The Gift of Charms (3 page)

Feddy was a storybook dragon considered useless because he was unable to breathe fire. He was instead appointed the job of collecting rubbish in the marketplace where flames weren’t needed. It was
a popular story amongst young dragons, but no one wanted to be like Feddy.

Yoshiko felt his scales turning darker in his embarrassment. ‘My mother told me she called me Yoshiko because she thinks it sounds powerful,’ he replied.

‘Powerful, ha-ha-ha!’ Igorr cackled. ‘Yeah, about as powerful as your puff!’ The other Alanas roared with laughter at Igorr’s joke, their loud sniggers could be heard across Fire School and Yoshiko hung his head in shame.

‘Other younglings can’t make fire!’ Amlie shouted. ‘At least Yoshiko was brave enough to try!’ But her small voice could barely be heard over the Alanas.

Igorr turned his head to her mockingly.

‘My name for him is Feddy from now on.’ And there was something so nasty in his look that his group nodded in agreement rather than contradict him.

The hours ahead that day brought nothing but heartache to Yoshiko. He did his best to ignore the taunts from Igorr and the other Alana dragons during the midday meal but by the afternoon all the purple dragons were calling him Feddy. As they trooped into the final class of the day Yoshiko realised that he had around him an entire gang of enemies.

F
lares were released to signal the end of school and Ketu was already outside the Fire School entrance. He noticed Yoshiko’s sad face as he walked over to greet him.

‘I saw you today at the targets,’ he said. ‘You did really well going up there.’

Yoshiko shook his head angrily. ‘It was a disaster. I should have stayed at home with the hatchlings who can’t make fire.’

‘Yoshiko, when I was at Fire School it wasn’t any different,’ Ketu replied. ‘Some dragons were very cruel then too. But I know now why they act this way!’

Yoshiko looked intrigued. ‘Why?’ he asked.

‘They do it as they don’t want anyone noticing what they are bad at,’ he said. ‘They do it to take the attention off the important things that they can’t do.’

Yoshiko looked unconvinced. ‘It’s called Fire School for a reason,’ he said. ‘Making fire is what we are there to do.’

‘Think about the different clans in our land,’ replied Ketu. ‘How many dragons spend all their days making fire?’

‘All dragons do,’ said Yoshiko. ‘Some use it to make books and papers. Others use it to make explosions when they build caves.’

Ketu shook his head. ‘Not quite. Fire is only used for some of the most elaborate paperwork,’ he said. ‘A lot of the time dragons use charcoal sticks to write as it is quicker that way. And the dragons making our caves mainly use their horns. If they couldn’t make explosions with their fire in certain sections it would take them longer, but they could still make beautiful caves.’

Yoshiko frowned. ‘But the best dragons, the Guard Dragons, they use fire most of all.’

‘The Guards are trained so they don’t have to use fire,’ replied Ketu. ‘The very best Guards train only for
necessity should they fall under threat.’ He lowered himself so that Yoshiko could jump on board.

‘Come, let’s go.’

Yoshiko nodded. ‘I just wanted you to see me make fire like the others did,’ he added with a sigh as he hopped on to his father’s back.

Ketu took to the air and flew straight over the Great Waters.

‘Where are we going?’ said Yoshiko. ‘It’s the other way home.’

‘To the marketplace. I have something to pick up.’

Yoshiko looked down as Ketu drew nearer to the flowery fields of the Mida clan, and finally settled in a large market square.

Dragons of all different colours were walking about.

Yoshiko’s eyes settled on two identical dragons. They appeared to be waiting for something and stood apart from all the others.

‘Who are they?’ asked Yoshiko, pointing towards them as he slid off Ketu’s back.

The two dragonesses were the deep indigo blue of the Saiga clan, but had the most unusual faces that were almost perfectly smooth and expressionless with dull,
colourless eyes. Hanging on chains around their necks were two large white stones.

‘Those are the Ageless Ones,’ said Ketu, nodding respectfully towards them. ‘The twin dragons of the Saiga clan.’

Yoshiko had heard of the twins. They were often talked about with mystery by other young dragons.

Nothing of their pasts was known, not even their age, which was why they were known as the Ageless Ones. Even more mysterious than this, any attempt to communicate with them was met either with silence, or by a strange sound uttered in duet. Certain questions, or the right time of year, could prompt them to take a deep breath in tandem, and then huff out a steady stream of ‘
Yeeaa
’.

