The Galway School of Dragons book 1: The Death Dragon

Chapter 18

Over the next two weeks, I see Ima and Tom in sections. Tom looks brutal, scars everywhere that makes him look as if he has wrinkled and cracked fissure paper for skin. I pity him most of all. Ima, of course, is still very talkative. Her eyes are still holes, but they are usually covered up. And she is putting weight back on her bony body, and she has warmth to her.

Even though she will always be blind, I enjoy her company the most. I take hours on end to sit and read to her, sometimes I even sleep in the chair close. Everybody is happy we are friends again. But I honestly don't know about myself. My Nurse, Who's name I learned is Mrs. Kenny, still makes me sleep often. Once she even put me to sleep for two days.

Slowly I started attending classes, only the indoor ones first, then slowly weapons and dragon riding lessons. Professor Middlewi-ddle has taken it upon me to help the students who cannot yet ride a dragon. "No, your posture is wrong." I tell a boy who is called Frankie Messer. I push the small of his back and he blushes and straightens.

I correct the way he holds the reins and how he holds his feet around the neck. Eventually, I have him correct and I smack the dragon on the tail, it raises a couple of feet. I smile at Frankie as he shakes uncontrollably. "You're okay." I chuckle, not able to keep myself from not laughing.

Once I call the dragon back down with the whistle Delia gave me, I give Frankie a pat on the back and call up the next student. It's Rebby. "Hey." She says, glancing up at the dragon. "Hi." I reply. Even though we are still best friends, I haven't been able to see her a lot recently. "Get on." I command, with some hesitation she places her foot in the stirrup and hoists herself up.

"Ever rode a horse?" I question. She shakes her head. "Me either, but I'd imagine it's just like that. Hold your back straighter and grip the reins like this." I say, taking them from her and repositions them. I cluck to the dragon and it rises a few feet before falling to let the next person on.

About twenty minutes later Professor Middlewiddle walks over. "You are a good teacher." She points out as we watch the mob of students cross the grass towards the castle. "Thanks." I say. Ever since I got outta that hospital I've been really happy and always in a good mood. Delia notices. "Your in a good mood." She says, starting to unsaddle the dragon I was using.

"Yeah, I don't know why though." I say, helping her tug the bridal off the animal. I nod once to the dragon and she takes off into the forest. "Well..." I say, wandering back over to Delia. "I better go, get to DB." I say quietly, then before she can answer I take off at a jog towards the classroom. I sit down just as Professor Miller barges in.

He passes out a sheet to each of us. It reads, 'Dragon Breeds Test' people gasp around me as they receive it. "That's right, today is our test." The short man says, giving us all hard stares. "Get out your pens and get too work." He demands, before turning and collapsing in his desk. "He doesn't seem very happy." Luce whispers from beside me before getting out a pen.

I read question one, 'how many breeds are there?' I scribble down a short '200' before going on to question two. Over the next forty minutes I answer questions about common dragons, dragon eggs, what breeds are found in Ireland and hundred others. After I set it carefully on Professor Miller's desk somebody walks quickly into the room. "Albany." Miss Wallburger from the Dragon Care Ward Says breathlessly.

"Your dragon has hatched!" She says excitedly. The class breaks into clap and cheers. Professor Miller gives Miss Wallburger a ride look. "Out of my classroom, Lori." He demands. She raises her brows at him but beckons for me to follow. I quickly pack up and follow her from the room. "Call me Lori." She says quickly as we strut through the halls.

I climb two sets of stairs and then burst into a loud ward. Hundreds of baby dragons buzz around, and tons of people sit by certain ones or flick around checking on them. "Here we go!" Lori exclaims, pointing to my little black egg. A peice is missing. A little croaking dragon no bigger than my hand jumps up when it sees me.

I cautiously sit in the chair beside it and rest my head on the table, and reach in. The little dragon gladly jumps up into my hand and I lift it too my face to take a good look. When it's less than two inches it sticks its purple tongue out a licks my nose. I jerk back in surprise and I hear a muffled laugh from Lori. "Oh my. She seems to be a handful." She says with a small chuckle.

I slowly put the animal back and stare at it through the glass. It opens its small wings, and too my surprise, I see an fine drawn print in a glowing blue. I Resch in and stroke its head. "A name for her?" Lori asks. I purse my lips. "How about Damaskas?" I ask. Lori smiles. "I like it." Then she hurries off to do something.

I take the baby dragon onto my lap and study it. She has little horns around her eyes and is a purple black in colour. Damaskas's eyes glow a light yellow and are full of joy. She chirps instead of growls and grows very fast. By the time I've spent an hour with her, she has grown at least an inch. Eventually I set her down and disappear to go find Luce and Rebby.