Dragon Makers Part IV

When Cross woke again that morning, Goiya had already left the room, she rose and looked about to room to discover the things he had packed for the trip already gone. So he had left then. Slowly and carefully, Cross opened the door into the hallway and went to the workroom. The door was already open, and Goiya and Mizukire were both gone.
“It’s quiet when Master Goiya leaves.” came a calm voice from the corner. Cross turned to Kandra with a slight smile, nodding to her comment.
“It is. He can be rather loud when he wishes.” she agreed, sitting on the floor in a ray of morning light as Kandra came to join her.
“It’s not just that.” she shook her head a little, “Even in his silence, Master is a powerful force. Without that here, even if the silence is the same, it feels different.” she hugged herself as if the place was suddenly cold without her master present.
“That’s true, he has a strong connection with this place.” Cross nodded, looking around, “Born here, he was.”
“Really?” Kandra asked, sitting beside Cross in the faint sunlight that filtered through the windows.
“Yes, his mother was something of a wanderer. She left her own country to roam, found Master’s father, and they lived together happily for awhile. He died though, leaving Masters mother pregnant with him and still wandering alone. She found this place, and the previous master took her in.” Cross paused, looking over to Kandra carefully. She was listening, but she wasn’t looking at Cross, she was looking around the huge hall. How had she felt when she first came to this place? That feeling could never compare to growing up here.
“What happened to her?” Kandra asked quietly, somewhat distracted as she gazed up at the high ceiling.
“She....died shortly after giving birth.” Cross said evenly, looking down at her claws in mourning. “She’s buried in the graveyard. Master was raised in this place by his own Master, but he always knew about his mother, always visited her grave.” she sighed a little, looking back over to Kandra.
“Did he.....he told you all this?” Kandra asked, looking over and meeting Cross’ gaze.
“I somehow always knew. The day Master Goiya thought me up, started my frame, I was there already, able to travel his memories. He showed me his past, his secrets, all while he was building me. That is why a Master’s first dragon is so important, we have such a deep bond with our makers’ lives, past and present.”
“Will I have to show my dragon my past?” Kandra asked, curling her legs up and tucking her knees beneath her chin.
“Yes.” Cross said without hesitation, “But when you start making your dragon you’ll share with it your past without realizing that you’re doing so. You will want to, almost feel the need to do so.” she explained calmly, “That’s how it was with Master, anyway. He tried to fight that process for a long time, tried to bar me from his past. But in the end, once the first dragon is awoken, it’s like we know already anyway.”
“I see.” Kandra nodded gently, already remembering things of her own past. This wasn’t a happy subject she thought, Kandra didn’t want to dwell on her past, that’s why she had left her old home. That’s why she stayed here with Goiya, wasn’t it?
“Excuse me?” a voice called the two away from their conversation. Both Kandra and Cross looked up at the open doors of the workshop. In the gap between the two open doors stood a lady that managed to look well dressed and rugged at the same time. She wore garments of the highest and most durable quality fabric, along with study leather boots that had a feminine look to them but were obviously made for rough travel. The lady was tall and slender, well build and slightly muscular, she had a mane of short red hair that just barely brushed her shoulders and bright fiery eyes to match. “I was looking for Master Goiya.”
“Are you Lady Kiezra?” Kandra asked, standing as she addressed the woman. Cross stood as well, but remained silent and well behaved. She didn’t really like speaking around strangers.
“I am.” the good Lady proclaimed with a nod to both the girl and the dragon, “Now, where can I find Master Goiya?”
“My Master is out, M’lady.” Kandra said, giving a shallow bow of apology at the news, “He left on a journey this very morning and will not be back for a long while. I am his apprentice Kandra, he left me instructions to assist you.” she said, bowing again, this time more formally. Lady Kiezra didn’t seem to understand the all bowing that Kandra did, but then again her people did not have such customs. Still, it was easy to see that Kandra was foreign and not from this country, and the Lady was well traveled enough to be widely accepting of anyone no matter what.
“Very well.” Kiezra nodded sharply, “I would like to see my dragon then.”
“Yes, M’lady.” Kandra bowed once more before moving towards the doors and then leading Lady Kiezra to the barn. “I understand that your wishes included having a Guardian level, fire and flying dragon, and that he remain nameless until you inspected him.” she said matter of factly as they walked.
“That is correct.” Kiezra confirmed with another single, sharp nod.
“Very well then, if you’ll wait just one moment, I will bring him out.” Kandra gave another quick bow before unlatching the barn and pushing the doors wide open. She walked into the structure while Lady Kiezra remained outside looking in on the place. Kandra found Qual sitting contently in all the warmth of her nest and the Lady’s dragon beside her. “Your master is here for you.” she told the new dragon brightly, “Rise to meet her.” she spoke as if she would to a friend, not with commanding words but with requesting tones. The dragon followed the pleasant order and followed Kandra out of the barn.
“Oh, he is beautiful!” Lady Kiezra exclaimed once her dragon entered the light.
“Thank you.” Kandra bowed again at the compliment.
“Did you....make him?” the Lady looked at Kandra sharply, taking her words as if she were claiming credit.
“I take your compliment on my Masters behalf, but I did aid him in the construction of this dragon.” Kandra smiled, giving the dragon a quiet signal as she spoke so that he unfolded his wings for the Lady to inspect.
“Such fine work from one so young, you are well taught my girl.” Kiezra smiled as she ran her fingers over the rough scaled hide on the dragon. All Kandra did in response was bow again.
“What will you name him?” she asked politely, still retaining her manners but carrying a pleasant conversation.
“Chierdu, after one of  the Holy Fields of the Rose.” Kiezra said with a smile, eyes still roving over the dragon, “The Field of Fires.” she explained with a laugh when Kandra looked confused, “Do you know much of the story?” she asked the girl pleasantly.
“Yes, but I am not familiar with the language, I often forget what the different fields are.” Kandra admitted a little sheepishly, glancing away from her customer for only a moment.
“Ah, well, even some of the natives do not know the tales well enough.” Kiezra shrugged, reaching into her bag as she spoke, “I applaud you for knowing the story at all, at least you are interested in the legends.”
“Yes, I am,” Kandra nodded happily, glad to receive a compliment, “And thank you.” she added hurriedly, remembering her manners.
“Your pay.” Kiezra smiled pleasantly as she handed the girl a heavy leather skin bag. Kandra took it before bowing again.
“Much appreciated, M’lady.” she said almost automatically, holding the sack humbly before her and not even opening it, hardly even weighing it in her hands. That would be rude manners indeed, to show the customer that Kandra did not trust her enough with her payment.
“This was a pleasant meeting, Miss Kandra.” Kiezra nodded with a smile to the girl as she pulled a scroll out of her bag as well, “For your Master, when he returns.” she said, handing the scroll to Kandra. It was sealed.
“I will be sure that he receives this, M’lady.” Kandra said, bowing one last time before Lady Kiezra led her new dragon off with her. Chierdu didn’t need a rein or rope to lead him, he knew his masters name and now he knew who his master was; that was all the rein he would need. Kandra watched them go before she went to Goiya’s study to count the money and set it into the vault, along with the scroll she had been given. Better to keep such a temptation out of sight and reach. Besides, Kandra had more important things to focus on, like preparing her dragon’s frame. She should start on that, now that it was all she could think about.
Though as she walked down the hall to the storage room, something stirred in the back of her mind, and music from her past began floating forward to fill her memories. As sh continued working through the day, other things played through her head, and at times she became so engrossed in her work that she didn’t even realize the slight presence that seemed to stir in the back of her mind, along with the music.