It was the only sound they made, and most dragons thought the Ageless Ones were simply witless.

‘Those stones around their necks are opals!’ Ketu inclined his head, but didn’t point. Yoshiko looked at the light-coloured gems. They seemed to swirl with mystical colours and patterns. ‘The Hudrah swear that the stones give out a magical energy,’ said Ketu, ‘and the Hudrahs, they know about such things.’

It was the first time Yoshiko had heard Ketu mention the Hudrah of his own accord.

Now that he was older he’d started to notice that both his elders steered the conversation to different topics when he tried to ask about the Nephan clan Hudrah.

Yoshiko had seen black stones swinging from the necks of the Hudrahs when they were in the air.

‘Wait here,’ said Ketu. ‘I have to buy some fish from the market traders; they will bargain harder if they see I have a youngling with me.’

Yoshiko nodded, and watched Ketu retreat towards the fishing stalls. It was the first time he had been left alone away from his own mountain area, and the view was fascinating.

The chatter of the dragons as they traded with each other made a hum and in the far corners he could make out the smoking mud pools where some of the older dragons basked. It was beginning to grow darker now and Yoshiko glanced up.

Kiara had once told him that far up above hung balls of flaming gas that lit the night sky. But these sky-fires were too small to be seen through the smoky mists that rose from mud pools and the smoke from the Fire Which Must Never Go Out.

Yoshiko stood wondering what it might be like to fly from Dragor and see such sights but dismissed the thought guiltily, remembering that all dragons must obey the Commandments of Goadah.

A strange noise brought him back to reality.

‘
Yeeeaa
.’

Yoshiko was startled, and looked around.

Suddenly he realised where the sound was coming from.

It was the Ageless Ones. They were looking straight at him.

Cautiously, Yoshiko walked towards them. No other dragons were nearby, and he turned his head to see Ketu in the distance haggling over a glittering fish.

‘
Yeeaa
.’ The sound came again.

Slowly Yoshiko drew close to them, staring into the bottomless eyes of the twin dragons.

‘Can you … can you hear me?’ He asked them. But his question was met with silence.

He stood for a moment, wondering what went on behind their empty eyes. Then, as he watched, the two dragons slowly raised their arms in unison, and rested a single talon on the stones around each of their necks.

Yoshiko felt the world around him turn to warm
treacle. The marketplace faded and he felt himself pulled along with the swirling colours of their white stones.

In front of him the faces of the two dragons merged into one face, which seemed to contain in it the wisdom of many ages, their eyes had begun to sparkle. Then the mouth opened and began to speak.

‘Dragor’s destiny.’

Yoshiko took a step back, and as he did so the warmth of the strange new world faded and the bright colours of the marketplace returned.

He blinked for a moment as the clamour of dragons buying and selling crashed back into his ears.

In front of him the two indigo dragons were staring back placidly as if nothing had happened.

Had he imagined it all?

Then Yoshiko felt something hot clasped in his claws. Mystified, he brought his wing up to his face and slowly uncurled the talons. Inside was a smooth round stone. It was clear like the glass stones used by dragons to pay for items. But in its depths were sparkles of turquoise, gold and pink.

‘Ready to go?’ Ketu was by his side, clutching a parcel of fish.

Yoshiko tucked the gemstone behind one of his scales under his wing.

He clambered silently on to Ketu’s back, wondering whether he should tell his elder what strange thing had just occurred.

But Ketu seemed anxious and distracted. He began flapping in preparation to take off much more quickly than usual.

As they flew up into the sky Yoshiko caught a pair of narrow eyes staring up at them from the marketplace.

Yoshiko pointed down. ‘Yula the Nephan Hudrah is staring at us,’ he said.

‘Oh, I am sure she is not looking at us in particular,’ replied Ketu, a little too quickly.

But as they made their distance Yoshiko could still feel the Hudrah’s glare.

They landed back in Nephan territory and Yoshiko sneaked another quick look at the gemstone. As he held it out, he saw that the colours inside had stopped flashing. It was as if it had lost its magic. He hid it away again under his wing, wondering what to make of it.

T
hat afternoon Kiara had picked her favourite blossoms from the Nephan woods to fill the cave. A dozen pink and orange fireflowers now sat in a wooden vase at the hearth of the fire. Considered almost sacred, fireflowers were so named as the buds only opened to the flames of the dragon cave fires, scenting the homes with the sweetest welcoming aroma. She had also made a limestone pie and was taking it from the embers of the fire when they returned home. Yoshiko immediately sniffed the delicious wafts of dinner and the sight of the beautiful cave brightened his spirit. He rushed over to the stove where a large cauldron of stew was cooking.

