“What changed your mind?”
“I did recognize you on the television, so I knew he had a connection to the dragons.When Norm texted to say he wouldn’t be coming back and had left paperwork naming me as the sole recipient of his business interests, I realized it might be legit.”
“He’s not dead,” I say.“Why would he do that?”I can’t help laughing.“He’s so dramatic.”
“Did he really bond a dragon?”Gary’s wife asks.
“He did,” I say.“But you don’t look too excited.”
Gary’s unlike Norm in more ways than his temperament.He’s also tall, muscular, and dresses well.According to Norm, he was quite the ladies’ man among the fantasy nerds, at least, until he met Jean.Like she was always meant to be the queen of the nerds, she’s regal and a little haughty.I can see why—she’s tall, she has flawless skin, and her eyes are a bright, cerulean blue—almost purplish.Even in Utah, I imagine that’s a rare color.She even glances around the group slowly, like a queen surveying her subjects.“A lot of us are still worried this is a prank, or worse, some kind of scam.”
The humans who were here last time laugh.The nineteen brights we left, and the sixteen non-brights who were going to help nonetheless begin murmuring.
“It’s not a scam,” I say.“If you’ll come with me, I can easily prove it.”
“Those wings do look real,” Jean says.“How much did they cost?”
It’s not dark, not anymore, but we’re far enough from anyone with an ounce of sense that I feel safe flying back toward Axel.
The gasps behind me are quite satisfying.
When I circle back around, I notice that the humans from yesterday are all struggling with their bags, some of which look quite heavy.
“Wait here,” I say.“I’ll be back in a moment.”I can’t help a smug glance in Jean’s direction when I pivot to wing my way toward Axel.It’s satisfying to see her mouth dangling open, anyway.
When I reach the dragons, I smile.“Three hundred and change,” I say.“Follow me.”
That’s not nearly enough,Axel says.You have three days to prove to Hyperion we can find brights for ten thousand blessed.Your first day, we barely found fifty.
“We found sixty-one,” I say.“Norm, Karen, and twenty-nine other brights.Plus, the semi-brights are brights, too.”I scowl.“And we have a plan for a second rendezvous today.I told you it would take time at first to do it properly.”
Each rendezvous increases the risk.He’s starting to sound like his brother.
“I’m aware,” I say.“But surely it’s no riskier than simply attacking.Can you focus for a moment?”
He begins walking, but I step in front of him.
“I think I should ride on you.”
He freezes.You have wings.
“I know,” I say.“But I’m the poster girl for this campaign, and for a lot of these people, their life’s wish has been to ride a dragon.None of them have wings, and I can’t promise that they’ll ever get them, so I don’t want to sell them on how cool it would be to be just like me.”
He blinks.
“Fine.”I turn.“I’ll just ride one of the others.”
A tall, thin strike blessed with a stunning head and an almost blue tinge to her silver scales ducks toward me.
No, Elizabeth Chadwick’s mine.He tosses his head in the direction the humans are waiting.Let’s go.You slept so long, we’re already losing the day.
It’s hardly an hour past sunrise here, since Iceland’s six hours ahead of Utah, but I don’t bother arguing.If I’m a little rough when I tuck my wings and drop onto his back from ten feet above, well, he deserves it.I hope he has a sore back for hours.
His head whips around, but his eyes don’t look angry.They’re flashing with what looks like amusement to me.I miss having the bond to confirm my suspicions—green was happy.Grey was satisfied, if not quite pleasant, and black...well.Not all the colors were great.He can keep his dark moods to himself and good riddance.
Even jogging to minimize the risk of running into anyone, the dragons, who are all following us, eat up the ground with their long strides.When Axel slides to a stop in front of the gathered humans, I try to look at them like he must see them.
The main thing I see, other than surprise and joy when we arrive, is the humans’ hope.The women have done their hair—some with curls, and others with intricate braids.They’re wearing stylized clothing, from warrior-wear that appears to be modeled after mine, to ball gowns for a few.The men are less obvious, but only by a little.They have fresh haircuts, shiny new boots, and they’re carrying packed bags.
