When Roberto looked up, Handel was watching him, bronze tail twitching ominously. Roberto snapped his hand shut and walked away.
Fishing
Roberto lifted the heavy saddlebags and carried them to Erob, who was waiting on the lip of his den. Far below, people were setting up trestle tables for Ezaara’s feast. Tonight, fish would be roasted in honor of the new Queen’s Rider, and Roberto, being Naobian, was the hold’s chief fisherman. He checked Erob’s saddle straps were tight, then touched the pocket holding Ezaara’s ribbon. The gift confused him. According to tradition, accepting her ribbon made him her protector—unto death. Did Ezaara even know that?
He shrugged. Whether she knew or not, he’d accepted it—and he’d honor that commitment.
Ezaara’s dizzying loop had been a spectacular feat. Impressive, along with her trick with her dress. He snorted. Adelina would’ve been behind that.
At Erob’s rumble, Roberto clambered up and rubbed his dragon’s neck. “How did they do it, Erob? Could we fly a loop?”
Erob huffed his breath out. “I’d be too tempted to tip you off!” He leaped off the ledge, soaring high above the folk. They flew north, over fields, toward the dark band of forest and the lake. “Ezaara trusts her dragon completely—a rare gift.”
“It is,” agreed Roberto.
Trust? Could the answer be that simple? And that terrifying. He hadn’t trusted anyone for years—except Adelina and Erob. How could he?
After what he’d done, he could hardly trust himself.
The lake glinted silver. Erob spiraled down to the eastern shore and Roberto unpacked the fishing net.
“Work first?” he asked Erob. “Or are you tired after your arduous flight?”
Erob gave him a dragonly grin. He grasped each end of the fishing net with his talons and flew over the lake, his forelegs skimming the surface and the net trailing in the water. Erob was taut and focused, yet if there was a threat, he’d be beside Roberto in moments.
“If only humans could share the same bond.”
“They can,” Erob replied. “I witnessed it once as an unborn dragonet. Some human mates have such a strong emotional bond, they can mind-meld the way you and I do.”
“What?” He’d never heard of that.
“Apparently Anakisha and Yanir could mind-meld.” Erob rose above the lake, the dripping net full of flapping fish, and flew back to the shore. Roberto helped guide the net onto the grass, and opened it. Erob snaffled two large fish for himself, wolfing them down.
Roberto clapped his dragon on the foreleg. “Good fishing.” He tossed Erob two more. Flipping and twisting, the fish scattered diamonds of water as they arced through the air into his jaws.
“I’ve finished my work. It’s your turn, now.” His dragon stretched in the sun. “I could roast one, if you like.”
“I’m saving my appetite for the feast tonight.” Roberto bent to sort the fish, killing the large ones and throwing the small ones back.
“Harrumph.” Erob hooked a fish with his talon and roasted it with a moderate dragon flame.
“Erob, just because you’re hungry, doesn’t mean I am.” The aroma of cooked fish making his mouth water, Roberto put their catch into sacks.
Erob shot another tendril of flame at the fish. Its juices sizzled. Shards, it smelled good.
“All right, if you insist.” Roberto carried a flat stone to Erob, who placed the cooked fish on it to cool. He flopped on the grass and leaned against his dragon’s sun-warmed side.
“A great invention of yours, that net,” melded Erob.
He’d always been a good fisherman. It was part of his Naobian heritage. Before the net, he’d hunted for hours from Erob’s back with a long-handled net or spear, but now they could catch fish quickly and then take time to relax.
“I bet it’s just a rumor that humans can mind-meld.” Roberto took a bite of fish.
“When I was an embryo, I met another couple who were mind-melding.”
“And?”
“I don’t know them, only the timbre of their minds,” Erob replied. “I’d recognize her again, though.”
“Her?”
“Yes, her. She was melding, so I sensed her mind. Through her, I felt his. Their love was like dragon and rider.” Erob nudged Roberto with his snout.
Dragons didn’t lie. It must be true, then. “I’m glad we imprinted. Life was grim until you turned up,” Roberto mumbled. “Without you, I’d be dead. Or worse.” He bolted the last of his fish.
“Most relationships are not like your parents’.” Erob flicked the tip of his tail at Roberto’s ear.
Roberto batted his tail away.
“Many humans are happily bonded.”
Bitter memories rushed through Roberto. His throat tightened.
“Your father’s betrayal was—”
“Not now, Erob,” he barked.
“You’re not like him,” insisted Erob.
His father’s face loomed in his head, mocking him. Zens’ bulbous eyes leered at him. The bodies of maimed slaves, piled high, stinking. Whips cracked. Screams. Muffled moaning. His forehead broke out in sweat. Roberto threw the sacks of fish into Erob’s saddlebags and climbed on his back. It always came back to his father. “Drop me at Fire Crag.” He broke mind-meld.
Erob landed at their usual spot, an hour’s run from the top of Fire Crag.
Roberto dismounted and slapped Erob’s flank. He eased his mind open. “I’m sorry, Erob.” He could never stay mad at Erob for long. His dragon was right—his father had been a traitor.
Erob nudged his shoulder. “I’ll take the fish to the kitchens and be back in a couple of hours.”
Roberto nodded. Letting his dragon’s fire blaze through his veins, he set off on the punishing climb to the pinnacle, hoping the burn of his muscles could obliterate his searing memories.
§
Just before dusk, Ezaara and Zaarusha flew down to the feast.
“Finally, you’re a passenger fit for a queen,” Zaarusha teased. “Could you spare Adelina for a while so I could have my scales polished and talons clipped?”
Ezaara swatted Zaarusha’s neck. Although her fine
