Heart of Flame

XI. A Warrior Born

It was strange how quickly her world changed once Graaol's pronouncement spread. Suddenly, Sorne found herself a part of the orcs' world in a way she hadn't been before. Even Kalg and Harag's disdain evaporated. Kalg in particular treated her with something approaching deference, but then again, he'd seen her race towards a dragon. Sorne was surrounded by a feeling that was almost alien, particularly strong in the quiet moments when she was sitting with Banaak or Kor and listening to them talk: belonging.

Currently, she was sitting around the fire with Banaak, Kor, Jukha, and Graaol for a conference. It had been a week since her encounter with the dragon. The setting sun brought a sharp chill, so she had a blanket around her shoulders and another over her lap where the egg was resting. Her arm was still in a sling, but Kor had given her something that greatly accelerated the rate of her healing. The bruises on most of her body had faded and the skin once stripped away was returning. Every day, she was able to stretch her arm gingerly and return it to mobility.

"We'll be at Throkk tomorrow. I sent Vridash ahead to Murdak," Banaak said, rubbing the back of his neck. He twisted it and there was a series of sharp cracking sounds. "They'll be expecting us."

"Do I need to worry?" Sorne asked quietly.

Graaol chuckled. "Not likely, though he will want to see the egg."

Before any of them could say anything else, Sorne felt the egg shift suddenly and there was a sharp crack. She jumped.

"Sounds like it may not be an egg for much longer," Kor said, leaning over and pulling the blanket off Sorne's lap.

Even though she was hit by cold air, Sorne didn't look up or make a sound. The dragonling was struggling in the egg, trying to force her way out. Without thinking about it, Sorne caught one of the edges of the crack and tugged, pulling some of the shell out of the way. A sharp, trilling chirp came from inside and the dragonling wiggled around to take advantage of the assistance. The egg rocked slightly as the tiny beast struggled to free itself. Sorne helped it crack the shell further and pulled fragments away, feeling a warmth grow in the center of her chest.

"Hey, pretty girl," Sorne said softly as a head poked out of the egg. She was looking at a miniature version of Qodess, large and intelligent golden eyes studying her. She could see herself reflected in their depths and felt a warmth flood through her body. The horns were stubs, but the lines of the dragonling's body were already sleek and muscular, even if Nirsal was uncoordinated as she fought with her shell.

The dragonling cooed back at her. Nirsal was black the way a starling's wings were, a dark iridescent color without the wear of years softening her shine. Sorne reached out, stroking the creature's smooth nose. Sorne wiped the fluid of the egg off Nirsal's face and then carefully helped the dragonling climb out of the shell. Nirsal chirped and bumped into Sorne's chin. A thin, forked tongue flicked out to taste Sorne as the dragon started to arrange itself more comfortably in her lap, digging in needle-like claws. Sorne winced, but she was still smiling when those big golden eyes looked up at her adoringly.

"So it's true," Graaol said, studying the scene with fascination. "They do seem to imprint. Perhaps it is because your voice sounds familiar, Sorne."

"I should hope so," Banaak grumbled. "She's spent the past week humming to the damn thing."

Sorne winced more when the little dragonling started to knead her thighs like a cat. "Less claw, less claw," she hissed. The creature was drawing blood. Her tolerance to pain was such that her eyes only teared up a little.

"I can see it's a relationship that will need work," Kor said with amusement as Sorne gingerly removed the talons from her own flesh in an effort to become more comfortable while not disturbing the dragonling.