Maylin's Gate (Book 3) by Matthew Ballard Page A

stall.
    The stall accounted for a third of the building's modest size. Piled high hay clung to the stall's stagnant air and the draco recoiled lurching away from him.
    "I honestly don't know why you're bothering with this. It won't let you on its back."
    He recalled Moira's lessons from the cave. If he discovered a means to ease the beast's fear, it would serve him. "It has to understand that I mean it no harm."
    Rika laughed. "Do you really mean it no harm? Saying the words won't change your true intent."
    He narrowed his eyes and glared at Rika.
    Rika leaned against the stall's short wooden door with arms folded. "Go ahead then."
    He faced the draco and let go a deep breath. Stretching his hand toward the beast, he spoke in a low soft voice. "There girl. It's okay."
    The draco crouched low in the stall and pinned back its wings. With its golden eyes locked on him the beast held still.
    "There's no need for all this ruckus." He stepped forward.
    The draco stiffened, but didn't hiss. The beast's mouth remained shut and it hunkered lower in the straw carpet.
    He took another step forward and stopped six feet from the draco. "I've brought you a gift. A peace offering." At home, he always brought a few apples with him to the stables. He doubted a creature with those sharp teeth bothered with fruit. Without taking his eyes from the draco, he rummaged through his belt pouch. He grabbed three moist strips of beef jerky and eased his hand from the pouch.
    The draco never moved tracking the jerky with its penetrating gaze.
    "You must be hungry." He tossed the beef strips near the draco's needle-sharp talons.
    The draco snatched the jerky from the straw, tipped back its throat, and swallowed the strips in a single gulp.
    "I've got more where that came from." He inched forward.
    The draco lowered its neck, eyes gleaming. Strands of saliva formed along its jawline and drizzled the straw like carpenter's glue.
    "Be careful Ronan," Rika said from the stall's far corner. "He looks ready to eat you whole."
    He stepped forward and eased his hand inside the belt pouch. Three feet from the draco, he paused and waved another jerky strip in the air.
    The draco's eyes left him for the first time since he entered the stall and tracked the beef strip instead.
    He inched forward. "That's it. I just want to sit on that fine saddle strapped to your back. Would that be okay?"
    Ropes of drool fell unfettered from the draco's open mouth. Its eyes glistened with moisture and the beast strained against the iron shackles.
    He took another step forward keeping the jerky held high. With his left hand, he touched the creature's saddle.
    The draco didn't move.
    "He could snap your hand off," Rika said with voice lowered. "Why don't you at least channel some enhancement magic?"
    He glared over his shoulder.
    The draco jerked its neck forward and opened its jaws. The iron chain rattled and the draco's jaws snapped shut an inch from the jerky strip.
    The short hair on his neck bristled and he whirled toward the draco.
    The creature paid him no heed and kept its attention locked on the jerky strip.
    "Sorry," Rika said. "I won't say another word."
    He let go a deep breath and moved his left hand forward touching the draco's saddle.
    Like a coiled snake the draco stiffened under his touch, but made no move to stop his advance.
    He took a step and raised his leg over the creature's saddle.
    The draco lurched sideways but remained focused on the jerky hanging out of reach.
    He tossed the jerky on the straw near the creature's feet and slipped atop the leather saddle.
    The draco lowered its snout and snapped up the jerky.
    He glanced toward Rika smiling from where he sat perched on the draco's back. "Who needs magic?"
    The beast swallowed the jerky and screeched bucking from side to side.
    Rika leaped forward and thrust out her hand. "Watch out!"
    Blood rushed from his face and his legs slackened under a release of adrenaline.
    The draco's head pitched toward him and the