The Blind Dragon Read Online Free Page B

this time, in that soft spot right below the ribcage. The lordling coughed and doubled up, wheezing.
    "I will care for him, sir," Anna said calmly.
    She knew that it might sound childish. She knew she could lose her position. She knew that they had no time. But she also knew that her family owed this foal something. This was Voidbane's son. She would obey Master Khondus's orders, of course. But the very least she could do was try to convince him of another course.
    "I will find a place for him, sir. Until we find his rider. I'll clean him and mind him when I'm off duty, sir. I'll do the extra work. I will pay for his food and bedding out of my own purse, sir. I can take him home to our farm. Any offspring of Voidbane will be welcome there. I know my Mother will agree."
    "It's not your decision, girl," Master Khondus said gently. "Nor is it mine. Nature has chosen. We must honor that. He can't see. He can't fly. And he can't fight. He's strong, no doubt. Strangely so. But he cannot serve. Would you put your own momentary suffering before his lifetime in a cage? And what of Nightlove? Every moment they share now will make it twice as hard for her to continue. You know this."
    The Master's words sounded like wisdom. They were wise. But it didn't matter. She wouldn't do it. And, she realized quite suddenly, she wouldn't let the Master do it, either.
    She didn't know how, but this dragon foal would live.
    From its perch, the foal growled, as if reading her thoughts. Lord Layne coughed. There was blood on his lips. He tried to speak, but gasped and coughed wetly instead.
    "Forgive me, sir." Anna nodded calmly, but her mind raced. "I'm sorry, sir."
    Sometimes, duty can mean defiance.
    Was this what Father had meant?
    "You've done no wrong," Master Khondus said. "If you didn't feel this way, that would be cause for concern."
    Anna nodded with what she hoped seemed like agreement and looked at the straw. Her head spun.
    Think!
    But she felt paralyzed.
    And it was starting to make her mad.
    "Anna." The Master's voice was gentle. "Look at me."
    Anna did.
    Her face was hot.
    It cannot die!
    The foal hissed.
    Her brain whirled like a black pinwheel. And she could feel the anger coming on now, stronger than ever, hungry teeth glittering in that dark corner of her brain. Great Sisters, she hated the feeling, and yet sometimes . . . . She shook her head to clear it.
    "Anna."
    It was hard to look Master Khondus in the eye.
    The foal cooed.
    Easy .
    She looked at the foal. It seemed to look back at her—even though it couldn't see. Its silvery eyes glowed, as if looking into her heart. And, just like that, the dark pinwheel slowed. She took a deep breath. And it was gone. The foal gurgled. Everything would be alright.
    "I understand how you feel," Master Khondus continued. "When I was a dragon squire, I stood in the very place you stand now. This very stall, in fact. There's nothing harder. And nothing I say will make it easier. I can only tell you what my father told me. Sometimes, we're called upon to do things that must be done, whatever the cost. We must be the strong ones, Anna. The duty is ours, or it is no one's. Do you understand?"
    "Yes, sir. I'm sorry, sir. It doesn't feel like duty, sir."
    "I know," Master Khondus said. "Sometimes, that's what duty feels like."
     

9
    "C OME HERE ," A NNA said.
    The dragon foal looked down from its perch, its eyes glowing in the dark. Then it dropped to the straw with a muscly grunt and gave Anna a gentle head-butt. She started to smile, then cut it off. The foal furled its wings and flopped backward into the straw, as if waiting for its chest and belly to be rubbed. But it had landed directly beside Lord Layne, who promptly squealed, coughed, and twisted away in terror. Upside down in the straw, the foal turned its huge eyes to Anna, fangs gleaming in what looked like a demented smile—as if Lord Layne's squeaks and yelps were the funniest noises it had ever heard. Which, considering his age,