Haven’t read the first book? Here’s a sneak peek.

Chapter 1

“Come on, Duskya,” Ruskya called to his twin through the mind link they shared. “I’ll race you back to the canyon, and this time Wyeth and I will win!”

“Yeah, right, brother,” Duskya responded, as her dark hair blew in the wind behind her. She refused to cut it short or tie it back as was the custom of female riders. She loved to let it whip in her face. If she couldn’t see, she would let Wryn see for her, or use her senses from the dragon bond to find danger around them.

“There’s no way that you can win. Wryn is just faster. We ride as one when I shut my eyes.”

“Sure you do, but I also can do that. Glendyn has taught me just as well as you these past fifteen winters.”

“Yes, but Wryn’s faster.”

“Well, then maybe we will have to find an advantage and take it,” Ruskya replied with a laugh as he felt the wind pick up under Wyeth’s wings. He focused to block his sister out of his thoughts and urged his dragon to catch the updraft. The dragon responded in kind, and soon they were soaring over the desert floor. The sagebrush and rocks below were unrecognizable lumps of brown and green. When the updraft petered out, Ruskya shielded his thoughts again from his sister and, using dragon senses, searched for another air advantage for Wyeth. Duskya had been correct in assessing that Wryn was faster. Just as Duskya was larger than Ruskya, Wyeth was smaller than his sister. The shorter wingspan made for slower flying, so Ruskya had to find other advantages that his twin didn’t even bother to look for. Finding what he was seeking, Ruskya guided Wyeth down. As if on a wild roller coaster ride, the dragon dropped lower, and with a cry of glee, Ruskya guided Wyeth to the canyon floor before Wryn.

“See, sister? I can do it! I don’t need to have the faster dragon in order to beat you,” Ruskya called in triumph so all could hear.

Duskya brought Wryn in for a graceful landing. As she dismounted, she bowed to her brother, “Honored rider,” she exclaimed, “you have bested me.”

Ruskya beamed at his sister. “Honored rider, you honor me in allowing me to best you.”

A rush of surprise swept through the other riders, who had gathered to see the twins land. It was rare for a rider to admit defeat, and to have that admission turned back on the rider as a compliment was even rarer. Even after fifteen winters, the dragon riders still were unsure about these twins. They were different from the others. As younglings, they had seemed more advanced than other riders their age. They were friendly enough, but very private; they rarely allowed others into their conversations. It also didn’t help that Glendyn had shown special attention in training them. While they seemed to fit in better with the older riders, the older riders didn’t exactly want younglings as best friends.

A cheer went up from the young riders who had gathered. The twins bowed and dismissed Wyeth and Wryn to their perches up in the crags then headed to their rooms. On the way, a youngling who had been in the colony just two winters approached the twins.

“Honored riders,” he interrupted them and paused to think of the proper wording, “Respected rider, Glendyn, requests your presence for the evening meal. He has returned from the procession with a single youngling.”

“Thank you, youngling. It looks like you may have someone to keep you company,” Duskya answered. “Tell the honored rider that we will join him and the new youngling.”

Ruskya hid a smile at the attempted traditional responses the youngling had used. He remembered what it was like to be a youngling, but he couldn’t relate to how these newer ones couldn’t seem to keep the responses straight. He knew that Glendyn had been concerned about the dwindling number of younglings, a by-product of the fact that the dragons were not hatching as regularly. The winter the twins were chosen was the last winter where five younglings had joined the dragon rider colony. In the winters since, only five riders had been chosen altogether. Glendyn wasn’t the oldest rider, but he was in charge of training the younglings. With fewer younglings to train, there was less for him to do.

The twins showed up a bit early at Glendyn’s that evening. The older man met them at the door and invited them into the cooking area.

“Welcome, honored riders,” he greeted them.

“And you, honored rider,” Duskya responded. “May your dragon have flown straight and true today.”

Glendyn smiled, “I came back with a youngling for our one dragon. That is always a good day.” He paused, and then switched gears. “I’ve been thinking. I can’t explain why, but I think it’s important that you two keep working on trying to communicate with other humans the way you communicate with each other.”

