“He’s given up. It’s only a matter of time now. Frankly, I’m surprised he lasted this long. I don’t know what’s kept him clinging, but whatever it was, I think he gave it away.”
Benji gave a little, strangled cough and Barak squeezed his shoulder again. It was touching to see the two—Benji so small by comparison to the older man, but both of them moved.
I swallowed a lump of my own and reached for my dragon, just to be closer to him.
Kgosi chirped and swung his head, extending his neck, until his snout rested against my chest and he blew his breath—free of smoke—over me.
I rested a hand on the flat of his face, surprisingly comforted just to touch him.‘What are we doing?’I asked him.‘How can we help?’
‘Sharing my grief is your blessing to me, Donavyn. We are saying goodbye, and it hurts.’
I opened my mouth, though I wasn’t sure what to say to that. But a twig cracked behind us, followed by footsteps pattering up the path.
A palace messenger boy was running up the path, his eyes wide and fearful.
I turned and walked down the rise to meet him. Unaccustomed to the dragons as he was, he might find the sick dragon’s appearance frightening. And Kgosi could be rather firm with unbonded males. Though he was usually gentle on the children. But this one was nearly a man. I didn’t want to take a risk.
Leaving the others with the dragons, I jogged down to meet him at the base of the rise, my heart sinking because the boywore the sigil of the king, and I suspected I knew what this would be.
“You’re summoned by the king, Sir,” the young man said, his eyes wide and darting between me and glimpses of Kgosi on the rise.
“I understand. I’ll come immediately. Run back—tell him I’m out here so it will take half an hour to reach him. But I’ll follow you within minutes.”
The boy nodded. “He said it’simperative,Sir. He has received news.”
The team returning from Fyrehold, no doubt. Shit. It was happening.
“I understand. I’m coming quickly. Tell him that.”
The boy nodded and darted back down the trail even more quickly than he’d approached.
Returning to the dragons, I sighed. “It’s the king. I can’t wait,” I muttered to Barak.
He nodded. “I can’t stay, either,” he said. “It feels so wrong to leave, but we havetwofemales visiting the Eeyrie. I need to see if they’re removing eggs, or laying, try to get them to speak with me about the breeding. Plus, we have to prepare for—”
“I’ll stay,” Benji said, swallowing audibly. “I can stay. I don’t have duties until tonight. I can come get you if anything changes.”
“If anything changes, that won’t be needed,” Barak said sadly. “But I would feel better if someone stood witness with Kgosi. The dragons will grieve, Son. You understand?”
Benji’s eyes got rounder, but he nodded. “I… I’m strong enough. I can be here.”
Barak looked at the boy with genuine fondness in his eyes. “I know you can. You have a good heart, Benji. The Creator brought you to us for a reason. Good man—you stay. If he passes, you’re free. The dragons will let us know, but you canreport to me if you have questions, or if Kgosi tells you there’s any need for additional help. This is an unusual situation. He may wish for us to take a greater hand in it.”
Benji nodded again, then stepped out from under Barak’s grip. “I’ll stay,” he said, then walked over to squat next to Ciar’s snout and placed his hand on the dragon’s face.
I was surprised, and slightly shocked. Almost warned him from touching the dragon, but Barak smiled sadly, then turned, urging me to walk with him back to the Keep.
“Let him take responsibility. The dragons will teach him more than we can,” he said quietly as we drew down the rise. “He’ll become more of a man under their tutelage than you or I could achieve.”
I didn’t doubt it was true, though there was still a small part of me that was disturbed by the idea of my dragon speaking to someone else so freely. I recognized it for the petty jealousy it was, and stuffed it down.
Kgosi huffed in my head.‘No boy would replace you in my heart, Donavyn.’
‘I know that,’I growled in return, squirming at being caught with such childish thoughts.
‘The boy is brave and strong. He has a difficult path to walk. He has been wounded. But his power will grow. You would approve.’
‘And you’ll help him until he gets his own dragon,’I sent, knowing it was true.‘Thank you.’
