Dragon's Heritage: Dragon Courage, #6

Dragon’s Heritage

Book 6 of Dragon Courage

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Kandi J. Wyatt

United States 2017

COPYRIGHT 2017 KANDI J. WYATT

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.

Attribution — You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).

Noncommercial — You may not use this work for commercial purposes.

No Derivative Works — You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work.

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Cover Design by MiblArt

Edited by Christina Lepre

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to similarly named places or to persons living or deceased is unintentional.

Dear reader,

Thank you for your support. Dragon’s Heritage would not exist if it wasn’t for you. Yes, you. Those first amazon reviews for Dragon’s Future commented about the strange names and the confusing dragon names. I had a method to my madness, but it wasn’t in any writing. After that, I spoke with a librarian who had read Dragon’s Future and loved it. She wanted to know about Duskya. That started this story. One of my first fans became a beta reader. Laura suggested telling Duskya’s story through her granddaughter’s eyes. With that change, Dragon’s Heritage came into being.

A few other people help make the book possible. My team is so wonderful to work with. Christina Lepre does a wonderful job of making my words sound like a real book. Sheri Williams puts the finishing touches on it and catches errors in proofing. Yosbe Calma somehow is able to take an image from my mind and make it real on paper! I love her work. Then Adam Bodendieck works wonders with the digital world to layout the book and make it appear just like the others on the inside. My marketing team keeps the books in front of you all. 16 Hands Marketing joined Pam Labbe this time around to really give the added push the book needed.

So, reader, are you ready to fly true? If this is your first introduction to the realm of Dragon Courage, be ready to meet dragons and riders. If you’ve been along for the ride from the beginning, then here are your answers.

May your dragon fly true!

To Denise, Christina, and Laura

because you loved Duskya and Mere

Contents

Contents

Chapter 1: Distress & Comfort

Chapter 2: Newness & Strangers

Chapter 3: Younglings & Traditions

Chapter 4: Talking & Dinner

Chapter 5: School & Responsibility

Chapter 6: Flying & Soaring

Chapter 7: Training & Wonder

Chapter 8: Memories & Practice

Chapter 9: Gardening & Herbs

Chapter 10: Dragons & Senses

Chapter 11: Birth & Friendship

Chapter 12: Heritage & Honor

Chapter 13: Chatting & Scolding

Chapter 14: Maturing & Beating

Chapter 15: Grandma & Tea

Chapter 1: Distress & Comfort

Tears streamed down Mere’s face as sobs wracked her body. Her hands bunched into fists that she pounded against the ground in time to the words running through her mind. It’s not fair! It’s not fair! She swiped at her eyes, leaving smears of dirt on her cheeks. With effort the youngling gathered her wayward emotions and calmed her body. Brushing her blonde hair behind her ears, she stood and rested her back against the tree that sheltered her from the summer sun. Her dress stuck to her lean body. Taking deep gulps of the humid air, she tried to regain her composure. With practiced ease, she smoothed her dress.

A deep sigh escaped the girl. How come whenever I feel happy, Nellie has to come along and ruin everything? At the thought of the dark-haired young rider, Mere’s self-control slipped and the memory of the confrontation came back.

As she passed the youngling, she bowed. May your dragon fly true, Nellie.

May your dragon. . .Oh, I forgot, you don’t have one. The girl’s slender fingers came to her lips in mock horror.

Mere hung her head. Did she have to be reminded of it all the time? Everyone in her family was a dragon rider, everyone except her. A thought brought her head up.

Maybe, there’ll be a late choosing like my Aunt Rena.

Forget it, Mere. Nellie flipped her long black hair over her shoulder. If a dragon hasn’t chosen you yet, it never will. Look around you. All the younglings who’ve been chosen have been outgoing and strong. You’re timid, shy, and any Boeskay storm would send you down the Sur River. Dragons only choose those who are outgoing, like your brother.

Mere tried to control the tears that threatened to course down her cheeks at the girl’s words. No, Nellie. My ma says—

"Your ma doesn’t know anything. My dragon told me."

With that, Nellie had turned and walked off, leaving Mere fuming and hurt.

Mere pushed away from the tree and ran. Running always seemed to bring her body and emotions under control. Her feet pounded the rhythm of the words: It’s not fair. Can’t be true. Tears streamed from her eyes to the point where she couldn’t see where she was going.

Without warning, she ran into something soft yet unmoving. Firm hands took her by the arms.