“Glendyn, I don’t understand,” Duskya said, her silvery eyes flashing with impatience. “We have tried this before, and it seems to only work with us.”

“I know, young one, but please keep trying. Maybe if you try again, it will work. Just humor an old rider on this.”

“We can only keep trying, Glendyn,” Ruskya said, running his hand through his blond hair. “So, does this youngling show promise?

“I can say that he reminds me of one of the more promising younglings we had several winters ago,” Glendyn answered, with a twinkle in his royal blue eyes.

“So the youngling’s a boy,” Duskya commented as she brushed a stray strand of dark hair behind an ear.

“Yes, you will meet him shortly. I had Coryn take the boy to get his garb. I thought that after dinner, Ruskya could escort him to his quarters.”

“Certainly, Glendyn,” the young rider replied.

A knock at the door interrupted any further conversation. Glendyn answered the door and returned with a skinny towheaded boy. Underneath his obvious timidity seemed to lurk a courage that could be teased out. Ruskya was surprised to see that the boy reminded him of himself as a youngling. Could Glendyn have been giving him a compliment?

“Respected rider,” Glendyn started, “I present to you Honored Riders Duskya and Ruskya.”

The boy stepped forward and greeted Duskya, “It is an honor to meet you,” the youngling paused trying to find the right words. Ruskya thought, “honored rider” toward the boy. The boy finished with a sheepish, “honored rider.”

Duskya stepped forward and observed the boy. Ruskya could feel her trying to use her dragon senses to test the boy’s character. The youngling stood there looking back at her. Ruskya was amazed and wondered where the boy was gaining his courage.

When Duskya was done, she bowed to the youngling and said, “The honor was mine, respected rider, may your dragon fly true.”

“Thank you, honored rider,” the youngling replied.

Ruskya thought toward the boy, “May your dragon fly true,” but the boy did not respond.

Now it was Ruskya’s turn to examine the boy and see why the dragon had chosen him. He had done this before, and each time he had seen different qualities in the riders. This, however, was the first that he had been impressed before the examination.

Ruskya stepped forward and looked the boy in the eyes. The youngling’s sincere green eyes met his gaze. Ruskya first tried his dragon senses, and he saw what he had expected: a timid, yet willing-to-be brave young lad who seemed to be trained in courtesy. He decided to do as Glendyn had suggested and reached out toward the boy with his thoughts. He didn’t expect anything to happen, so when he saw a glow emanating from the youngling, creating a halo effect, he thought it was from the fire behind the boy.

He stepped back, bowed and said, “It was an honor to meet you, respected rider. May your dragon fly true.”

As the boy started to reply, Ruskya thought the correct answer toward him.

“May your dragon fly true,” the youngling replied.

Ruskya felt his sister’s surprise that the youngling had caught on so quickly when he had just stumbled over his reply to her. Ruskya smiled assurance at the boy.

Glendyn stepped forward and continued the introductions. “Honored Riders Duskya and Ruskya, I present to you respected rider, Kyn. May your dragons fly true.”

All three replied, “May your dragon fly true.”

Glendyn led them over to the table, where they sat down. He served the meal of roast lamb, rolls, greens with dressing, and goat’s milk. Each procession day the riders celebrated with lamb. The new youngling would have a small meal with Glendyn and a select few riders that the older man chose. The other riders would celebrate in their own way together. Often it would be enough to overwhelm a young one who had just been uprooted from his or her home.

As they ate, Glendyn and Duskya asked questions, and Kyn talked about his home. He was the youngest of five children. His parents owned a store where the villagers could trade for things they could not make on their own. While they talked, Ruskya just listened. He liked the youngling’s voice. It had a soothing manner to it. Ruskya thought it would be good for calming a dragon or any other animal in distress.

Toward the end of the meal, Ruskya decided to do as Glendyn had suggested. He reached out and focused his thoughts toward his mentor. With a shock, he immediately saw his own father sitting beside a fire warming his hands. Duskya felt the shock wave also and sent a query mentally toward him.

