Gloria Oliver (38 page)

“No.” Every line on his face told her he was being sincere.

“What about becoming a Dragon Knight?” she asked.

“Any member of any of the sub-guilds can opt to enter the lottery. You can even try as many times as you want. Most don’t, though. For if you do win, there would be some jobs you’d no longer be able to do. And there’re other reasons.” He didn’t elaborate, and she was too overwhelmed to ask.

“Oh.”

“But as to what you’re good at, Lareen will have a file on you before too long. She keeps a file on everyone,” he told her. “All the data the watchers and vendors accumulate will be added to it. I have one and so does Clarence. Knowing her, she probably has one on everyone living here, not just the students.” He gave her a lopsided smile.

She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear any more. “I—I probably should get going.” She turned to go.

“Talia.”

She stopped, still not sure what to make of everything. “Yes?” She didn’t turn back around.

“I’m sorry if I said something wrong. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

She shook her head. “It’s not you. I’m just not used to all this.” She took her leave before the squire could say anything else.

By the time she reached the kitchen to drop off Kel’s tray, she had a slight headache. Kel had been here a long time, of course he knew how things worked—but why did she feel more lost because of it? Did other people really see so little? If not for the strange events she’d been involved in since she came here, would she have actually realized anything at all? Life would be simpler if she was oblivious to all this. But would she prefer that? Did she want to be ignorant of what she knew? Would she want to be steered toward a sub-guild without actually consciously making her own choice? She didn’t really know.

The questions still nagged at her as Yllin and Mandee showed up in the dining hall looking for her.

Before long, the three of them were back outside, with Mandee searching for their next adventure. Talia couldn’t help but question whether her friend’s exuberance at the games and contests would be less if she knew the truth about them. It surprised her a little when she realized it probably wouldn’t. Perhaps it would be better if she just forgot about what she knew as best she could and tried to enjoy herself. By the end of the afternoon, she was feeling much better.

In the evening, she excused herself to go take care of her chores. “I won’t be joining you when I’m done, though,” she told them.

“Oh?” Both girls looked at her, momentarily forgetting their current argument about what they’d be doing later.

“I need to oil Clarence’s skin.”

Mandee’s eyes lit up. “Can we help?”

Talia tried hard not to smile. “Thanks, but no. He’s particular about how this gets done and who does it.”

“This will be your last time, won’t it?” Yllin asked.

Talia blinked, realizing she was right. In the midst of everything, she’d forgotten Kel’s and Clarence’s punishment was almost over. “Yes.”

“Only three more days and you’ll have your freedom again. You’ll actually be able to sit down and enjoy your meals.” Mandee grinned.

Talia tried to smile in return though she felt a weight settling over her heart. It truly was almost over.

With mixed feelings, she left her friends to feed those in her charge. The realization this would be one of the last times she’d get to do so tasted a little bitter. But it was for the best, wasn’t it? Clarence and Kel would be free. Yet she couldn’t quite shake the feeling that with their freedom, she would lose something in the bargain.

Talia approached the dragon dormitory after serving Clarence and Kel, to spread oil over Clarence’s skin for probably the last time.

As she poured the oil into the basin, Clarence stretched out across the stall, his crossed eyes watching her intently with anticipation.

“Where would you like me to start today?” she asked him.

Clarence took a moment to consider the question and then held out his right claw. As she spread the oil over his cuticles, Clarence closed his eyes, sighing with pleasure. She couldn’t help but smile as he soon thrummed with contentment. She felt a small ache tug at her, knowing she would miss this. She wondered if she ever did decide to try for the lottery and somehow got a dragon, whether he or she would enjoy this as much as Clarence did.

“Say now, surely you’re a little young to have been paired with a dragon.”

Talia glanced over her shoulder from where she sat on Clarence’s back, surprised at the voice. A handsome man, somewhere in his late twenties and dressed from head to toe in green and black, was leaning against Clarence’s stall door. He was looking her way with amused interest. A couple of the other dragons in adjoining stalls were also staring her way.

