Lissa lissa lissa lissa lissa! Are you good? Are you living? Can I help?

She waved away the concern. “Thanks, Zen, I’ll be fine.”

Fine is not good, good is better. You should be good. Tay tay tay tay tay!

“Tay?”

The strange man turned his head, looking at Zen, then Alisa. “Yes, he calls me Tay. Though it is not my name, it is acceptable as a substitute.”

Alisa didn’t know how long she’d been combined, disconnected, doubled, sickened, but the shadows had shifted while she adapted and now they lay long, the shrine window framing the setting sun perfectly as its rays shone into the little structure.

She was hungry, Zen was not; the stranger remained, and she realized she still held his stylus.

Alisa held it out toward him. “Here, thank you.”

“No, it is for you to keep. I have another for myself.”

It was only now, with the light illuminating the room, that she noticed the bond mark on his wrist. “Battlemage.”

Tay laughed. “Oh, I forgot about that. No, it is not a mage bond, but a promise bond.”

“Like that stupid wedding fad that went around—” Alisa broke off, blushing as she realized she’d just insulted the man who’d gone to considerable expense to help her. Ruby styluses were not cheap, or easy to come by.

“You needn’t regiment your words with me, Miss Veyara. You may be honest and forthright. I do not mind.”

“Oh. Good. Then … I guess I want to know why you’d tie yourself to a non-mage. And what it’s like.”

“Genessa is a mage, but our bond is not of that nature. It is for our mutual protection. With this, I know her general location and can sense if anything were to happen to her, and she knows the same about me. This way, we can pursue our own projects independently without worrying that the other is getting into trouble.”

“So it isn’t a full merging?”

“No. I quite agree with your assessment of the fad. Permanently mixing your essence with another’s is not something to be undertaken from emotion or sentiment, but reasoned and deep consideration. It is possible Genessa and I will advance to a full mage bond someday, but it is also possible we will decide to remain independent. This link would not hinder our separation, it is only another piece of information to be used or ignored.”

Zen coiled himself around Alisa’s waist and over her shoulder, his head poking out beside hers.

Tay smiled and stroked Zen’s spiny head. “I know you did not ask for this life, but I promise you it will get better. You have a great deal to offer the world, Miss Veyara, and you should not throw it away on a whim.”

“It’s not a whim.”

Tay leaned against the wall of the shrine, sunset light casting his face into sharp contrast. She hadn’t noticed how bright his forest green eyes were until now, they seemed almost to glow in the evening light. “Your commitment to your purpose is admirable,” he said, sounding suddenly weary. “But it’s so damned frustrating sometimes.”

Alisa frowned. “It’s none of your concern what I do with my life.” She was not in the mood, the echo from the bonding still leaving her dizzy and weak.

“It really is.” He sighed. “You’re something special. Even without Zen, you’d be invaluable. With him at your side, you’ll be unstoppable.”

“Well, I don’t want to be unstoppable. I want to do something worthwhile with my life. I want to create something lasting, not fight and burn and destroy.”

“And I promise you, the fighting will not be the end of your dreams. But there are things you cannot learn without experiencing them. If you insist on studying from books, your spells will always be shallower, flatter, less stable. You will be lacking essential details which could expand your potential. Trust me, Miss Veyara, one day you will thank me. One day you will admit that going to war was the single best thing you could possibly have done for your dreams.”

There was an urgency to his voice, passionate, insistent. He met her eyes with his bright green ones, his gaze intent.

Alisa shook her head and turned away. “You don’t know anything about me.”

He really does, Zen said, flicking her ear with his tongue. He knows everything.

“Traitor,” Alisa grumbled, poking her dragon’s nose. “Spilling my whole life story to the first stranger you meet?”

Zen hissed, laughing joyfully into her mind. He was far too happy to finally be able to talk to her properly, and felt absolutely no remorse.

“Alright, so maybe you know something,” Alisa admitted. “But you can’t make such huge assumptions like that. You know my situation. Fine. But this war that’s coming? It’s not what you think.”

Tay sighed heavily. “I know exactly what it is going to be. It is going to be long, and dark, and sad, and heavy. But it is necessary.”

“How can you know that?” Alisa snapped. “We’ve been at peace for barely two generations, and now you’re defending an aggressive war against people who should be our allies?”

Tay looked as though he wanted to say something, then shook his head instead. “There are layers to this that you can’t know. Can you trust me, that this is for the best?”

