Crackerjack II

Chpt. 10: I Have A Really Good Excuse For Being Here

Kristen risked a peek as William sauntered closer to the rider with the confidence of a dragon.

"Sorry," he said. "Didn't realize anyone was here."

Sylvia barely relaxed, rolling her eyes. "William."

Kristen held her breath.

"What're you doing here?"

"Just hanging around."

Sylvia narrowed her eyes, but Kristen was suddenly aware of the teacher's ride. She couldn't pay attention to the two arguing with such a magnificent creature only a few feet away. Her eyes widened in awe of the shimmering white scales peeking through downy feathers. They sent rainbows dancing with every shift of the lean body. The saddle in Sylvia's hands was thick and long to match the dragon. Unlike Kristen's dragon, this one's head was smooth, round, and...turning toward her.

She probably should have ducked back, but she couldn't bear to stop taking in the splendor. The dragon's eyes were a clear, mossy green. The long neck lifted. The nostrils flared slightly as the dragon snuffed, taking in Kristen's scent. Curiosity pressed against Kristen.

"Hey!"

Kristen jerked when Sylvia's voice rose. She froze with the woman's eyes on her. William was angled her direction, too.

"What're you doing in here?"

Kristen opened her mouth. Come on, brain. Give me something.

"Uh..."

Perfect.

Her heart hammered. Now she'd done it. What exactly did they do to spies? What if all that time in the library was seen as snooping? What if she got her dragon in trouble?

Sylvia took a step forward. "Well?"

"We wanted to see the dragons, like I said."

Kristen was so glad William was here to catch her dropped ball.

Sylvia pointed at William. "You're not supposed to be here." Her finger might as well have been a dagger when she turned it to Kristen. "And you'd better not be looking for your dragon."

Kristen gulped. What would happen to her if she got kicked out?

"We're just looking at them. I already knew her dragon wasn't here. Chill."

Kristen stared at William. Sylvia glared.

"Excuse me?"

William tilted his head. He'd probably rolled his eyes under the rag. "I said you need to relax. What's the big deal?"

Sylvia ground her teeth. Her dragon shifted its attention to William, looking dangerously icy.

"I don't need a greenhorn to tell me what's a 'big deal' and what's not."

William shrugged. "Are you going to report us?"

Amazing. Her heart had actually picked up the pace.

Sylvia's eyes narrowed. "Maybe. Kristen has promise as a rider, but if she doesn't follow even the basic rules, she'll be more of a danger than a help."

Kristen shrank into the wall.

"Has she actually broken any rules?"

Sylvia choked out a laugh. "Are you kidding?"

"Has she?"

"She's not allowed near dragons until she's completely bonded."

"Correction: she's not allowed near her dragon until she's completely bonded. No one's bonded to more than one dragon for decades, so it's perfectly safe for her to be around others."