Page 69 of Blood of Dragons

“Get a job. Make some money. Find a house. Be alone.”

That is what you desire? To be alone?

“Yes…for now.”

What skills do you have?

“I can hunt. I can fish. I can build things. My father taught me many things.” The final words I’d said to my father were justified, but now that the months had come and gone, I felt like shit for what I’d said. I should have offered him forgiveness andlet him go with peace, but instead, I’d held on to my rage. And now I had to carry it forever.

I can tell he cared for his hatchlings.

“Yeah…he did.” He was good to all of us. But that goodness was the very reason he ended up dead, and I would learn from that mistake.

Then this is where we part ways. Take care, Talon. I hope you find what you’re looking for.

“You too, Khazmuda.”

I spent a year in that village.

It passed with aching slowness, every day the same as the last. I’d wake up before the sun and arrive at the harbor to take the ship out to sea. With the crew, we retrieved our traps and dropped new ones, collecting crabs and lobsters as well as fish. What I liked most about the job was the fact that none of the guys were talkers. They just wanted to do their jobs and go home.

I reeked of fish at the end of every day. Didn’t care for that.

Then I would spend my evenings alone. My accommodations were humble, four walls with a bed, a small table, a fireplace, and a bathtub. I ate dinner at the tavern every night, drinking until I could barely make the walk to my cabin. I passed out on the bed and then rose before the sun the next morning.

I did it on repeat.

My pain had numbed a long time ago, but I was still dead inside. It’d been almost a year and a half since I’d lost my entire family, but to me, it felt like yesterday. The dreams had started to fade and were replaced by flashes of images of work, of crabs and nets. Sometimes I saw Khazmuda, who stopped by to visit whenever he was in the area. My mind seemed to heal from the trauma, but my heart never would.

I’d just made the walk from the tavern when I heard his voice in my head.I’m here.

I stepped inside the cabin, my mind hazy from the ale.Wasn’t expecting you.

You’re intoxicated.

Yep.

Let me know when you’re well enough to speak.

Tomorrow was my day off from fishing, so I would visit then.I’ll see you in the morning.

I collapsed on my bed and woke up to the sunshine across my bedroom floor. I’d fallen asleep in my clothes, so I put on my boots and walked into the wild, leaving the trail and moving to our meeting spot in a hidden valley.

Khazmuda was there, his dark scales a deep contrast to the greenery all around him. He sat there, powerful and tall, a creature that could rip apart a stone building. I’d never really appreciated his appearance, but he truly was a beautiful dragon.

Khazmuda lowered his head so we could be eye level.Your skin is darker.

“It’s called a tan. I spend a lot of time outside now.”

I’m glad my scales don’t change color.

“Yeah, they’re nice.” I took a seat on a boulder so it’d be easier for Khazmuda to be level with me. “So, how have your travels been?”

Still no sign of dragons, and I’ve searched everywhere.

“The world is a big place. I’m sure there are free dragons somewhere.”

We are living treasures. All men want to capture us and own us. Dragons have never been free since your kind came into being.