“I don’t know you! So you hung out with Zen for a few hours, that doesn’t make you my friend.”

Tay grimaced. “Right. I forgot about that. I never visited the academy this year, there were … complications elsewhere which demanded my attention. May as well do it now.” He pushed himself upright and offered her a hand. “Will you accompany me?”

“No!”

You should, Zen said. He has special boots.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

Just do it.

She could feel Zen’s grin, and wasn’t sure yet if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

“Alright...” Alisa took the offered hand.

Zen tightened around her waist and shoulders, still grinning in her mind.

Tay gripped her hand, then put his other arm around her waist. Before she could think to protest, he’d lifted her from the ground and took off sprinting. He had a long, easy gait, like that of someone long used to travel. The world blurred around them and within minutes they had reached the outer town fringes, traversing in minutes what had taken her nearly an hour.

They slowed upon reaching more populated areas, but still left wind in their wake and turning heads. By the time they reached the academy, Alisa was breathless and laughing, bewildered but exhilarated. She’d never moved so fast in her life.

Tay set her down with a deep nod, then strode toward the lecture hall with the confidence of someone well familiar with the layout of the place.

It was only after Alisa started for her room that she remembered they were fugitives who’d run away. No one seemed to be around at the moment, though, it must be during class… no… dinnertime? Yes, dinnertime.

Zen flapped out of her bag and started buzzing around her head in dizzying circles, back and forth and back and forth and up and down and around in a loop...

"Zen, knock it off. You can practice flying without blocking my vision every two seconds."

Zen only laughed, and she was surprised by how deep and human-like his mental voice was. He didn't sound like she'd imagined he would.

I love you too, he said, coiling his tail around her arm for a brief moment, then he took off again and zipped toward a suspicious bush that seemed to be flowering. She glanced over to see him nibble off several buds, shook her head at him, and followed Tay. There was no reason for him to go to the lecture hall at this time of evening. Everyone would be at dinner.

But when she entered, she saw him standing and talking with Lane Ryvas in low voices. They didn't cut off when she approached, but clasped each others' forearms in clear farewell, then turned and went their separate ways. Lane Ryvas started for the front exit, while Tay started up the stairs to the third - now second - floor.

"There's nothing to see up there," Alisa tried to warn him, but he ignored her. She hurried to catch up, feeling strangely obligated to help him. Well, maybe it wasn't strange. He'd given her an insanely expensive gift, and allowed her to bond Zen. Though how he'd convinced her to come back to the academy, she still couldn't quite figure out. It was more that he'd simply assumed it would happen and imposed his will upon the world, and here she was whether she'd wanted to or not.

There was a sort of gravity to him, a sense of purpose and inevitability. She could easily imagine getting swept along in his wake to far, far more serious ends than simply back to the academy.

"There you are," he said, as though he'd been searching everywhere, but from what she'd seen he walked straight to the last door on the right and poked his head in.

"I can't do this," said a muffled female voice from inside.

"Yes, you can." He stepped inside and closed the door, which clicked shut behind him. Alisa hesitated, curious but not wanting to intrude. Then she shrugged. He seemed to know what he was doing after all, and she was ravenous.

No one seemed surprised when she entered, Zen flying behind her, his new bond mark glowing gold on the side of his neck. Sadie glanced up from where she sat conversing with her usual group of friends, smiled and waved, but once Alisa waved back she didn't seem inclined to halt her conversation.

Alisa saw Lia and Reen, their dragons draped across their shoulders in perfect mirrors of each other, and crossed to them instead. Zen immediately puffed up, stiffening and trying to look as large and impressive as possible. She poked him mentally, and he returned a mental hiss of annoyance.

You do know you're never going to impress Raxi like that, don't you? she asked silently.

You don't know that. Zen sounded affronted. I am clearly the perfect mate for her. Even Reen says so.

Reen just wants you to have beautiful hatchlings.

Of course he does. Because with Raxi and I as parents, they will be absolutely perfect.

Alisa suspected he was overstating the case by a lot, but let it slide. He must have sensed her hesitance, because he huffed again before taking off and performing some impressive aerial acrobatics in an attempt to show off. He was heavier and longer than either of the other Aelaniri, but lacked the lithe grace and confidence they exhibited in the air. Alisa suspected that was her fault. Keeping him on the leash for so long meant he'd been limited in his ability to fly freely and it had probably resulted in the lack of experience.

