It had been several years since there had been a hatching. All the available Dragons of Marylebone were crowded into the room, hoping they would connect with a dragonnette. Albert hovered anxiously by Clarissa. Victoria, Mistletoe, Lyzander, and several other dragons perched in a line nearby as they waited. Everyone spoke in whispers, afraid to disturb the little one currently breaking its way out of its shell. Just as a small talon hooked the shell and a snout appeared in the widening crack, another egg rocked in the nest.
There were five in total. The little dragonettes would not leave the nest for several months, but they made their choices of whom they would connect with within minutes of being born. It was imperative those that wished to bond with one were present when a dragonette emerged from its shell.
The first hatchling to break through was always considered the strongest, likely to be the most forward and therefore more dominant in nature. That thought was correct. The moment the first dragonette stood, wobbly on its feet, its wings still too weak to use, eyes wide and whirling as it took in its surroundings, an immediate understanding of what was expected sent it to the edge of the nest.
A parade of hopeful Dragons, including Goran’s apprentice, Nathan, formed a line. Gregori tacked himself on to the end.
“You have a familiar,” Nathan was clearly disappointed there were more candidates than eggs.
“I did have.” Gregori inclined his head towards Lyzander. “He believes it’s time to retire, to look after my beloved instead. It seems I have been abandoned by my old companion and require a new familiar.”
“Not abandoned,” Lyzander said. “We await my mate. I sense her. She is here.”
“Well!” Anton clapped his hands. “What a turnout this is.”
“A happy occasion indeed,” Eleisha concurred.
“Go on,” Aden encouraged Rosa. “Get in line.”
The line of hopefuls included four apprentices and Gregori. Rosa objected. “If I get in line, that’s six candidates. There are only five eggs. They should go to Dragon’s apprentices first.”
Aden walked her down to the end of the line and placed her in front of Gregori. “You’re a warlock Dragon’s mate. You are entitled to a familiar. Get in line.” He softened his order with a swift kiss on the cheek.
One by one, each person stood before the little dragonette, pausing long enough for it to choose them by searing them with what was termed, the mark of the dragon. If the dragonette did not choose them, that person moved to the back of the line until all had chosen their future master or mistress. If a dragonette remained in the nest and none of those standing were chosen, a call would go out to Marylebone for others to visit the Belfry.
The first was a female, the color of the Mediterranean at night. Midnight blue. And on its back was a single golden mark that resembled a star in the night sky.
It was evident it was not only imperious, it was extremely picky. Everyone leaned inwards, watching, waiting. Anticipation charged the room with magic. It ignored the first and second candidates in line. The third person, Rosa recognized as Nathan’s apprentice, Sam. A strong individual, stronger perhaps than Nathan. With bated breath they watched avidly. The dragonette sniffed, swayed side to side, quirked its head, and just when she thought Sam would be chosen, it looked away. Sam sighed good-naturedly, accepting he wasn’t the chosen one and moved to the back of the line.
Next was Nathan. The little dragonette offered no interest whatsoever. Rosa’s stomach churned. She held no hope this one was for her. Standing before the little dragonette, she waited and was unsurprised when she received nothing but the whirl of blue eyes and a little puff of smoke. She walked on.
Gregori stepped up. Lyzander emerged from Alanna’s hair and flew to Gregori’s shoulder. This is she, he smoked. Just as you knew Alanna was your beloved, Starlight is mine.
Starlight? Gregori studied the little blue dragon as seriously as it studied him. It quirked its head at Lyzander, and its little eyes seemed to whirl faster.
Are you sure? You are old.
Lyzander’s rebuttal came swiftly. As are you. It has not stopped you forming an alliance with a woman thousands of years younger.
Gregori nodded. You are right. My apologies for doubting you.
The little dragonette’s talons gripped the edge of the nest, it leaned forward and let out a large searing blue flame. Gregori didn’t hear the gasps of everyone surrounding him. All he felt was the pain, as his skin burned. Immediately, he held his hand out to Starlight, and its tongue snuck out and licked the burn, sealing and healing it with its saliva.
