Chapter 1

“Pick the one that speaks to you Jura. There must be a connection,” the calmness in Master Othorion’s voice was meant to ease her frustration but somehow it seemed to build it further.

     Looking down at the large gray stones before her, Jura began to walk between each nest, admiring the simplicity of their design. A little hay to keep them in place and little else. They didn't seem to need warmth or protection from the elements as they lay out in the open air of the large gated nest house.

     “What if I don’t Othorion? What if my companion’s not here? Another year to wait and I will be officially too old to gain a companion. What will I do then Othorion?” panic began to set in.

     Jura looked up into her mentors eyes. His graying brows becoming one insured her that he was growing impatient with her endless questions.

     “Don’t worry if it is not here, there will be more batches to come this year. The age is not as important as the connection. You don’t want a juvenile dragon running away and causing havoc on the farmers’ fields now do you?” The sternness of his tone told her what her answer was before she could even put the word to her lips.

     “Of course not, Othorion,” the suddenly loud clearing of his throat reminded her of the missing title, “I mean Master Othorion. I just thought, today being my 16th birthday and all that I was for sure to find it. ”

     “Child you do understand that your mother never received a companion do you not?”

     “Yes sir I do,” she began to walk around the eggs once more. The conversation began to make her feel uneasy.

     Jura knew that there was an egg for her. She had felt it the other day as soon as the nursery cart had brought in the new set of companion eggs. A strange static charge filled her mind. It pulled her towards the cart but she had been pushed away by the crowd. Not able to sleep was the reason why she was here in the first place. It was quite unusual for pupils to be in the nest house this late in the evening. But it was her birthday and after the celebration dinner Master Othorion had allowed her to talk him into allowing her to come and search the new eggs. 

     “So you do understand,” began Master Othorion after a few minutes of silence, “that there is a chance that you may not be gifted with one, right?”

     “Yes sir I do, but I remind you that my grandmother was a dragon companion and her mother before her.”

     “I am fully aware of your lineage. I am just making sure you understand you need the bond and we will know if it is missing.”

     “Ha, I know that master.  I have heard the stories. I see their bald heads around the hatchery. Honestly, I don’t understand how they are allowed to be around our precious eggs,” Jura spit out in discuss.

     “Do not be too quick to judge.  Those that choose to take, even if they don’t feel the bond, do so in love not hate.”

     “Love, how can it be love if they steal someone else’s companion?”

     “Their love for a dragon was so strong they couldn't help it. Besides, we wouldn't know who our dragon keepers would be if they didn't,” the statement shocked Jura.

     “You mean that they are supposed to steal the eggs?  Those poor eggs never hatch because of what those people do. “

     “That means they were never true eggs Jura. This has been told to us by our hatchlings and so it is true.”

     “Well, I could never do that master. Anyways, I know my companion is here. I just need to find it, “Turing to face her master she sighed in defeat, “but I don't think I will find it tonight.”

    Silence, his most preferred state, Master Othorion simply nodded his head and stepped to the side as Jura walked sulking past him. Jura couldn't believe that she had to wait yet another night. This was getting ridiculous. She was getting older with each passing day and by this time next year her white hair would gain its color and her chances of every finding a dragon companion would be over.

     A loud sound of stone meeting stone startled Jura out of her head and twirling around she found Master Othorion looking off towards the back of the nest house. She stood frozen in place listening keenly for the source of the sound. Fear began to rise and she felt her back tense in response. Was someone trying to steal an egg? This terrified her. What if it was her companion’s egg? Taking a step towards Master Othorion she heard the sound of something rolling. To her it sounded like a jar or bottle rolling across the floor.

     Walking past Master Othorion Jura searched through the darkness for the source of the sound. Walking closer and closer towards the back wall she stopped as her boot made contact with the hard stony surface of an egg. It was lying on its side and had somehow fallen from the barrier of its nest. She stood there staring at the egg before her, in dumbfounded silence.

     “I do believe your egg has found you, my dear Jura,” whispered Master Othorion. She thought she detected a slight sense of laughter in his words.

     “Do you really think so? Oh, do you honestly think this is my egg?”

     “Well, you tell me. Can you sense anything?”

     She knelt down so that her face was close to the egg and placing her right hand on top of it she gasped. There it was again, the same static charge that she had sensed at the market.

     “Are you my little one,” she whispered in a hushed voice that couldn't be heard by anyone but herself.

     The egg suddenly shifted to one side and Jura felt a surge of warmth where her hand rested. She felt the warmth go up her arm and bury itself deep in her mind. There were no words but she knew at that instance that this was her egg.

     “This is my companion, Master Othorion,” she stated as she rose and turned to face her old master.

     “I see.”

     With those words he turned and began to walk towards the entrance of the nest house.

     “That’s it? What about my egg? What do I do now,” the irritation in her voice began to rise.