Hasn't she made it perfectly obvious that you're unwanted? Zen huffed in protest, and Alisa hastily backtracked. I mean, your affections, not you.

She is keeping her options open.

Alisa snorted. Open? Not the word I'd use.

Zen stopped talking to her and devoted his full attention to strutting about in midair, his wings working crazily to keep him steady.

Alisa wasn't sure what to make of his wings. They looked like bat wings, acted like insect wings, and were altogether unlike any other dragon's that she'd seen. The closest she could compare them was to the narrow long wingspan of a Blaze, but able to swivel in any direction for precise adjustments or link together for high power pushes.

Even having watched him since he was hatched, Alisa still found his flight fascinating. She almost wished she cared to learn to draw, as she could think of countless artistic ways she could depict Zen. But she had no knack for it, little interest, and less time. Perhaps she could commission an actual artist to draw his portrait.

Then she giggled into her hand. There she was, thinking like Sadie. She didn't have that kind of funding and probably never would. If she mentioned it in front of Sadie, her friend probably would find a way to make it happen, but Alisa didn't want to do anything that smacked of exploitation or deceit. She didn't want to ask Sadie to buy things for her, because she knew she would do it.

Raxi hissed in appreciation at something the white dragon said, Alisa couldn't bring his name to mind at the moment. Reen, Raxi, and ... well, it would come to her eventually. Too many R names!

"I see you've finally taken my advice," Lia said, gesturing with her fork to the circle glowing on Zen's neck.

The dragon in question puffed up his chest. It was nothing to do with you. This was between Lissa and me.

The white dragon hissed with amusement as he relayed Zen's words to Lia.

"Well, the point is, it's done. How are you feeling?"

"Hungry, dizzy, and exhausted." Alisa frowned, recalling that she had caused a huge ruckus the previous night. No one seemed to be talking about it, or staring at her, or pointing. Why had the chaos died down so completely? It felt as though it had never happened, though she knew it had.

"That's normal. You'll feel disoriented for several days while you get used to the extra senses, but they'll integrate soon enough. Is Zen behaving well?"

Of course I am! I am no uncouth child, no rebellious Blaze. I know where I belong and I'm not as disloyal as you seem to think! Zen glowered at Lia.

Alisa found herself in agreement with his sentiment. "You shouldn't jump to conclusions. He's not going to be any trouble."

"Well, pardon me for trying to help."

Reen stayed quiet, as he tended to do, watching with a half smile but not interfering. He knew well enough not to get in Lia's way unless it really mattered.

Alisa found she was staring at him and forced herself to look away, trying to cover her sudden embarrassment.

"Do you want to go shopping with me?" Lia asked, unexpectedly.

"What?" Alisa asked, completely caught off guard by the abrupt subject shift.

"Well, since we have to move, I figured we could go together. Reen can carry everything. Right Reen?"

Reen nodded, Raxi shifting with the movement as she nodded as well. Alisa stared at the dragon, draped like a scaled boa, and then at Zen, then back. "Is it just me, or is Zen bigger? By a lot? I think he's a good half again as long as Raxi."

Zen immediately coiled himself around Alisa's shoulders twice, smugly showing off his length.

"Yes, I've noticed that as well." Lia poked her white dragon, who was nearly the same size as Raxi. "I wonder why. They hatched within a week of each other. If anything, I'd expect Riss to be the largest, as he hatched first."

Riss, yes, that was his name.

"Raxi will mature faster once they hit six months," Reen said. "Females get a major boost around then."

Alisa nodded, and Zen perked up with interest, as he did any time his crush was mentioned. Alisa laughed softly and poked his nose, making him shake his head and sneeze. A tiny burst of flame shot out, vanishing within a few finger-breadths of his snout, but it was the first fire she'd seen him manifest since the day he’d set her bedroom on fire. She’d begun to worry that her reaction to that event might have permanently stunted his ability, so she deliberately smiled and cheered.

"Oooh, fire! Good job, Zen!"

That was nothing. You should see my intentional flame, Zen said slyly.

Alisa smiled at Zen. "I didn't know you could breathe fire already."

"He can't," Lia said flatly. "He's as surprised as you."

Am not, Zen protested. I've been practicing while you were asleep. I wanted to surprise you.

"Oh, really?" Alisa asked, pieces falling together. He’d been working up to this for a long time. It was stupid and dangerous and he really should be reprimanded for experimenting with fire indoors for months, but it was also sweet and adorable and she couldn’t bring herself to berate him. "Want to demonstrate?"