She frowned, momentarily wondering how long they’d been watching her work. “Ah, no, I’m just doing a favor for a friend.”

The man smiled. It was a secret, amused kind of smile. “You seem to have the touch though. He really appears to be enjoying himself.”

She looked away, not sure what to say.

“Maybe she could give you some pointers, Alos.” A gravelly voice came from a blue dragon two stalls down.

Alos rolled his eyes and made a dismissing gesture with his hand. “My dragon companion is hard pressed to appreciate my endless efforts—fool that he is.”

“You wish!”

Alos grinned. “I hope your friend appreciates your efforts. True gratitude can be such a
rare
thing.” He sent the last more in the dragon’s direction than hers. “What’s your name by the way?”

“T—Talia.”

He nodded. “And as you’ve already heard, mine is Alos. My at times rude companion’s is Bynian.”

“Less rude than you!”

Alos ignored his friend’s additional comment. “Say, you wouldn’t happen to be the same Talia who rumor has it has been spoiling our scaled friends here, would it?” He gave her a mischievous smile.

Most of the dragons around them suddenly looked or ducked away, pretending they’d not heard. She saw their evasion and wondered if she should do the same. Still, it wasn’t as if she’d ever made a secret of the purchases. More than likely Alos heard about the cherries from the vendor himself. The dragons paid for the fruit, so surely nothing was wrong with it. “I wouldn’t exactly say I was spoiling them…”

Alos shrugged. “You’re probably right,” he said. “But they do so enjoy getting away with things.” He said the last very softly, his eyes bright. “I’ll keep your secret for you, don’t worry.”

She wondered what it was he thought she was worried about. He was just teasing her. Right?

“Well, I guess I should let you get back to your work. It was nice meeting you, Talia.” Alos tipped his feathered cap her way, then went off in the direction of Bynian’s stall.

She watched him go, a little perplexed at the strange meeting. After a moment, she shook her head and got back to work.

Time passed but she kept working, wanting to finish the job as thoroughly as possible since this would be the last time she might be doing this for Kel. Her back ached a little when she was finally finished, her arms sore. She sighed contentedly though, sure she’d done her utmost. Taking her time, she put away the oil, bowl, and glove. She then turned to take a long look at Clarence.

The dragon seemed as huge as ever, his chest rising and falling with his relaxed breaths. But as she watched, she also found herself feeling a fondness for him, fondness rather than the fear which had played inside her on their first meeting. He was a person to her now, just as Lareen said he should be. They all were. She would miss her times with him, with the others, she really would.

Smiling sadly, she sat down, leaning against one of Clarence’s chests, intending to rest for a bit before going to her room. She yawned loud and long, the day catching up to her. Before she realized what was happening, she fell into a light doze.

She sat up with a start, realizing she’d fallen asleep. She looked about her, a little disoriented, but not frightened. Clarence had shifted in the stall, his tail coiled in a ring about her. She frowned, seeing she wasn’t where she’d been sitting last. Her frown deepened as she looked down and found not only had she been moved but someone scavenged a blanket and covered her up with it. Did Clarence do this?

She wondered why he didn’t awaken her instead.

Rising to her feet, she glanced toward one of the high-set windows, wondering at the time. A touch of light was lessening the darkness outside, heralding that dawn was near.

Quickly combing her hands through her hair to dislodge the straw which stubbornly decided to take residence there, she quietly made her way to the stall’s gate. Leaving the blanket draped over it, she sent Clarence a grateful glance and then slipped out of the stall. Walking silently past the other sleeping dragons, she opened the main doors just enough to slip outside.

Dew dampened her boots and trousers as she wove between the field of tents and shops to go into the main building. Signs of life already flickered here and there, the carnival once more reviving for another full day of games and testing.

Trying to call as little attention to herself as possible, she made it to the end of the garden path and the door leading into the dining hall. Hurrying to her room, she took a quick bath and got redressed before going back downstairs.

She snatched a small slice of cheese and then munched on it as she made her way through the kitchen.

