Empire's Son: An Epic Science Fiction Novel Series

It took a while for Markus to calm down enough to realize that the beast in front of him would not harm him or Adar. He, of course, knew all about the dragon that lived underground, but seeing her in person differed from being told about her existence. The holographic images he'd been shown years ago during the lecture telling him and the other potential Pledges the truth about bonding and where the bonding agent came from had not done justice to the enormous creature before him.

After he'd willed himself to settle down and really look, Markus met the warm brown eyes of the dragon and saw her peaceful intention there. The beast then asked a series of questions that made Markus more and more impatient. Of course, he wanted to save his friend. No, the risks didn't matter. Yes, he understood the extra risks of the double bond. So couldn't they just move this along already? Adar was dying.

Once the dragon seemed satisfied with his answers, the creature gave Markus instructions. There had been a stone pillar near the beast's nest with a shallow indent. This is where the creature had cut itself, and thick golden blood had oozed out, filling the indent to overflowing. Markus had stayed back to make sure none of the creature's blood splashed on his clothes, though bright liquid drops glimmered on the toes of his black boots.

Next, Markus dipped the tip of his cravot into the liquid. Moments before, he'd run it through blood oozing freely from Adar's wound. Afterwards, he'd wiped the knife on his pants, and then used the blade to make a shallow cut at his left wrist. He watched as his red drops mixed with the dragon's and Adar's blood.

"Is that enough? It wasn't much blood from either of us," Markus asked the giant watching from above.

It takes only a few drops. My vital force is the most important ingredient, and both of your consents as well. Her gravelly voice spoke in his mind.

"I couldn't get his consent. He's unconscious." That part made Markus nervous. The creature told him what had to be done to save his friend, and Markus hadn't hesitated to do what was asked or agree to the double bond, but Adar was unconscious. There was no way to ask him about this beforehand. What if he did not want it? The only way to save Adar was through a double bond. The dragon had said so. That sort of bond lasted for a lifetime and was why the Protectorate refused to do them.

Your friend has given his consent. The beast said.

Really? When? Adar had been unconscious since Markus had found him minutes ago, and since then, the creature had been explaining to Markus the specifics of what he was about to do to try to save Adar. Maybe it had talked to Adar like it had done with Markus?

Well, whether or not the dragon got consent, this was happening. Markus just hoped it worked. He didn't like the threadiness of Adar's pulse or the pallor of his skin. Yavit. This would be close.

"What do I do now?"

You must get the bonding agent into your blood, and then into his. A small amount from each of you is all that is required.

Markus stared at the gleaming mixture in the stone indent. The liquid was no longer just gold—it had taken on a shimmering quality, with threads of crimson swirling through it like living veins.

"So I just... touch it to my cut?"

Yes, and then to his wound.

The liquid felt warm, almost vibrating against his skin as he smeared it across his bleeding wrist. A tingling sensation spread immediately up his arm, and Markus gasped. It wasn't painful, but it felt... alien. Alive somehow.

Markus dipped his fingers back into the mixture, went to Adar, and knelt beside him. His friend's breathing had grown even more shallow in the last few minutes. With trembling fingers, Markus applied the mixture to the gaping wound on Adar's side. The golden-red substance seemed to glow briefly before being absorbed into the torn flesh.

"Now what?" But even as he said the words, Markus could feel heat rushing through his body. He sat back on his heels as his body broke out in almost instant sweat. His breath came fast and hard, while his heart was thundering in his chest. Spots appeared in his vision, and Markus carefully settled himself against the rock wall beside Adar.

He remembered from the briefing nearly four years ago when he was still a Disciple and had been told the truth about the bond, the Ceremony Master and Head Caretaker of the College had given all sorts of details of what their body would go through in the change to create the bond. That part Markus had not paid nearly as much attention to, his interest more on the gifts the bond would bestow once it was complete.

So he wasn't sure if the sweating or burning was normal, or if his body starting to violently shake was a good thing or bad. At this point, it was too difficult to think with the monstrous headache that was exploding in his head right now.

Markus's vision blurred, and he felt as if his very cells were on fire. The world around him seemed to pulse and warp, colors bleeding into one another. He could hear his own heartbeat, loud and erratic, echoing in his ears.

