12

A storm raged in the kingdom, shutting down road and sky. As the riders had filed into the school for a dreary day of lessons they all found themselves perking up as the teacher for the day stood at the front of the class with a little dragon on a table making weird faces. A rare breed that usually hid under the wing of a larger one that was an old lady who rarely flew due to her age and weight problem that protects all the hatchlings for the first Dragon year that are rejected or orphaned. This one was a dwarf. Rare but not unheard of and would never be big enough for a rider. It's mother had really had a night out, if ya know what I mean and in the past some stables would have killed the Dragon on hatching and revealing it's colour as it is useless for battle.

Of course… this is not most stables.

He was cute though and it was nice to see him letting his pretty yellow and gold scales be seen. It warmed the entire room. He was like a large excitable dog.

"OK, everyone sit and when we are done with the boring theory part Daffodil here will let you see him in flight for the first time. He only just leaned so no laughing at the clumsiness of it. This will help you all learn how hard it is for them to fly without a rider let alone with one on top." Ianto commanded gently.

Everyone rushed to comply with this rare offer that made the boring day suddenly so much more.

"OK… who can tell me why our kind can ride on the back of a dragon without shade when the sun is so damaging to us without it?" Ianto asked the class, watching as Kellie fiddled with her pencil, eagerly wanting to learn.

This had been a big thing, Jack finally seeing what Ianto had gently been explaining. Kellie would never rule… she needed to rule something and becoming a rider, one day the Captain of the flying forces would be as close as she could get, as Toto might one day ride like his Daddy as the Captain of the ground keepers. She knew Ianto had wangled this, not why but she had heard his soft 'thank you for letting her Cariad' whispered as Ianto had kissed Jack at the breakfast table before Jack had announced his decision to let her try out for Dragon Flight.

"The sweet spot" someone called out and Ianto pointed his finger.

"Yes. Each dragon is unique. I know, I have ridden a few. It is a rare honour for me to be able to ride more than one, all of you here will find one. Only one that is the right one for you. May not be the first, but it will be the last. For that sweet spot is what connects the dragon and the rider. The shifting of scale, the downdraft, the wind sheer … all counts. When you have the right mount, when your bodies are in sync and the flight true… the sunlight cannot touch you. Your dragon shields you with its power." Ianto smiled as he looked over their heads "I know some already have dragons. Some of you are second year, already at the stage of flight lessons. We are a little grounded due to the weather so I decided to give the others the day off and you have a rare chance to speak directly with me. As close to the actual dragon as you can get. So … any questions?"

"Does it hurt them? To ride them?"

"No. Not if you are bonded. You will both enjoy it, it will be… fun. My daughter is here, not yet Eleven so … I will not say what it is closet to, just that it as high as you can go. OK?" Ianto said and some laughed softly "Myfanwy was not my first. My first was not compatible and we almost struck the ground. I was so angry. Didn't' want that one in the first place but had been told that was my ride for the day. Why here we do not assign dragons … we let them choose you."

"Theo was not bonded to his rider that almost killed him" Kellie said, then looked horrified as she glanced around to make sure Theo had not heard her.

"That's right darling. He took the dragon, decided he wanted it, did not consider the dragon at all. He did not bond to Theo, he dominated him. That is why he was a sloppy rider and in the end caused harm to the poor creature. Had I not been there… he would have died from the injures taking his rider with his, had the others not torn the man apart for his nastiness." Ianto nodded "Also.. his death would have taken Theo but the dragons knew. They know if a bond is forced or not true. They will help the dragon free themselves if they can… escape. Why there are wild dragons that bear royal stamps on their scales form different kingdoms. They ran away or in battle their unbounded rider fell. They have come here because of me. Why this place had more dragon than anywhere else on in the land. Why any rider here cannot give the excuse that they cannot find a dragon. It is the dragon that decides. And once it has chosen you... you will know."

"So warm and mushy" Kellie sighed happily.

"yes"

"How is Myfanwy, is her egg almost ready to lay?" Andy asked.

"I think tonight or tomorrow actually, why I am giving her time to herself. I am excited for her" Ianto grinned.

"Then… if you can ride any… you can ride Theo? Another of the unbounded for flight lessons with us?" someone asked innocently and Ianto knew sooner or later he must tell why, but not yet. He wanted to revel a little longer. His mother would put paid to the secret when she arrives tomorrow anyway.

"Theo wants to stay with Myf. Like a good little brother. Actually… I will aid those with their first mounting lessons tomorrow, until my mother comes to be all regal and shit. Tomorrow, those first timers here will get their tack."

Kellie gasped with shock, sitting up to stare at him as her dragon outside hooted softly. Ianto smiled hearing the dragon's excitement and knew this bond was a good true one, as were several others hooting with equal glee.

Ianto could not fly right now, not with the seed so small. So new. Not without Myfanwy. Once the egg was settled, Theo can protect it and he can fly… in an emergency only. For his spark needed to settle too.

And as the King of Dragons he had to set an example to the other dragons who were laying. He had to show temperance.

SIGH