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Karranatey
Karranatey had been in bed for a few days recovering from that spell. She had not thought that necessary but the medic at this place was adamant that she get plenty of rest. Today they were finally letting her get up. She kicked her legs out of the covers and strode across the room to get dressed. As she was pulling on some soft leggings they had left for her she heard the sound of someone approaching. Quickly pulling her tunic on, more to save them the embarrassment of walking in on her than to hide herself, she turned to greet whoever it was. K’ran strode into the room and Karranatey arched a brow at him in question, wondering what business he had with her. She’d hardly laid eyes on him since he brought her here. “Good you’re up,” he said walking past her and helping himself to some of the breakfast that had been left for her. “Nice to see you too,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Help yourself.” K’ran stopped with a mug of hot cocoa at his lips. He took a sip and put the mug down. “Sorry, they didn’t let me eat this morning, you don’t mind do you?” Karranatey shook her head and went over to pour herself a mug and grab a steaming roll. She curled up in a chair and proceeded to dunk her roll into the cocoa. “Why is it good that I’m up?” “They’re doing the egg touching this morning and you need to be there.” “Egg touching?” “Before the eggs hatch the candidates are sent in to touch the eggs. Sometimes an egg responds to a candidate’s touch and then we know that that dragon will definitely bond when they hatch,” he explained and Karranatey listened with eager interest. “Let’s go then!” she said, standing up and popping the last of her chocolate soaked roll into her mouth. They hadn’t had chocolate where she came from and she found the substance highly addictive. K’ran shook his head. “Not yet. The egg touching will happen just before the midday meal. Wanted to make sure you knew though. Don’t be late.” With that he grabbed a roll and left the room waving a hand in farewell as he went. Karranatey watched him go then sat back down in her chair. She held her left palm up to her face and frowned. The talisman had remained concealed ever since she came here and that bothered her. She stared hard at her hand, but could see no trace of the talisman anywhere. Karranatey straightened in her chair and took a deep breath. She took several more, breathing in and out as she would to begin a spell. That was what she planned, a small spell, just to make sure the talisman was still there. But nothing happened; she felt no rush of magic through her body, no tingle of the talisman in her hand. After a while her eyes popped open in shock and horror. She was bereft of her magic! Why would the talisman have led her to this place where there was no magic? Where she must live without its guidance? She stood, slamming her left hand down on the nearby table with such force that her mug toppled over and spilled. She paid it no attention though and left the room in a fury, heading for the dunes whether it was time or not. Karranatey walked into the dunes and saw the sparkling white mother curled protectively about her eggs. Something about the serenity in that posture drained her anger from her and she was left with this empty despair in the pit of her stomach. She sat down on one of the lower tiers of the viewing area and put her head in her hands. How could she survive without her magic? It was part of her now, surely her destiny was not to live without magic for all her days. Before long the other candidates joined her and they were instructed on the egg touching procedures. The mother was coaxed away from her eggs, but she sat a few yards away watching their every move. Karranatey walked out onto the dunes, her right hand out and dragging lightly across the surface of the eggs. She wove back and forth between the eggs, not really paying attention. Then she felt a tremor in her left palm and stopped short. Eyes wide she lifted her palm but saw nothing beneath the skin. Her face fell and she dropped her hand to her side again. But when she started walking again she reached out with her left hand instead, something making her lay her palm on each egg she passed. She laid her hand on one egg and the talisman flared bright blue beneath her skin. Karranatey gasped in delight and could feel the magic woven into the talisman. No wonder that last spell had so drained her! The talisman had not only woven the spell to bring the dragoner to her, but it had also woven magic into itself. She had magic at her disposal; she would just have to learn how to tap it. Only then did she feel the mental tug. Her eyes widened as she realized this must be what it felt like for the unhatched dragon to reach out. Her talisman had warned her first and she stood there for quite some time, relishing the slight mental pressure. Perhaps living without external magic would not be so bad. Time and the hatching would tell. Continue...
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