Through the haze of pain and disorientation, he turned his head towards Adar. To his surprise, he saw a faint golden glow emanating from his friend's skin. Was this part of the bonding process, or was he hallucinating?

The creature's voice resonated in his mind once more, but it sounded distant and distorted. The bond is forming. Do not resist the change.

Markus tried to respond, but found he couldn't form words. His body convulsed, and he tasted blood in his mouth. He must have bitten his tongue.

Suddenly, he felt a surge of energy course through him. He felt strength unlike anything he'd ever felt before. It pulsed through him in waves, each one more intense than the last. His vision sharpened, colors becoming more vivid and details more crisp. He could hear the faintest hum from an insect swarm just above the bush a few feet away, and the steady drip of water from somewhere in the cave.

Markus gasped as a flood of sensations and emotions that weren't his own washed over him. Fear, confusion, pain––Adar's feelings. He could sense his friend's consciousness stirring, becoming more aware.

"Adar?" Markus croaked, his voice hoarse.

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Beside him, Adar's eyes fluttered open. The golden glow beneath his skin intensified, then faded. He blinked, disoriented, before his gaze locked onto Markus's face.

"What... what happened?" Adar's voice was weak, barely above a whisper.

Markus opened his mouth to respond, but found himself overwhelmed by a tidal wave of emotions––relief, confusion, and a hint of fear––that he knew weren't entirely his own. He could feel Adar's presence in his mind, a warm, pulsing awareness that hadn't been there before.

"We're bonded," Markus said, his voice trembling slightly. "It was the only way to save you. The beast said you consented to it." At the last words, Markus's own fear rose. What if she'd been wrong? What if Adar hadn't said yes to this? Would he be angry with Markus?

Adar's eyes widened as he looked behind Markus to see the large beast in the cavern. For a moment, he saw fear as Adar took in the magnificent creature, but then the fear started to dissolve. "Razivi," his friend said. A warmth of recognition flooded Markus, but he could tell it was Adar's.

Markus looked back and up at the beast in surprise. "Razivi?" The question was clear in his voice and in his mind.

Adar smiled as he settled his head back against the cavern wall. "That's her name."

Markus blinked in astonishment, looking between Adar and the creature—Razivi. "You know her name? How?" Of all the things he had learned in the bonding presentations, his instructors only ever referred to the beast as the dragon, the source, or used the honorific of Great One.

Adar's smile widened slightly, though his eyes remained closed. "She told me, of course. When I was... dying." His voice faltered on the last word, and Markus felt a shudder of remembered pain through their new bond.

"So she spoke to you. Then you know––"

"That we are double bonded?" Adar finished after Markus's hesitation. "Yes, it's okay, Markus. I'm okay. This is okay."

Markus felt a wave of relief wash over him. He then glanced at the knife still embedded in his friend's side. Markus reached out, his hand hesitating above the blade. "We have to remove this," he said, casting a glance at the creature.

She responded to his unspoken question. The bond will heal him. It is safe to pull it out.

Steeling himself, Markus grasped the hilt, and with a swift motion, pulled it free. Adar hissed in pain, his body tensing. Markus felt an echo of the pain through their new bond, making him wince.

Markus watched as the wound began to close almost immediately. Golden light shimmered around the edges of the gash, knitting the flesh back together. Adar touched the spot where the knife had been, finding only smooth, unbroken skin. "Okay, that's super cool."

Markus sat back, trembling in relief. "I thought that was it, and you were gone. I wasn't sure it would work."

Adar gave Markus a smile that he could feel through the bond. "This is going to take some getting used to."

Markus knew he was talking about their shared emotions. A moment of panic gripped him as he realized Adar could sense his emotions, too. Markus never did like sharing them with anyone. It was the biggest reason why he'd adopted his father's trick for hiding his emotional state from people, and not just those with the Empathy Dome-ni. It had been a wall of safety against the world, and now that wall didn't exist anymore, at least not between him and Adar.

Markus felt a gentle nudge through the bond, a sense of reassurance from Adar. "Hey, it's okay," Adar said softly. "We'll figure this out together."

Markus nodded, trying to relax. He felt exposed, vulnerable in a way he had never had before. But there was also a strange comfort in the connection, a sense of not being alone that he hadn't realized he'd been missing.

