To
set the scene, against all orders, Talann swam across a flooded river
to save women and children stranded on a hill. After successfully
taking across a rope that served as the foundation to tow a barge back
and forth. The women, children, and horses across, Talann is returning
to the safe side of the river with his stallion, a mare and her very
skittish colt. The makeshift barge capsizes and its precious contents
are tossed into the raging waters. Talann's rescue is just the beginning.
Excerpt:
A
moan escaped Glyn the sight of the unconscious man’s blue skin. “He’s
not breathing.” All the years training by the various weaponsmasters
surged forward. “Kynan, help me. We can help Talann breathe until Lexii
sets the broken ribs.” She dropped to her knees. Deep breaths calmed her
shaking hands enough to hold his head steady. "I’ll keep Tal from
moving. Ky, you place the bones."
<Hurry,> Lexii sent. Fear darkened the dragshi’s tone.
Lexii is worried about more than the death of a friend, Glyn realized. One day, Talann is supposed to be her mate.
As
soon as the twisted limbs were arranged to as close a position as
normal, Kynan backed away. “Now, Lexii,” he yelled. “Use your healing
fire.”
The
golden head lowered to Glyn’s level. Air sucked down the dragon’s
throat in a noisy gulp. A heartbeat later, Lexii released it as a stream
of blue fire. Light encompassed both Glyn and Talann.
“Hang on, Talann,” Glyn whispered.
Silver voices rang in Glyn’s head. Is Talann going through first change? No,
she corrected. It must be Lexii and the rest of the dragshi calling out
to him. Binding his body and soul to each other with the force of their
will—and love.
Again
and again the flames played over Talann. Beneath Glyn’s hands, she felt
the crushed bones meld together, returning to their prior strength and
form. Without a command, Kynan knelt down and pressed on Talann’s chest.
He repeated the action a second and a third time.
“Breathe, Talann,” Glyn cajoled.
<Live my son,> his parents sent.
Another
fragment of training, this time from the healers rather than the
ceoltiers, flickered into Glyn’s mind. Leaning over, with two fingers
she pinched Talann’s nose closed, and mouth to mouth forced air into his
lungs. Every third push of his chest, she gave her breath of life.
Soon
nothing in the world existed except Kynan’s, “Now,” ordering more air
for Talann. The specter of death lingered in the air. Talann’s skin
remained pale, his body unresponsive.
Despair
whether their efforts could bring Talann back to life chilled Glyn’s
soul. She grabbed onto the last thread of the mental link between them
and threw the full force of her will into one final command. <Talann,
return to us> Again, the unbidden sentiment, Return to me, whispered
into being only to be quashed. Talann is Lexii’s. He cannot be anything but a friend.
~ ~ ~
Hatchling's Mate -
From their birth it was expected that Talann’s and Lexii’s destiny
would be entwined. However fate had other intentions. Lexii and Talann
could not stand to be together.
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