Page 136 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

‘What is it?’

‘They sense me and they are… unsettled,’ Kgosi replied darkly.

“Benji, this is very important,” I said, watching the top of the hill as we climbed together, Kgosi hanging back behind us, though he would follow. “The dragons are uneasy about Kgosi’s presence.”

“They think he’s going to hurt them—and they aren’t wrong,” Benji said darkly.

I looked at him, a little shocked. “Kgosi would never hurt another dragon—”

“If he forces himself on them, they will be hurt… sir,” he added reluctantly, a moment too late.

“Which is why we’ve brought you here. If they’re sharing their unease with you, you need to reassure them. Tell them that Kgosi comes, not to conquer, but to assist.”

“They won’t believe me. They have very… narrow views.” His expression said he wasn’t sure he’d gotten the right words for the thought.

“Well, start with the truth: We know they’ve been held here. We know the men who are holding them. Kgosi comes to assist, because we have reason to believe at least one of those men, if not both, are harming them. Kgosi wants to protect them.”

“He won’t do that by forcing his way—”

I caught Benji’s arm and turned him to face me, and for a split second it looked like the boy would face off. His hands clenched and his shoulders squared. He turned on me with a scowl, eyes dark and intent. But when I didn’t move, only stared down, waiting… he dropped his challenging gaze. Though his hands remained in fists.

“You know my dragon, at least to a point. Do you really believe Kgosi has any intention of, or desire to harm them?”

Benji’s jaw rolled. “No,” he admitted. “But Kgosi’s bonded with you, and it’s pretty obvious that dragons don’t always Choose good men,” he added with an edge of defiance.

I folded my arms. “Do you believe I have any ill-intent towards the dragons?”

He looked away, towards the clearing, then reluctantly shook his head. “No. I suppose not.”

“Then, please, Benji… show them what you can that might reassure them. Offer them memories of Kgosi’s kindness and patience, and my admiration of dragons, and leadership of men. Assure them that we come with peace and wisdom and… anything that will help them.”

Benji sighed, then nodded. “I’ll try.”

He started up the remaining hillside, then over its peak, dropping into the small valley below where the male herd milled and called, almost all of them moving, shifting, some weaving because they were anxious. I was once again struck by the clear boundaries these dragons had been forced to. Here we were with dozens of them in a small valley. They could move. They weren’t pressed together. There were trees and water and space. Their scales were healthy. But their minds? I couldn’t see how the lack of freedom served them in any good way. And I couldn’t understand how it was achieved.

Benji walked to the bottom of the hill, and when he stood on the crushed grasses of the dragon’s bowl, he stopped, his eyes fixing on them one by one. I assumed he was attempting to reach them, and prayed he’d take care with his words.

The dragons turned to face us, even those that were pacing changed their lines so they could keep eyes on us.

I knew the moment Kgosi appeared at the top of the hillside, because the dragons all raised their heads. Some called warnings, some flapped their wings agitatedly. Others shrank behind the brothers they trusted to protect them.

What the fuck was going on with these dragons? They acted like… well, like children. But they were all fully grown and most had to be at least thirty or forty years old. Some were older, because their horns had curved.

Benji’s expression went from uncertain, to flat, to frustrated.

“They don’t trust me enough,” he muttered, but so quietly, I wasn’t sure if he spoke to me, or simply to himself.

But then Benji’s expression lightened and he turned east.

I knew the second herd was somewhere in that direction. Not far. And they were females. The two herds had been kept separate, which baffled Bren. But she’d never gotten a clear answer from Hanson about why.

The females had been more open in the past, and I gathered Benji was attempting to reach them. His expression turned to pleading and his eyes grew distant. I prayed he’d found one that would speak to him.

Then one of the males in the group next to us, bugled and trotted forward, shaking his head, but coming to an abrupt, trembling stop facing Benji.

Benji’s face was awed. “The females told him to talk to me.”

“Tell them why we’re here. Let them know Kgosi would rather they come willingly. But we don’t trust the men who hold them here to treat them well.”