Aylin sighed in contentment. She was finally coming down from the euphoria of the morning. After she and the black dragon, her dragon, had taken their places with the other chosen children, the gong that had started the ceremony rang three times, signaling the end of the Choosing.
The children who had not been chosen were ushered out of the hall. Those who had been chosen remained with their dragons. The children's height and weight were measured and recorded, as well as their measurements for clothing. Although there were fifteen children, it all happened quickly, the process made efficient from years of execution.
Lunch was served afterward and many of the children left and headed for home. The official ceremony presenting the newest generation of Dragon Knights would not take place for another month. This gave the rulers of the various nations that comprised the Six Lands time to prepare and travel to Storm Hold, the home of the Dragon Knights.
Aylin had been too excited to eat. Instead, after arranging for the Baron's son David to take the horse she had ridden here back to Sandorne, she had wandered around the citadel. Eventually, she found herself sitting, legs pulled to her chest, on an large balcony overlooking the city.
The balcony had no railing and offered an amazing view of the city and the countryside surrounding it. It was evening now, and the sun was setting over the mountains that formed the borders between Estrana and Draurhiel. She sat, mesmerized by the colors painted by the sunset.
"Why are you still here?" a deep, male voice asked. "The others from your home left hours ago."
Aylin gave a small start and glanced to look at the speaker. Her dragon was standing behind her, staring. She noticed that although his scales and horns were a deep black, his eyes were a bright, reptilian green. Turning back to the sunset, she replied, "Castle Sandorne is not my home."
"Is that not where you were raised?" the dragon asked, confusion in his voice.
Aylin gave a small laugh of derision, "Yes, but that doesn't make it home. Now that I've escaped, I'm never going back. Besides, I don't think the baroness would let me anyway."
"I see." the dragon replied, although his tone gave the impression he was still confused. He stretched himself out across the balcony, curling himself around her and positioning himself so that his head sat just past where Aylin sat.
They sat in silence for a while as the sun sank lower. Eventually, Aylin broke the silence with a question, "What's your name?"
They dragon's green eye looked back at her, but he did not otherwise move. Neither did he answer.
"What? You already know mine. What harm would it be for me to know yours?"
The dragon looked back out over the city. After a moment's silence, his voice sounded in her head, speaking a single word, "Thunder."
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