Read Online Dragonblood by Anthony D. Franklin - Free Book Online Page A

house. Quietly he entered the small cottage and tiptoed to his room. Once inside a strange weariness overcame him. He barely made it to his bed before falling into a deep sleep.
    * * *
    Dragons, by nature, are patient creatures. It is a virtue which has been tested to the extreme by humankind through the ages. Two great beasts paced the outer rim of their child’s cave, their patience being sorely strained.
    The young one had arrived home late and entered his bedchamber without properly greeting his parents. In the morning, after seeing spots of dried blood on the stones leading to their hatchling’s quarters, they rushed to him, only to find him in a deep sleep. After all attempts at waking him failed, they called a Healer.
    The ancient dragon poked and prodded the snoring youngster. He assured the worried parents that the physical wounds had stopped bleeding and already new scales were forming, replacing the ones that had fallen. Whatever struck him, the healing process was well under way. The problem lay in the mid, he was sure. Something he could not readily fathom. He told the worried pair not to fear, for he would find the problem and cure it.
    Tallon’s parents had a similar problem. Their son would not wake up, no matter how much the yelled or shook him. Cruss, his father, had gone to Tallon’s room when his son had not answered his repeated calls to do the chores. At first he thought his son to be drunk, as there was a certain flush to his face. Plus, Tallon did not usually snore. But this morning he was churning gravel. Cruss shook his son, and then clapped him on the shoulder. Tallon continued to snore, breathing deeply and exhaling loudly.
    Finally, Cruss went to get his wife. Maryll knew immediately something was amiss. Her son did not drink, and yet his face was flush, as with excitement, though he slept soundly. Plus, there were some dark splotches on his clothes and in his hair. She sent her husband to fetch the doctor while she tended to her son as best she could.
    When the doctor arrived he found Tallon much as Cruss had described him. He still slept noisily, but he had been washed and his clothes replaced with a clean nightshirt. After careful examination the white-haired doctor stood scratching his balding head. “He seems fit.” He said. “Stronger lookin’ than I remember him.”
    “What’s wrong with him?” Both parents said together.
    “Somethin’ in his head, maybe.” The doctor suggested. “Can’t tell for sure.”
    “His chest does seem bigger.” Maryll said. “His arms, too.”
    “His head ain’t gonna make his chest and arms bigger, woman!” Cruss argued.
    “Well, they are. Look at ‘em.” She insisted.
    And so they did. All three agreed that Tallon did in fact look a bit thicker than before. He had always been a rather skinny child. And sickly, too. He caught every cold and every childhood disease imaginable. Just yesterday he’d had the sniffles and was quite pale. Now, he appeared ruddy and well, though he slept. The doctor was suggesting a poultice mix when Tallon opened one eye.
    “Hello.” He said groggily.
    “So, the sleeper awakens.” The doctor said in response.
    Both parents went to their son and fell on him with hugs and kisses. Tallon had no idea what was happening. He suffered the attention for bit, then shrugged his parents off of him.
    “What’s wrong?” He asked. “Why is Doc Arrek here?”
    “For you, son.” His father told him. Then his mother explained what had happened.
    “I feel fine, really quite well.” He assured them.
    After everything calmed down and he was left alone, Tallon began to remember what occurred the previous evening. And he began to recall the strange dreams he’d had during the night.
    Fracco and Blessa stopped their pacing long enough to hear the Healer’s decision.
    “The child is only a few centuries old. He is strong and healthy in most ways.” he said. “You two must emit only love and support to the child. This