“I’m fine,” he responded, then tried again.

This time he was ready for the image of his father. He heard Glendyn say, “But what happens if the dragons disappear? Won’t the villagers revolt?”

“No, Glendyn,” Ruskya’s father replied, “I think they will be relieved. Although it is my heart’s desire that the twins become riders, when I see them in Meredyth’s arms, I wonder if I can truly tear them away from her like that.”

“Ruskya!” Duskya’s insistent voice in his head blended with Glendyn’s spoken voice. “Are you okay?” she added.

“Ruskya, did you not hear what I said?” Glendyn asked.

“I am sorry, honored rider,” Ruskya replied with a flush. “I missed that.”

“It’s all right.” Glendyn’s dark eyes regarded his young friend. “I just asked if you would take on the responsibility of training respected rider, Kyn.”

Ruskya was shocked. Him? Train another rider? He would be honored, but was he ready? He knew the response was up to him. He cleared his head and his throat and replied, “The honor would be mine, honored rider. I will train this youngling in the art of dragon riding, and all the duties and responsibilities that it entails. This I vow by Wyeth, my dragon.”

Glendyn answered, “I hear your vow. Respected rider, Kyn, do you accept the training offered by Honored Rider Ruskya?”

Kyn timidly replied, “I do. This I vow by Wylen, my dragon.”

“Good job, Kyn,” Ruskya thought toward the boy.

“Honored Rider Ruskya, I hold you responsible for the training of this youngling. May your dragon fly true and straight in this endeavor. I understand, because of your close relationship with your sister, that she will be an intricate part of this youngling’s training. I trust both of your judgment to train him well. If you have any questions, please come to me. Now, it is time to send you all off to bed. It has been a long day for both youngling and honored rider. I bid you all good night.”

“Duskya, can you take Kyn home? I need to talk with Glendyn,” Ruskya thought toward his sister. “I’ll explain later.”

“Good eve, honored rider,” Kyn bade their host. “May your rest be with peace this night.”

“And you, youngling,” Glendyn responded.

Ruskya waited until his sister and Kyn had gone. “Glendyn, may I come back and talk with you tonight? I will explain why I did not hear your request the first time. Will that be okay? I can’t guarantee how much later it will be because I will have to get Kyn settled. Would it be okay for him to stay with me for now?”

Glendyn smiled. “Yes to both of your questions. I knew there was something, but it was not the time to talk about it with the youngling present. I also think it is best for him to stay with you since there are no other younglings for him to interact with. Now, go on and return as soon as you think it wise.”

“Thank you, honored rider,” Ruskya replied in all seriousness. He truly did look up to Glendyn and value his advice. Even if he was shocked that Glendyn knew his father. Why hadn’t his friend and mentor told him?

“Wyeth,” Ruskya called, “did you follow all that happened?”

“No, I just know you are confused. Let me see your memories, and I will know. I cannot guarantee that I will know how to advise you, though.”

“Before I do that, would you be willing to breathe dragon courage on Kyn? Glendyn asked me to train him. I think it would help him. I know it wouldn’t be the same as it would be from his own dragon, but I don’t think Wylen is old enough.”

“You are right. I will try. I don’t think it would hurt to try. Now, let me see your memories.”

With that, Ruskya gave Wyeth free rein of his thoughts and memories of the night. Soon the dragon knew what all had happened, and Ruskya had joined his sister and the youngling.

“Thank you, Duskya for escorting our youngling for me,” Ruskya said.

“It was an honor, brother. I will bid you both good eve. May your rest be with peace this night.”

“And to you,” Ruskya and Kyn replied. Duskya bowed and entered her abode.

The twins had chosen dwellings away from the main hustle and bustle of the rider colony. They enjoyed being closer to their dragons. It also meant they were not too far away from Glendyn. Ruskya escorted Kyn on toward his home.

“You will be staying with me, youngling. Does that sound okay with you?” Ruskya asked.

“I am honored, honored rider,” Kyn replied.

