• Chapter two!!!

    That same week, they sent for her. Her nurse, Jesibel, brought her again in front of the high riders. Only this time, they were in a small cove near the lake on the eastern edge of the guild.

    “Nurse?” Saffire asked while they were walking, a troubled grimace upon her face.

    “Yes, Saffire?” Jesibel glanced down at her small charge. “ What is it, dear? You look so…”

    “Worried? Because I am. Why are we going to the dragon cave?”

    Jesibel stared at Saffire, shock clearly evident. “Saffire…how did you know that we were going to the dragon cave?”

    Saffire lifted her gaze. “Because I read that message…The one that the flying bird brought you.” She looked back down at the sand again.

    “You read that handwriting?” Saffire snapped her eyes back on Jesibel’s face. “I am very impressed! Not many people could understand that writing…much less a child of six Turns. But to answer your question, you may have been chosen to be someone important. A rider, even.”

    Wonder gradually filled the girl’s eyes. “You mean…I could be chosen by a hatchling?” She looked deeply into Jesibel’s eyes. “Are you teasing me…or is this real?”

    Jesibel chuckled. “I guess we will see when we get there! Just a few more minutes, young one. We will arrive soon enough.”



    They ran the rest of the way to the dragon cave. Saffire stared into the cove. Miles overhead, the crystals embedded into the ceiling, making the lightly lit room sparkle. Still holding Jesibel’s hand, they made their way inside. “Why is there water dripping from the ceiling?” Saffire questioned almost absently, still gazing into the ceiling.

    There are streams on the outside of the walls, and the water soaks through the dirt and stones sometimes. That’s why.” Jesibel stopped, distracted by something farther up the path. “Oh, Saffire…”

    “What? ”She stopped, lifting her head down sharply. About twenty feet in front of them on the path, were the Dragons! Saffire started forward, unconsciously dropping her mentor’s hand. She listened to the near-enchanting sound of the baby dragons. The mother dragons, sitting on their burrows, nodded their heads in greeting….