Dragonbound: Blue Dragon by Rebecca Shelley Page A

want me to drop you now . I don't think you'll make it back to the surface on your own.
    Kanvar stopped thrashing and held his breath while the serpent rolled in the water and shot back up to the surface. It cut through the pool to the bank and used its stubby legs to pull itself and Kanvar up on shore.
    The coils unwound from Kanvar's chest and let him onto the fern-covered ground. Then the Great Black wrapped its body in a protective circle around Kanvar and snaked its head over to stare at him.
    Gasping for breath, Kanvar drew himself up to his knees and looked into the serpent's inky eyes. A silver fire emanated from the black dragonstone on its forehead.
    Pah . The serpent spit a string of venom well over Kanvar's head. Dharanidhar thinks he's lord of the whole jungle.
    "Y-you saved me," Kanvar said. He looked back upriver toward the waterfall, but saw no sign of Dharanidhar.
    I imagine His Majesty, Rajahansa, would not be too happy with me if I had not . The serpent let out a long slow hiss. I'm guessing, from the looks of you, you're Amar's missing youngest son. Supposed to be dead, you are. But not long ago he let out a call that Dharanidhar had taken you, and Devaj as well.
    "I couldn't save Devaj. I tried. Abhavasimha carried him away." Kanvar shuddered, sank to the ground, and checked to make sure his crossbow and bolts were still secure on his back and that he hadn't lost the sword in the river. He was glad to find everything in place, but he feared for Devaj's life.
    The serpent hissed again and laid his head down against his coils. Don't worry, little one, Rajahansa will find a way to save your brother.
    Kanvar didn't know who Rajahansa was—some kind of king, he supposed. He just hoped the serpent was right about Rajahansa saving Devaj. Kanvar shivered. Now that he was wet, the air felt even colder than it had before. He pulled his knees up against his chest, trying to stay warm.
    My name is Indumauli. The serpent said. I'll stay with you tonight. Keep you safe. But in the morning I must return to the water.
    Kanvar nodded. He knew the Great Black serpents would dry and shrivel in the sun. "But Indumauli, how can I hear your thoughts? I haven't bonded yet." The cold bit into Kanvar and he started shivering. At the same time sweat trickled down his face and back. He felt a flash of searing heat and then another stab of sharp cold. He'd been able to hear the Great Blue dragons' voices as well. He didn't know why, and it spooked him.
    The serpent rubbed the sweat off Kanvar's forehead with the tip of its black tail. Its smooth scales felt cool and soothing against his skin. You have a fever . How long have you had it? It feels exceptionally high.
    Kanvar's teeth chattered. Indumauli tightened his coils so they came to rest against Kanvar in cool soothing folds. "I-I did not feel cold until . . . just before I fell into the water."
    This high of a fever should not have come on you so fast. I don't understand it, nor how you can hear my voice in your mind if you've not yet bonded . With this kind of a fever you may not live long without bonding . Indumauli bared his fangs and let out a worried hiss.
    Fear tightened Kanvar's chest. He'd known this day would come. Fought it off for so very long. He'd just met Indumauli, but he felt safe with the serpent. "M-m-may I bond with you?"
    Indumauli jerked his head up in alarm. It swayed back and forth, snake-like. Rajahansa would kill me and nail my hide to his palace wall.
    Kanvar swallowed a lump in his throat and tried to stop shivering. "Who is this Rajahansa? Why should he care who I bond with?"
    You do not know? Indumauli rubbed the side of his head across Kanvar's cheek. No, I sense you do not. Rajahansa is the king of all dragons. The Great Gold, descended in a direct line from his grandfather, Sukhderean, the supreme ruler of Stonefountain before the blues led their ugly revolt. Your father is bound to Rajahansa. All Nagas must bond with the golds. Rajahansa picks