Dragon School_The Ruby Isles Read online

  I nodded and she began to lead me back the way we came.

  “And you said nothing to him about High Castelan Starie Atrelan?”

  “No, Grandis.”

  “Good. Her betrothal to him is important to our nation.”

  “I thought Savette’s betrothal was important.”

  She shot me a stern look. “You are a Dragon School Initiate of the lowest level come to us from a peasant family. Remember that. This is not your business and putting your nose where it doesn’t belong can get you killed.”

  I followed her with a dry mouth. I knew her well enough to know she was usually fair and kind – but lately, she’d been very different – foolish and prejudiced - and there was something strange about her, as if she was being stretched with ropes between two trees and as the ropes pulled on her, she became more and more taut. One day, she would snap and I hoped I wasn’t nearby when she did. What could do that to a woman?

  Chapter Eight

  I heard the tenth bell ring out as I entered Raolcan’s alcove.

  You should stay outside on the ledge. She won’t want to come into the stall of a strange dragon.

  Someone would see us if we stood out there and tenth bell was curfew. If I went out there I could be dragged back to my dorm before I even saw Starie.

  Perhaps, you should have chosen a better time for this meeting.

  Our schedules were too packed for it to be earlier. Lenora had drilled us through the afternoon, and pleased with our progress, she’d increased the difficulty of the maneuvers.

  I’m glad she did because I was getting bored. I could fly these silly shapes in my sleep. Give me something interesting to do – an underwater dive or hugging a weather formation to drive speed and then shooting an arc around a mountain. That would be fun!

  The way things were going he’d have his chance. It seemed my life grew more dangerous by the moment. It had never been my intention to draw the attention of princes.

  At least he doesn’t want to marry you.

  Thank the winds for small mercies. Where was Starie? Had she forgotten our meeting? I was already in a difficult enough spot without her making it worse.

  Who will you try to please? The Grandis who can separate us forever or the Prince who would see us both violently murdered?

  I shivered. It was growing cooler, but in Raolcan’s alcove it wasn’t cold. His body temperature warmed it too thoroughly. No, my shiver was for my options. Perhaps, I could avoid both by getting the answer I needed from Starie and flying away immediately to help Savette.

  The bedroll and camping supplies you have stashed here are a good start, but before we can leave you will need food and water. A journey like that is one we will not return from. You need to be ready to live as a refugee for the rest of your life. Are you truly certain you wish to do that?

  What were the alternatives? Leave a friend to die? Die myself with Raolcan? Become a servant and watch him die because of my failure? None of those things were acceptable. I’d felt bad when I’d seen my knot, though. They would be held responsible when I left. Artis and Lenora especially. That didn’t seem fair. I was going to miss them and miss being an Initate. I wasn’t really ready for a life as a nomad.

  It’s not too late to change your mind.

  But I would have Raolcan and that would be enough for me. I felt a warmth in his thoughts, but they turned to alertness a moment later.

  She’s outside.

  “Starie?” I whispered. “Come inside.”

  “Inside your dragon’s alcove? You’re crazy!” She whispered, cursing as she snuck within the shadow of the alcove. “I hope you’re ready to tell me everything.”

  “It’s not money that I want.” And it wasn’t. I needed information about Savette, but I doubted she would give it if I just asked.

  Remember the plan.

  We’d come up with it only a few hours ago when I knew we’d finally have our chance.

  Just talk about her and the Magikas. Ask the right questions and she’ll think of the answer herself and then I can pull it from her mind.

  Ask the right questions. Stick to the plan. I could do it.

  “You’d better not have called me here for nothing. I want to know what you know.”

  “And I’ll tell you everything. Just like I told Savette everything a few hours before she was stolen. Do you remember how they swooped down to get her?”

  She remembers. She’s thinking about them...

  “Forget Savette. She means nothing now. Tell me what the Prince said to you.”

  So close. I can see the plan but not where they are. Try harder.

