Bonds of Fire by Sophie Duncan

  ~

  Drekken squinted at the bridge ahead and, more importantly, the river running underneath it. The construction looked pristine, it had not been blown up, and that is what made him suspicious. It was the only route over the river and the mountains beyond and the Feras had to be watching it. Malachi came to crouch down next to him behind the wall he was using for cover and whispered, "It's not clear, is it?"

  Drekken was impressed by the youth's assessment of the situation and he shook his head in agreement.

  "Is there another place to cross?"

  "There's a ford just down past that bend," Malachi pointed down river, "but with the Spring flood waters, it's not passable at the moment."

  "We'll have to see," Drekken decided it was their best option and waved them all down the edge of the village away from the bridge.

  It was not far to the ford, but it was hidden completely from the bridge by the bend in the river, which was a good start. However, the fast-flowing water was at least waist deep for a human. Assessing the terrain from their hiding place in what had been someone's back garden, Drekken quickly went to work. He reached for his utility belt and unhooked the end of the cord concealed inside. It was a very fine wire, reminding him of the days he had gone fishing with his friends, but it was much, much stronger, and he attached a small, but equally tough, three-barbed hook to the end. The end of the hook then slid neatly into his very well-designed armour gauntlet and, with a careful aim and a small push of magic, the arrow and its cord went sailing over the river, unwinding from his waist and embedding itself in a tree on the far side. Drekken pulled and the cord held fast, so he pulled out the rest of the length, detached it from his waist and wrapped it around a second tree.

  Finally, he turned back to his charges.

  Malachi and Yakov were both eyeing the wire and then the hatchlings dubiously. However, Drekken had been considering that.

  "The Blue is with me," Drekken began, but was interrupted by Yakov, who told him, "His name is Renar."

  "Renar is with me," Drekken corrected tersely. "You two, take off your coats, take two of the others each and tie them to your back with the coats."

  The young men did as they were told without complaint, but Drekken could see the fear in their faces.

  "Across this river and up into the foothills, then we'll stop for the night," Drekken tried to offer them something to aim at.

  From the way Malachi acknowledged the information, Drekken knew his intentions had been understood, but the trauma of the day was clearly affecting Yakov, who was moving slowly, head down. Malachi paused in his own work, turned to his friend and wrapped him in his arms. Yakov moulded instantly to Malachi and the young men held together in silence, faces buried in each other's shoulders. The only person Drekken shared affection with in public was Miri, and only then discretely and, not sure where to put himself, he turned away and rechecked the attachment on the tree.

  Wire was not the most interesting of items, but Drekken had adjusted and quadruple checked how it was wrapped around the tree before there was a polite cough and movement behind him. He turned and was greeted with a sheepish glance from Yakov, who immediately apologised, "I am sorry, I have a fear of water, but I am ready now."

  Drekken just nodded and then they were moving again. Malachi took the two Sandys, one over each shoulder, their tails entwined tightly together. Yakov chose a different way of carrying his charges, the River Dragon curled herself around his neck while he used his coat to tie the Hawkhead to his chest. All were very quiet as they prepared, the youngsters making only the smallest of noises as they were carefully fixed in place against their carer's bodies. Drekken waited until all the others were in place before he crouched down to Renar. The young Blue had been watching proceedings quietly, but Drekken could see the fear in the child's eyes. Blues were not known for their affinity with water and the hatchling looked from Drekken to the river and back again.

  Drekken did not have any experience with children, but he knew how to get the best out his people and so he looked the young dragon in the eyes and told him, "I need you to help me look after the baby. She is going to be scared when we cross the water, can you hold on to my back and keep an eye on her for me?"

  Renar blinked at Drekken and, for a moment, he wondered if his ploy had fallen flat. However, then he felt a shift in his senses and he heard a very shaky, 'Yes.'

  "Well done, Renar," Yakov praised.

  "Well done," Drekken agreed with a smile and then swivelled round so the dragon could climb onto his back.

  Renar was heavy, but not a real test for Drekken's augmented body. The implants gave him the strength and speed to keep up with a fully grown dragon, so the toddler was only as issue as far as it came to altering his centre of gravity.

  "Alright, cover your hands with your sleeves, otherwise the wire will cut them and, Yakov, behind me, Malachi, bring up the rear and stay close together," Drekken finished the preparations with one last order. Then he took hold of the wire himself and led the way down the steep bank.

  Despite the spring afternoon being warm, the water was freezing and Drekken had to take a few steadying breaths as he lowered himself into it. The fast flowing current came up to his waist by the time he was all the way in and Renar whimpered where his back feet were getting wet. Drekken glanced down at his smaller charge, but she was hidden in the folds of the sling and only the butterflies in his stomach that were not quite his own told Drekken that the baby was picking up on his own nerves.

  Drekken paused once he was completely in the water, waiting for the others to join him. Yakov was ashen, his jaw set in a firm line, by the time he was nearly chest deep in water and Drekken wondered what had made him afraid of it. However, the look in the young man's eyes was determined and Drekken only gave both youths a professional appraisal before turning back and leading the way across the river.

  The current was fast, tugging relentlessly at his body and the rocks under foot were slippery, so Drekken took his time with each step. He also paused frequently and gave the banks a sweep for hostiles. Their progress was therefore slow, but steady and Drekken was relieved when he began to make the ascent out of the water. He sped up just a little, wanting to be out of the chill. However, as he did so, there was as sudden tug on their guide line and he turned to see Yakov slipping sideways, one hand waving wildly in the air. The young man did not make a sound, but his face was stricken as his feet went from under him. Drekken went into automatic, he dropped Renar from his shoulders into the shallows and, holding the wire with one hand, grabbed for Yakov with the other.

  His fingers closed around Yakov's collar as he disappeared under the water, and Drekken found a frightened River Dragon clinging to his arm. Very rapidly, Drekken hauled himself backwards and brought the others with him. The water was reluctant to give up its claim, but Drekken was stronger and he staggered backwards, collapsing against a large boulder as Yakov and dragons splashed down at his feet. Malachi waded the last metre or so very rapidly and knelt down to his friend, who was gasping and coughing and trying to comfort the mewing Hawkhead. She was not the only upset dragon: Renar was whimpering; the River Dragon female was hissing and clicking her teeth and, most importantly to Drekken, the baby Grey Wing had emerged from the sling making scared little clicks that set off every defensive instinct he possessed.

  Cradling the baby, Drekken looked down and, trying not to sound too accusatory, asked, "What happened?"

  "My bag strap broke," Yakov mourned, kneeling up and hugging the Hawkhead to him. "It's all we have, so I tried to reach for it and lost my balance."

  Drekken glanced down the river, but the bag was nowhere in sight. He stifled any regret for the few supplies they had had, they were gone, and moved on, "Not a problem. Let's get off this bank and up to the tree line."

  Yakov looked up at him then, face haunted and body trembling, and told him sincerely, "Thank you."