Chapter 27: Bonds Forged By The Fire

Kael’s eyes fluttered open to a haze of dim light and muted pain. The world was blurry, his thoughts disjointed, as though his mind couldn’t keep pace with the events of the battle. He felt an odd warmth pressing against his chest—a steady, comforting heat that contrasted sharply with the chill of the surrounding air.

He tried to move but hissed as a sharp pain radiated from his side. His body felt like a patchwork of bruises and cuts, each screaming for attention. Before he could react further, a soothing sensation washed over him, dulling the edge of the pain.

“Don’t move,” a soft, steady voice said.

Kael blinked, his vision clearing enough to make out a figure leaning over him. A young woman, her fingers glowing faintly with green light, pressed them against his side. The glow danced like embers in the dim light, the warmth from her magic seeping into his battered body. Her auburn hair fell in loose strands around her face, and her sharp eyes, flecked with gold, focused intently on her work.

“What...?” Kael’s voice came out hoarse, his throat dry.

The woman glanced up briefly, her lips quirking into a faint smile. “You’re lucky you didn’t bleed out. Sit still, or I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Kael’s instincts screamed at him to get away, but when he tried to move, he found himself pinned. Looking down, his heart skipped a beat.

The dragon.

The hatchling lay curled atop his chest, its small body rising and falling with each tiny breath. Its copper scales gleamed in the soft light, and the faint whir of mechanical components hummed as it shifted slightly in its sleep. The absurdity of its appearance struck him again—part flesh, part machine, yet undeniably alive.

“What is this?” Kael demanded, his voice sharper this time. He tried to push himself up, but the dragon let out a soft chirp, digging its tiny claws into his tunic. Its glowing golden eyes blinked open, fixing him with a look that felt both curious and reproachful.

The woman—Kate—laughed softly. “If the dragon trusts me enough to sleep on you, you can trust me enough to sit still.”

Kael narrowed his eyes, his body tense despite the healing magic dulling his pain.

“What…” He took a breath, wincing at the sharp pain. “Where are the others? The bandits?”

Kate’s lips quirked upward, a dry chuckle escaping her. “Bandits, huh? We do look the part, don’t we?” She shook her head, the glow of her magic flickering as she worked. “The others are outside. That ruckus you and Alric caused? Loud enough to wake every monster within a hundred miles. We’re keeping watch to make sure none come poking around.”

“Wait,” Kael said, his mind racing. “What do you mean ‘so-called bandits’? If you’re not bandits, then who are you? And why are you here?”

Kate leaned back, her gaze flickering to the dragon. “You have a lot of questions for someone who should be unconscious.” She shrugged. “We’re not bandits. Not really. But I guess we look the part, don’t we?” She gestured to her leather armor, patched and worn, and the assortment of mismatched weapons strapped to her belt.

Kael’s jaw tightened. “Then who are you?”

Kate sighed, leaning back against the rough surface of the rock. “Soldiers. From the orc war that took place. When the war ended and the Beast tide happened... things fell apart. Kandria is under siege and about to fall, and we're stuck cleaning up the monsters that infest these woods. And with the Burnt Sea making supply lines a nightmare, our gear's going to stay dented for the foreseeable future.”

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Kael’s eyes narrowed, his mind racing as Kate’s words sank in. Soldiers? Cleaning up monsters? It didn’t add up. Everything about their operation screamed "banditry"—from their mismatched weapons to their opportunistic timing. But before he could voice his doubts, Kate pressed her glowing fingers harder against his side, sending a sharp jolt of warmth through his body that made him flinch.

“Don’t move,” she muttered, her tone brooking no argument. “You’ll tear open the wound.”

Kael scowled, biting back a retort. Instead, he let his gaze flicker down to the dragon nestled on his chest. The hatchling chirped softly, a high-pitched, almost musical sound, before nuzzling against his tunic. Its warmth seeped into him, a stark contrast to the chill in the air.

This doesn’t make sense, Kael thought. Why isn’t it running? Why isn’t it afraid?

