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vast cavern high in the mountains and almost unreachable to any without wings.
    For days now they had stood like this. No word spoken, no thought directed to him. He’d felt Tallon trying to reach him and had to ignore the attempts for fear of exposing the bond. Almost, he wanted to confess all just to end this silence.
    Suddenly, one of the elders made a small gesture with a wingtip and two more dragons entered the chamber. Fracco and Blessa! The moment’s relief faded as his parents joined the elders in silence and stared at him. Perhaps Blessa’s face held some softness for him. Perhaps.
    Another day, maybe two, and he would tell all. He felt as if they knew! Well, his parents did know. Surely they would not have said anything. Their honor as well as his depended on discretion. Hunger began to work its way into his thoughts. A little food would be welcome. Water would be nice, too.
    Just when he thought he could take no more, the elders sat as one. They motioned for Fracco and Blessa to join them. Finally, they gestured for the young dragon to sit, also. Water and food were brought in and they all partook. After the meal the elders stood once again, and Fracco and Blessa joined them. The young one got shakily to his feet and again faced the circle.
    “Unusual strength in one so young, don’t you agree?” said one of the elders.
    Heads nodded in agreement.
    “Usually initiates are spilling their guts about any offenses they’ve committed since their hatching day!” another elder commented.
    “Yes, the test of Silence is usually very telling. Either this one has never done anything ill, or he has much to hide, hmm?” yet another elder spoke.
    Fracco and Blessa moved to face the elders. Fracco spoke.
    “Honored Elders, our son has passed the test of Silence, and so I request a time be set for his naming day. Nothing is written saying a candidate must speak. Only that no major offenses can be tolerated.”
    The circle of elders looked to one another, speaking telepathically. Finally they reached a consensus. “On the third day of the new phase, two weeks from this day.” The eldest of the circle spoke, “Be prepared young dragon, your naming day comes!”
    Just like that, it was over. The elders filed out of the cavern and flew off in different directions. Fracco and Blessa went to their son and offered congratulations. The young one almost wept with relief. His naming day was coming!
    Tallon had immersed himself in farm work. The wound in his arm had healed quickly, leaving only a faint scar. However, frustration at not being able to communicate with his Bondmate had made him as jumpy as long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. He tried to be polite to his parents, but they could sense something was amiss and stepped lightly around him. One good thing about his working off his frustration was that all the work around the farm was being taken care of in fast order. Physical exertion eased the loss of mental stimuli for the young man, and so all heavy lifting and many overdue repairs were taken care of by Tallon.
    Just when Tallon thought he could take no more, the veil lifted. He saw as through the eyes of his Bondmate. The young dragon was in the company of his parents and there was a feeling of great relief. Information flooded into him, but this time he was not overwhelmed. A test had been passed. Pride swelled in him for his friend. Of course he passed the test, he thought. Is there a more worthy dragon in all of dragonkind?
    And then it hit him. Two weeks until the dragon’s naming day. There was much to do, and much to learn. Tallon had to learn phrases of the old earth language. Not an easy tongue for humans. For their plan to work, all formalities had to be met, and courage would count as much as knowledge.
    Fortunately for Tallon, he’d grown stronger while performing the heavy work of the farm. Belatedly he learned of the forms of the blood rite, which included movements emulating dragons in