Elodia's Dragon Read Online Free

not quite six foot." Elody looked surprised. "If you have not guessed I'm from Bountiful. Eli too."
    "I never thought ... that explains why Eli was willing to break guild law and marry outside the guild," Elodia said.
    "What happens if you marry outside your guild?"
    "If caught, I would be put to death," Elodia said softly.
    "What about men who marry outside their guild?"
    "Not much, usually nothing. They could lose guild standings at worse."
    "You would risk that to be with Eli?"
    "Yes. I would risk everything to be with him."
    "What would you like to be Elody?"
    "Could I be a healer?"
    "I don’t see why not, your aura is right," Myrtle replied smiling. "I can start your training and you can finish it with Eli's sister in Bountiful."
    "I'm going to Bountiful?" Elodia asked smiling.
    "Dearie where did you think Eli was going to take you?"
    "Away from here ... that's all."
    "Well, if you're going to be my apprentice you'll have to dress better. Can you sew?"
    "Yes, actually, I'm quite good."
    "Well let's get started then. You will drill rubrics every morning until you can recite them all. I'll look through my stored fabrics and assist you to pick colors."
    "I usually..."
    "You'll never wear that color again, what is it puke green?"
    "It's my guild color," Elodia said quietly.
    “I thought you were Purple Guild?”
    “That green is the pre-color. I really love our lavenders and purples.”
    “Don’t you wear those colors?”
    “Never, purple colors are for Imperial officials only. By law, we are limited to guild green.”
    "Have you ever worn a well-fitted corset?"
    "Never," Elodia blushed.
    "Well, you should. You're tiny and a good fit will support and lift..." Elodia was laughing so hard Myrtle sputtered to a stop mid-sentence. "I'm sure Eli would love the effect."
    "I'm sure he will!" Elodia laughed so hard she snorted.
    ***
    T hey spent the next eight weeks drilling remedies and symptom rubrics. Elodia's feet still hurt but she was walking. Her gait stiff and slow. Elodia was cleaning one of the piled heaps stored in the corner when she picked up a dark, egg-shaped object. It looked huge and black, but as she held it became warm. It vibrated slightly and swirled with greens, blue, violet and red.
    "Myrtle, what is this?"
    "I've been waiting for you to find the egg. I knew it would be you."
    "Me? What do you mean?"
    "You’re a witch Elodia, just like me. You are the next dragon rider."
    "No, no, no, I'm going to marry Eli, I'm..."
    "Yes, you will do that too. I've been waiting here. I took this post to fulfill the prophecy. I knew you would come."
    "Prophecy?"
    "You will bring the dragons back. My grandmother was part of the first rise of the dragons. You will bring them back."
    "You rode a dragon?"
    "Yes."
    "What happened to the dragons?"
    "All things die Elodia, even dragons. Their life is short and glorious. You'll see."
    "This egg ... thing will hatch?"
    "In about two weeks now that you touched it."
    "Didn’t you ever touch it?"
    "Many people have, but only one special woman can make it hatch, a witch Elodia."
    Elodia discovered she liked the color red. She loved her new red skirt and she wore it with a matching red vest with blue piping and a white blouse. She had a second skirt of a dark, brown-red that matched her hair she wore that with a black vest with a beaded simple floral pattern. Her feet still hurt, but she no longer needed the wrappings or ointment. She could walk about freely, if not slowly. Myrtle had given her sandals to wear and they helped as even the smallest pebble caused severe pains to her feet.
    "Your egg will hatch today Elody."
    "How can you tell?"
    "See it moving?"
    "Yes."
    "I've set aside some raw meat. You will need to feed it right away. But after that, it will take care of itself."
    "I'm so excited!"
    "I was too. Have you picked a name yet?"
    "Yes, David if a boy, Davida if a girl."
    "Nice names Elodia. We'll just wait for now."
    At mid-day, the egg began to rock. Then it cracked as