dragon archives 04 - dance with a dragon by linda k hopkins Read Free Book Online Page A

breathed fire set a long branch alight, but Zach was fascinated.
    “Is that man a dragon, Papa?” he asked in wonder.
    “No, son,” Aaron answered with a laugh. “He’s not actually breathing fire.”
    “Oh,” Zach said, but his tone was doubtful.
    Aaron and Keira walked ahead of the small group, the children at their sides, while Bronwyn fell in step with Anna. Her long dark hair was tossed carelessly over her back, but the sun caught tints of red within the brown tresses that shone as her hair swayed on her shoulders. Her eyes were blue like her father’s, and like him, her smile came easily.
    “You are so fortunate to live so close to the city,” Anna said.
    “Really?” Bronwyn said. “We don’t come very often. Father prefers being in the country, away from prying eyes.” She glanced up at Aaron, her eyes narrowed in consideration. “I can’t blame him. I’m sure I will want to stay in the country too, when I change.”
    Anna looked at Bronwyn, confused for a moment, before understanding dawned. Of course, she too was a dragon, and although her body had not yet started changing, her turn would soon come.
    “How do you feel about being a dragon?” Anna asked, curious.
    Bronwyn shrugged. “I don’t really think about it. It is what I am, and nothing will change it. It will be wonderful to take to the sky with my own wings, but I wish I didn’t have to eat … certain things.”
    Anna shuddered. “No, I can understand that.”
    “But Father says if you don’t think about it, it’s not so terrible.”
    “Well, I suppose he would know,” Anna said, a little doubtfully. She looked at Lydia, who was riding on her father’s shoulders. She hadn’t given much thought to her little niece being a dragon before, but she too would one day sprout wings and breathe fire. As Anna considered this, Aaron turned to look at her, his amused expression convincing her that he had guessed the direction of her thoughts.
    A group of actors a little way ahead caught Anna’s attention and she watched as they played out a coronation scene. As would be expected from a troupe of actors, the coronation went horribly wrong – the prince tripped on his way to the throne, the archbishop dropped the crown, the princess whacked the prince with the scepter, and the orb rolled down the aisle as the noblemen hopped over it, until one of them picked up the rolling sphere and raising it above his head, declared himself to be the new king. Anna joined the crowd in laughing, amused at the spectacle.
     
    Later that evening, Anna sat with Keira and Cathryn in the small parlor behind the hall. Anna was telling Cathryn about the play they had seen, laughing as she related the farcical coronation. Aaron and Favian had gone out a few hours earlier, and Bronwyn, Zach and Lydia had all gone to bed.
    “It sounds like you enjoy the city,” Cathryn said.
    “Oh, yes! It is the most wonderful place,” Anna replied. “It’s so alive! There is something happening on every street corner – a play, or jugglers, or some other entertainment.”
    Cathryn smiled in amusement. “It does begin to tire after a while.”
    “Oh, no, I cannot believe that! I don’t think I would ever grow tired of Civitas!”
    “I enjoy coming here for a short while,” Keira said, “but the place is too chaotic for me to spend too long. I will be glad to return home.”
    “Will we leave immediately after the coronation?” Anna asked, a tone of wistfulness creeping into her voice. Keira smiled, then glanced at Cathryn, who gave a small nod.
    “Aaron is eager to start the journey back to Storbrook as soon as possible following the coronation,” Keira said. Anna nodded her understanding. It was as she expected. “We will stop overnight at Drake Manor,” Keira continued, “and if you would like to, you can remain there with Cathryn and Favian.”
    “At Drake Manor?” Anna said in surprise, looking first at Keira, then turning to Cathryn.
    Cathryn nodded.