Ashes And Spirit (Book 3) by A.D. Trosper Page A

felt so empty since…” She shook her head. “Call if you need anything.” Herding the rest of the servers out, she closed the door behind her.
    While everyone began passing around dishes, Maleena placed small portions on her plate. She didn’t really feel hungry this evening, which was unusual of late. As the conversation flowed around her, she nibbled at her food. It felt good to be back in the presence of her friends, even if there were a few missing. She watched Jocelynn and Varnen, noting how seamlessly they had become part of the rider family, as if they had always been a part of them.
    The others too had become a part of the rider family. She glanced at Brock, Sumara, Marcaius, Belynn, and Nolan. They had taken their first Slides with their dragons a few weeks ago. Nira’s yellow, Saria, was close to doing so as well. Toren’s red, Rahu, still wasn’t old enough to fly. Nordhas had hatched his blue, Arkhas, one week before the battle at Trilene. It would be some time before he flew as well.
    Though they felt a part of the family, Maleena sensed a slight gulf between them and the older riders. And from what she sensed, Varnen, Jocelynn, and Loki were included in the older riders. Maleena shook her head at the thoughts that filtered out from the younger riders. They would have their chance to battle Shadow Dragons with the rest of them. It didn’t take going into battle together to make them full members of the rider family, but they wouldn’t really listen even if she told them.
    In fact, she wished she had never gone into battle. As if being heavily pregnant wasn’t enough to disturb her sleep, the nightmares of the battle at Trilene interrupted it as well. The images of the people she had killed, even if it had been at a distance, turned her dreams to nightmares.
    Though Kirynn laughed and joked, it was strained, as if she forced herself to be a part of everything. And maybe she did. There was emptiness within Kirynn and Jocelynn, a break between them and their emotions.
    Maleena shifted uncomfortably as the muscles in her abdomen tightened. She ran a hand over her swollen belly. Mckale glanced at her, his silver eyes sharp as he appraised her. Knowing he sensed it through their bond, she sent him a reassuring smile and shook her head slightly. It wasn’t much more than she’d been feeling off and on for the past couple of weeks. These little tightenings had been happening all day. Maybe things would get moving soon.
    When the meal was finished, tea and coffee were served. Marda pointed to two different pitchers. “Mckale, you’ll be interested to know that these two pitchers of coffee are made from the beans you developed last year. Of course the other fields are still producing, but I thought you would like to try the new ones.”
    Mckale poured a cup and raised it in Marda’s direction. “Thank you, Marda. I will taste it as soon as it cools.”
    Kellinar raised an eyebrow. “A new strain of bean?”
    “Yes. After Taela told me of plants growing in the south of Haraban that resemble the coffee plants here, I went down to take a look.” Mckale blew lightly across the steaming surface of dark liquid in his cup. “They are indeed like what we grow here, although the people of Haraban don’t seem to know what to do with them. I brought several plants back and the Tower of Earth and I, along with Sumara,” he nodded at the young woman sitting a few chairs away, “worked to blend the two together. The beans produced by the southern plants created a smoother taste. I’m trying to see if I can cultivate the two to create a smoother aftertaste.”
    “I’ll have to try this new blend of yours,” Kellinar said, reaching for the pitcher.
    Maleena poured a small cup of tea and took a sip. Fates she was tired, and there was still a Hatching this evening. The muscles in her abdomen tightened once more, and then disappeared after a few seconds.
    “So, Maleena, who is the new Foundling?” Kirynn asked