Story *originally written early 2000s and is shared with Keshtel's page (and a bit of Ten's) and was formerly in several other site structures (paveh_hold, I think?) as keshhav and keshhav2

Twin sons of Vanya and slave Eshy, though the woman gave up the children to the Breeder in exchange for her freedom.

Both of them were sold at a very young age (around 4) to Lady Breeder Savistahni, for her work in terraforming her desert Holds. It was a sale which their father has regretted to this day, and desperately wants to buy them back -- however his current finances would never allow it.

At the early age of 6, the twins began exhibiting their psionic powers. At first they seemed disconnected from each other, almost at odds. Keshtel has a strong ability to alter substances, while Havish's first powers included sensing through objects and psychometry.

Vanya has extensively altered the twins, their ears are unusually long due to the presence of their physical powers, but the pair do not manifest the typical powers which "tech-elves" often have.

When the twins were 10 however, they exhibited a marvelous talent. Working together they can literally shape the barren sand of the deserts into fresh, healthy, arable soil. Immediately preying upon this talent, Savistahni worked the children almost to death until they were 14.

At that point, the Invasion had been in full swing and the alien forces seemed to have the upper hand. But also at that age, Havish and Keshtel surprised everyone by seemingly growing another set of new powers: Dragon Tunings.

No one was more happy about this than their father Vanya. It meant that under no circumstances would they be abused any longer. No one was LESS happy about it than their owner Savistahni, for she knew that she had to send them to the first Dragon Breeder she could find, and 'hope' they would be able to bond.

Now, they wait. At 15 years old, Havish and Keshtel could have a fine life ahead of them fighting off alien invaders. Or, they could fail to bond and go back to the desert.

The more dominant of the pair, Keshtel stands guard over his more quiet and reserved brother Havish. Both of them stand around 7' tall, though they are slender and not terribly muscular. Both obviously have the same silvery-grey skin, pale grey hair, and icy blue eyes, and can hardly be told apart unless they are speaking.

Keshtel has a quick way of speaking, short and curt with his words. Havish on the other hand hesitates to speak at all, but his voice is soothing and soft, smooth and musical.

**

The sand was hot, acutely so, under the twins' feet. Yet their Lady Savistahni would not allow them to come into the shade where she sat. Not even for a moment, nor for a drink. Keshtel drew his hand over his forehead and wiped the sweat from his brow. His sense of anger had grown over this long afternoon.

She will know, she's telepathic you know. His brother thought. They had never exhibited any external telepathic abilities, but to each other they had a contact which rivaled the finest of psionics. Havish bent down and put his hand onto the pale fine sand to cover his thoughts. If she does not know we speak to one another, while we work, she will not punish us.

She will punish us whether we work hard, or fail her. You know that. Keshtel thought back, bitterly. She punishes us when she's had a hard day. That bitch will regret it some day.

Don't -- Havish desperately thought as he clenched his fingers around a handful of sand. Instead of blurting out something to his brother, he concentrated his powers upon his hand.

Keshtel was unable to stop his own power from joining his brother's. It was the only way that Havish was dominant: when he started terraforming, Keshtel had to help, he couldn't resist. It was almost as if Havish could tap into Keshtel's own power and manipulate it.

Together they changed yet another tenth-Unit from sand into dark dirt. There was nothing organic in it yet, but there would be. The group of Slaves and Bonds behind them (in the shade, Keshtel growled) would have fertilizer and worms, even water and seedlings in case the dirt was of exceptional quality. All waiting for them to perform their miracle.

All waiting on their shoulders. The eyes of their Lady burned into them both, and Keshtel's throat constricted. He wasn't sure if it was because he was truly afraid of the woman with a naga-body and no legs, or if it was because she'd started her punishments early and was using her ability to cause physical trauma.

It wasn't like her to do so while they'd just succeeded in making another portion of her Holdings that much richer. So she must have heard him. Her invasive telepathy really bothered the pair, but of course there was nothing they could do about it. If they could only have grown some power which could negate hers, instead of this foolish ability to sense and communicate with dragons...

"That's right, you should have hoped," Savistahni said, slithering across the fine black soil on her long snake-like body. She was shock-white, with pale yellowy hair that flowed around her striking face. Her clothing was spare, and only covered what it needed to for who could put a dress on a 10 foot long coil of snake-tail? She struck Keshtel with her hand, again unusual for her.