     Without turning around Master Othorion spoke, “Well, seeing as it is late, the egg must stay here tonight. You can collect it in the morning and must take it directly to the hatchery,” and then he walked out the door leaving Jura standing alone in dazed silence. 

     Taking one final look at her egg, she walked out the door with a deep guilt weighing on her conscious. Leaving her egg was hard now that she had finally found it. It wasn't in danger from harm, as it was stone and likewise in color. Nothing could penetrate the stone and that’s why there were no guards to watch over them. Passing through the frame of the door and into the open air of night, a warm summer’s wind blew and picked up a strand of her white hair, gently tugging at it in a playful manner. This did nothing to lighten her mood. Turning right she walked away from the nest house, each step painful and the warm sensation in her mind seemed to dull the further she walked.

    Heading down the path towards the council hall she took a quick left as she past the hatchery on her right. Silence was thick in the air as it was approaching midnight and most of the village was tucked away in their warm beds.  She passed a few huts and could see the light of her own was still on. Her mother was waiting for her. Wishing that her mother was asleep so that she could save herself from having to share the details of the evening. He guilt was bearing down on her shoulders and she couldn’t take her mind away from her egg sitting there unprotected and alone in the nest house.

     “Jura dear, do hurry up, its late,” the soft voice of her mother beckoned her attention.

     There she was, standing in the door, her thin frame barely filling the space allowing light to escape. Jura studied her mother as she closed the distance. She had her brown hair pulled back into a bun, meaning that she had been preparing dough for the following morning.

     This bothered Jura. Her mother worked so hard and slept so little. Baking bread each morning before the sun rose to sell at the market. Seeing villagers in their huts and curing this ailment or that during the hours before noon. This was work she knew her mother loved to do, so she guessed it wasn't that bad. But after noon, that was the hardest time on her mother. She assisted in cleaning out the nest house and the hatchery all before Jura came home from training.   She had always done so but now Jura could see how her hard work had aged her.

     If only her father was still around. Her mother wouldn't have had to work so hard just to keep food on the table. But now things had changed. With the matching of a companion egg came the pay of a dragon keeper. The entire village paid yearly taxes to the dragon keepers so that they could focus on the raising and training of their dragons. It was a large sum of pay as well. Enough that her mother wouldn't have to work any of the jobs she disliked. She would continue to heal, Jura knew that her mother loved it so. As she reached her mother, Jura held her hands out for an embrace, a large smile filling her face.

     “You found your companion? Oh Jura, I am so happy for you,” said her mother pulling her into her arms.

     “Well, it actually found me, but yes I have a companion egg mother. I am so happy!”

     Tucking a loose curl behind her ear her mother gazed at her. “I do wish your father was here to see you through this Jura.”

     “I don't understand why. He has never seen me mother. Why would you think about him now,” Jura grumbled out the same way she always did anytime her mother brought up her father.

     “Because I know that he loves you just as much as I do. Where ever he is.”

     “Then why isn't he here mother? Why hasn't he sent word or tried to come back? If he loved us so much he wouldn't be gone for sixteen years.”

     “Jura, I have told you. Your father has his reasons and I trust him. I know sixteen years is a long time. And I know he probably will never return, but I…”

     “I am tired mother, can we save this conversation for another time,” Jura questioned, irritated by her mothers unwavering faith in her absent father.

     “As you wish. Why don't you sit down so I can brush out your hair before bed? You can tell me how you found your egg.”

     Walking over to the large wooden chair Jura sat, eager to retell the events that led up to the best moment of her life. Not sparing a single detail she spoke as her mother stood brushing out her hair. Finished with her tale they sat in silence for a while until her mother spoke.

     “You know I will be sad to see your hair change color when your egg hatches. Your’s is so long and beautiful. Lacking any of the curls or knots of the other village girls I have always been proud of that head of hair of yours,” she said, gliding her rough hands down the length of Jura’s hair one last time. “Come now Jura. It is time for bed.”

 

    Pulling her night gown over her head Jura let her mind wander back to her egg. Crawling into bed as her mother closed the door to her own room Jura’s guilt began to rise again. Pictures of it sitting there alone on the cold hard ground of the nest house flashed before the closed lids of her eyes.

     “Oh, my dear little one. I am sorry but it is only for one night. Tomorrow I will get you at first light and put you in your own warm bed at the hatchery,” Jura spoke aloud as if her companion could hear her.

     As Jura began to settle her body into rest her mind turned towards the future. She didn't know what was in store for the two. Since the entire process of finding a companion egg was never a guarantee the elders focused the lessons on how to find your egg and what signs to look out for rather than any lessons on the future. That came after you have found yours. There was plenty of time to learn those lessons as it wouldn't be until the human companion reached the age of eighteen that the egg would hatch. One year before it hatches the egg turns soft and reveals its color. With the thought’s of the future swirling about in her head Jura fell into a restless sleep.