Oh, I hope this Plotbunny lives!

Chapter 2

This demonstration had proved something at least, and Jakkin was surprised when Likkarn told him to report to Lance a few days later, surely, if the man did have dragons, they needed proper care, and one man couldn’t do it himself, could he? So, knowing that he would get a chance to see those two, and perhaps more, Jakkin nodded and went off to find Lance.

“Master Lance?”

The man was standing in an empty clearing close by the nursery, scanning the sky. < Jakkin, is it? >

“Oh! Yes.” He smiled. “Likkarn sent me to see if you needed any help with your dragons… I mean… well, I’m sure you can take care of them yourself, but if you need any help…?”

Lance laughed. < I see. Very well. Hakuryuu could use a good grooming. > Jakkin watched carefully as Lance once again touched his necklace, but this time, he caught a glimpse of the fingers resting one the beads, before the ruby flash seared his eyes and the two dragons were out in plain view again.

They were about thirty feet long, perhaps forty, Jakkin decided, as he took out a brush – soft bristles, Lance instructed, despite their diamond-hard scales.

Jakkin nodded, climbing over the dragon’s body, watching… and soon enough, Lance was satisfied enough with his performance, and released another dragon…

This one was a light gray color; hardly suitable for a fighter, but if Lance was from offworld perhaps their dragons were different types?

Perhaps…

He watched as Lance began to speak privately to his dragon, or so he assumed, running his hands – bare fingers – over hard scales carefully, searching for damage… it seemed that none had been found, which was lucky…

Satisfied, Lance called it back in a flash of red, and then another dragon came forth – this one a deep red, the insides of its wings seared with emerald, and it roared. Lance shot it a sharp look, and Jakkin didn’t miss the long bolt of flame that had incinerated several trees…

However, in seconds he heard a splash of water, and he kept his eyes firmly fixed on the dragon he was grooming. It would do no good to rush…

He would wait and see…

He finished grooming the two dragons, and by then, it was dark… Lance thanked him for his help, and handed him a bag. Jakkin thanked him and watched with surprise as Lance climbed on the back of the red dragon, and took off.

He… he was a Dragon rider!

Dragon riders were rare, but perhaps it was common elsewhere. With a sigh, Jakkin opened the pouch, seeing…

A few silver coins and three lumpy orange… fruits? He peeled one and bit into it, sighing… delicious! Well, anything was better than nothing…

He ate the other fruit and saved one for Akki. Perhaps she would know what it was. It sparkled fresh and sweet on his tongue, so he relented. Perhaps his dear worm would like some…

What a strange man…

However, by his next Bond-Off, the rumors were back, this time furiously whispering.

“You see! What would have happened if we had bonded him, can you imagine him in here with us?”

“Come on, Errikkin, you were there, what did you see?”

Errikkin, sweet, gentle, slow-mannered Errikkin finally spoke. “It was a very minor pit, at Krakkow, you know.”

“Of course it’s minor, you would not have gotten in for free were it not I wager. What was it?’

“Well, he used a dragon we’ve not seen yet – it’s small, quite small, but big enough for him to ride-.”

“To ride?”

“Yes! He rode the dragon into the Pit! Didn’t want to leave it alone for some reason…”

“If he’s a mute, he can’t command his dragon by voice, I suppose he thought that touch would work instead!”

“Hush, let Errikkin tell his tale!”

Errikkin took a deep breath before he finally spoke. “Well, he was fighting a Second Fighter, named Gold Dust, a yellow dragon… he had a gray, it was actually a light gray, with a hint of brown… but small, quite small. Well, we all expected him to lose, so we bet on Gold Dust…”

“Come to the point! What happened in the battle?”

“Well, Gold Dust’s trainer, Alekk, was laughing, you know, and he ordered his dragon to charge, and his dragon did, but the gray just kept dodging, waiting… and Gold Dust wasn’t built for stamina, so after several bursts of flame, its fires were no longer useful… and it was too slow to hit with claw and fang…”

“And?” By now, Jakkin was wide-awake. Dodging? They had spent the entire match dodging? “How did he win?”

Errikkin shook his head. “That’s the odd part. His dragon – I don’t think it can blow flame – I mean, we’ve seen his other worms and they only give water, but I don’t think this one can do that either. It… it roared, and then with that roar, this… I guess it would be like colored flame, if flame was clear, and it struck Gold Dust and sent him crashing into the wall, and it might have killed him, but we found out later he was only unconscious…”

“And that’s it?”

“That’s it.” Errikkin sighed. “I lost half my bag betting against him.”

The strange dragon was the talk of the nursery for several days, and Jakkin caught Master Sarkkhan and Master Lance talking, but Lance shook his head, so it seemed he was unwilling to breed his dragons…

“Master Sarkkhan is the best breeder on Austar IV, Master Lance.”

He had been assigned to Lance, perhaps to monitor his secrets, but perhaps because everyone assumed that since he had found Lance, he knew him better.

Lance shook his head. < Tis not that I distrust his ability. Tis simply that they cannot breed. >

“Your dragons are… gelded?” Jakkin gasped. Such magnificence, and yet they were unable to breed new hatchlings?

He gave a single curt nod. < My grandfather did not wish it. >

Jakkin paused in his brushing, causing the gray – the same dragon Lance had ridden and won with – six times now, to roar in complaint. He hastily picked up his brush and continued. Odd…

< The mating process these dragons go through is difficult, and often kills the parent. Thus… >

Lance said no more, but Jakkin caught the hint and held his tongue.

< By the way, how is your dragon? >

“Mine? Oh…”
< Beautiful, deep red… it’s intelligent too. >

“Thank you.” Jakkin said, wondering if Lance had told. Even if he had, there was nothing he could have done about it…

Lance said no more, and Jakkin put the fear out of his mind. The man seemed trustworthy enough… hopefully his trust would prove well-founded…

End Chapter

Completed 6/18/05

Lance: Where’s Ash?

Phantomness: Er… he might not be in this fic…