“You still haven’t explained why you’re here,” he said aloud, his voice low and distrustful. “If you’re not bandits, what are you? You sure hell are not soldiers.”

Kate gave him a sidelong glance, her lips twitching into a faint smirk. “You don’t trust easily. Smart. But you’re alive because of us, so maybe dial down the suspicion.”

“That’s not an answer,” Kael shot back.

She sighed, leaning back and letting the glow of her magic fade. “Fine. Believe what you want. Stay here, bleed out. Or don’t. Not my problem.” She pushed herself to her feet, brushing off her patched armor. “But I’ll tell you this much—we’re not your enemy. Not yet.”

Kael gritted his teeth, forcing himself to sit up despite the pain. The dragon chirped again, clinging to his tunic as if sensing his discomfort. “I’m not going anywhere with you,” he said firmly.

Kate raised an eyebrow, her expression amused. “Not even with that little one leading the way?” She nodded toward the dragon. “Face it, rider. That hatchling’s bonded to you. Wherever it goes, you’re going to follow.”

Kael blinked, his eyes shifting back to the dragon. Rider. The word felt heavy, foreign. He’d heard the stories, of course—of dragon riders and their legendary bonds. But him? He couldn’t even protect his own squad. And now this hatchling—this strange, copper-scaled creature—had chosen him?

The dragon tilted its head, blinking golden eyes up at him. Kael hesitated, then reached out tentatively, brushing his fingers against its snout. The heat was startling, almost too warm, but the hatchling let out a pleased trill, nudging his hand.

A name came to him then, unbidden, as though whispered by the wind. “Titanis,” he murmured. “That’s your name, isn’t it?”

The dragon’s reaction was immediate. A surge of emotion—joy, pride, and a flicker of something deeper—washed over him, so vivid it was like hearing the dragon speak. Titanis chirped, pressing its snout against Kael’s palm.

Kael’s chest tightened. The connection was unlike anything he’d ever felt, raw and intimate. “Titanis,” he repeated, testing the name again. It felt right, like it had always been meant to be.

“You’ve got the knack for this,” Kate said, watching the interaction with an unreadable expression. “Most riders take days, sometimes weeks, to figure out a name.”

Kael ignored her, his focus entirely on Titanis. He reached out with his thoughts, hesitantly brushing against the fragile bond that had formed between them. Do you like it?

The answer wasn’t words but a feeling—a resounding, undeniable yes. Titanis’s emotions rippled through him, a blend of trust and excitement that left him breathless.

Kael let out a shaky breath, rubbing Titanis’s snout again. The surreal nature of the moment struck him like a hammer blow. I’m a dragon rider. The thought sent a shiver down his spine. He had fought through ash and ruin for this moment.

“Looks like Titanis is sticking with us,” Kate said, crossing her arms. “And where Titanis goes, you go.”

Kael frowned. “How can you be so sure?”

Kate shrugged. “Call it a hunch. Or maybe it’s the fact that dragons tend to follow their riders. Either way, you’ve got two choices: come with us, or get left behind. Your dragon’s already made up its mind.”

Kael looked down at Titanis, who chirped softly, his emotions clear through the bond—a tug of reassurance, almost playful. Kael sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. He didn’t trust Kate or her group, but Titanis seemed at ease, and he didn’t have the strength to argue.

Reluctantly, he shifted, gathering his belongings. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the second dragon egg lying next to where Titanis had hatched, still untouched. He half-expected Kate or her group to have taken it, but there it was, nestled in the dirt.

He hesitated, then carefully lifted the egg, its surface cool and smooth under his fingers. Why didn’t they take it? The question gnawed at him, but he pushed it aside. For now, he was grateful.

Titanis chirped again, climbing onto his shoulder with surprising agility. The weight was unfamiliar but not unwelcome. Kael adjusted his grip on the egg, casting one last wary glance at Kate.

“Fine,” he muttered. “I’ll follow. But this isn’t trust. It’s convenience.”

Kate smirked, already turning to leave. “Whatever helps you sleep at night, rider.”

With Titanis perched on his shoulder and the egg cradled in his arms, Kael followed, the bond humming faintly in his mind.