‘When can we eat?’ he said, giving Kiara a nuzzle.

‘Not too long from now,’ she said. ‘Why don’t you go and do some fire-breathing practice and I’ll call you when it’s ready.’

Yoshiko went to the back of the cave where Ketu had set up a special area for him. A metal pennant-shaped fire target was positioned at Yoshiko’s height against the back wall. It was the largest size – for beginners – the type crafted especially for younglings just starting at Fire School, and the initial ‘Y’ had been specially engraved on it. Yoshiko looked at it excitedly.

He began sucking in air noisily as Ketu came to help Kiara ease the pie from the coals.

‘Did he do well in school?’ asked Kiara, anxiously.

Ketu nodded. ‘He joined the practice ranks when other dragons who couldn’t make fire sat it out, and he tried even though he couldn’t do it. He coped even when some dragons laughed at him.’

Kiara’s face dropped. ‘Other dragons laughed at him?’

‘He had the strength of character to get up and try. With that kind of bravery a few sniggers shouldn’t bother him.’

‘Who were the dragons laughing at him?’ she asked horrified.

‘Who do you think?’ said Ketu. ‘Gandar’s youngling Igorr was at the bottom of it. He can already make good fire. I imagine he’s learned at the expense of more important lessons.’

Kiara scoffed. ‘He’ll end up getting too full of himself with his fire-making and get thrown out of the Guard Dragons, just like his elder was for nearly burning down the Nephan forest.’

Ketu raised a talon as a caution for her to keep her voice down. ‘No one is supposed to know why Gandar was asked to leave the Guard Dragons, Kiara. If Yoshiko finds out it could be all over the school, and we don’t want to be known as the rumour spreaders. Leave that to the Alana clan.’

Kiara lowered her head in response, but she still looked angry.

From the other side of the cave Yoshiko sensed his elders were talking about him and his day.

It provoked a strong feeling to boil inside him as he remembered Igorr’s taunts again.

A burning sensation seemed to grow within him, and he tried to catch hold of it as he stared at the target. It was as if a picture of fire was in front of him and he felt his scales tingle all over in a strange rush.

Yoshiko turned towards the rock face. He was breathing deeply and from the back of his throat came a fizzing sensation, like electricity.

In a sudden burst a modest jet of flame flew out, falling short of the target, but coming halfway towards it.

Yoshiko’s mouth dropped down in amazement. He had done it! He had made fire! Then he looked down at his belly.

To his shock his body was no longer the rich red of the Nephan clan. He had turned bright orange.

Yoshiko gasped, looking to find his arms and legs were glowing the same colour – even his feet throbbed with the new colour.

Then, almost as quickly as he’d noticed it the colour faded, and his body returned to the Nephan red. Yoshiko blinked, and looked again. Cautiously he held out his talons, but they were also back to their deep natural shade. His immediate thoughts returned back to his fire-breathing achievement and he ran over to Ketu and Kiara.

‘I made flames!’ he pointed back towards the target. ‘I can do it!’

Ketu and Kiara both followed him to the target.

Yoshiko puffed up his chest. The rich warmth in his
belly came, and then the sharp crackle in his mouth, and as they watched he blew out with all his might, and snapped a flicker from his tongue. No fire had emerged, but he had made a spark. ‘Great. You’re nearly there!’ Ketu said.

‘Wait!’ Yoshiko took hold of Ketu’s wing in case he should move. ‘I can do more.’ He puffed out his chest for another attempt.

This time as he blasted the air forward the spark caught and a tiny but perfect fireball spat forth. Ketu’s eyes widened and Kiara clapped her wings.

‘And it was even better before. A bigger ball. I need to practise more.’ He spread his claws wide to demonstrate.

‘Not tonight. Come and eat,’ said Kiara. ‘School again tomorrow!’

At the thought of the return to Fire School and facing Igorr, Yoshiko’s face dropped.

He returned to the front of the cave where the food was laid out. Recalling his colour change he wondered if he should now mention it but as Kiara and Ketu bit into the soft warm pie he did not wish to disturb their look of contentment.

Yoshiko glanced down at his red claws and concluded that he had just imagined the rush of orange colour.