The Dragon’s Song

Chapter Nine

The next morning, Lilasia and I headed down to Pa’s workshop, wondering what he had to give me. The previous night had been filled with well wishes and merriment from my fellow villagers as well as the other hopefuls.

I was still in shock from bonding with Lilasia and was so excited to begin this new journey with her.

*****

I remember the day she hatched. Bellisama thought she had another week of incubating, but these things are not always the same. I remember stepping into the barn that morning to collect the eggs for breakfast when I heard a ginormous crack that felt like it should have shaken the very earth itself.

“OH MY!! SHE IS HATCHING!!” Bellisama crowed in my head and probably my mother’s head as well.

“Ok, Mama Bell. Let’s not scare her before she sees you,” I said.

Seconds later, Ma rushed into the barn looking a little harried and half-dressed, so caught by surprise she was. The sound of thunderous footsteps heralded the arrival of Bellisama’s mate, Solvon, not wanting to miss the arrival of his hatchling.

“Is it really time?” he boomed inside our heads, his copper-red scales shaking with excitement.

“It is,” she advised before wrapping her long body around the egg. I could hear her encouraging the dragonet inside to push out with all of her might.

“What’s all the hubbub?” my father asked as he strode into the barn. The thunderous, running dragon feet had probably alerted him that something was amiss inside. As soon as he caught sight of what was happening, he immediately ran back outside, thinking this should be a private moment.

“Julie, tell him to come back in here! Even though he cannot hear us, he is still part of this family,” Mama Bell said while crooning to the dragonet inside.

“Don’t worry, Mama Bell. I will get him back in here,” I replied. “Ma, stay here.”

I ran back outside to see Pa sitting on a stump with tears streaming down his face. With pride or sorrow, I didn’t know.

“Mama Bell said that you need to come back in there,” I told him. “She cares not that you cannot hear them. She wants you present for the hatching. You will be like a second father to the dragonet no matter what.”

“In times like this, I so wish I could hear Bellisama and Solvon. Many times I feel so left out of the conversation and feel bad that you have to say aloud what they need from me, baby,” Pa said while hugging me close.

“Oh, Pa.” I returned the hug. “I am always happy to help you know what the dragons want and need when they are being fitted for their leather strappings. You and Ma have always taught me it is not shameful nor a sign of weakness to ask for help.”

“I know, sweetheart,” Pa replied. He stood up and walked both of us back to the barn. “What do you need in the form of help from us?” he asked Ma.

“There isn’t much to do. The dragonet has to do all of the work from inside the shell,” Ma replied. “It could take minutes or hours.”

I suddenly heard the sound of pounding horse hooves. I walked back outside to see Solvon’s partner, Jerold, along with his daughter Penny, my best friend. They jumped off the horse and rushed inside with me close behind. They did not want to miss this moment either.

I entered the barn just in time to see the dragonet punch through with her forelegs and tail. With one final push, she broke through her tough shell, which shattered into a million pieces. She was a brilliant light purple with delicate wings, still covered with the slime that had protected her inside the egg. Soon enough, Mama Bell cleaned her up with cleansing fire, and the slime disappeared under the flame that the dragonet bathed and basked in.

“Hello, little one. Your name shall be Lilasia,” Mama Bell exclaimed as she curled her long body around the dragonet.

But the dragonet’s eyes soon drifted to me, and there was an instant connection that would last a lifetime.

*****

I shook my head, coming back into the present.

“What were you thinking about that gave you that faraway look?” Lilasia asked me.

“Just remembering the day that you hatched,” I replied. “Since that day, I have always felt a deep connection to you. Even after you went off to train in the capital, I so missed you while you were gone.”

“As have I, big sis,” she replied. “I feel that fate has a destiny for the both of us that we will have to face together. I just hope that we will be ready when the time comes.”

I entered Pa’s workshop just as he was finishing up with one of the new dragon warriors who had been selected the previous day. I did not know him personally since he was probably from a nearby town. Lilasia would have to wait outside, for she would not fit inside—though she did when she was little.

“Hey, Pa. Seems business is booming as always,” I said with a grin as the other warrior exited the building.

“Great timing, sweetpea!” Pa said. “Come back into my workroom. I have something special for you.”

We entered the backroom, and there on the stand was a brand-new set of leather armor. Knowing my dad, it would fit me perfectly once he was done with it.

“Are these for me?” I asked, looking over the costly leather.

“I made these especially for you, dear. I was being pretty opportunistic that you would be chosen, so I’ve been working on this quietly. Over the next couple weeks, we’ll do fittings so they fit just right. Go over to the fitting room and put them on so I can see what adjustments I need to make.” He waved me off with a grin.

The fitting room he mentioned was really just a closet with a cloth over the entrance, where a person could change in private. I grabbed the armor and stepped inside. Leather armor was best worn very close to the skin—some light clothing like an undershirt was doable. I shed my outer clothing and put on the armor.

When I stepped out, I could tell right away that Pa would only need to make a few adjustments where it pinched slightly. Otherwise, it was a perfect fit.

“I also have plans to make a special harness for Lilasia,” Pa said while making notes. “So when we are done here, I’ll need to get her measurements as well.”

“Ok, Pa. I’m sure she will love whatever you make,” I replied with a grin.

He shooed me back into the change room, and I took off the armor with a sigh. Once he finished with it, it would feel like a second skin. I couldn’t wait.

Pa grabbed more paper and writing utensils for measurements, and together we headed back outside.