DragonTongue

“Where have you BEEN, child?! I’ve searched everywhere!”

Amile stared down at Kital through furious grey eyes. When she said she had searched everywhere, it meant she had stretched out with her psychic abilities.

Dragons had the ability to block the scrying with a sphere that they created; apparently Kital had been in that sphere. This sphere also enabled them to conceal their power from the scryer. But only to the extent that the scryer could read the race of dragon and the age and possibly the gender.

“Uh—“

“You were with a DRAGON?! And don’t think I don’t know because I smell him on you! And a BLACK dragon?!? You’re lucky to be alive, child; do you know what they’re capable of?! They are poisonous—one touch could kill you! In all my life. . .”

Kital toned out the rest of the tirade until Amile asked her: “. . .So how are you alive after seeing a young adult black dragon?”

“Uh. . .I did exactly as you told me, Headmistress: kept myself small and didn’t look into its eyes.” Kital left out the part where she had stepped forward.

“See? Doesn’t it pay to keep attention in class?” Amile placed her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow.

“Yes’m.”

“That’s a girl; now off to your studies!” That was Amile for someone; always treating tas ias if they were children. Kital was 15, nearing 16, the age where an Interpreter was assigned a city—provided they passed their trials, yet Amile still insisted on treating her like her long lost child.

The woman sat down in a huff at a window desk in her room. She opened her book and began reading the translations of the Draconis, the dragon kind’s holy bo
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“. . .And he rose in his glory to smite those that had defiled Us. In his wake, he left the death of the bipedal scourge and. . .this is bullshit.” Kital snorted. “It didn’t happen like that!”

“What’s that, dear?” Amile had been behind her the whole time.

“Er. . .nothing, Mistress.”

“Where you alive in that time?” Amile raised an eyebrow.

“No’m.”

“Then how are you to question what did or didn’t happen?” The teacher folder her arms across her chest and fixed Kital with an unreadable expression.

“But the books--!” Kital protested.

“The books are written from the standpoint of the dragons; to the victor go the spoils. It was a neutral dragon that wrote it, and she tried to keep it neutral. We’ll talk no more about it tonight.” Amile stood up abruptly and was about to leave the room when someone knocked on the door. “I’ll get it, dear; you finish up your work.” She left without another word.

Kital was tempted to eavesdrop on the conversation between Amile and the newcomer, but she felt too lazy to go to the door. Bits of the conversation drifted through her open window.

“Aramis. . .pleasure. . .!”

“. . .Mine, gorgeous. . .”

“Flatterer. . .time yet?”

“Too . . .strong. . .another. . .”

“Can’t. . .uprising. . .Kital. . .savior!”

Kital had dozed off; she bolted when she heard her name. She decided it was definitely time to eavesdrop. The woman crept to doo door and put her ear against the floor. The conversation was much clearer now.

“Kital can’t be the savior; she’s just neadyeady!” she head the newcomer, a middle-aged man exclaim.

“She may not be ready, but she HAS to fight! Arcturus is coming; he may be already here! She’s the only one with mental power that I know that can stand up to him!” Amile responded sharply.

“Arcturus IS here. But she doesn’t have the physical power. She’s nott fat far into her swordsmanship andheryhery training—“

“He’s HERE?!? But how—when?! Never mind, what about Lobo?! He’s a fighter—“

“He doesn’t have the mental st—Ooohhh, I get it now.” Kital heard the man’s understanding. “When. . .?”

“Whenever Kital decides to stop eavesdropping and come join us.” The door opened and caught Kital on the top of the head. Apparently, the two adults had come up the steps and she hadn’t noticed. . .

“Busted, kiddo.” The man laughed a deep, jovial belly laugh. He extena haa hand and helped Kital to her feet. “I’m sure you know my name. And I know yours, so no time wasting with introductions. Do you know what’s going on?”

“Other than there’s something up, no. Do tell.” Kital rubbed her head ruefully and sat down on her bed. She motioned for the two older adults to do the same; they did.

“The dragons are gathering; the evil ones, that is, and they intend to cause a great uprising to erase all humankind forever. I presume you know who the leader is?”

Kital nodded. “Arcturus. A black poison dragon, teeth and fangs naturally poison anything they touch. There’s no known antidote to the poison; it’s fatal in the right doses.”

Aramis nodded.his his girl knows her stuff. Nice work, Amile!”

Amile had the grace to blush. “Where is Lobo?”

“He’s not back from his initiation yet; he’ll be back in the week.”

“We may not have time for that. . .Kital, you are not going to school tomorrow. You will stay here with myself and Aramis to practice your martial arts.”

“But what about Cora?! And Abitsu? Can’t I at least talk to them?” Kital pleaded.

“I’m sorry, no. Arcturus is closing in and we have less than a month to train you with the sword and bow. Get to bed now; you have a long day tomorrow.” Amile shut the door.

Kital heard whispers and her eyelids grew heavy. Amile had cast a sleeping spell on her and she was asleep before she hit the pillow.