The White Road - Lynn Flewelling [62]
The dragons swooped and dove against the night sky, like fish playing in a stream, and the great dragon sang back to Sebrahn, his roar softened by the distance.
Watching them, Alec's heart swelled a little. Maybe it wasn't such a bad thing, sharing a connection with something so wondrous.
This went on until the moon was high above the peaks. Then the great beasts disappeared as quickly as they'd come.
Adzriel turned and kissed him. "Come now, my brothers, it's time for the dancing!"
Everyone went home to dress for the dances and parties that followed. As Alec descended the stairs from the roof with Sebrahn in his arms, he could hear the musicians tuning up in the great hall. The sound always stirred his blood, ever since Micum's daughters had taught him how to dance, but the feeling was mingled with sudden misgivings.
This was the night they would finally try leaving Sebrahn alone. His misgivings grew as they reached their room.
"Seregil, I don't know if this is a good idea," he began, setting Sebrahn down and pulling off his mittens.
"Oh come on, tali," Seregil gave him a comically imploring look. "If we were in Rhiminee tonight, we'd be drunk off our assess by now. And you can't very well dance with me lugging Sebrahn on your back. He'll be fine here, and it's not so far to the hall that we can't look in on him as often as you like. As soon as we've danced ourselves out a little, we'll fetch him to the party, I promise."
Alec cast a worried look at Sebrahn, who was staring back just as intently from his place on the bed, as if he knew exactly what was going on. Alec had trimmed and braided the rhekaro's hair, and dressed him in the little tunic embroidered with flowers that Kheeta's mother had made for him. There had to be some moment when Alec allowed himself to be parted from Sebrahn; it was inevitable. But did it have to be now? All the other children in the house would be there. Sebrahn hadn't exactly made friends with anyone. However, he did seem interested in how they played, and would mimic them now and then.
Yet Alec didn't need the pull of their bond to see that behind Seregil's inveigling smile was a genuine plea. Seregil pulled him close, sighed heavily for good effect, then danced him around the room. "Please, tali? Just this one time? He couldn't be anywhere safer." Letting Alec go, Seregil made a show of barring the shutters, then held up the iron key that they hadn't used since their arrival.
Alec wavered; he hadn't danced in months, and now he could hear a reel beginning. "Well, I guess he'd be all right for a little while. Maybe ..."
"Then it's settled! I'll tell you what; as soon as we meet with Micum, I'll have him look in on him for us, too."
"Well ..."
Seregil sensed his weakening resolve and grinned. "Good."
Alec sat down with Sebrahn and tried to explain. "Seregil and I are going out." He pointed to the door, then the bed. "And you stay here, understand? Right here."
It was difficult to tell what Sebrahn thought of that. Alec found one of the little dolls Mydri had given him in Gedre, as if that would keep him company.
"Come on, Alec. Listen--they've started without us. The musicians are already playing," Seregil urged gently, slipping a hand under his arm.
Alec glanced back over his shoulder as they went out. Sebrahn sat in the middle of the bed, holding the doll upside down in one hand.
As soon as they were in the corridor Alec locked the door. More music floated down from the hall, enticing him.
Maybe this is a good thing. Just get it over with.
He'd just turned the key when a piercing shriek split the air.
"Bilairy's Balls!" Seregil yelped, clapping his hands over his ears.
Then came a loud thud from inside the room as Sebrahn threw himself against the door, shrieking again at a pitch that made the hair on Alec's arms stand up and his heart pound.
"For hell's sake, open the door!"
"I'm trying!" The sound was like a knife grating against bone. Alec's hands were shaking so badly that he had to use both to get the key back into the lock. When he finally got