“Now, let’s get this figured out. If I am to train you, then you will be around me for most of the day. I’d get tired of hearing “honored rider” all day long, and I think you would get tired of saying it. So, why not settle for this: while we are alone, you can just call me Ruskya, but when we are in public or with someone other than Duskya, then you will address me as “honored rider.” Does that sound reasonable?”

“Yes, honored—I mean—Ruskya. I’ll do my best to learn from you.”

“Good. The first thing I would like to do is for you to meet Wyeth. Go ahead and leave your pack here at the entrance to my abode. We will walk on down a ways. There is a place where I enjoy meeting and talking with my dragon before going to bed. If you wish to make a habit of doing the same, there is room for Wylen, also.”

They walked down the canyon enjoying the star-filled sky. Ruskya felt the nip of winter frost in the air, but both riders had furs wrapped around them that kept them snug and warm. Soon they came to a small side canyon, which had a log off to the side. Ruskya motioned for Kyn to sit down and then joined the boy, noticing the moonlight glinting off his light hair.

“You told me about your family at supper, but is there anything else you wish to share tonight?” Ruskya asked as he took a breath and smelled the warm aroma of rosemary and pine needles. He glanced over in time to see the icy blue sparkles land on the young one.

The boy tried to catch a few sparkles in his hand. He gazed down at them in wonder. Then he said, “You probably should know that I’m not a true youngling. I know that Honored Rider Glendyn knows, but you need to also. If you don’t want to train me, I’ll understand.”

Ruskya looked at the boy in wonder. “What do you mean, you aren’t a true youngling?”

“The procession was different this year. No younglings of ten winters came forward for the procession. The dragon rider then called for those who had seen eleven winters, but there were none to be found. Finally, a call went out to any of twelve winters to come. I came. My friend and I were in the procession two winters ago, and we were both passed up. This time, Wylen chose me. I don’t know if that makes me a true rider or not.”

Ruskya paused before answering, “Kyn, you are a rider not because of your age, but because of your dragon. Your dragon chose you. I do not understand why there were no younglings of the appropriate age for the procession, but your dragon chose you. That makes you a respected rider. Come six winters, you will be an honored rider. Never doubt that.”

“Yes, honored rider,” Kyn responded. “I can tell you why there were no younglings the right age. With the dwindling of dragons, the villagers have started to talk. The first winter, they were reluctant and yet hopeful that no younglings would have to leave the village and their families. Then, last winter, a man with strange-colored eyes came to the village. He started to speak against the dragon riders of Three Spans Canyon. He said that there are dragons throughout the world, and the riders were just keeping the dragons for themselves. He claimed to have proof, but I didn’t see it or hear what it was. The villagers decided that they would sit back and wait. There were mixed emotions when the procession was mentioned this winter. Some, like my parents, said that it was a good thing. They thought that dragons were peace-keepers who make us better people. Others thought it was just the way of the dragon riders to steal our children. Since riders don’t really come back to the village that often, there are rumors of what happens to the younglings.”

Kyn fell silent, and Ruskya weighed the youngling’s words. They felt true. He realized that as the only son of the merchant, Kyn would have had the opportunity to sit and listen to the village gossip. Ruskya was impressed with the youngling’s ability to distill the information gleaned over a winter and put it in such a concise way.

Ruskya patted the youngling’s knee. “Well, it’s been a long day. It’s time to head to bed. Why don’t you call Wylen and tell him good eve.”

“Wylen,” Kyn called in a voice loud enough to wake the dead.

Ruskya cringed at the sound. It was a good thing his abode was away from the other riders, who were most likely still celebrating the new rider. Ruskya grinned; would they celebrate so much if they saw this?

As Kyn opened his mouth to call again, Ruskya stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “Not like that. Like this.”

Ruskya mentally called Wyeth. Wyeth landed agilely in front of the two riders. The youngling’s mouth dropped open.

“How did you do that?”

“Just picture your dragon. Then mentally call to him. You will get the hang of it. Try and see what you can do.”

Ruskya watched the young one’s face as he tried to call his dragon. Shortly there after, a grayish blue dragon appeared at their feet. He was small, but no smaller than a dragon of two winters generally was. Ruskya had seen Wylen before, but now he weighed him with his dragon senses.

