Dragon Alliance: Rise Against Shadow by J. Michael Fluck

and caring.”
    “Never compare me to your dragon,” Jodem said. “Your bond goes beyond mere friendship or even family. Yours is the bond of blood, heart, mind, and soul.”
    Mkel understood his words, for he would never forget the day he and Gallanth blood bonded and thus merged souls. He never felt alone since that day, for no matter where he was, he and Gallanth shared thoughts and emotions. That day, when he was nineteen years old, was perhaps the best day of his life (save the day of his son’s birth). Having this kind of bond with a dragon, especially a gold dragon, was beyond what words can describe. Having a friend and partner that was never more than a thought away had always been the most comforting aspect of being a dragonrider (although having one of the most powerful creatures in the world as your protector and friend also helped).
    Dragons were not only incredibly powerful, their wisdom and intelligence even exceeded their strength. The respect for the metallic dragons was almost universal, with the exception of a few minor factions within the Alliance population in the major cities and, of course, the Party of the Enlightened. All elves and dwarves revered the good dragons, as did most men and women.
    Gallanth was now gliding down toward the dining hall, with Annan in the rear seat holding Michen in her arms and Janta holding on for dear life in Mkel’s saddle. Michen’s little face was aglow with a wide grin, and his bright blue eyes were beaming. Gallanth back winged gently before the dining hall so as to not stir up too much dust for those that were already eating. He then crouched down and laid his massive neck on the ground.
    “Come on, my friend, let’s go help your wife down,” Jodem urged Mkel.
    They walked past the gold dragon’s resting head. “Thank you, Gallanth,” Mkel said. “Never a problem to give our Michen a ride,” the gold dragon replied. Gallanth thought of the little boy as his own son. Dragon offspring were separated from their parents relatively quickly and sent to the central hatchling training grounds in Draconia. While there was a bond between a mated dragon pair and their offspring, it was understood that dragons had a higher purpose to serve and guide mankind. Therefore they tended to be very affectionate with their rider’s children.
    Mkel jumped up on Gallanth’s thick arm and reached his hands up to Annan. She sat Michen on Gallanth’s neck and he slid down the dragon’s hide over the smooth tiny teardrop scales into Mkel’s arms. He was laughing his irresistible two-year-old giggle, which could mend a torn soul. Mkel helped Annan slide down off of the long saddle, and Jodem caught Janta as she climbed down the notched steps of the thick harness on the immense gold neck. The group walked back past Gallanth’s head, and Mkel asked Michen if he wanted to give his dragon a kiss. “Kiss, draaggon,” the infant said. Mkel held his son next to Gallanth, and the little boy then leaned his head toward the dragon’s upper cheek and touched it with his forehead. The dragon’s eighteen-inch-wide eye glowed brightly at the infant’s gesture. It always amazed Mkel that such a massive, super intelligent, and extremely powerful creature could derive such pleasure from the most simple of things, but that was what life was about, Gallanth would tell him, and that was what was worth fighting for.
    They all walked into the full dining hall and sat down at the head table beside Toderan, Lupek, and the other officers and their families. Mkel always ate last, being the commander and Weirleader, unless necessity forced him to do differently. Dekeen had already left the Weir through the hidden back entrance that led out into Draden Forest to be with his family and clan. The only elves that resided in the Weir itself were the ones in the ranger platoon. Elves did not eat much, for their metabolisms were more efficient than those of humans and dwarves. In contrast, the dwarves