Zen sent a strong sensation of smugness into her mind, drew himself up, inhaled deeply, then ...

stood there, unmoving, fully puffed up, spines bristling, tail twitching, chest held upright, neck stretched forward.

"Zen, you're not going to poop on the table, are you?"

He shot her a reproachful thought, disdaining the idea, then snorted smoke, opened his mouth, and shot out a perfect tiny jet of lavender fire, steady like a candle flame in a still room. Reen grinned, and Lia's mouth opened in surprise. Raxi made a dismissive shrug, rolling her shoulders, and Zen immediately wilted, clamping his jaw shut to stop the ongoing flame, then drooped into a dejected coil on the table.

Alisa clapped politely, but he shot her irritation through their bond and she subsided into silence.

"Very impressive for his age," Reen said. "I've rarely seen such a steady flame from anything younger than three months. Especially an Aelanir, they tend to be less inclined to breathe fire than most."

I was the fourth one in the entire class, Zen thought proudly to Alisa. Even if that time it was an accident.

So he was behind the curve on flying and dexterity, but ahead in physical size and fire-breathing. Well, everyone was different, even dragons. Alisa had no complaints.

You’re doing great, she told him. Just, in future, please practice fire breathing outdoors?

Zen looked ashamed. I said I was sorry.

And I’ve forgiven you long since, but we don’t want it to happen again.

It hasn’t! he protested. I have never set anything on fire since then.

Well, good. Keep it up.

He coiled across her arm. I thought you’d be proud of me.

Oh, Zen, of course I am! My little candle dragon, that was beautiful and I am very impressed.

He flicked his tongue at her. You are not.

I am, Alisa protested weakly. I’ve never seen a dragon with such perfect control. And if I was expecting something … bigger and more dramatic, that’s not your fault. You’re too tiny. I was just surprised.

She didn’t like the determined glint that suddenly shone in Zen’s eyes. I understand. Thank you.

The conversation flowed on to other things, but for once, Zen lay still and didn’t even try to catch Raxi’s notice.

Alisa took this as an ominous sign. Whatever new fancy had taken over Zen’s contemplations, it would probably be a problem.

Just don’t do anything stupid, she silently pleaded.

Don’t worry, Zen said distractedly.

Alisa worried anyway.

When she eventually left the dining hall, Tay, who was leaving the administration building at the same time, called out to her. “Miss Veyara, do you have a moment?”

“Are you sure you don’t want your stylus back?” she asked.

“Quite certain, I have plenty. I need you to promise me that you’ll give it two months before you consider running away again.”

Alisa didn’t know what to say, so she said nothing. She may have given up on setting Zen free to go his own way, now that they were bonded and he clearly didn’t want to leave her, but she still intended to find a way out of this for both of them.

“I know this isn’t what you want, but I know you can learn to appreciate it. Value it. And most importantly, learn and grow from it. In two months, if you still wish to escape, I will personally assist you.”

“And how much good is your personal assistance going to do?” Alisa asked. He certainly seemed to know his way around the academy. What was he, a retired former teacher? She certainly had never seen him before today, and he was striking enough she wouldn’t have easily forgotten him.

“I taught here, once,” he said, confirming her suspicion. “I still have connections which can be used. My influence is not insignificant. If after two months you still wish to leave, I swear to you I can make it happen."

Alisa nodded slowly. "Alright. It's a deal. But I expect you to honor it."

"I shall, by my oath and on my honour. Alisa Veyara, you shall not be forced to remain against your will."

He gave her that respectful nod of farewell, then turned and strode out of the academy as though he had an important appointment to get to.

Alisa stared after the strange man, not sure what to make of him. He seemed very eager to get involved in her business. But if he was a former teacher...

Probably one of the current teachers had noticed her despondent mood and lack of motivation, knew they were too close to the situation for her to take them seriously, and called in Tay to do the dirty work of convincing her to focus. It occurred to her that she still didn't know his real name, but then that didn't really matter.

Two months, and she'd be free. Two months of playing along, following the rules, attending classes, and playing the good student, and then she had a sponsor to take her away. She didn't know what strings might come attached to that promise, but anything that let her return to a normal life away from the promise of a pointless war to come was good by her.

As if two months could possibly be enough time to change her mind so completely. She scoffed at the thought. With classes pointless, the library destroyed, and war looming in the future for anyone who remained? There was nothing in the world that could convince her to stay now that the option of escape had been presented.

Nothing at all.