The dragon called to him, “Honored rider, may your dragon fly true.”

“Respected dragon,” Ruskya said out loud for the youngling’s benefit, “may you fly true. I have asked your rider to call you so that he can start practicing communication skills with you. You also need to learn to hear his voice among all others. Be attuned to him. In time, it will be second nature. Until then, work on it daily.”

Turning to Kyn he added, “Youngling, practice talking to Wylen. Tell him about things around you. Learn to share your thoughts with him. In time, you will have dragon sense. Now, I must bid you all good eve. Kyn, let me show you to your bed.”

Mentally he bade Wyeth good night and thought toward Kyn, “You will do just fine, youngling.”

Kyn paused in hugging Wylen and looked over at Ruskya, “Did you say something, rider?”

Ruskya paused and looked at the boy before answering, “No, I didn’t, but come, it’s time for bed.”

At Glendyn’s

Not more than a quarter of a glass later, Ruskya stood outside Glendyn’s abode. He wondered what would happen if he tried again to see what the older rider was seeing. He envisioned Glendyn sitting in his favorite chair, the firelight glinting off his hair making it look the color of roasted nuts. Almost immediately, he saw instead his old abode where he had grown up. His mother was busy in front of the fire preparing tea. She looked the same as the day he had left her. When she had fixed a cup, she came and sat down at the table.

Glendyn’s voice broke the silence, “Meredyth, I will fully understand if you decline the honor.”

Ruskya’s mother cut in telling Glendyn that she fully accepted the honor. She mentioned his father and how he had dreamed that the twins would be riders. The image seemed to swim for a moment and then steadied. Glendyn’s voice came again.

“I will take responsibility for them as if they were my own,” he pledged.

Ruskya gasped as he heard the vow that Glendyn had made to train the twins to be the best dragon riders they could be and to act as a father to them. The image faded from Ruskya’s mind. He stood there dazed. That explained Glendyn’s ardent faithfulness in both training and in being there for the twins. Ruskya remembered how he and his sister often wished they didn’t have the rider’s favor, for with the favor came responsibilities. Now, it made sense, and yet it didn’t. How did Glendyn know his mother, and what did Ardyn have to do with his family? If no one in the family had been a rider, why had his father smelled of dragon fire? It didn’t make sense. Ruskya shivered in the cold. The nights in the canyon were getting below freezing. If Ruskya didn’t go inside soon, he would be freezing also. He decided to try one last thing.

Mentally, he called, “Glendyn, I am here.” After a pause, he tried again. After the third call, he was ready to knock when Glendyn opened the door to Ruskya’s upraised hand.

“Ah, Ruskya. I see I was able to foretell when you came.” Ruskya hid a smile and let Glendyn think as he might.

“I got the youngling settled. He has potential, as you thought. He told me some interesting things about the villagers. He also said that he isn’t a proper youngling.”

“Yes, that is so. It was quite strange today. I wasn’t able to inquire after the procession. I saw your mother beforehand, though. She sends you greetings.”

Ruskya nodded. How should he ask Glendyn about what he saw? He was at a loss.

“What is troubling you, young one?” Glendyn asked using the affectionate term he had so often used with the twins.

Ruskya took a breath and began, “I did as you asked and probed you like I have probed Duskya.”

When he didn’t continue, Glendyn asked, “And what happened?”

“Glendyn, did you know my father?” Ruskya blurted out.

“Of course, I did,” Glendyn answered confused. “I thought you knew that. We have talked of your father often.” At Ruskya’s blank stare, Glendyn continued, “We have talked of Ardyn many times and his strange thoughts for dragon riders. I have tried to follow his ideas as best I could.”

Ruskya stumbled over the name, “Ardyn. Ardyn was my father?”

Glendyn stared at the young rider. “Yes, didn’t you know that?”

“I never knew my father’s name. I know what he looked like and smelled like. I never thought it important to know his name.”

