Free A Storm in the Desert: Dragonlinked Chronicles Voume 3 by Adolfo Garza Jr. Page A

each hoof, too, making sure there were no stones, that the frog and sole were uninjured, and that the shoes were still secure. As she stroked his side, she noted that his temperature was now back to normal, as well it should be. They’d been out nearly an hour. Seeing no hay inside, the person on morning chores hadn’t completed that one yet, she headed to the stacked bales outside the north end of the loading stables.
    As she carried a large flake of hay back inside to Copper, she continued to ponder the questions about dragons. But instead of getting answers, more questions kept popping up. If she were to bond with a dragon, would she have time for Copper? She watched him as he ate. Could she leave this gorgeous creature’s care solely to the Animal Craft Guild? Would anyone take him out for morning runs like she did? And what of Cheddar? Would she feel the same for him after she was bonded?
    “Hey, how was your ride today?” Cheddar walked up next to her and watched Copper eat. He nudged her shoulder with his. “He’s your favorite, isn’t he?”
    She smiled and turned to him. As usual, his long, straight hair was pulled into a ponytail with a leather strap. Her brows drew together. Ponytail was an appropriate name, actually. It kind of did look like a horse’s tail. Was that why she’d first been attracted to him?
    He turned to her, a grin twisting his lips. “He’s going to make me jealous.”
    She chuckled. No, it had been his personality. “Yes, he is my favorite. My favorite horse .” She reached up and touched Cheddar’s long lashes and stroked his cheek. “But you are my favorite everything.”
    He blushed! That was indeed a rare event and it made Sharrah’s heart leap in her chest.
    Leaning in, touching his forehead to hers, he whispered, “And you are mine.”
    She could see her face reflected in his bright eyes and it made her smile.
    “Come on,” he grabbed her hand. “We’re going to be late for breakfast and class if we don’t hurry.” The sly grin was back on his face.
    She gave his hand a squeeze and they left for the Dining Hall.
    + + + + +
    Aeron wished Polandra would give up already. How often would she bring it up? This conversation had started near the end of breakfast, and now that they were back at the dragon stables, she was still talking about it.
    She feels strongly about this. It is not a whim.
    I know, dear-heart. I just can’t believe the Order would try anything so brazen.
    “I’m telling you, something is going on and we need to find out what it—” Polandra’s gaze snapped down to Willem, who’d pulled the measure tape up to the top of her inner thigh. Her face flushed red.
    “Alright,” Willem said, “that’s all the measurements. I can get started on riding gear for you, along with Liara and Gregor.”
    “Not that I’ll be needing mine soon,” Gregor said. “You should probably work on Polandra’s first.”
    “Yeah,” Jessip said. “She could use riding gear right now.”
    Willem nodded. “True enough.”
    “Polandra’s right.” Liara crossed her arms. “We should at least find out what’s going on there. Renata told us about them months ago. Isn’t it time we did something? The Corpus Order was formed to kill dragons, you will recall.”
    Aeron turned to Polandra and frowned. “Do you really think they’d try something against a guild? It just seems inconceivable.”
    “They’ve never ventured far from Bataan-Mok,” Renata noted. “What makes you think they’d send manisi here?”
    Polandra looked at Renata. “I’m not sure. A gut feeling, I guess. You don’t know how strange things have been there recently. The mood is dark. It got worse when the existence of the dragon guild became common knowledge.”
    “Listen,” Aeron said, “Guildmaster Millinith gave us a free study morning because she and Fillion had to go back to Delcimaar, but I’d rather not spend all of it arguing.” He stared at Polandra. “Now, if the Order