The guest cooks already there sent her hopeful looks as she made her way out. As happened to her every morning since the carnival began, she knew on her way back she would be accosted by requests to taste their wares. Talia was surprised she hadn’t gained ten pounds from it already.

As she loaded the first of Clarence’s barrels, she realized one side benefit of the carnival was all the talk about Clarence, Kel, and Nertak looked to have ceased. With their sentence almost over, she was only too glad of it. She wondered if the Administrator chose to do the carnival with this very side effect in mind. Whether she had or not, Talia was still grateful.

As they’d done all week, Mandee and Yllin helped her bring the dragons their cherries. A number of them were gone from their stalls, and when Mandee asked, they were told it was because they were outside giving rides to students. With eyes lit up, once they finished their deliveries, Mandee dragged her two friends out to the edge of the sea of tents so they could watch.

“They’re so graceful!” Mandee whispered in awe.

Two dragons were currently in the air, riding the wind.

“It almost looks as if it’d be fun,” Yllin said.

“You think so?” Mandee’s eyes shone with mischief.

“Ah, when compared to Clarence,” Yllin added quickly. “Not that I actually want to try it.”

“And why not?” Mandee asked indignantly. “We came here to be part of the Dragon Knight Guild, right? And that means getting to ride dragons.”

The three of them wandered closer to the end of the landing field.

“We’re nowhere near having to deal with it yet and I still remember our ride here only too clearly.” Yllin frowned at her friend. “Just because they seem more graceful doesn’t mean the ride would actually be any better.” She then pointed at the field’s far end. “Besides, look at the size of the line. We’d be waiting for a turn for hours for who knows what kind of horrid experience.”

Mandee gave her an unhappy look.

“The line is long.” Talia could see at least twenty students waiting. Each ride looked to be taking about thirty minutes apiece, and only three dragons were on the field.

A large shadow engulfed the three of them from above, making them all look up. A gust of wind whooshed through them as a blue dragon roared past. His wings abruptly flared out and brought his body to a stop. He settled to the ground, making the earth tremble momentarily beneath them.

“Greetings, Talia.”

She stared in surprise at the dragon’s rider. It was the man she met the night before—Alos.

“Hi, Bynian!” Mandee waved at the dragon even as she swept her wind-blown hair out of her face.

“Greetings, fair maidens,” Bynian said smoothly.

Mandee giggled, and Yllin greeted him back.

“What are you doing out here?” Though the answer was obvious, it was the only thing Talia could think of to say.

Alos smiled down at her. “We’re here for our turn at giving rides to the students.”

“Oh.”

“The two of us discussed it, and we decided you three should get a ride while we’re still fresh. Extra payment, if you will, for spoiling our mutual friend here.” Alos gently patted Bynian’s neck.

“Spoiling me is a good thing,” Bynian said. “I prefer to encourage it whenever I can. Some people, though, don’t seem to get the hint.”

Alos went on as if he didn’t hear. “So, ladies, how about it? I’m rigged to take on at least three passengers.”

Talia felt nervous at the concept, not sure after her ride on Clarence whether flying was for her. Yllin looked as unwilling as she felt, but Mandee held no doubts whatsoever.

“Yes! We’ll go!” Mandee said, almost bouncing. “It’s most generous of both of you.” She turned to face her two companions. “We’ve got to do this. We won’t get another chance like this anytime soon.
Please

?”

Talia sighed quietly, still not feeling certain about this course. But Mandee had been there for her when she truly needed someone, and in all honesty she didn’t want to insult either Alos or Bynian by turning them down. “Okay.”

“Yllin?” Mandee studied her friend expectantly.

The serious member of their trio looked at the other two long and hard before finally admitting defeat.

“Sure. Though I may live to regret it.”

“Yes!” Mandee grabbed both of them and pulled them toward the dragon before they might change their minds.

Alos jumped down from his saddle even as Bynian crouched down on the ground. As they climbed astride the saddles with Alos’ help, Talia noticed Bynian wasn’t as wide as Clarence and the blue dragon was longer.

Alos helped them all strap in, grinning at them the entire time. This didn’t do a lot for her confidence.