Young lady— Her grandfather’s voice cut into her turmoil.

Grandda Cerulean! Mere flung her arms around his strong shoulders and let her tears soak his tunic.

Oh, Mere. He patted her back and led her to the side of the path. Here. Cerulean held out a handkerchief.

Thanks, Grandda. She smiled up at him. I must look a mess.

I’m sure you have looked better, but when your heart breaks, you are entitled to look less than your best. He waited for her to finish wiping the tears from her cheeks. Why don’t we go see Grandma? I bet she has some tea. That is bound to help.

Mere sniffled as they walked along the cliff overlooking the Sur River. The light reflecting off the water soothed her heart. By the time they reached her grandparents’ abode, her sniffles had settled down to irregular hiccups.

Duskya, Cerulean announced as he held the door open for his granddaughter. We have company. Do you have a pot of tea on?

Duskya moved from her bedroom into the open living area. I’ll have a pot ready in no time. The water’s sitting at the back of the stove, she called.

She passed the family table and rounded the counter of the cooking area. With practiced ease, she pulled the kettle onto the burner, opened the stove, and added another log to the fire. Once she was finished, Duskya looked to the door to see who her company was. One look was all it took for her to rush to Mere and envelope her in a hug.

Oh, honey, whatever is wrong?

The story poured forth from the young girl. Duskya shook her head and clicked her tongue in all the appropriate places. When Mere finished, Duskya ushered her to a chair at the table.

You sit there while I get the tea and cookies.

Thanks, Grandma. A smile lit up Mere’s face.

They chatted about everything except Nellie. Mere appreciated her grandma’s ability to set her at ease. With her hands wrapped around her mug, she sighed.

Grandma why is it that people change? Nellie and I were such good friends, and then she became a rider and found a whole new set of friends.

Mere, some people are just that way. They are fickle, but you can’t let what Nellie does control you like this. You must stand up for yourself.

But, Grandma, I tried. Honestly.  She cut me off and spouted off about what her dragon said. She wouldn’t even let me talk.

Duskya gazed down at the steam curling around her mug. I may have just the thing for you. A faraway look came into her silvery eyes. Wait here. I’ll be back.

Mere watched her grandma return to her bedroom. She heard a drawer open and close, followed by the closet door. The bed squeaked. Mere closed her eyes and let the smells of Grandma’s house fill her. The scent of tea and lavender wafted on the air. Her hands felt the smooth wood of the table and the ceramic mug. Then she heard a chair creak and she opened her eyes. Grandma Duskya was seated across from her. In front of her was a leather-bound book. Duskya’s hands caressed the cover.

What is it, Grandma?

Duskya smiled. This, Mere, was my first school assignment as a respected rider. I think it may hold the key to your dilemma.

Mere cocked her head. Duskya wagged a finger.

No questions. Just take it home and read it. See if it will help.

Mere’s eyes grew wide. You want me to take it home?

You’ll take good care of it. I know enough about you, Mere, to know that. Take it.

She held the book out across the table. With gentle hands, Mere accepted it. She let her fingers run along the leather binding. To her surprise, it was soft as her own dress. Duskya smiled.

I never was quite sure why I kept it. Now I know.

***

Mere pulled her boots off, and collapsed onto her bed. No air moved in the room. She fanned herself. It didn’t help. She hoped it would rain soon and bring some relief. Rolling over, she picked up the book from her bedside table. She stood and closed the curtains so the afternoon sun wouldn’t blind her. Pulling her feet up under her, she settled down and positioned her pillow behind her back, set the book on her lap, and opened the cover. A faint whiff of desert drifted up from the pages. For a moment she could see her cousin Ardyn and his home in Three Spans Canyon. A smile crossed her face.

Her grandma’s confident script filled the yellow pages with aged blue ink. Splotches coated the edges alongside smeared ink where the youngling Duskya had brushed the spilled ink to the side of the page instead of using a blotter to clean up the mess. Mere tried to imagine her grandma as a little girl. It wasn’t as hard as it would have been for Mere’s friends, whose grandparents all had gray hair and wrinkles. Grandma Duskya still had a full head of dark hair that flowed freely around her face and shoulders. Her skin, although sun-darkened, still held the vibrancy of her youth. Mere knew that was because her grandma was a dragon rider and riders didn’t age after they had seen twenty-six winters.

Mere ran her finger reverently over the script as she read.

Three Spans Canyon

Well, Rider Lauryn wants me to keep this journal to practice my writing. I guess I can