The older rider stepped toward the younger and placed his arm around Ruskya’s shoulders. “Yes, your father was Ardyn, the man in charge of breeding the dragons. There was none like him. He couldn’t ride dragons, but he could breed them. Wyeth and Wryn are among the last that he hatched.”

“Ardyn,” Ruskya tried the name out. “I should have known that we had a special father. I have very few memories of him, since he left when I had barely seen three winters, but those I do have are of a gentle man who smelled of rosemary and pine needles.”

Glendyn smiled, “That is a very apt description of Ardyn. He had a gentle way, and he thought that manner should be present both in riders and in those working with any animal.”

“Kyn seems to have that way about him,” Ruskya stated.

“It wouldn’t surprise me. He seems different, and not just because he has seen twelve winters. He has a different quality to him like you and Duskya have. Now back to what you were going to tell me. What happened when you probed me?”

“I saw my father sitting around a fire with you. You and he discussed what would happen if the dragon population disappeared.”

Ruskya felt and saw the surprise on Glendyn’s face. “When did you see this?” he demanded.

“At supper. That is why I didn’t hear you ask me to train Kyn.”

Glendyn stared at Ruskya. Ruskya felt the rider weigh him. He was adept enough now to know that Glendyn was using his dragon senses. Ruskya let himself be explored. He had nothing to hide. After a while, the probe disappeared, and Glendyn nodded.

“That’s not all, Glendyn. I tried again before coming in tonight. I saw my mother fixing tea, and you,” he faltered, “you pledged to protect my sister and I as your own, and train us to be the best riders we could become.” The last was said only in a whisper, but Ruskya had added the mental thought also.

Glendyn stared at him. “I do not know how this could be, but you have seen my thoughts tonight. I have been thinking of your father’s words about the lack of dragons. Then since you asked to return tonight, I was remembering the day of your procession.”

Glendyn fell silent. Ruskya didn’t have the heart to ask out loud, but thought, “Did you really make a dragon’s vow to treat me as your own son?”

Glendyn looked up at Ruskya with surprise, and then tentatively a mental voice answered, “Yes, son, I did.”

Ruskya locked eyes with Glendyn’s royal blue ones and nodded. Finally he said, “I don’t know what happened to break the barrier, but I can communicate with you as I do Duskya. I have never seen her thoughts, though, I guess, I have never tried that.”

Glendyn asked, “So, communicating is no different than talking with your dragon? You use no words, only images.”

Ruskya nodded. “I am trying it with Kyn. I do not know if it is working or not. I do know that he didn’t stumble over some of the traditional greetings as much when I tried to mentally give him the answers.”

Glendyn nodded thoughtfully. “Ruskya, if you can see my thoughts, that means that others can see them also. We must train so that we can learn to control our thoughts. You and I should meet each evening to explore this. I will also ask Duskya to work with me. I want you to teach Kyn whatever you can, but do not tell any other rider. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, honored rider,” Ruskya answered his teacher. “Can I share your memories with Duskya? She’d want to know that our father was Ardyn. She’ll also see through any lie I tell her in how I figured it out.”

Glendyn laughed. “That she would. Yes, these two you may share. Others, you must first get permission. It is a bit odd to think that a youngling like yourself can just go through my memories and eavesdrop.”

“Glendyn,” Ruskya said solemnly, “I swear I will not use it against you. I will vow it if I must.”

“That is not necessary, son. I trust you, as you trusted your father.”

“There is a bit more about the procession that I think you must know.” Ruskya changed topics, and then proceeded to share what Kyn had shared with him about the villagers.

“That makes sense. It also fits with your father’s viewpoint of the villagers.”

“Yes,” Ruskya agreed, “but this man concerns me. Who is he, and why would he want to slander the riders? What could he gain from it?”

“I don’t know. We may need to take some more trips into Woolpren this winter. It might not be a bad idea anyway for the villagers to see that we are normal people and our dragons are not to be feared.”

They were silent for a while. Ruskya caught a feeling of tiredness from Glendyn.

“Are you okay, Glendyn?” he asked.

“I’m a bit tired. Why do you ask?”

“I just had a feeling that you were tired. It was almost overwhelming.”

