Page 50 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

‘A healthy fear, Donavyn,’ Kgosi intoned with what could only be described as the sense of a grin.

‘You enjoy your strength far too much.’

‘It honors the Creator to take delight in the gifts he has bestowed,’ Kgosi sent airily.

‘Then don’t forget, he also bestowed me upon you.’

‘Ah, yes. Our trials should also be embraced, you’re right.’

‘You know, for a Primarch, you can be a real dick sometimes.’

‘Another gift, thank you, God.’

I snorted and Benji stared at me, confused. I brushed him off with a muttered, “Not every conversation with the dragons is a gift, Benji. Just be grateful for those that you miss, now.”

Kgosi rumbled.

I couldn’t help smiling.

17. The Way Forward

~ DONAVYN ~

Watching Benji sit on Kgosi like he’d been born there was both satisfying and worrying. The boy was reckless with his own safety—utterly trusting that Kgosi would catch him if he fell and the strap didn’t do its job. I wasn’t sure whether to be impressed, or appalled.

He did fall when we landed, but he whooped as he bounced off Kgosi’s withers and swung on the safety strap, cackling with joy when we came to a stop, and I caught the pendulum of his strap to bring him to the mounting strap so he could unclip and dismount.

After circling high above at a distance where only Kgosi could see the ground clearly, it was determined that the dragons remained in the areas we’d last seen them. Kgosi noted that he saw signs of other herds in the area as well, but they were under trees, so he wasn’t sure of numbers. And we didn’t know if they were more dragons connected to Hanson’s herds, or just feral dragons in the area. Fyrehold seemed to have many.

I quickly filled Benji in as we climbed the hillside a mile or so away from the herd that Kgosi had selected for landing. “If they speak to you, ask them if these other groups are part of their herds,” I said once we were safely on the ground. We’d agreed that Benji should approach them alone, since they didn’t know me, and Kgosi wasn’t yet ready to interfere with their hierarchy.

When we reached the top of the hill, the ground rolled away at its other side into patchy woods and cleared areas, even a glittering creek in the small valley below.

“Please, take care, Benji,” I said solemnly as we selected a landmark to aid him in taking the shortest route to the dragons from this position. “I know they’ve spoken to you already, but they’ll still require respect, and if you’re asking questions they find sensitive, they may get aggressive—particularly the males.”

Benji nodded quickly, like he was just waiting for me to stop giving instructions so he could leave.

“Hey.” I took his shoulder and turned him to face me. “You’ve done well on this mission, and we’re grateful. You’re carrying a heavy load. I know that. But listen. I give you instructions for your safety and the dragons’. If you won’t listen for your own sake, do it for theirs. You have much to learn yet, Benji. And while the dragons are usually forgiving of young folk, Kgosi says you’re on the cusp of becoming a man in their eyes. Trust me, you don’t want to face dragon discipline as a man if it can be avoided.”

Benji’s brows rose. “Kgosi said that? About me?”

I nodded. “And I can’t argue with him.” Except when you give me attitude because you’re bored, or tired. “Make sure that fact remains.”

His expression dropped and his cheeks heated, but he nodded quickly. “Yes, sir,” he said solemnly.

“Good man. Now, go. And reach for Kgosi as long as you can. Figure out where your limit lies so you know where to return to reach him again.”

Benji nodded again. “Can I go now?”

“Yes.”

Without another word, the boy took off running, straight down the hill and in the direction of the mountain peak we’d chosen as the landmark he could follow to make certain he reached the dragons directly.

To my surprise, Kgosi lumbered after him.

“Keg?” I asked.

‘I will keep my distance, but I believe it is wise to stay close enough to retrieve Lionheart quickly if he steps too hard or fast. I will stop where I can communicate with both of you.’