Chapter Twenty-Two
Bond
Imperial Dragon Master Sonya strides out from the smallest cave with her infamous wooden staff, expertly carved to resemble a Dragon expelling a fiery breath.
Her coarse white hair is bound in a single braid, which swings from side to side behind her back with errant strands catching on the simple black fabric of her dress.
Deep lines define her pale white face, while dark brown spots she has earned from years of serving our Empire under the sun decorate the backs of her hands.
She pauses roughly one hundred paces away from the stage, beckoning for Varic.
He hands his sword and dagger to an Imperial servant before joining her where she has planted her staff in the earth.
They appear to make introductions, then turn their backs to us as Varic awaits the assessment of the world’s deadliest creatures.
“Release your skirts, witch,” Emperor Aldritch commands, sneering down at my hands. “Present yourself proudly, or I will have you spend the rest of the ceremony inside the heart of the mountain.”
I quickly do as he bids and clasp my hands before my waist when the ground rumbles so hard, tiny rocks rise to skitter across the grass. Every magical being stares at the dens when the first Dragon ambles out from one of the cave mouths.
My heart drops at the sight of her golden scales. The first Dragon to grace us with their presence is Mirinea, who once chose Hendry as her blood-bound sorcerer.
Her golden eyes scan over me before her attention is drawn by the four acolytes striding forth with large gold offering bowls, filled to the brim with gold coins, which they present to the Elder Dragon.
Imperial Priest Kado steps forward and bows to Mirinea, who regards him with more coolness than usual when stomping her front leg once in a signal of acceptance.
The acolytes set the bowls on the dead grass before her, then back away to flank the Priest. He gives a short speech about taxation and the need to provide an offering for the Dragons before returning to their place at the back of the stage.
Mirinea focuses on Varic, whose frame is unmoving without seeming tense or rigid. I shake my head because only he could be as still as a statue and somehow make it appear natural.
The gold Dragon closes in on him, and my teeth clench as she takes a deep sniff of his hair. Then stars invade the edges of my vision until she stomps over the lawn to drop back on her haunches.
Imperial Dragon Master Sonya turns to address us, “Mirinea has declared it is not a match.” Her melodic voice carries across the expanse, to which the rest of us nod in response.
The shaking earth beneath our feet announces the next beast’s arrival as Venea, an Elder dark brown Dragon, plods out onto the field. “Venea, son of Verea, has arrived,” Imperial Dragon Master Sonya announces.
He shows less interest in Varic than Mirinea had, barely giving him a look and not so much as a sniff.
“Venea has declared it is not a match.” Imperial Dragon Master Sonya’s tone is formal as she awaits the next Dragon’s arrival.
Anxiety tightens my chest as eagerness for Varic to be chosen increases, ushering us closer to the bonding ceremony itself.
The next Dragon takes us by surprise, as no sounds announce its arrival. Instead, a vibrant green snout captures our attention as it protrudes from the smallest cave mouth, preceding the appearance of a slightly smaller emerald Dragon.
The energy radiating off of his form makes it seem as if he nearly prances onto the lawn.
Each of my Guards restrain their laughter when witnessing this energetic beast bound toward their leader, who seems to be bracing a bit late for the oncoming assault.
I bite down on the inside of my lips as Varic’s joints shift, preparing for the unknown antics of this hyper beast before him.
“Minea, son of Mirinea, has joined us,” Imperial Grand Dragon Master Sonya announces.
My eyes widen at the golden Dragon who looks on with indifference, then turns back to her son, who sniffs Varic while chuffing. How difficult it must be for Mirinea to observe her son consider the possibility of bonding with the one who replaced the sorcerer to whom she was blood-bound.
Minea takes several steps back and bounces on his forelegs before spinning in a circle around Varic.
A small laugh escapes my lips, with their joy feeling so palpable, it’s as if I am experiencing it with them.
Varic’s hearty chuckle reaches our ears, and Cirrin is the only one of my Guards who breaks into a smile.
A tear rolls down my cheek, and I swipe it away while scanning the rest of my Guards’ faces, all of whom maintain their stony expressions.
A collective gasp drags my attention, and I gape as Minea bows to Varic, who mirrors him in dropping to one knee while lowering his head in respect.
Tears fall freely down my cheeks, as nothing and no one can steal what I feel in this moment.
Imperial Grand Dragon Master Sonya taps her staff to the ground. “Minea, son of Mirinea, has confirmed Varic is a match!”
Emperor Aldritch leads us in applauding for the new to-be-bonded pair, followed by cheers and whistles rippling through the air.
Varic pivots until his eyes find mine, imbuing me with a distinct sort of heat in the middle of my chest. I bite down on my lower lip, and he grins as he sees it.
My Lead Guard, who so unabashedly grins back at me, exuding pure joy.
His vulnerability encourages me, and I give in, allowing every emotion to exist. No suppression. No resistance.
I smile back with pride and joy being nowhere near half of what I feel for him. And this might be one of my only opportunities to let him see, as His Majesty stares forward, still under the impression he remains the center of attention.
We need this, he and I, to revel in this moment of joy. Gods know we get so little, especially now he is bound to me. He deserves to experience this before he is shut away in meetings. Before he’s left without a chance for any sort of peace, or enjoyment, for the foreseeable future.
Rumbling draws our attention to the dens where Dragons of all shapes, sizes, and colors find their way onto the lawn. The wide array of colors is mesmerizing—one of the few sights which could distract me more than Varic.
Minea lies on his belly beside my Lead Guard, whose bright brown eyes turn back to mine.
Yet he continues to look for me when this majestic beast lies at his feet, confounding me.
Finally tearing his eyes away to kneel at Minea’s side, he presses his lips in a line as an expression of determination crosses his features.
