Dragon Bond

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Acknowledgments

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Epilogue

  Dragon Bond

  by Ruby Lionsdrake

  Copyright © 2016 Ruby Lionsdrake

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to my editor, Shelley Holloway, my beta reader, Sarah Engelke, and my cover artist, Merilliza Chan for helping me put together this new adventure. And thank you, good reader, for picking it up and giving it a try. I hope you enjoy it!

  Part 1

  Prologue

  First Commander “Talon” Aristalonis flew through the scattered clouds, searching the lush green jungle that stretched through the valley below for signs of trouble. Birds squawked and fled as he and his lieutenant, Merathosius, soared above the treetops, their powerful, scaled wings flapping occasionally or shifting to catch the breeze. Two dragons lounged by an emerald lake below, their mottled green bellies toward the sky as they warmed themselves in the sun.

  All is calm, Merath spoke into his mind, in the way that dragons did. This land is ours now. There is no danger, thanks largely to your prowess, Commander.

  Thank you for buffing my scales, Lieutenant, but we would be foolish not to expect retribution.

  From the humans? They are weak. We’ve destroyed their outposts on this continent. Those that remain squat in caves in the desert. We’ve nothing to fear. We’ve done all Supreme Commander Hulaskalis has asked of us. It is likely he will give you the honor of mating with his sister.

  Merath sounded wistful, but Talon was less than enthused by the prospect. Hul’s sister had bitten a leg off the last male she mated with. She might be a beauty and have a powerful brother, but she had a cruel streak. Talon also did not know how Supreme Commander Hul would feel about him when he shared the reservations that had been haunting him of late.

  We shall see, was all he said to his young lieutenant.

  Talon pumped his wings, climbing away from the jungle and toward the rocky gray peak that rose at the end of the valley. Eventually, he tucked his wings close to his body and dove for a large cave opening near the top. The wind whipped past him as he picked up speed, batting at his long, sinewy tail and making him squint. He relished the feeling and charged into the cave more quickly than was safe, pulling up at the last moment to keep from crashing into the craggy stone ground. He swooped between stalagmites and columns, having more fun with the obstacle course than a dragon of his venerable years should.

  When he came into the assembly hall, the stalagmites and rock formations of the massive chamber smoothed and polished by magic, Talon found two dragons staring at him, Hul and his sister. He felt sheepish at his entrance, as if he were a hatchling in his first year of flying rather than a grown male. But he landed lightly, his face composed as he touched his chin to the floor in a gesture of respect.

  Supreme Commander Hulaskalis, Talon said, projecting his mind speech so everyone would hear it, including his lieutenant, who alighted behind him. I have come to report.

  Talon dipped his head respectfully toward Hul’s sister, Semptrusis, but he did not address her, as it was not fitting for a male to address an unattached female. She regarded him frankly, her red eyes flaring with an inner glow as they perused his muscular form, while she stroked a diamond collar that gleamed around her neck. He tried not to imagine her gnawing one of his limbs off in the throes of passion.

  King Hulaskalis, his leader corrected.

  Pardon?

  I have decided I shall be the first king over this land. Unless someone cares to object. Yellow eyes narrow, Hul stared hard at Talon as he rose to his full height and spread his wings, their span over thirty feet.

  He was as large as Talon, though older and less muscular. They were both big and powerful for their kind, nearly rivaling the size of the red dragons back home, and few of the other dragons challenged them, not here in this new land. Talon believed he could best Hul in a battle, but there was no reason for them to fight. Hul had led them here, and for the first time in their lives, Talon and his kind were the hunters instead of the hunted.

  I do not object, Talon said. Not to your title. Even if he failed to see the point. It might be less of a mind-full than supreme commander, but he found both equally pretentious.

  I am the one who learned how to make the portal, the one who found this world and led us in conquering this land, Hul proclaimed. Now that we have carved out a kingdom, it needs a king.

  We? Hul had done little of the actual fighting. Talon was the one who had led the troops, battling the humans who lived in this valley and across this continent before his kind had come, but he kept his thoughts to himself. Hul had led them here, and for that he was grateful. For the first time in his life, he could fly openly through the skies without fearing that a blue or red dragon would swoop down and make dinner of him.

  I accept you as king, if that is your wish, Talon said. He spoke without sarcasm. It mattered little to him what title Hul took. He had no hunger for governing and politics—the pressures of being a battlefield commander were enough—and he would remain loyal to his commander.

  It is my wish, Hul said, settling to his haunches. I shall rule over this continent, and eventually, thanks to your skillful leadership and the might of your forces, I shall rule over this entire world.

  The entire world? Talon ruffled his wings.

  This was what he wished to speak about with his commander, and he felt nervous, knowing it would not be well received. Hul had spent his five years on this world in this cave and in this valley. He had not fought with the humans, and he did not understand that they were not the mindless beasts the dragons had assumed when they first arrived.