"We cannot help that we've become Dragon Tuned," Havish pleaded with her, suddenly. He was surprised when she only turned on him but did not strike him. He was braced for it, aware that at any moment she could unleash the full fury of her Harming power. It bought him a moment, when she blinked at him and lowered her pale green eyes from his icy blue ones. "The Invasion will only get worse, and if we become Dragon Masters, we will be able to keep your Holds safe."

"Your job is to keep my Holds PROFITABLE, you wretch..." Savistahni let her voice trail off. She had it in her mind to even kill the pair if they so much as tried to escape, but now... Now they were fully registered with the Dragon Masters, and would have to bond some day. She would still own them, still be their Lady. But they would be riding dragons and scaring the Invaders instead of making her land grow.

She balled her white hands into fists, and then slithered back into the shelter. "Keep working. You've got until sunset to turn this Unit into arable land. Get to work." She gritted her teeth -- hard with her fangs almost coming to cut her skin -- and coiled back into the shelter. Her green eyes burned into the pair, and they turned their backs to return to work.

For the entire day, then, they labored with their powers going full-tilt until they could no longer even stand. Havish half-collapsed into his brother's arms, nearly unconscious. "My Lady, we must stop. We've done all you have asked..." Keshtel announced, from the corner of this Unit. Each Unit of her holdings were laid out with thin ribbons to distinguish good land from bad. It was mostly bad. But it was slowly -- painfully -- growing into a farmstead. In the middle of the Desert.

"She's gone," announced one of the Bonds who had been left in charge of the twins. He was twice their age, and twice their girth. No one dared cross this ugly beast of a Bond, certainly not Havish and Keshtel. They had had their share of beatings at his hands. Keshtel turned and hovered over his brother while the Bond continued. "She said if this whole Unit is black with soil instead of yellow with sand, she'd let you come in for your meal and rest."

Keshtel's pale eyes pleaded with the Bond. There was at least an arm's span of sand lining the corner where they had stopped. The sun was down, the sky was brilliant with reds and violets. Savistahni had gone by half afternoon. Neither twin had realized it because they had been working so intently.

Bond Layrmat glared at the yellowy sand, and the border of bright red tape which deliniated it from the neighboring Unit of sand. His feet sunk deeply into the span-deep soft soil the pair had created out of nothing, as he walked toward them.

Keshtel clutched his semi-conscious brother to his chest, simply crying and waiting.

When Layrmat passed them and grunted, "hmn, looks like your work finished tonight. Good job, Slaves," Keshtel glanced around his slumped shoulder. The Bond had kicked a plume of dirt over the sand, covering it almost entirely and making it look as though the Unit had in fact been completed.

"Thank you," Keshtel whispered, "my brother cannot walk. I can barely stand."

"Then sleep here tonight," Layrmat said, gruffly. He walked away, carried back an umbrella-shade and planted it beside the twins. He placed a blanket on the ground near them, and a basket which contained the food that the Bond had not allowed anyone else to eat.

When Layrmat began to walk away, Keshtel asked, "why? Why help us?"

The Bond turned, half a grin on his chunky face, "because I have almost paid off my debt to our Lady. By this time next week, I'll be a Free Worker again. And I won't have to see any of this sand again." He waved his hand at the Hold, and walked away.

***

In the morning, the heat of the sun had barely started to work its way onto the sand when Savistahni and her troops arrived. She screamed at the Slaves to awaken and begin their work, but was brought up short by a trumpeting scream from the sky.

A scream much louder than hers. A scream which actually awakened the pair. They were still exhausted, and though they had slept through the whole night after their meal, they could barely move a muscle. Their minds had been drained of psionic power.

Keshtel looked up first, followed by his brother's gaze. From above, came a Forest dragon of such beauty that they almost cried. His feathers were brilliantly violet and crimson, framed with a pure white and pale blue around his belly and tail. His rider coaxed the dragon down from the air, to rest on the soft black dirt which the twins had recently created.

The Dragon Master was tall and handsome, with deep red skin and pale yellow hair, and stylish riding gear. The dragon turned his head to the pair of twins and cooed a beautiful song to them to keep them calm.

