The Gift of Charms Read Online Free PDF

closer to a large rock under which a river ran, and Ketu landed, folding his huge wings under himself. Yoshiko hopped off his back and gazed in awe over the edge. The waters beneath them looked calm and still, but it was a long way down.
    ‘Is this where I try?’ he asked.
    Ketu nodded. ‘This is where my elder brought me to practise and his elder before him. Most clans have their own special flying rock.’
    As he spoke a sudden gust of wind made them both look up. Gandar landed heavily beside them both with Igorr staring smugly, seated on his back.
    ‘I see you’re in my son’s flying-practice spot,’ said Gandar, eyeing Yoshiko with obvious derision. ‘How funny that you’ve brought a hatchling not yet ready to fly.’
    Ketu tried to reply calmly, though Yoshiko noticed a vein in his neck was throbbing. ‘You know this is my clan’s training location,’ he replied. ‘The Nephans have always had this rock and other clans have honoured that since we all came to Dragor.’ Ketu paused as if to reflect on his own words then continued. ‘But at the last Council gathering I attended our leader Kinga insisted upon friendship and sharing amongst all clans. So I shall respect that and welcome you to share the rock.’
    Gandar threw his head back haughtily.
    ‘Such gracious words, Ketu! But let me tell you this. I will use whichever flying rock I want whenever I want with your permission granted or not. My youngling Igorr already far excels your son at fire breathing,and he shall be far better in all his dragon skills. In fact I see no reason why we should have to waste time watching your hopeless little dragon,’ he made a scornful motion with his wings. ‘Yoshiko will be falling in the water all day,’ scoffed Gandar. ‘I doubt he can fly at all.’
    Ketu’s eyes suddenly flashed fire and Gandar raised himself even higher on his haunches, clearly enjoying the effect he was having on the other adult dragon.
    ‘You Nephan clan dragons think you have a right to everything just because one of your kind is voted as Dragor leader,’ he continued. ‘Just because Surion and his father Goadah led us to Dragor you now think the red dragons are better at taking charge of the clans. Every dragon knows the purple Alanas have the greatest stamina in the skies. It should be us who make the decisions and rule right now.’
    Ketu did all he could not to retaliate. He had heard the same argument so many times before. This strain of bitterness was well known in Dragor. Many of the Alana clan felt that the Nephans had ruled for too long, and that their own kind should have a chance as leaders, rather than simply acting as catchers of fish. But the Council knew that the rebellious Alanas wouldcause more problems than they solved if given the task of ruling, and for decades had voted to keep Kinga in rule, a red Nephan.
    ‘Where our sons learn to fly has nothing to do with Nephan leadership or anything else,’ replied Ketu. ‘You know that this is our ancestors’ flying place, and today we landed before you did, but again I repeat that, since the clans must get along in Dragor I am happy to share the rock.’
    Igorr hopped down from his elder’s back looking not the least bit embarrassed at the scene. ‘Let’s practise over here,’ he said, pulling at his elder’s wing and pointing to an area on the other side of the rock. ‘Away from Feddy.’ His elder nodded. ‘As you wish, Igorr.’ Then they moved over to the far side.
    Ketu looked down at Yoshiko inquisitively as Igorr called him by the nickname, but the younger dragon only shrugged.
    ‘It’s the name that the Alanas all call me at school,’ he murmured, trying to sound as if he didn’t care, but the look on his elder’s face pained him enough that tears rose up. Yoshiko turned away to hide his face, as a strange feeling started rising in his stomach. It reminded him a little of the time he’d first blown firebut it wasn’t a warm glow that he felt, but