  “I told Grandis Elfar everything that happened, but she doesn’t believe me. She is siding with you and backing you as the new tribute bride for the Prince.”

  “Forget Elfar, too. I already know what she is thinking. Trust me, I know a lot more than you about her.”

  Even in the darkness, I thought I could see her smirk. Perhaps, she was one of the ones who was making Grandis Elfar look so tight and drawn. How could I make her think of where Savette was? Maybe I should just ask.

  “Where is Savette?”

  “Is that what you want? Tell me what the prince said to you and I’ll tell you where she is.”

  I don’t have it yet. She needs to think very clearly.

  A light breeze gusted into the alcove, cooling the sweat beading on my forehead. Don’t ruin this, Amel! This is your only chance!

  “He wanted to know if you are trustworthy.”

  “And you said?” Her voice was breathy, like this meant a lot to her.

  “Nothing.”

  “Next time you will say ‘yes.’ What else did he ask?”

  “He wanted to know if you were part of Savette’s disappearance. And you were, weren’t you, Starie? I know because I saw you arrive that night with Corrigan. I saw you sneak into the ball. I know that you know where the Magikas took her. You know them each by name and why they are plotting against Savette. You know exactly where they brought her, right down to the building and the very room she is hidden in. You probably even know the color of the sheets on her bed. Don’t you?”

  Got it!

  “I don’t know any of that. What did you say to the prince.”

  “Nothing.”

  “Good. Because now you never will.”

  She lunged at me, something in her hand flashing in the moonlight. I stumbled backward, tripping and falling to the ground, but not before a massive paw raised up and pinned Starie against the wall, claws on either side of her body.

  Flame her?

  We couldn’t. They would know it was Raolcan and punish him – maybe even kill him. Besides, Starie had done nothing to deserve death – not yet – and I was no murderer.

  I don’t share your confidence on that score.

  “Tell your dragon to let me go.” Her voice sounded strangled.

  “How do I know you won’t be waiting in the shadows to kill me again?”

  “I won’t be.”

  I pulled myself up, recovered my crutch and hobbled to her side. Taking the knife from her hand.

  “I left a message in a spot it will be found, but only if I am dead. Did you really think I would meet you here without something to guard me if you turned on me?” But I had been that foolish, hadn’t I? I had left no message.

  “You’ve made your point.”

  Raolcan released her and she slumped against the wall.

  “It will remain where I left it. If you try to kill me again it will be much worse for you. The prince is counting on my report and he will know everything about you if I don’t make it to my next meeting.”

  “And if you do make your report?”

  “Just leave, Starie.”

  “You want to know where Savette is. If you give the prince a favorable report, I will tell you where she is. I’ll even draw you a map. Deal?”

  “Yes,” I said. I wouldn’t have to fulfill the deal, but it made me feel dirty anyway. I’d just
blackmailed someone. That wasn’t something I’d ever intended to do.

  Starie slipped away into the night and I leaned tiredly against Raolcan. This had all become so much more complicated than I’d ever wanted it to be.

  Next step – figure out how to loose my bonds and then we will go find your friend. Don’t despair. We’ve accomplished much tonight.

  Chapter Nine

  Loose a dragon’s bonds, loose a dragon’s bonds. How would I find that out? Half my mind was focused on the problem, while the other half focused on sneaking through the streets and alleys to my quarters. At least it was dark, but curfew was at tenth bell and they’d rung that so long ago that everyone should be in bed by now. It was harder to sneak with a crutch than anyone might think and my speed was limited. Still, that was the least of my problems right now. If it was easy to figure out how to loose the bonds on a dragon in training, everyone would be doing it.

  And everyone would be getting their arms bitten off and their skeleton warmed by a hearty gust of flame. Or have you forgotten that most dragons aren’t as civil as I am?

