Page 7 of No Ordinary Drakeling
Chapter 3
1929 AD, Somewhere in Sanders County, Montana
A clod of dirt hit Ellery in the head, and dust flew into his eyes. He bent over and raised his arms to protect himself as more chunks of mud were hurled in his direction.
“Go away,” one girl shrieked at him.
“Xiryti,” a boy sneered. Ellery hated the word “xiryti.” It was Elvish for mongrel, and he could not understand why he heard it more than his own name. He cried out as he was knocked down by cruel hands. The children kicked the earth around Ellery, so it settled in a cloud over his once-pristine clothing. He thought to be grateful that there was no pain until someone pelted him with a stick. His small body absorbed the blows as the angry youths laughed.
A shout sounded from a distance, and he heard the scattering of feet. Ellery was struck so hard over his hip that the distinct snap of the tree branch reached his ears. Then the only sound was of his own harsh breathing as he tried to stop weeping. Using one hand to wipe the snot from his nose, Ellery gingerly raised his head and found himself alone. His body was healing his fresh bruises, so he had no trouble gaining to his feet.
Once he was standing, he raced for his mother’s hut before more hurt could be inflicted upon his poor self.
“Ellery, what have you done to your clothing?” Aynleth asked once he made it through the flap of thick leather that protected their belongings from the elements.
Still sniveling, Ellery once again used his hand to clean his face. “The other children do not like me,” he told her as he did most times. The only days which differed were when he lacked the courage to venture outside, but it was dreadfully boring for a boy of ten to stay indoors when he could hear playing in the distance. He badly wanted to kick around a ball with someone besides himself or even join the girls with their dolls since his mother forbade him to have one of his own.
“If you ask nicely, they will let you join them. Now, wash up,” his mother ordered.
Ellery crossed their small home and used a bowl of water to clean his face. “I do ask them nicely each day,” he told her once his task was complete. “They call me ‘xiryti.’ Why am I not like the other children?”
“How do you mean?”
“Not even my name is Elvish,” he complained, though she was the one to name him, so she was aware of how he stood out. “My ears are not as long as yours, and I am already taller than boys years older than me. Fatter too.”
“You are not fatter, Ellery—your bones are a bit larger. Come sit. You are old enough now to know the truth of your differences.”
“Iamquite old enough. I am ten,” Ellery informed her proudly as he sat on one of the roughly hewn chairs. Aynleth brushed off her apron and joined him at the small table where they took their meals.
“Let me tell you about your father. He was a handsome man—tall and muscular just as you will be someday. Why, he was five inches above six feet. I met him by chance when I was out gardening. He was flying above and swooped down as soon as he realized we were mates.”
Ellery scowled. “Elves cannot fly.”
“They certainly cannot, but your father can because he is a dragon. His name is Harry and though he could not stay with me, he will return. I chose your name so you will not stick out in his world. When he gets here, we will go with him to his home. You will learn about the dragon inside you, and one day you too will fly.”
“I have a dragon inside me?” Ellery asked as his eyes grew wide with shock.
“You do, and someday you will soar into the sky. Your father will show you how it is done.”
Ellery was stunned. He had never heard of his father before, though he’d asked more than once why he didn’t have one. To think of having a dragon inside him and knowing someday he would fly was too fantastical to his mind. “You said he was your mate, but you are not bonded.”
“Yes, the time was not right for us then, but Harry will be back.”
“When?”
“When the time is right.”
“But when will the time be right?”
“I do not know. He had things to take care of. Important matters which could not wait. He did not expect to have a child so soon and had to make sure things were ready for us to come to his home.”
“Momma, elves are not supposed to lie with their mates until after they are bonded. You will not have two hoops in your ear. Everyone will know you have disgraced yourself.”
Aynleth laughed. “You are proof enough that I did not keep tradition in mind, but our love is a deep one. Your father and I knew nothing as silly as two earrings could stop us from being together.”
“I wish for him to return.”
“Me too, Ellery. I am certain it will be any day. Now, I have chores to see to. Go pick some vegetables from the garden so we can eat later.”