Glendyn smiled. “This communicating as we do with the dragons could be useful,” he commented. “I just acted like I would with Wyden to communicate my feelings. I am curious why it didn’t work before.”

“I guess I didn’t really try this way before,” Ruskya admitted. “I just assumed with Duskya it would work, but no one ever said if they heard me before. Come to think of it, I may have been able to get my way a little easier with some of the other riders when I wished for things. Maybe they did feel a compulsion.”

“Now that sounds like a youngling!” Glendyn’s laughter filled the air. “Off to bed with you. You are going to have your hands full with training a youngling yourself.”

“Glendyn,” Ruskya asked running his hand through his short blond hair, “do you honestly think I can handle it?”

“I wouldn’t have asked you to if I thought differently. Besides, I don’t think so, I know so. There is something different about you and your sister and your dragons. You have learned beyond what I can teach you, and that should be impossible. You have proven theory wrong, but you’ve proven your father right. He thought it would be possible. I always thought it was just pride in his children. I don’t know how he knew that Wryn and Wyeth would choose you both, but he had confidence in the pairing and in the outcome of that pairing.”

Ruskya stood and headed for the door. “Good eve, honored rider.”

“Good eve.”

Outside the door, Ruskya thought a last greeting toward Glendyn, “Good eve, Glendyn, may fortune shine on you and your dragon.” A laugh sounded in Ruskya’s head followed by the words. “And on you, my son.”

Chapter 2

The next morning,Ruskya woke up to Wyeth calling his name before daylight.

“Wyeth, go back to bed!” Ruskya complained as he rolled over and pulled the blanket up over his blond head.

“No, Ruskya, you are now a dragon rider trainer. You need to be up before your youngling.”

“Oh, all right,” Ruskya groaned. “Does that mean I need to fix breakfast for both of us?”

“Probably. Would you like to go for a hunt first? Then you could have fresh meat for both breakfast and the evening meal.”

Ruskya grinned. “You know how to cheer a rider up! I’ll be out in a bit.”

Ruskya shivered as he got dressed. Winter was definitely upon them. He took the time to start a fire in the hearth before he left. He knew the youngling would appreciate it, and besides, he would need a fire to cook the meat. If he had a pile of coals already warmed, the meat would be able to cook better. As he rushed out to greet Wyeth, he decided to see if Duskya was up. If she was, he could share the news from Glendyn with her and Wyeth at the same time.

As he reached Wyeth, in the little side canyon, Duskya answered him groggily. “Why are you so chipper this morning?”

Ruskya chuckled. He could just imagine his sister stretching and running her fingers through her dark hair trying to straighten it but only succeeding in making it messier.

“My dragon suggested a hunting trip before I start teaching the youngling,” he explained. “That got me out of bed quickly.”

He mounted Wyeth and soon they were airborne. Ruskya always thrilled at the feeling of flying with Wyeth. At times, it was almost as if they were one. He felt this now, as he shared with his sister and Wyeth the conversation he’d had with Glendyn. He barely had to guide Wyeth, and the dragon seemed to see what he saw. Ruskya wondered if all riders experienced this type of oneness with their dragon.

As Ruskya described what had happened the previous night, his sister was surprised that he had seen Glendyn’s thoughts, and what those thoughts had revealed, but she didn’t think they should be surprised over the information about their father. She had always thought there was information that their mother had not told them about their father’s disappearance. She agreed with their mentor that they should take more frequent trips into the village. Duskya said she would visit their mother this morning. The twins decided to try covertly reading each other’s thoughts; afterward, they would let each other know and try to measure their success. Ruskya bid his sister good day and they broke their mental contact.

The hunting expedition was a success. Ruskya came back with several pheasants and a buck. He took the time to field dress them and packed them into a special pouch he had made. He knew the other riders would appreciate some fresh meat.

When he reached the side canyon and dismounted, he started to call out to Kyn mentally. He allowed time between the callings. He wasn’t sure if Kyn heard, until he sensed the youngling wake up with a start.