  Oh. Right. It was easy to forget. After all, Raolcan was nothing but kindness to me. Okay, so maybe no one would want to do it even if they could – except for students who might want to sneak off on their own dragons. But, if it were difficult and took time to master, they’d have to teach them before they were full Dragon Riders. Maybe they taught the Sworn or the Colors.

  I hobbled up the stairs toward my knot’s room. I was ready for bed. My head was pounding from all the adrenaline today. I eased the door open and crept through. It slammed behind me and a match flickered to life, lighting a lantern. Artis raised it from where she stood a single pace in front of me.

  “Where were you, Initiate?” she asked.

  “And don’t bother lying to us. We’ll all catch grief if you get in trouble for this. You owe it to us to admit what you were up to.” It must have been Lenora who had slammed the door. Her voice was right behind me.

  “I was at the dragon cotes,” I said.

  “We didn’t tire you out enough during practice?” Artis asked, her free hand resting on her hip, accusatorily.

  “What holds them there? What keeps them from flying off?”

  “You mean other than the binding?” Lenora walked past me and sat on the edge of her bed, her expression incredulous, like I was a fool.

  “That’s the part I’m curious about - the binding.” I wouldn’t lie to them. I just couldn’t. But was it lying if I just didn’t answer them straight?

  “So you snuck up there to try to watch them do it? For winds and skies, girl. You’ve risked all of us getting a punishment for something I could have easily told you,” Artis said, stalking back to her bed. “Get changed quickly, because I’m blowing out this lantern in ten minutes and if you aren’t in your bedclothes you’ll have to dress in the dark.”

  I hurried to obey. “I couldn’t figure it out. Is it magic?”

  There was a long pause broken only by a snicker from one of the twins. I couldn’t see which one as I dressed behind the screen.

  “It’s not Magika magic, if that’s what you mean.” Lenora surprised me by answering when Artis wouldn’t. “Oh, give it a rest, Artis. She’ll be Sworn in just a few days. You saw the lists. We all passed exams.”

  “We did?” I gasped.

  “And you’d know that too, clouds-for-brains, if you were here and not sneaking off in the dark. Yes, you’ll be Sworn as soon as you have a chance to swear. The practical exam will be easy compared to the formations you’ve been flying. So, you might as well know what they teach us. Especially if it keeps you where you should be after curfew.”

  I tried to keep my expression smooth so that she wouldn’t realize how eager I was.

  “It’s the magic of binding words. Magikas call on power sources – like wells throughout the world and tap that power. Don’t ask me how. They don’t tell anyone who isn’t in training with them. But Castelans and Dragon Riders and Dominar Elite know that magic of words. It’s the power of a vow, the power that binds you to the one you wed or to a contract.”

  That didn’t seem right. Raolcan would have come to save me, vow or no vow if he could have when the Magikas attacked. He’d had to wait to be released by Leng.

  “People leave the ones they’ve wed,” I said, coming out from behind the screen in my nightclothes. “They break contracts.”

  Lenora nodded her head with a look of exaggerated patience. “Those are normal vows. Our word magic amplifies them and makes them binding. Only the person who placed the vow on you can release you from word magic vows – or covenants, as we sometimes call them.”

  “But one Dragon Rider will fix a dragon in place and another will set them free.”

  “Exactly. That’s because trainee dragons are sworn to their rider and to Dragon School. The vow that holds them is the one for Dragon School. Anyone from Dragon School who knows the words of release can set them free.”

  Good news! I could do it myself - if I had the right words.

  “Don’t look so hopeful,” Lenora said with a smirk. “I’m not going to tell you what the words are. You have to wait to be actually Sworn to do that. It will be soon enough, so don’t get your scarf in a bunch. Come on, let’s go to bed.”

  I looked hopefully at Artis.

  “Don’t look at me,” she said. “I think Lenora has told you more than you should know. Go to bed.”

  I slipped into my bed as the others settled in and a moment later Artis blew out the light. Sleep was hard to find. There had to be some way to find those words. Perhaps there was someone else I could ask?

