strode over quickly, carrying a sack. He dumped its contents on the ground next to Jessip and Zolin. It was scraps and cuts of meat.

Jessip picked up a piece and held it out to the little dragon who grabbed it with his forepaws.

Sitting on his haunches, Zolin made quick work of it, staring at Jessip all the while. Swallowing the last bit, he made a questioning chirp.

“Of course I do, little one,” Jessip said, handing the hatchling another piece of meat. He gestured to everyone and said, “We all want dragons to be happy and safe.”

The little dragon closed his eyes and stretched his neck out toward Jessip.

Remembering her own bonding experience, and what had happened during, Renata called out.
Zolin! Have you chosen?

Gold eyes flew open and fixed on her.
I–I have.
Turning to the young man crouched next to him, Zolin said,
Jessip and I are one.

A collective sigh was released by the other candidates.

“Could everyone else come over next to the masters, please?” Renata gestured as she walked over herself. “You, too, Nenet. Please.”

I h–have not even had a chance to meet my child.

“You will. But please, we cannot be near them until the bonding is complete.” Renata gestured for the mother dragon to join them near the ramp.

After some hesitation, Nenet moved away from her child and Jessip.

“And do not be alarmed when you see the bright light, Nenet,” Renata said. “It is expected, and Zolin will not be harmed by it. It is part of the Bond.”

“
Why can’t we be near them?” Gregor asked. “I don’t recall reading anything about Aeron’s bonding experience that warranted keeping away.”

“
What is it that concerns you?” Master Doronal said.

“
Yeah,” Aeron said. “Did I forget something?”

Renata looked at Jessip. He gazed at Zolin, a look of love and adoration on his face. She was shocked to feel a little jealous.

“When I bonded Xochi,” she said, turning to Aeron, “her mother, Nayra, was with us. During the bonding, an invisible dome surrounds the bond-mates. A dome which Nayra couldn’t break through with all her strength.”

“
What?” Aeron’s surprise was echoed in the looks everyone gave her.

“
She was scared, you see, when the bright light began covering us, and she wanted to help Xochi. But she ran into the dome. The collision and her pounding on it made it visible.”

“
That sounds like Francisco’s Barrier, sort of,” Aeron said. “But why is that a problem?”

“
What concerns me,” she said, looking at Master Doronal, “is if people are standing too close, the dome could form
through
someone. What will happen to them?”

“
A good question,” Master Doronal said. “Keeping everyone back is a wise precaution.”

“
Even with matters we think we know about,” Master Canneth murmured, “there is much to learn.”

Master Millinith nodded. “I’m sure we’ll be learning about dragons for years, if not decades, to come.”

Gregor rubbed his hands together. “Isn’t it exciting?” His smile was large.

A pulse of magic and bright light drew their attention to Jessip and Zolin.

Veins of brilliance, violet lines of light, branched out from where Jessip’s hand lay upon Zolin’s nose. Like thin, grasping fingers, the illuminated tracery spread over their bodies, giving off more and more light. Everyone had to look away or shield their eyes when the intensity became too much.

Eyes closed, Renata remembered her own bonding. The incredible joy, the melding of minds and souls, had been overwhelming and exquisite. Jessip would be feeling that right now.

Thank you for choosing me, sweetling.

Even were there others present, I still would have chosen you. We are one.

Another pulse of magic washed over Renata, and with it, the light began to fade.

The newest bond-mates had their eyes shut. Jessip, kneeling, was enclosed in dragon wings. His cheek lay on Zolin’s chest, and the dragon’s head rested atop his.

Renata smiled. It was such a beautiful, personal little moment.

No doubt remembering they weren’t alone, Zolin and Jessip opened their eyes. Zolin let out a chirp, unwrapped his wings, and sat back on his haunches. Jessip, smiling, stood and stroked Zolin’s cheek.

“I had no idea.” His words were so quiet, they would have been unheard, save for the absolute silence on the ledge. Turning to the watchers, he said, “I guess I’m a dragonlinked, now.”

Aeron strode over and embraced him. “Congratulations. Your life will never be the same.” He stepped back, smiling.

“Indeed,” Master Doronal said. “Congratulations are in order, young man.”

“
Congratulations.” Master Canneth walked over to the black dragon. “And welcome to Caer Baronel, Zolin.”

Everyone had words of congratulations for the pair. There was pounding of Jessip’s back, several hugs, and much shaking of his hand before Sharrah strode over.

“Alright everyone,” she said. “How about we let his mother meet him?”

“
Of course,” Master Doronal said. He turned to the mother dragon and bowed. “My apologies, Nenet. Please, come see your child.”

Slowly, she made her way to Zolin. The little dragon let out a happy chirp and they touched noses.

“That’s just too adorable,” Sharrah said. She reached over and clasped Cheddar’s hand.

Aeron walked to Willem and embraced him.

“It’ll happen eventually.”

Renata wasn’t sure which of them had whispered those words. How were the other candidates taking it? She located Fillion. The boy stood next to Liara. Both of them looked sad. Liara hugged Fillion, who looked surprised by the act.

“We’ll all get one soon enough,” she said, “so don’t feel too badly.”

“
You’re right,” he said, after she released him. “We should be glad for Jessip. And isn’t Zolin just the cutest? His coloration is amazing.”

“
It’s too bad he didn’t choose me,” Liara told him. “He would have gone very well with my hair color.”

Fillion laughed and Liara joined in. They parted, giving consolation hugs and words to the remaining candidates, their friends.

Renata took in everything around her: the people, the good cheer, the sense of a place she could belong, and most of all, the dragons. She felt like she was floating. That’s the best way she could describe it.

They are good people.