That seemed fair, but still.
I’d thought we were on this mission purely because of the impending war, but I hadn’t realized this issue with the dragons was real.
Barak continued talking as we explored the caves, but the picture he described was worrying. Dragons not taking mates. Not breeding even when they did. Young dragons leaving the herd, despite a strong Primarch. All of it happening so slowly that no one noticed at first. But now the consequences were evident.
“…So you can see, the problems we’re bringing to Fyrehold are very real. Their herd isn’t as well managed as ours, from what I gather. I’m not sure their Furymaster can actually speak to the unbonded. I’m hoping you’ll find out. But regardless, if you have a chance to bring some new bloodlines here and Kgosi approves them, please do. Their dragons are from the north, so finer boned than ours. They have great stamina, but are stilllarge and strong. I’m hoping they’re strong enough to compete for mates here. It couldn’t hurt to shake the herd up a little with new blood. Maybe spur some of the less motivated males to wake up and work for a mate.”
“But, why would they give up their dragons if their herd is smaller than ours?”
“Because if they come to our herd and make more mating pairs and we have more babies, we’ll send some of them back when they’re old enough. Fyrehold would be willing to wait, because we have stronger dragons. For every dragon who comes home with us, we’ll eventually send others in return. Or if any of the males don’t want to stay, and they’ve mated, we’ll let a pair return. We’re hoping, mixing the bloodlines will be an injection of health and fertility in both herds,” Donavyn said quietly. “Plus, with Kgosi taking a mate, our entire herd should increase in fertility for a year or more.”
“Your problem will be if Fyrehold doesn't have a Speaker,” Barak said solemnly. “It’s difficult at the best of times to communicate with a group. Kgosi and Akhane will help, obviously. But it wouldn’t hurt to take someone who could remain with the dragons while you’re both working. Someone they might be willing to speak to.”
Donavyn frowned. “You have an assistant who can Speak? I wasn’t aware—”
“I don’t, but I’ve found a candidate.”
“Who is it?” Donavyn asked, surprised.
“He’s young yet. I would have waited a year or two. But he’s a great success in the stables because he communicates with the dragons. Apparently, until recently, he didn’t realize everyone can’t do it,” Barak said, clearly amused. “I don’t know if you know the stablehand, Benji.”
Both our mouths dropped open. “Benji?!” I gasped.
“The stableboy who looks even younger than he is?” Donavyn asked.
Barak nodded to both of us. “He has the gift. I’d already earmarked him to come under my tutelage next year. But with what you’re trying to achieve, it might be worth taking him with you. He doesn’t know enough to betray your purpose in any way. But it would be a great testing ground for him. And if he does step wrong, he won’t do it with our herd,” Barak said, with an apologetic huff of laughter.
Donavyn looked towards the cave mouth, concentration on his face. Moments later he shook his head in disbelief. “Kgosi approves,” he said gruffly. “He’s always spoken well of the boy.”
“They gave him a name the moment he appeared,” Barak said with a bemused shrug.
“Don’t they do that with everyone?” I asked.
“No,”both the men huffed. “Usually, a rider doesn’t receive a name until they’ve been Chosen and the herd acknowledges them.”
The two men continued to speak about Benji, but I frowned, thinking back to that first night in the launch hollow, when I’d seen the dragon in the mists, and he’d called meLittle Flame.I had assumed it was just a nickname for a young person.
‘No, Bren. It’s your dragon name,’Akhane intruded on my thoughts, her tone shorter than usual.
‘But how did the dragon know that if I wasn’t bonded to you yet?’
‘Some of your kind—humans—are intended for us. And for those of you, we see your name as soon as we meet you. Even if I hadn’t Chosen you, the others would have spoken to you. You’re intended for us.’
My heart grew warm. I yearned to ask her more questions, but she was tense and the men turned the conversation to our mission.
“…he’s young yet. I would have waited for him to mature. But this seems like too good an opportunity for experience to stretch him.”
“He’s already told me he’d grow,” Donavyn said dryly. “Perhaps, he’ll grow more quickly than he realizes.”
“It would be handy to have another Speaker in case we decide to explore the wild herds for expanding ours.”
I frowned.“Wilddragon herds?”
“We call them ferals,” the Furymaster said without a smile. “The dragons call them Wild Ones. Those who are willing to join an established herd are rare, but we adopted a few in this previous generation, and we’re seeing more of them around now than we have since I was a youth.”
“What do they do? Do they choose riders?”
“No,” Barak said, shaking his head. “Occasionally a feral will choose to submit to a Primarch, and they may Choose a bond later. But, as a rule, the ferals herd together, and rule themselves. They stay well away from humans, and want no dealings with us.”