  If Leng was here, I would ask him, although since he was so obsessed with keeping me out of trouble he probably wouldn’t give them to me. Besides, I was still confused by those kisses. Did he have true affection for me, or had he simply been contrite for treating me like a cripple instead of a Dragon Rider? Why did he blow so hot and cold? Sometimes he seemed like a good friend, other times he seemed like he could hardly look at me. And he’d left his initials on my crutch. Did that mean something?

  With no clear answers and nothing more than added worries, I slipped into a fitful sleep.

  I woke with a start. The sky was black and around me, I heard the sounds of sleeping girls breathing. A hand covered my mouth. Lenora’s whisper startled me despite the hand.

  “Amel? Are you awake?”

  I nodded and the hand left my mouth.

  “I don’t know what you’re up to, but here’s the thing. I think freedom is important. I think you should make your own choices – whatever they are. I wrote the words you need on a slip of paper and put them in your boot. Just don’t get the rest of us in trouble. Promise?”

  “I promise,” I whispered.

  “And don’t sneak out tonight, or Artis will know it was me.”

  “I won’t.”

  “Go back to sleep.”

  Her feet padded across the dark room and then silence descended. Again, I fought to sleep, this time because I was too excited to lay so still.

  Chapter Ten

  My eyes snapped open and I scrambled up in bed. The note in my boot! I needed to find it and make sure it was secure. Who would have thought that Lenora - of all people! - would help me? She was so arrogant and obnoxious but she’d been the one who’d told me the truth last night and then given me this note. Was there more to her than there appeared, or did she truly think freedom was important enough that she was willing to help me even though she didn’t really seem to like me?

  I grabbed my boots, feeling in the toe. There was definitely a note in there.

  “You put your clothes on first, then the boots,” Lenora said dryly from the other side of the room.

  Olla laughed. “And you’d better be quick, Amel. We heard last night that we’ll be spending all day preparing for the Havenalla.”

  “What’s a Havenalla?” I asked.

  “The official betrothal of Starie and the Ba
ojang Prince. I guess they’re rushing this time so that the bride doesn’t disappear before she’s even pledged to him.”

  “What do we have to do?” I asked as I finished dressing and slipped my boots on, carefully tucking the note into my waistband. I didn’t like the idea of seeing Starie dressed in those magnificent clothes that would make her look like some sort of goddess and then standing where Savette should have been. Although, to be fair, Savette hadn’t seemed excited to be marrying the prince.

  “We’re tasked to provide support to the kitchens,” Artis said. “Bringing food to the courtyard feast. It’s traditional for the Castel to provide a feast to the common people the morning before a noble engagement is announced.”

  “Really?” That sounded like a nice tradition. I could just imagine how much my family would look forward to it if we lived near a Castel. It also provided an opportunity. If I was near the kitchen, I could get some food and water, couldn’t I? Maybe enough for a journey? Was it stealing if they were going to be feeding me anyway if I stayed?

  “Yes, really.” Something soft smacked me in the face and I shoved away a pillow. Had Olla just hit me with a pillow? Really? No one had ever done that before! “Don’t be so serious, Amel!”

  “Enough, you two! Come on!” Artis said from the door. I stood and hobbled towards her.

  Olla slipped her arm around me, walking beside me. “You’re a good sport, Amel. It’s nice to have you in our knot.”

  I smiled tentatively. I’d never had a real girl friend except for Savette, and Savette wasn’t the affectionate kind. What did you say to tell someone that you were grateful for their friendship without sounding too desperate?

  “Thanks for being so kind, Olla.” I felt my face heating up. Oh! Was I messing it up? Would she think I was too strange?

  “I have an idea for a new trick, Amel, let me tell you about it.”

  Olla kept talking flying maneuvers the whole way to the kitchen. I liked her chatter. It was nice and focused on this specific moment in time – a welcome refresher from the things on my mind. She smiled when we got there and then whirled off to take the first tray offered by the under-cook.