Dragon's Shadow

By

Xearo the White Hand

Chapter 1

Bonder's Baggage

Xearo woke up as he normally does, tired. The rest of the bonders were gathering to talk as they changed into their bond cloths. Xearo was already dressed, sense he slept in the clothes he'd need for the next day. He walked, or slugged, his way over to a group of kids.

"Well look at this; Xearo and Jakkin are twins! Both muted until they get some of the magical takk of life." That was Slakk's normal morning conversation, and for some reason the other boys found it funny no matter how many times they talked about it. Xearo just shook his head and moved them aside, and being about six foot four, no one tried to stop him as a joke.

He washed his face and hands at one of the sinks they had at the Bonder's House. This is where, as the name tells, the bonders sleep. Now all bonders have a master, but not all masters are nice. These bonders were very lucky to have a nice master, but the work was very hard and the pay was not the greatest. However, to some bonders, the job was worth it. Xearo and Jakkin were those bonders; they love dragons. And that is the job of bonders. They must take care of dragons in whatever way their masters demand. Xearo was the strongest of the bonders, some say stronger than Master himself, so he usually got the most physical job.

Xearo shook himself out of the daze and walked out with Jakkin to the Mess Hall. They found Slakk and the other boys sitting at a table rather close to the door leading towards the Bonder's House. Once they sat down, Xearo poured them some takk. Xearo drank it so fast that Slakk made a joke saying he inhaled his food. Xearo of course had to laugh.

"Hey Xearo why don't you have the, well you know, the KK brand?" Little Lekkon was always so curios, however, almost everyone else was wondering the same thing, so Xearo answered.

"I do, it's just it's easier to say Xearo than Xearokkian or even Xearokk. My real name is Xearokk but my mother used to call me Xearokkian sense I'm, well not to brag, but hard as a rock." Well Xearo realized he had set himself up for some form of a joke. Slakk was the one who made it up; which was not surprising.

"Yeah, but which part did you mean?" The other boys were laughing so loud, some of the other; older bonders looked over to see what was going on. Xearo merely replied with his own joke.

"No I didn't say now did I? I meant my fist, which could easily fit in your huge mouth if you don't quit with the quote unquote funny jokes." The older bonders heard him and laughed at Slakk. Xearo gave him a friendly punch on his shoulder. Slakk and the others had to laugh a little. Xearo smiled and sat back, pleased to have made everyone's day a little bit better.

"So Xearo, explain to Hildakk what bonders do. He's a new bonder, fresh out of the mom." Some of the boys laughed at Jilkk's comment. Xearo merely gave a glare that silenced him.

"Well, Hildakk, bonders are mainly servants, hell almost slaves; but that's not the point. We work with dragons, taking care of them in anyway needed, which all depends on what the master, the owner of all of the bonders, wants to do. The master should be wealthy enough to have his or her own medical building and garden. Plus, the master, of course, will have the dragon's area. That's where we work, so you see, it's simple, our life is fewmets and dust. Dust and fewmets." Jakkin and a few others laughed at his statement of dust and fewmets. Hildakk had his head down, as if pouring over the information to make sure he didn't miss anything. Xearo got up when the bell rang for work, and walked over to Hildakk.

"Kid, if anyone gives you any trouble, just tell me. That goes for any questions too." Hildakk smiled and seemed to have a greater respect for bonders from then on.