Dragon and Phoenix Read Online Free Page B

captain’s disappearance.
    Raven continued, “Great-uncle Otter told me more last night; that’s why we
were up late. But he didn’t tell me everything; he said some was your tale to tell me if you wished.”
    It was a moment before she could say, “We didn’t discover the problem, you see, while we stayed in Casna. Then, because Linden’s Llysanyin stallion, Shan, had escaped from Dragonskeep and made his way to the city looking for Linden, we decided to ride back. It seemed the best thing. Shan made it plain he wouldn’t tolerate another rider and Linden was afraid I’d overreached myself on my first flight. The other two Dragonlords who had served as judges with Linden, Kief Shaeldar and Tarlna Aurianne, agreed. They flew home the day we set out.
    “All seemed well, but one day on the journey Linden wanted to show me something from the air. It was to be a short flight, nothing difficult—and that’s when it happened. I couldn’t Change again.”
    Maurynna swallowed against the memory; even remembering that pain made her queasy. “Not that time, not the other few times I’ve had the courage to try. It’s never happened before in anyone’s memory, and there’s no mention of such a thing in any of the records. Both the Lady of Dragonskeep and her soultwin Kelder, as well as the two archivists, Jenna and Lukai, all of the kir recorders, Linden and I have spent candlemarks searching them. I keep hoping there’s an answer … .”
    “I’m sorry for that,” Raven said. “Truly sorry.” Then, “You and … Linden Rathan …”
    The pain was back in his voice. Maurynna suddenly understood. “Raven—did you … did you think that we would … ?”
    He turned bright red. “Um, ah—yes. I did. We got along so well, you see. And we always made up after a fight. We wouldn’t have to get used to another person’s ways, either of us.”
    “Raven, you don’t really consider that a good reason to get married, do you?” The thought boggled her. She had certainly never felt that way.
    Raven said, “It’s better than some.”
    She had to admit that he was right; indeed, it was a better reason than many she’d heard.
    But it still wasn’t enough.
    “It seemed so simple. We’ve always been comfortable together,” he finished plaintively.
    If she’d had something to hand, she would have thrown it. Marry her because she was comfortable, like a pair of old boots? Because it was the easy way out? She considered hitting him but remembered her new strength in time. “What!”
    From the corner of her eye she could see heads turning to look. She didn’t care. “Oh, for—! Raven, yes, I love you, you idiot, but as a friend.” She relented at the hurt in his eyes. More gently she said, “Don’t you see? We
would never have had a chance. Even if we had married, I would’ve had to leave you once I’d Changed the first time. Try to understand; I don’t just love Linden. He’s part of me—literally. That’s what being a soultwin means. I would have had to go to him no matter what.”
    He nodded. His voice shook when he spoke. “I’m trying … to, to understand. I do here,” he touched his forehead. He continued, “But I’m having trouble here,” and laid a hand over his heart. “I’d always thought we’d marry, then go to my aunt in Yerrih. You know she wants me to help her raise and train her horses.”
    The words shocked Maurynna. Not his plans; she’d known about his plans for years. But she’d never known of his plans for her.
    Feeling the walls of the Keep closing in, she got slowly to her feet. Suddenly there wasn’t enough air to breathe. “You thought I would give up the sea so easily? That I could?”
    She couldn’t believe it. Raven of all people should know what having her own ship meant to her. He had dreams as well. “Hang it all! Don’t any of you understand?”
    Maurynna bolted from the alcove and out of the great hall. Through the halls of the great Keep she ran, ignoring