Simon

I am rid of the Wellspring magic.

I paused as I looked at the coded words I had just written on the paper. I had never imagined I would say or write such a thing... but... it was true. All of my magic was gone now. Any new magic I generated flowed almost instantly to Enola over the rider bond. There was nothing left for a mage to detect. No danger of them suspecting I was their path to power. No chance of them learning about other Wellsprings through me. And even if somehow they did suspect something, and tried to capture me... they would have an enraged dragon to deal with. One with all the power of a Wellspring charging her already significant arsenal of spells.

For the first time in my life, I was safe.

I am now Enola's rider. I am able to confirm one last thing that Katerina wrote about – the rider bond has limits. There are some things I am physically unable to write about now. All I can say is that those details are largely unimportant to us, and are in place to protect the dragons.

The dragons pose no danger to us. We can take them at their word that they are safe to live among.

As a final note, I would suggest extreme caution before approaching any dragon about a rider bond. While it does offer us a significant advantage in that it will drain our magic, it is an extremely sensitive issue to them – again, for reasons the rider bond will not allow me to discuss. It is one thing if a dragon wishes to take a rider, but we should make sure not to pressure the dragons about taking us as a rider just for our own safety. That is certain to cause offense, and may even lead to the dragons rescinding their offer of a safe haven. Make sure everyone understands this.

That probably wasn't strictly true – the dragons weren't likely to turn down the chances Wellsprings presented for them, even if they were being nice about how they were going about it – but I could easily imagine just how many problems would be caused by frightened Wellsprings pestering dragons who had no interest in starting a family just yet. Better to scare them a little with something cryptic than to let them get into pointless fights with their new neighbors.

Our new neighbors?

I signed the letter and folded it up – these soldiers had a decent supply of pencils, and they had been more than willing to let me use one. They were grateful to Cess for his help with the bandits, and that had rubbed off on me once they had learned I had been involved in saving his life – and they had become even more welcoming on top of that when Captain Mason had arrived at the camp an hour or so ago. I was sure they would be happy to carry the letter along with some of their own dispatches, too, which saved me the cost of hiring a courier.

Not that money was likely to be a problem for me much longer.

A check of the still-unfamiliar rider bond told me that Enola hadn't moved from the last time I had checked. Which meant she was still at Cess' side. The blue dragon had passed out early on during the 'surgery', and the pink dragon had joined him as soon as Cess' wound had closed up, only taking the time to move to his uninjured side before sprawling beside him in sleep. It had been cute, actually – she had draped one wing over him, covering up the missing scales and still-tender skin, then curled her body around his.

I had led the healer and the soldiers out of the tent, cleaned up as best as I could without disturbing them, then left the couple together. Cess probably needed rest after what he had been through, and I was sure Enola could use some rest, too. And they would probably appreciate some privacy to discuss a few things in.

But that had been several hours ago. Cess might still need more rest, but I was pretty sure Enola would be hungry soon. And... we had a few things to discuss, too.

I wandered around the camp until I ran into a soldier. Just like I had suspected, he was more than happy to take care of my letter for me, and he happily pointed the way to the mess tent. At first the cook there wasn't very happy about my request for 'your largest plate stacked full of meat', but when I explained it was for Cess and Enola, she produced a large wooden platter piled high with steaming cuts of beef – 'healer's orders', she explained, as I struggled to carry the heavy dish out through the door.

Cess was fast asleep as I slipped carefully through the tent flap, but I knew even before I saw her that Enola was awake. She was still curled around him, but she had pulled her wing away and lifted her head up to examine his wound. I saw her nostrils flare as she noticed the plate I was carrying, and I quickly sat it down next to her.

I sat down by the side of the tent while she daintily picked a warm steak up between her claws, then tossed it into her mouth. She chewed for a few minutes, then swallowed... then looked back at me. "Thank you, Simon."

"It was nothing – the healer had the cook put some aside for the two of you. Apparently injured patients are hungry when they wake up." I grinned and lifted a hand towards the significantly-lighter platter in front of the two dragons.

The pink dragon rolled her eyes. "So insufferable... you know what I meant."