“Kyn, don’t be afraid. It’s me, Ruskya. You’re okay. Go ahead and greet Wylen. I’ll be back to fix breakfast shortly.”

The youngling seemed to relax. Ruskya decided he didn’t need to hurry too much, but he didn’t take his time, either, in delivering the meat to Marysa, another rider, who received it gratefully. He told her he needed to return to the youngling in his care. She was impressed with the honor that had been laid on him and urged him to return.

Ruskya had barely made it to his door when he felt a wave of fear emanate from Kyn, then heard a screech that made the hair on the back of his head rise. Pushing the door open he ran toward the little room that he had given Kyn, calling as he went, “Kyn, what is wrong?”

The boy couldn’t make any intelligible sounds come out of his mouth. Ruskya tried to pierce the youngling’s thoughts, but they were as jumbled as his emotions. He decided to wait until he reached the room. In the meantime, he sent soothing thoughts to the youngling. When Ruskya reached the room, he saw Kyn huddled on the floor with his face in his hands, his straw-colored hair slipping through cracks between his fingers. He seemed to be mumbling something.

Ruskya ran over to him and cradled the youngling in his arms. He remembered his own father doing something similar when he was wee little. Finally, Ruskya could distinguish the words, “my eyes.”

He waited a while longer until the boy seemed calmer, then asked, “What is wrong, Kyn?”

The youngling took a shivery breath, then said, “Look at my eyes. Please tell me I am not going crazy. I… I could have sworn they were a different color. What do you see?”

Ruskya saw dark eyes the color of the night sky, full of fear and trepidation. Then it dawned on Ruskya what had shocked the boy so.

“Youngling,” he said gently, “what color were your eyes last night when you went to bed?”

“What do you mean?” Kyn demanded. “They have always been green. My eyes were always different from my family. It was the one thing that I had that I could claim as special.”

Ruskya smiled to himself, then decided to explain, “Well, young one, you have more than one thing to distinguish you from your family. You are a dragon rider. From now on, everyone will know that you are a rider. They will also be able to tell who your dragon is.”

“What do you mean?” Kyn asked, calmer now. He was at least thinking straight.

“Kyn, I would have warned you about this, but I didn’t expect it to happen overnight the first night,” he paused. “Take a look at my eyes. What color are they?”

The boy looked and then replied, “They are a strange icy blue.”

“That’s right, but they were brown when I came to Three Spans Canyon. Each rider’s eyes change to match the color of their dragon.”

Kyn looked quizzical, “But Wyden is a grayish blue.”

“Correct,” Ruskya said with approval, “but when he matures, around his twelfth winter, he will darken and be exactly the color of your eyes. You will have a very handsome dragon.”

Kyn stood up and looked back into the mirror, accustoming himself to the new look. Ruskya thought it looked nice on the youngling, and mentally conveyed that to the boy.

Kyn looked at Ruskya through the mirror, “You said that Wylen will mature around his twelfth winter. Could it be that my eyes changed because this is my twelfth winter?”

Ruskya was surprised at the boy’s insight. He thought through the options before answering, “I think you may be right. Most younglings’ eyes change about two winters after they come to the canyon. Come to think of it, my eyes changed just before my twelfth winter. Wyeth says it was his birthing day. That rarely happens, because most dragons have only had two winters when their riders have seen ten.”

Kyn nodded, took one last look in the mirror, and turned to Ruskya. “I think I am ready for the day.”

Ruskya nodded. “Each morning you will be responsible for cleaning your room. We’ll eventually set up some household chores, but until then, just see what needs to be done. Can you handle that?”

“Sure, honored rider,” the youngling replied. “I am used to doing chores around my home and in the general store. With five younglings, Ma always had work to do, and since I was the youngest, I often had the chores assigned to me, especially since my older siblings had left for abodes of their own.”

“Then I’ll leave you to take care of your room, while I fix breakfast,” Ruskya said.

As he cooked the meat Wyeth had gotten earlier, Ruskya thought about what it would be like to have a youngling. What would the next few days bring? And, what would the new information about his father do to his relationship with Glendyn and the other riders?