Anton stepped forward and pounded Gregori on the back. “Well chosen. And what is this little dragon’s name?”
“Starlight,” Gregori answered immediately, grinning from ear to ear. “Her name is Starlight.”
Alanna pumped her arm. “Whoop! Whoop!”
Lyzander bounced up and down. “Our family grows.”
Gregori stepped away and pulled Alanna into his arms and swung her in a circle. “It just gets better and better.”
Starlight moved back into the nest and Clarissa and Albert descended to fuss over it.
The next dragonette, which had broken free, stepped forward. Round and round they went until eventually there were only two dragons and three candidates remaining, Rosa included.
If she were chosen there would be dissention between the two apprentices Sam and Nathan. She felt the tension between them, and also Nathan’s resentment because she stood in line with them. Where was his pure intention? His good heart?
I should step out of this line, Rosa sent her message silently to Aden.
Stay! Aden’s response was swift. You are their equal. The dragonette makes the choice, not you.
Sam was next. A little female gray dragonette inspected him. It was if the little dragonette had yet to decide her color. Rosa closed her eyes, not wanting to witness the little one that had immediately stolen her heart from choosing Sam.
It wasn’t until Gregori whispered in her ear, “your turn,” that she opened her eyes to discover Lisa — the little dragon’s name was Lisa — waiting for her. In seconds, Lisa transformed to pale pink, burned her hand, soothed it and returned to her parents.
Rosa stood open-mouthed in astonishment. “I have a familiar,” she said.
Alanna rushed over and hugged her tight. “You deserve it. Oh, this is so wonderful. Congratulations.”
Aden reached out and grasped Rosa’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “What is her name?”
“Lisa.”
There was one egg left and two apprentice Dragons remaining. Tension was high. Nathan was Sam’s superior. Anton looked worried. “One dragon remains. Step up both of you and await the choosing.”
The dragonette that emerged from the shell was male. The runt of the litter was small but wiry in appearance. Alanna whispered to Gregori, “That one’s got a mind of its own. I should know. I recognize me in there. Whoever it chooses will be tested on a daily basis.”
Gregori huffed his amusement and placed a finger over his mouth. “Sshh.”
Alanna merely smiled and waited, her interest as avid as everyone else in the belfry. The dragonette had a mottled body, striped gray and white, almost zebra-like.
Both men waited. It inspected them both, its head moving from one to the other and back again. It blinked. A small amount of smoke erupted from its tiny snout. And then it flapped its delicate, still fragile and weak wings took flight and headed straight for Alanna and before she could stop it, burned her nose, healed it and flew back to crash land in the nest.
She would have laughed at Sam and Nathan’s expressions if she hadn’t been so astonished. Her heart raced in her chest from the sheer exhilaration of immediately bonding with the little one. “But I have Lyzander.”
“Alanna is mine,” Lyzander protested. “I am hers.”
No one knew what to make of it. Voices were raised.
Alanna looked to Gregori for answers. “Is it permitted to have two familiars?”
“She’s not bound to Gregori. She’s not immortal yet. How can this be?” Sam asked.
Nathan stood silent, his extreme disappointment evident.
Goran was immediately at his side. “Who knows why this happened. Don’t take it personally. The dragon always chooses its master or mistress.”
“But she’s a nobody,” he muttered.
“She’s my beloved.” Gregori’s voice was strident, filled with warning. “The dragonette has chosen. Accept it. Get over it.”
“What’s its name?” Zelda asked, finally speaking for the first time since the hatching began.
Alanna colored. “Ah … , Twinkle Toes.”
“Twinkle Toes! What kind of a name is that?” Anton chuckled.
“Makes sense,” Zelda muttered. “Someone naughtier than you to keep you on your toes as it were.”
Anton raised a hand. “We cannot undo a choosing. It’s most unusual, but it is done.”
Lyzander had flown down to the nest to meet its new companion and take a closer look. He flew back seconds later. “I am senior dragon. I teach Starlight and Twinkle Toes my tricks. I have apprentice and future partner. Lyzander very important dragon.”