Dragon Pairs

The large, armor-clad warrior climbed down from the saddle, his mount immediately taking back to the sky. A mental leash between the rider and dragon kept them in constant mental contact, a unique connection that both had been born with and that both would die with.

He joined the other seventy-eight dragon riders in the viewing stands to the left and right of their king. The large marketplace within the castle’s walls had been completely cleared of vendors. In their place were about three-hundred eleven year old boys, each praying to be chosen, knowing the selection was up to the dragons as only they knew who their true pair would be.

Once every five years, a handful of hatchling dragons were born. They were raised in the highest mountain peaks, isolated until they were big enough to fly, at which time the dragon riders would send word throughout the kingdom; prepare for Pairing Day.

Outside of the walls, it appeared that every soul in the kingdom had descended upon the castle for this very special event. A tent city covered the vast acreage immediately surrounding the walls; a party atmosphere filled the air.

Today was a day for celebration. It was Pairing Day.

One by one, the hatchling flew in and chose, settling to the ground next to a boy. The largest of the hatchlings strayed outside of the wall, an unprecedented move. It landed amongst a group of terrified merchants who scrambled out of the way. It strutted purposely until it reached a small tattered tent. Using its beak, it tossed the tent aside to reveal a young girl who calmly looked up at the giant animal. Without hesitation, the fledgling settled down next to Mika, the daughter of a poor laborer and first woman dragon warrior.

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