"Your Slaves are to stand at Vella Crean's hatching sands," announced the Dragon Master. "They will return to Zekira and serve in the most appropriate fighting unit, and papers will be drawn up to transfer Ownership if need be, to their unit's commander at that time."

"I will NOT give them up to some dragon master!" Savistahni bellowed, finally furious at the intrusion on her Hold. The feathered serpent dragon turned his beaked head toward her and hissed. "And get that monstrous beast off my property immediately. Take them and return them to me when they're bonded, but do not speak to me of selling them. They are MINE to do with as I please. Do you understand, dragon master?" She spat the last words out, as if being a dragon lord or breeder was something to be ashamed of.

The rider smirked. "Oh, I'll take them all right. But first I'm going to take them to a breeder to make sure they've been treated properly for malnutrition and dehydration, and see if those abuses will get a judge to rule against you for ownership rights." The rider turned and beckoned the pair to their feet.

With pleasure fueling them, Keshtel and Havish climbed upon the dragon, and left.

**

The eggs on Vella Crean's sands were hard, and the hatching had finally come. Havish liked to watch the eggs when the mothers of the nest would allow it, and he often sensed their pride at having the beautiful orbs below the sand. It had been a long day, learning about these dragons and how they would be able to fly against whatever threat there might be on each person's respective world. There were so many worlds...

In the evening, the announcement went out that the eggs were hatching, so they both bolted down to the sands. It was an effort on their part to keep from turning the sand into something more arable. But now both of the young Zekirans had their attentions focused on the eggs. Someone was missing from the hatching, apparently, but it was of no concern to Keshtel and Havish.

A big white broke from her shell, spoke to her bonded partner (which was apparently quite odd), and left the sands happily. Then, two large eggs smashed into one another, and both dragons within roared at one another. Bronze and Black, they snarled and snapped at one another. Until...

"Keshtel, don't worry. It was just a little misunderstanding." Said the black, and he knew that by speaking the dragon's name the bond would be complete. But Keshtel was still stunned. Could this really be happening? Finally? It would mean so much...

"Havish, " said the bronze. The more meek of the pair walked forward, grabbing his brother by the elbow on the way and taking him to the side of his black partner.

"Yanithvan?" Havish smiled, finally able to form a word or two. The inside of his mind was filled with this beautiful bronze before him.

"Of course, rider. Now tell that brother of yours that Ivanith doesn't like being stared at like that."

Havish looked at his brother, who still hadn't said a word -- how unlike him! He laughed, and bumped his brother's shoulder. "We've done it," he whispered.

"I know..." Keshtel said, and finally the black Ivanith felt his rider allow his mind full run.

Thank you, my friend. We will have a good time rousting that white annoying woman off her land if she bothers you! We are going to be big and strong!

We will be, Yanithvan added. And she will be sorry she ever hurt either of you.

**

The dragons slept in on the day when their riders got a visit from their Owner. Savistahni slithered into the Vella Crean attended by two large male Zekirans that were obviously bodyguards.

Why she needed them was beyond anyone's ken, since she held the ability to harm at a distance with her mind alone.

But she did come, and she wanted to see her investment property. Since the Zekiran rider wasn't there, the folk at Vella Crean had to assume she had gotten a ride some other way, or that she'd developed some kind of teleporting property herself. They didn't much like the way she came in and demanded things.

The two grey-skinned elf-eared Zekiran boys heard her before their minds snapped to attention at her command.

Where are you, filthy earth-makers? She thought sharply.

What she didn't count on were two other minds, tightly meshed with the young lads'. Hard and strong, and suddenly wakeful!

You stay away from my rider, cried one.

If you come near we will fight you! Boldly spoke the other. So sharp were their tones that Savistahni suddenly stopped in her slithering tracks. Her eyes widened, and she snarled.

"Get them out here," she hissed to her attendants. "If their pitiful dragons attempt to stop you, kill them."

"Mistress?" Said one, echoed by a "my Lady?" from the other.

"Do it," she stated, and they turned to find Keshtel and Havish.

The pair of guards were stopped quickly by one of the elder riders of the Vella Crean.

"You're not thinking of going in to the fledge barracks, are you?" He asked, and though he was much shorter than the guards (in fact nearly head and shoulders shorter than Keshtel and Havish themselves), he carried himself with a stern way. "Because those quarters are off limits to non-rider folk. Like yourselves."