  The entire world, Semptrusis said, speaking for the first time, her voice purring in Talon’s mind like a caress. We shall mate with abandon, producing offspring, and the skies will be full of mottled dragons. If a red or a blue should ever find a way to this world, it won’t matter. We will be too many for them, too powerful.

  What of the humans? Talon asked, keeping his tone subdued, as was proper when responding to a female. And he kept his gaze toward Hul, though he was aware of Semptrusis rising to her feet and looking him over. Her long neck snaked toward him, and her nostrils twitched, inhaling his scent.

  He could smell her scent, too, the pheromones unique to a female dragon nearing the time of her breeding cycle.

  What of them? she asked.

  They are learning how to hurt us, Talon said. They have their storm swords that can cut through our scales, and they are always coming up with new weapons. They have fought us valiantly and will continue to do so. Even if we can kill them easily one-on-one, there are millions of them here in this world, and we came only with hundreds. We—

  We are superior, Hul cried, his voice roaring in Talon’s head like an avalanche. They are animals, nothing more. Savages. They do not deserve to rule a world, and we shall kill or enslave all of them, as we have done with those on this continent.

  Not all of them. Talon thought of his last battle, where one of the female commanders had set a trap and killed two of his lieutenants. The trap, a massive rock fall, had nearly buried him as well. When she had then c
ome at him with that storm sword of hers, clouds and light swirling in the imbued metal of the blade, she had nearly killed him. His people proclaimed him a brilliant commander because his diversion had allowed them to raze the last enemy settlement of any size on this continent, but he knew the truth, that he had almost been bested by a human. He also knew that they weren’t savages, that they had language and culture and a rich history—he had seen it as he had cruised through their abandoned cities and settlements. He had glimpsed the art and architecture, and he’d heard their music. It had taken five years for him to realize that this world’s inhabitants, the people Hul called savages, had as much intelligence as dragons. Now, he regretted that he’d not discovered this earlier.

  They don’t have the resources left to fight us, to be a danger to us. Hul yawned, his great maw revealing rows of long fangs.

  You do not fear them, do you? Semptrusis withdrew from Talon, her expression growing dismissive.

  Talon supposed he should strive to maintain her good opinion of him, but inwardly, he was relieved. Even if their way was for the strongest males to mate with the females from the most powerful clans, he could summon little interest in Semptrusis.

  I fear nothing, but I sometimes question our right to be here, to destroy a civilization that—

  They are not civilized, Hul roared. They are meat, nothing more. Though poor tasting meat, I’ll grant you. I much prefer those horses that run wild through the valley.

  Horses that had once been domesticated by the humans and used for labor.

  And the antelopes, Semptrusis purred. Aristalonis, would you bring me an antelope?

  He bowed his head in acceptance of the task, but he was not ready to let Hul wave his claws and decide their kind should destroy everyone who objected to dragon rulers. He had already killed hundreds of humans and given orders that had resulted in thousands more of their deaths. He was tired of the killing. Why could a continent not be enough of a kingdom for the dragons?

  Let us take this continent, my king, and leave the rest of the world as it is, he suggested. We have no need for more. Perhaps we could even form a treaty with the humans, to ensure they do not try to retaliate and—

  A treaty? Hul gaped at him. We are supreme; why would we need a treaty? A treaty with meat! He looked at his sister, and her laughter rang into the minds of all around her.

  Behind him, Merath’s claws clacked softly on the stone floor as he shifted his weight. Commander, he whispered, his words only for Talon, perhaps we should go. It is rumored that Hul punishes those who defy him.

  Talon had heard those rumors, too, but he hardly believed he could be in danger. I am not defying him; I am having a discussion with him.

  Aristalonis, Hul said, spearing him with a hard gaze, his eyes flashing yellow with passion—anger. I would never have thought you of all dragons might go soft on me. You who have killed so many.

  I grow weary of all the killing. As you’ve said, humans are poor eating. All we do is leave their bodies scorched on the battlefield. It is senseless.

  It is war.

  A war they did not ask for.

  Have care, Aristalonis. Hul rose to his feet again, turning toward one of the tunnels that opened to either side of the chamber, then looked back to Talon. Your words border on treason. Will you carry out my orders and lead our troops to the other continents in this world? To raze them and claim them for dragon kind?

  My king, Talon said, struggling for calm, for logic that might appeal to Hul. Once, we were bullied and targeted because we were weaker than others. Do you not see that it is wrong for us to do the same, to treat an intelligent species the way we were once treated? We hated it—lived in fear for our lives. We—

  Aristalonis, if they were dragons, perhaps there would be some merit to your words, but as I’ve said, they are meat. Nothing more. You are a fool to think of them as anything else. And besides—Hul spread his clawed hand and slashed the air—I will not deny it. It feels good to be the persecutor for once.

  Semptrusis made that contented purring sound again.

  Now, I ask you a final time, Hul said, will you follow my orders and lead our troops to the other continents?