The ground quakes beneath us as Brea, with her beautiful blue scales, bounds over the field, bringing a smile to her blood-bound sorcerer, my healer.
Next is Lucrea, Malin’s ruby red Dragon, who drops down to rest next to Cirrin’s blue beauty.
More and more of the Dragons who choose to attend the ceremony make their way out of the dens and take their time to find a spot to rest.
Sutrea’s amethyst scales ripple with her every move, and I smile as Fray’s mouth lifts at the sight of his bonded Dragon settling in next to Brea.
Lars cranes his neck to look around until Dranea, the last of my Guards’ Dragons, exits the dens, with her burnt umber scales deepening as she finds a space to lie in the shade.
Finally, Emperor Aldritch’s Dragon, Kresmea, stalks out with an unnecessary air of authority.
His crimson scales and matching eyes are too beautiful to be possessed by such an arrogant beast. My cheeks heat when his gaze casts over the stage to ensnare my own and remains, filling my chest with a sense of foreboding, an emotion which lasts long after he drops his attention from me.
Imperial Grand Dragon Master Sonya pounds her staff into the ground three times. “Now, Minea and Imperial Lead Guard Varic will perform the blood-bond ceremony.”
Varic’s expression turns serious as this part of the bonding ceremony is nothing if not nauseating. Every sorcerer who has experienced it has made their wish known for this to be performed in a less brutal way, His Majesty excluded.
Since the Dragons are rightfully secretive with their practices, especially their magic, far be it from us to question the necessity of such methods. Especially since a rider has yet to fall from a Dragon’s back since this ceremony was created.
Mirinea rises and slowly stalks over. “In order for the bond to be formed,” Mirinea says telepathically, “Minea will offer a scale off of his back as a symbol of trust. Varic must remove Minea’s scale using his own physical strength, alone.
No tool or assistance may be offered. If Varic should fail in this task, the bond is forfeit. ”
Varic braces on his knees by Minea’s side and rests his hand over the emerald scales as his lips move in a private message to the gorgeous Dragon who chose him. He mouths the word, ‘ready’, and Minea nods as Varic pauses, face straining.
I clamp my eyes shut, having never kept watch over any of my Guards when engaging in this ritual, when a strong urge to witness this for Varic hits me square in the chest. He deserves to be honored by my bearing witness to this sacred practice.
So I slowly force my eyes open to find Varic’s somber, yet triumphant, smile directed back at mine.
A shudder rocks up my spine, tearing my gaze down to the deep green Dragon scale he pinches between his fingers as a drop of dark blood drips from the end of the emerald surface.
“Minea’s scale has successfully been removed by Imperial Lead Guard Varic with the use of physical strength alone,” Mirinea says, nodding in respect to her son.
“Imperial Lead Guard Varic,” Imperial Dragon Master Sonya says, as he turns to her with a reverent expression.
A sense of familiarity crawls up my spine, having seen a similar expression from him directed at myself.
“You will use the edge of Minea’s scale to cut along the side of your hand,” she says, stepping forward and taking his hand in her own to demonstrate with the edge of her fingernail.
“The cut should be the same size as Minea’s wound.
” Varic nods, raising the scale up to the side of his hand, prepared.
Imperial Dragon Master Sonya nods, taking a step back. “You may proceed.”
Air barely seeps into my lungs as I brace, watching Varic pierce the flesh on the side of his hand and drag the jagged edge of the brilliant green scale down to create a distinct gash that weeps crimson.
Mirinea steps forward and partially obstructs the Emperor’s view, yet he does not move.
Instead, he flexes a fist with tension rolling up his body until he clamps down, jaw feathering.
Needing to get ahead of his rage, I send tendrils of pride and excitement, modifying his mood to better fit the occasion.
“Minea, son of Mirinea, do you agree to the sacred bond between yourself and Imperial Lead Guard Varic?” Imperial Dragon Master Sonya asks.
“I agree.” Minea’s voice echoes within our minds.
“Imperial Lead Guard Varic, do you agree to the bond between yourself and the Dragon Minea, son of Mirinea?”
“I agree.”
“It is time,” Mirinea’s ancient-sounding voice booms. Varic nods solemnly before placing his weeping cut along the blood-soaked injury on Minea’s side.
Minea groans under the pressure of Varic’s hand intermingling their blood, an action which neither can retract, bonding them from this moment on, as long as they both live.
“Repeat after me,” Mirinea commands through her telepathic ability, projecting the words into every mind in attendance.
Varic bows his head with his eyes closed and nods his compliance.
“I, Imperial Lead Guard Varic to Imperial Grand Witch Tasch,” Varic repeats verbatim, with a specific emphasis on my name.
Flutters fill my abdomen, then swirl up inside my chest. This connection between us is dangerous, which could be remedied should the sorcerer who happens to be the center of attention, and whom I am expected to observe, deign to look at anyone or anywhere other than myself.
“Do hereby swear to respect the code of the Dragon,” Varic says, and my brow furrows, as this was not a verse Mirinea projected into my mind, yet no one else seems to be looking around in confusion like I am.
Dark tendrils of fear course through my veins as Mirinea either purposefully left me out, or stopped projecting the verses to all but Minea and Varic, which seems unlikely. Is it possible to ignore a Dragon’s voice projected into one’s mind?
“My service to the Empire in taking the sacred vow to guard my charge with my magic, my sword, and my life, supersedes all previous or subsequent vows.” Varic’s eyes flick to me, his charge, as his voice hitches.
“Should my charge fall—” He clears his throat.
“I vow to protect Minea with my magic, my sword, and my life.”
My stomach plummets as he recites yet another verse I did not receive in my mind. The one where he vows to continue serving his bonded Dragon in the event I no longer require his services.
Because I have died.