Bellowing insults from her place in the hallway, Sav spat angrily at the man and made her way to the doors herself. The point of a very functional knife was soon at her gut - and she found that her mental energies couldn't penetrate the rider's mind.

"They're in training, and as you were instructed on Zekira, you'll have to wait until they are finished before you do anything... rash. Now, go home, Lady Savistahni," he said, pronouncing her name as if it were a curse.

She has made a terrible mistake, Thought Ivanith. I do not like her. I do not want her anywhere near you.

He nuzzled his bond, and Keshtel hugged the dragon closely.

"I know. I do want to go home but..."

"But not to her," Havish completed. The bronze dragon in his side of their room snarled, he was pacing back and forth. "Relax Yani, she won't be allowed in here."

Good. I would have to--

"We cannot go back home as murderers," Havish softly said, "can we."

No... the Bronze lowered his head. But I wish she would not think of you as "hers". You are not hers. You are mine, and my brother is your brother's. We are our own masters and lords...

"But that's not how it will be on Zekira," Keshtel admitted. "We are still slaves to her, whether we like it or not. I just hope that someone back there will allow us to..."

Just then a number of other riders entered Vella Crean, emisaries from other portions of the Nexus. They were greeted eagerly - they had gifts of wine, chocolate, coffee and cherry pies from around the Kshau Protectorate's many locales and its import shops.

One of them glanced toward the pair, and blinked. She seemed oddly familiar, but in a way that neither brother could put their finger on. She was tan (blue) skinned and tall, with a broad smile and --

"Are you two Zekirans?" She asked, and they looked at one another, nodding.

"Yes... You are...?" Keshtel asked.

"Shatter - but... um, but not YOUR Shatter..." She chuckled nervously. "I'm Rue's child with Shard - um, not Mirage's daughter with Aern. Does that make any sense?"

"It would if I had any idea who you were talking about," Havish muttered.

"It doesn't matter... I've been told there is a party somewhere on Zekira and you're free to go to it. Your Lady said 'you won't like it if you decline'."

The brothers rolled their eyes, but they would be able to party with the finer elements of Dragon Master society freely if they went.

They agreed. It wasn't hard to find a dragon large enough to carry both young men, their pair of dragons as well.

**

The party was a smash. They were introduced to some of the local riders, other Dragon Masters of good status and breeding. Animal Masters, and other Breeders swept through this party. Savistahni stood her ground angrily but introduced her Slaves to the rest of the people at the bash - half prying a proud sounding 'they're my little Dragon Masters' out of her throat.

And something more bizarre than they could have ever expected happened. Here it is told from a slightly different perspective -- that of Ten, High Holder and former Slave himself... (copied from Ten's page)

The young Ten had been wandering around in other people's minds, that night, just to get something off his own chest. He wound up in Keshtel's mind. The other brother turned his eyes sharply to the pale blue-white High Holder.

"Do I know you?" The grey skinned and elf-eared man asked harshly. "Get out of my brother's and my minds. It's very rude."

"I ... no, I'm sorry," Ten said, stammering because he did know who they were. They were Vanya's sons. Keshtel and Havish. Only, they were back? How? He'd sold them to Kyl's mother years ago. But... So far as he knew, they were working on her desert project.

He glanced about, and then apologized. "I'm very sorry. Y-- you are bonded to dragons, aren't you?"

A bit surprised, Keshtel nodded. His brother held his fingers tightly around a wine glass. "We are," Keshtel said. "Does that matter?"

"Well first you're attending a party where people DO think to thank you for doing so," Ten announced carefully. "And... You're my former Master's sons, aren't you? He..." Ten blinked, should he tell them? It would get points for himself, that was certain. "He truly regrets having sold you, you know. He has beat himself up for it for many years. But now that you're Dragon Masters, won't that change your situation with... her?"

He tossed his head gently, seeing that Savistahni was in fact at this party -- and perhaps they were here because they were still her Slaves? Ten's stomach twisted into a bit of a knot. How rude of her not to relinquish them to their proper Status.

"She has never been happy with it," Havish said, with a slight snarl on his lips. "But when we come back for good, she'll have to free us. Even if it's into Bond, there are hundreds of places willing to put up the money for Raising us."

Ten's heart skipped a beat. Now HERE was the opportunity he was looking for. "... I could do that for you right now," he said. He put his drink down, and strode over to the white-skinned naga-tailed woman. She was known for being quite the bitch. Well, Ten was known for being quite the bastard, so they were even.