  Talon’s stomach churned at the idea of killing thousands, if not millions more. Didn’t his kind have enough? But he’d just told his lieutenant that he would not defy Hul. Dare he do so? Talon did not want a fight, and here in the mountain, Hul had many who could come forward to protect him, those who served him rather than those who fought with Talon. A skirmish here would not go well for him.

  No, my king. Talon feared he was not making the wisest decision, but his sense of honor would not allow another one. I must respectfully retire from your service.

  Retire? Hul’s eyes flashed again, glowing with his inner fury. You are not some old, doddering dragon who can barely fly. You are in the prime of your life, and you are my best commander. I forbid you to retire.

  Semptrusis made a sniffing sound, baring her fangs. She looked like she couldn’t believe she had been considering Talon as a mate. Perhaps one good thing would come of this.

  Respectfully, I must do so anyway. Talon stepped backward, intending to turn and leave the cave—and the mountain and the valley. He had been a soldier all of his life, and he had no idea where he would go or what he would do, but his heart already felt lighter at the thought of no longer obeying orders, orders that were sometimes cruel and that so often demanded blood.

  But he had gone only a few steps when four young dragons stormed into the chamber from the tunnels on either side.

  Talon’s leg muscles bunched as he prepared to spring into the air, to do battle if he must. What was going on? Would Hul have him killed after all of his loyal service? Surely not.

  The young dragons paused, watching him warily. They were all smaller than he was, more of the standard size for mottled dragons, with wingspans of only twenty feet or so. Their necks hunched, and he could tell they did not want to fight him. He couldn’t kill all four, not without being grievously injured himself, but he would not accept a death sentence quietly.

  Aristalonis, Hul said, his voice oddly calmer now. You are my best commander. Your life is not in danger. He spoke as if he was reading Talon’s mind, and maybe he was. Talon had been too busy thinking of defending himself to guard his thoughts from telepathic intrusions. But it is clear to me, Hul continued, that you need time to reconsider my offer. So I sentence you to a year doing hard labor in the pit mine in the desert. There you will extract the jewels from the earth that our females so covet. Hul waved toward the diamond collar that his sister wore.

  Diamonds, my king? Talon asked, his mind numb. What a pointless endeavor and a waste of his talents. Of course, he had been ready to retire, so Hul would not have had use of his talents, regardless.

  Yes, you will dig them from the earth as our human slaves do. And because you’re so enamored by them, you will shift into their form and be locked that way, until you grow to hate it. To hate being meat. As you should. I wager that it will only take you a week to realize that those you are defending are beasts and nothing more. Hul waved to the young dragons. See that it is done.

  Talon flexed his muscles as they approached, but Hul was watching him, his own muscles bunching. If needed, he would help the younger dragons subdue him.

  Any time you are ready to command my troops, you may return, Hul told him. Just inform the overseer.

  Talon thought about fighting, about fleeing from the cave, but it was unlikely he would be victorious against so many. His wings drooped, and he let the others come forward and surround him.

  I hope you learn your lesson soon, Hul spoke into his mind as Talon was led away.

  Talon resisted the urge to parrot the words back to the king, as he silently hoped that Hul would be the one to learn a lesson, that he had made a mistake in trying to break his most loyal and most effective commander.

  Chapter 1

  One year later…

  General Za
la Shaylinor smiled as she crouched at the edge of the open pit mine, gazing out over the miles-wide yawning hole in the earth. Perhaps the smile was inappropriate, since fellow humans toiled out there, chained to iron balls too heavy to move, but she had come here to free them, something she had been hoping to do for a long time. The dragon attacks had lessened that spring, and she had finally been able to slip away for this independent mission, one where she didn’t have to worry about leading hundreds of soldiers and about having their eyes upon her, waiting for orders and wisdom.

  “How will we find the overseer, General?” came a woman’s voice from behind her.

  Lieutenant Salena and Sergeant Vorkan had caught up with her.

  All right, so this wasn’t quite an independent mission, but her two companions had not bothered her on the journey to the mine. Salena, a new storm sword wielder, was eager to please and learn from Zala, while Vorkan, a bowman with the gods’ gift of archery, had hunted for them and kept their small team well fed.

  “The dragons can change their shapes, right?” Salena added, crouching down next to Zala. “And our intel says the overseer looks just like a human, doesn’t it?”

  “Yes, but our blades will know.”

  Zala touched the broadsword belted at her waist, the simple leather scabbard hiding the swirling magic of the blade itself. Humans had no talent for making magic themselves, but she had been the one to discover the spot where dragons had first come into their world, the earth strangely scarred and humming with energy where a portal had once stood. She had taken a sample of the rock and ore back to one of the army’s smiths, and he had tinkered with it, ultimately creating the first storm blade, the metal imbued with energy—and capable of harming dragons. He had given Zala the sword, and she’d since gone back several times, leading others to collect their own ore. The gods did not allow everyone to wield the storm blades, but those who could were making a difference.

  “My sword hums in my hand when I’m close to a dragon,” Zala added.