The Dragon' Son Read Online Free PDF Page A

Keegan had allowed Torry to hold his ring without any charge. Torry was Keegan’s best friend. He held a few embarrassing things over Keegan’s head, and he had helped Keegan get out of many a predicament. The least Keegan could do was let Torry hold his ring free of charge.
     
    As he thought, he soon began to feel like he was the morning meal boiling in the pot over the fire. He finished stacking the wood then hurried back outside into the cool morning air. When he was outside, Keegan noticed Braidden making his way toward the house with an armload of wood. He was not by himself, however. A young, lovely girl was walking with him.
     
    It was Eloria, Braidden’s “sweetheart” as some of the others put it. She was Brainna’s eldest sister, as well as the prettiest of the five sisters in the Teldor house. She had long, silky black hair that had beautiful red waves when the sun touched them. Her eyes were a deep, glittering brown, and she was kind and joyful, not to mention graceful, in all that she did. Nearly every lad in the village Braidden’s age had his eye on Eloria, but it seemed that Braidden had captured Eloria’s attention, which made Keegan proud in a way. It gave him a foothold among many of the other boys and gave him plenty of bragging rights about his brother. However, the silly “love business” had never enthralled Keegan, and he rolled his eyes as he slowly sauntered toward his brother and Eloria, mischievous plots running through his head.
     
    “Thank you for carrying the wood for me, Braidden,” Eloria said in her normal, sweet tone of voice. “It was very kind of you to help my sisters and me.”
     
    “It is the least that I can do, Eloria. I am glad to help,” Braidden replied with a shy and kind smile on his face. “And I do hope that your father begins to feel well soon.”
     
    “Thank you. I’m sure he will. His wound is already healing very quickly,” Eloria said, inclining her head slightly. “Thank you for your help.” She turned and skipped off toward her family hut with her dark, wavy locks bouncing freely behind her as she went.
     
    Braidden’s gaze followed her for a moment, and then he turned and was startled to find Keegan standing right in front of him. “Oh. Hello, Keegan. I certainly don’t have to look down at you anymore. We are almost face to face now,” Braidden said with a wiry grin spreading across his face.
     
    “I already gathered wood for the fire,” Keegan pointed at the wood in his brother’s arms, “so you might as well take the rest of that to Eloria and tell her that it was the ‘least you could do’,” Keegan teased. “Or perhaps you would just dump the load in my arms and then trot off to see how else you could help Raven Head and her sisters before another lad comes along and tries to sweep her off her feet. I doubt anyone could do such a thing, however. You already have her too high in your arms for another lad to reach, and she has got her feathers preened and set for you.” Keegan grinned as he watched Braidden’s cheeks flush bright red. “Say, you do look good in that color!” Keegan exclaimed with an ever-widening grin.
     
    Braidden dropped his bundle of wood and lunged for Keegan. Keegan dodged him and darted to the side then faced Braidden with a grin, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief.
     
    “You see too much and talk too much,” Braidden said, a grin growing on his face.
     
    “And you always tell me that,” Keegan said, “but, really, I have never seen you turn such a shade of red. Do girls often have that effect on a lad?”
     
    Braidden took a swing at Keegan, and Keegan dodged the hook skillfully and skipped to the side.
     
    “Just you wait, little brother. Your turn will come,” Braidden said as he shifted his weight on his toes and tightened his arm muscles.
     
    Keegan’s grin grew larger, and he shook his head with a chuckle. “You often tell me so. You have always made such predictions, and often