Razivi's voice rumbled in their minds. The bond is complete, but it will take time to stabilize. You must rest and allow your bodies and minds to adjust. Her voice echoed in both their minds now.

"That's... good to know," Markus said, still feeling overwhelmed.

Adar struggled to sit up straighter, and Markus instinctively moved to help him. As their hands touched, there was a spark of energy between them, and suddenly Markus could see flashes of Adar's memories––the attack that had left him wounded, his desperate flight through the underground cave system, his encounter with Razivi. The images were vivid and disorienting, accompanied by echoes of Adar's fear and pain.

Markus jerked his hand away, gasping. "What was that?"

Adar looked equally shocked. "I... I think I saw some of your memories. The moment you found me, your panic..."

Razivi's voice rumbled in their minds again. This is normal. The double bond allows for the sharing of memories and experiences. With time and practice, you will learn to control it.

Markus nodded, still reeling from everything that had happened. It all seemed so surreal. "We should probably get out of here," Markus said, glancing around the cavern. "We found Zorren. Tetki is with him. Let's get back to the surface. I bet pavi is wondering what's happened."

Adar nodded in agreement, but as he tried to stand, he swayed unsteadily. Markus caught him, feeling a wave of dizziness through their bond.

"Easy there," Markus said, supporting his friend. "Maybe we should rest a bit more before moving."

Adar shook his head. "No, I'm alright. I just stood up too fast."

You both will require food and rest. Razivi replied in their minds. A bonding can always be disorienting, but a double bond is much more so, especially with an immediate healing involved. I know you must go, but prioritize rest and food for at least a few days. It will stabilize the bond faster and make sure the healing completes with no complications.

"Thank you," Adar said, and Markus could feel a surge of gratitude toward the creature. Markus felt his own being added to it.

The great beast bowed its head in acceptance. It is a great honor to host a double bond once again. May you both go in peace. We will speak again soon.

Markus hesitated at the dragon's final words, but the creature had already lost interest and turned away, forgetting both him and Adar. They headed toward the narrow passage that would lead them out of the vast cavern, with Markus leading the way and Adar following a few steps behind.

As they navigated the winding passageways, Markus found himself hyper-aware of Adar's presence behind him. He could sense his friend's fatigue, the lingering ache in his side where the knife had been, and a mix of awe and trepidation about their new bond.

"How are you holding up?" Markus asked over his shoulder, though he already knew the answer.

"I'm okay," Adar replied, his voice echoing slightly in the narrow tunnel. "Just... processing everything. And well, it's a dragon. They are just myths where I grew up."

Markus snorted. "They are in Ethia too, except for those in the know, of course."

"I guess I'm in the know now," Adar said with a little laugh. The sound bouncing off the walls.

"What's even harder to believe is she's as old as the Protectorate, older even."

"What?" Adar said in surprise.

"Yep, at least according to the Master of Ceremony. He says she's the last of her kind, and she's been supplying the bonding agent since the inception of the College."

Shock coursed through his friend. "Wow, that's…wow."

Indeed. Markus nodded. He found he was struggling too with all this, and definitely that he was now bonded. After he'd been kicked out of the Protectorate, he never imagined that would ever happen, let alone a double bond. Dread filled him as that thought caught up with him.

"What's wrong?" Adar asked.

"Just thinking of the conversation I'll be having soon with Command."

"This isn't going to go well, is it?"

"Nope," Markus shook his head, "but it's alright. It's not like they can do anything about it. Whether or not they accept it, the bond cannot be broken."

Silence settled between them as they moved through the cavern system. The bond thrummed between them, a constant reminder of their new connection. As they climbed, Markus instinctively slowed his pace to match Adar's, adjusting without conscious thought. It was strange how natural it felt, like it had always been this way between them, and maybe it had to a small degree when they were children, or at least that was the way it had felt to Markus. He remembered how in sync they used to be, finishing each other's sentences, knowing what the other was thinking. This bond felt like that childhood connection amplified a thousandfold.

Markus realized he was grinning and there was a bounce in his step that hadn't been there for a very long time. He couldn't see much in the dim cavern passages, but for once, the darkness outside couldn't touch the light he carried within.