She didn't quite know what to say when Ten cleared his throat and said, "I'll give you forty thousand creds for the pair of terraformers."

No one else knew either. Forty thousand?! She'd been given them practically for a song -- her genetic material and its free use, and about six thousand for the brothers. While it was true that they were still able to do their terraforming, they were 'required' to remain in the Dragon Mastery ranks whenever the aliens arrived. As such, they couldn't be forced to do any real work that might tire their minds out or injure them.

Ten supressed a smile, knowing every thought that was going through the woman's mind. He didn't even have to pry for it, they played out over her mask of a face. To anyone else in the room she seemed like she was merely pondering the offer. But to Ten, he knew she was thinking of the way they would benefit her if only they would go away. They'd been a pain in her side long enough.

Savistahni nodded, her blond locks bobbing around. "I will take it. Have you a cred transfer form?"

"Always do," Ten said, and produced what equated to an electronic connection to his bank accounts. It was as simple as that. Savistahni's nearby Bond was sent to get a copy of the transfer papers, moving Ownership of the pair into Ten's control.

As he did so, and Sav moved along to other more interesting patrons of the party, Ten slid back to the pair who were just... Aghast. They weren't frightened, but they were amazed. Stunned.

"You just-- to us, and -- she won't --" Keshtel said, and his brother nudged him in the ribs.

"Thank you, I think is what he's trying to say. We are in your debt, and are yours to command, Lord." Havish bowed low, with his hands held palms up in a gesture that Ten knew all too well.

"It's to raise you to Freeworker, guys." He said, casually. "Don't do that to me. But there is a condition."

"Of course there is," Keshtel said, wiping a tear from his eye. "But what is it?"

"That you take me back to your dragon home, so that I might see them for myself." Ten announced, and with that said, he noted the relief and giddy feeling coming off the pair. It wasn't much, but it was all he would need. If they wanted to be free, they were free.

Vanya might throw a tantrum, because of course HE wanted to be the one to do it, but HE was usually too thick headed with money to buy a loaf of bread. The brothers grew more ecstatic over the evening, but their dragons were willing to escort Ten with them, back to a place called Vella Crean.

They were not grown dragons, yet. They were different than Ten expected, too. Handsome, with room over the neck for a rider, and big flexible wings. Horns and ears, a curious appearance brought by their snouts.

Ten was a calm traveler, even though the ride back to Vella Crean was strangely rough. They appeared to be moving through time as well as space, since it moved differently on each side of the Nexus.

When the brothers got back to their own dens, they were ecstatic. Their dragons too were more energetic and concentrated on their tasks of learning how to fly, much better than when they had to be on guard against their riders Lady.

I love this! We will all fly the skies together, Yanithvan bespoke broadly when Ten bonded to a -- a male gold!? It is too bad he is a he and not a she, I would love to see our pretty offspring.

There will be other chances, Ivanith reminded his brother. And I think we should wait a bit - the full grown dragons would still be better able than we.

Practice flying?

Of course!

The dragons swooped into the air outside of Vella Crean, and their riders celebrated in their den.

**

It came time to admit that Yanithvan and Ivanith were adults. And that meant that Keshtel and Havish would be going back to Zekira.

Though, now, that didn't mean so much of a heartache and a hard spot in their guts when they thought about it. They could return and...

We will be heroes! We must fight your aliens! I am looking forward to it!

"I know you are, Yani," Havish laughed. The bronze was ALWAYS up for something aggressive.

We will be able to find our own way in the world. Ivanith commented, but Keshtel was hesitant.

"Remember that we do not hold anything, my brother. "We will have to pledge ourselves to another Lord or Membayar if we are to have a place to live at all."

"We don't have to go into Bond to do that, Kesh," Havish said. "We can be *hired* now. For money. And besides, dragon masters like us," he raised himself proudly to a tall stance, "can always find work. People will want to see our dragons, and we can charge them to do it. Or charge them a place to sleep for the day, until we find a place. It's not going to be that bad."

"... No, you're right, it isn't. Let's go!" Brother grinned at brother, and they urged their dragons to fly to a place they'd only been once: the Inheritance of Snow, where Ten had instructed them to remain, when they got back to Zekira...