"Now look who we have here." A voice came to us from the doorway. I look up and see it is cousin Tyler, who must have gotten leave to come home for a visit.
"Ty!!" My youngest cousin, Blakely, who is only eight years old, hollers.
"I thought I recognized the lilac-colored dragon in the courtyard. Have you been chosen, Missy?" Tyler asks while taking a seat at the table and Aunt Giselle rushes to get him a cup of tea.
"Yes, Tyler. Lilasia has chosen me as her partner. I was just chosen only a couple of days ago. We decided that while we had the two week reprive, we would come visit and share other astounding news." I look out the window and see that his partner, Analese, is now comfortably sharing a snack with Lilasia like they were old friends.
"That's great to hear. I had heard that Aunt Julie was promoted to General of the 7th Quadrant. Please give her my congratulations when you return home." Tyler says as he takes a sip of tea.
"Big Brother, can you take me for a ride later?" Blakely asks with pleading eyes. I was surprised that he didn't ask the same of me when I first got here, but then he and I were not very close.
"Maybe in a little bit. I need to check in with the local dragon warriors, but perhaps before dinner. Or you could ask cousin Missy and see if Lilasia will permit a ride through the air with her."
Dragons had minds of their own and were sometimes choosey on who rode with them. I know that Blakely had been riding before with Analese, so Lilasia may permit it. I grew up riding on Lilasia and her parents backs, so I would know what to expect from an exuberant child might do.
"Once we are done chatting, we will go outside and ask her. Alright?" I say.
"Ok." Blakely replied.
We continue to talk about the changes in the village of Susanna since Grandmother had decided to move in with Uncle Lance. She found it quite humorous on what John Pillard had attempted to do when the new Captain was announced.
"I had to train with Johathan Pillard when we were both first chosen." Tyler said. "I don't know what Mr. Pillard sees in his son, but he is definitely not fit to lead. Several times during training, he would show up to training hungover and not fit for work."
"Which is probably why the king sought fit that he was not chosen for the role. Though like you, mother would never had chosen him for the role either." I reply. "His younger son, Seth, sought to try to sabotage the choosing ceremony by accusing Lilasia of not choosing the right person. In his thinking, the most beautiful dragon in the land should only choose the most handsome warrior."
"That is horrendous." Grandmother said. "Arturo and Excaliver helped create the very ceremony that we celebrate today."
"Mother was not too happy with him either." I say. "She actually banished him from the village."
"Well, if he tries to come here, we will inform him that he is not welcome here either." Uncle Lance says with the authority of the village headman. "He would be a fool to try."
"Hello, dear family." I look out the front window to see that Analese and Lilasia have finished their snack and are now looking into the house. "Congratulations, Missy on being chosen to become a dragon warrior."
"Thanks, Analese. How have you been doing?" I ask.
"Fair enough." She replies. "Tyler, we should get going soon to check in with the other dragon warriors. Giselle, we should be back for dinner."
Tyler finished his snack and tea, and went back outside to Analese. A few seconds later they were gone. I look to Blakely.
"Well, do we want to see if Lilasia will grant you a ride?"
"YES!!!" He replies jumping up and down.
We head outside where Lilasia had just finished the last of the apples offered and turned her attention to us as we approached. Blakely did a perfect greeting with a half bow and introducing himself.
"My, how big you have grown Blakely. The last time I saw you, you were still in diapers with your mother agonizing how difficult you were being trying to get potty trained." Lilasia said with a chuckle.
"May I ask for you to take me for a ride?" Blakely asks politely. "I have ridden with Analese before and I promise to listen to any directions that you give me."
Lilasia seems to consider his request, looking him up and down with her crystaline eyes. "Do you think you are big enough to ride on your own or would you like Missy to ride with you?"
To me Lilasia says, "I have talked to Analese and she says that he should be ok on his own as long as we use the bridle that is in the shed in the back so he has something to hold on to. Could you go fetch it?"
Blakely is jumping up and down excitedly as I run to the equigment shed and grab the long bridle. I bring it back as Lilasia moves about to help Blakely has a little trouble climbing onto her back. I slide the bridle over head and buckle it securely where neck meets body. I then turn to help Blakely get into a secure position on her back.
"Now hang on tightly, Blakely and listen to Lilasia's instructions, ok?" I say as I buckle him to the bridle. "I will wait here."
"I promise, Missy. Lets go, Lilasia!" He hollers as Lilasia bounds into the air with Blakely's squeels of delight. She does a couple of loops around the house and workshop before she heads to the village for a couple of loops.
"I believe he will be a dragon warrior when he becomes of age before we know it." Grandmother says as she exits the house. "Julie and Lance were always asking Excaliver for rides when they were his age."
I turn to her and smile. "He is definitely a natural on her back. What's on the agenda for the next couple of days?"
"Well next week, the next village over will have their choosing ceremony. So Lance and his older sons have been preparing some of their wares for the festival. But not much else has been happening." She replies. "Will you be staying the night?"
"I will confer with Lilasia, but I think that might be wise with how late it already is." I reply.