W.R.E.N.

To meet a king

The little prince was there each day. He watched at my side as the air dragons bonded. We then walked around the campus where I showed him the hatcheries and fledgling fields. Baram was forced to come with us as the royal adviser insisted he was the only one astute enough to deal with us.

The earth dragons thrilled the young prince. Several tried to break free and trample the knights attempting to get to their own Nuare. When I bounded over the fence and reigned them in, the royal adviser who was looking after the prince appeared impressed by this. He allowed the prince and his new Nuare to accompany us the rest of the day. I was certain the adviser had no clue the boy was bonded.

The morning of the air dragons bonding, we were all called down to get fitted for our formal school uniform. Quinn stood on a small stage with a podium she had placed papers on. She looked us over. Our entire class milled around. One person, a water knight asked why we were being presented early.

"Is it early?" Bran asked me. I nodded.

"Normally we wouldn't be presented until the spring. They generally don't present the Nuare's to the royal entourage until they have completed a full year of training." I told them.

"How come?" Attroxia asked.

"Next semester we will be placed into our combat units. Each unit consists of one person from each element, and a soul if we have it. Then these units are paired together to see which ones work best over the next two years. They will form teams, which is 4 to 5 units that fight together. Then in our last year we will work together as teams, possibly building into an army contingent. Sometimes they will take an entire contingent and place it whole, into wherever they seem to be best suited." I explained. They all looked confused by this. "It's easier to introduce an entire team then each individual. Plus, many Nuares wash out in this stage. They are unable to work together with others."

"Where do they go?" Tempest asked, her eyes darting to the demon dragon.

"Other schools, or various learning centers. There are other jobs out there instead of going into the kings army." I stated.

"We need to set up teams." My eyes went to Bran. I nodded slowly.

"Zyn, are you finished talking in order for us to get started?" Quinn called out. I snorted giving her a thumbs up. She announced that since the king himself was coming this year, he asked that all first and second years be presented.

The next morning we were called back to the school. Po waited for our class. I waved to Trace and Galeha. They nodded in their sober way. Attroxia bouncing on his heels at the size of the air knight. I chuckled.

"Today you must pick the person you wish to present you to the king." Po stated. I frowned. I knew this was coming. Many would be willing to present me. I turned to Tanwen.

"Zia." She breathed beaming up at me with starry eyes.

"I was afraid you would want her." I said.

"She is your sister, our best friend. It should be her." Tanwen insisted.

I sat down, reaching out I pulled the girl to me. "I would love nothing better than to have her at my side as I meet the man who gave me life." Her slivery orbs shimmered.

"But?" she whimpered.

"Zia is a fire dragon, a princess." I sighed. "OK, I'm not sure if you know how royalty works in a dragon hierarchy. So, there is the Queen..." I tapped her chest. "Only the queen can produce royal offspring. They may have upwards of sixty eggs in a clutch. This happens about every two to three years. Queen eggs are rare. A queen may go nearly her entire life with only producing a single queen heir." I shrugged. "It happens. Some produce one every five to ten clutches. But that doesn't make each egg royalty. The only way to get a royal dragon is through a king dragon. These are even rarer than the queens. I'm not sure how often it happens, but it's rare. Not every queen produces a king. Zia's sire is the Kings Nuare." Tanwen's eyes grew huge.