I nodded slowly, folding my arms back over my knees. "Yeah. But... that was nothing, too." I frowned. No, that wasn't right – and she knew it. "I mean... you're welcome." The words still felt awkward, but they were closer to what I was trying to say. "I'm glad I was able to help you both. How is Cess doing? Will he be okay?"

Enola turned her head back to the gap in Cess' scales and nodded. "He will need a lot of rest – even with magic, what he went through puts a lot of strain on the body – but he is out of danger now. In a week or so he will be back in the air and chasing after bandits again."

I smiled. "That's good. Though he might have someone else to chase after instead."

There was a hint of a blush on Enola's face, but it faded with a shake of her head. "Insufferable..." She looked back at me, and her expression grew somber. "What do you want to do now?"

"Do?" I tilted my head to the side in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"You are a rider now. The bond will not let you stay away from me for too long, and I cannot stay here forever. The knights are grateful now, but eventually they will realize they do not have enough food for two dragons, or enough room for us to keep using their largest tent." She half-raised her wing to gesture at the flap I had entered through. "We will have to leave then, and you will have to come with us."

"Oh." I nodded slowly. "I had assumed that would be part of the deal." I grew quiet as I thought about it. "I don't suppose you plan on going back to your lair in the crystal mine?"

Enola shook her head. "No. There is no reason for me to stay there now. My staying would also cause problems with the counterspell suppressing the naga's spell, since I have magic of my own again. And..." Her expression softened a little as she glanced back at Cess. "That would be a horrible place to try and raise our children in. I need to build a proper aerie now, back among other dragons. I will inform the Sea Guard to set up an outpost to watch for any naga activity and maintain my spell, and then I will head back to the dragon territories."

I frowned as I tried to think about it. "Katerina... the other We... the other rider I mentioned. She said the dragons were building a town in their territory. Somewhere for humans to live in."

The pink dragon frowned slightly before shrugging her wings. "I have not heard of such a place myself, but I am sure it is true. It seems like the kind of thing the elders would do once they knew there were others like you out there. That represents a potential resource too valuable to risk being lost."

I was quiet for a moment while I thought back to my wistful daydreams. Living in one place, instead of fleeing before the fear of discovery. Working a field and tending crops, and having something to show for my work. Being able to feed my friends and family at the end of the day, with the effort I had put into the day. "I've always had a dream of one day being a farmer. If there's room at that village for farms, do you think we could settle there?"

Enola frowned and shook her head. "I am a healer, Simon. Earlier today I kept another dragon alive through wounds that otherwise would have killed him seven times over. My talents are the difference between life and death, and are one of the crucial supports that ensures the Sea Guard stands strong against the endless tide of naga hordes. Now that my magic is returned, I will be expected to act with dignity befitting the noblest of dragons as part of those duties. If my rider wishes to spend all his time mucking around in the dirt, digging silly holes and stuffing them with useless, unsightly weeds..."

She paused for a moment... then a smile broke out on her face. "...then I will find you a farm in the largest, most fertile plot of land in that town." Her smile softened, and she nudged the platter of meat over towards Cess. "You have given me my dreams back, Simon. I will make sure you are able to have yours. Even if they are silly human ones."

I smiled in spite of myself. "Thanks, Enola."

The pink dragon nodded at me. "You are welcome. Though there is one issue that still needs to be addressed." She reached over with one hand and began scratching at the other, prying loose one of the smaller scales in between her fingers.

I frowned at her, confused. "What's that? What are you doing?"

"My rider is naked. It is unsightly." Enola took on another of her haughty looks, then winced slightly as she pulled out another scale. "I am correcting it."

"What are you talking about? I'm wearing clothes." I looked down at my outfit. It was a little worn, maybe, but it kept me covered. "Besides, you fly around in nothing but a saddle."

"I am adorned in a layer of splendid scales. You are hiding behind dead grass and hair you pilfered from other animals." Another scale joined the small pile. "I cannot have the other dragons saying that I am unable to even properly attire my own rider. So you will have a proper dressing of scales, too. Just like every other rider does."

"Pink is not my color." I leaned away from the pile of scales in sudden worry.

"It will be now, Simon." An ominous grin spread over Enola's face, and she scooped up the plucked scales in one hand before reaching towards me...

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Author's note – Illustration!

I was surprised with this from @Repeat932 and had to share it.  :D  Thank youuuu!