I have had no rider before you, I admitted.But if the males manage to do it with ease, I’m sure I will excel at this. Just hold tight. I will not allow you to fall… What is your name? I can’t keep calling you human.
Fern…Her thoughts had changed in tone, becoming breathless, almost jubilant.I am Fern.
And I am Auren, Fern,I replied.Now, there is a hot springs not far from here. Perfect for bathing in.
Anywhere but here,Fern said. Take me anywhere other than my father’s estate, my queen.
My queen? I liked that very much, so I angled my wing downwards and then started to swing around, flying towards the hot springs.
Chapter 4
Fern
I thought my big adventure for today would involve finding a husband. Instead, I found myself riding on the back of a golden queen dragon, the entire district I’d grown up zipping past beneath us. If you’d asked me which I would’ve preferred this morning: wearing Mother’s dress or riding a dragon, I’d have picked Auren every time. I just had no idea how hard the process was.
Auren…I pushed my thought towards her almost reluctantly, but my strength was fading. Only sheer will alone kept my hands wrapped around the massive spine in front of me.Auren…!
We are here, Fern.
But where was here? The dragon’s wings flapped out, waving through the air as she made a slow descent, and that’s when I noticed the stink. Sulphurous and so strong, it was evidently wafting up from the very hot water.
This water is perfect for relaxing in, Auren told me as we landed.
I slid from her back, grateful for the solid rock beneath me. I staggered over to take a look, only for the dragon to slip into the pool, graceful as a snake.
“Ow!” I yelped as hot water spray stung my skin.
You are hurt?Auren swam over to the rim of the pool.
That water seems to be the perfect temperature for dragons, I replied,but humans? Unless you want a soup made of my flesh…
That thought trailed away as I stared into those great golden eyes. Did dragons eat people? There was nothing said about that in any of my books, but?—
Soup?Auren seemed confused by that.Do you mean that thin stuff humans slurp so noisily?She snorted, sending a spray of water my way. I sidestepped it this time, not wanting to be burned again.I couldn’t think of anything worse.Well, if this pool is too hot…
This time she grabbed me between her claws, something that had me squirming, right up until she went to the cliff’s edge. A scream built in my throat, but was swallowed down as Auren leapt off the cliff. A flap of her wings and then we landed further down, where apparently there were other pools, fed from the hot springs above.
This one should be fine, she announced, touching the water with a claw, then looking over her shoulder at me.And human? Dragons don’t eat your kind.She paused for a moment, her eyes going almost unfocussed for a second.Not as food anyway. Only when you have greatly displeased us.
I understand, I replied, sketching a little curtsey. It was what I did when addressing women more powerful than me, so surely a dragon fit that bill.
Come into the water, Fern, Auren ordered.We’ll get you clean and then see about fixing your book.
My feet were moving before I could consider a response, bringing me to the edge of the pool. I bent down and touched the water and it was pleasantly warm, which should’ve had me stripping off. My skin felt tight, itchy in all the places the mud had dried. My dress was stiff and heavy. So why wasn’t I getting myself clean?
Piggy, the bearded man’s label for me echoed around in my head.Little beast. Buy her a husband?—
What are you doing?Auren swam closer.What is inside your head?Hers cocked sideways as she stared at me.Your thoughts… they are all spiky and are hurting you. Stop thinking about that.
I let out an involuntary snort at that, then remembered what he had said about my laugh. My fingers touched my mouth, as if to stop myself from making any more porcine noises. Auren went very still.
What happened to you? What upsets you, it is more than the mud and the book.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, even inside my mind. My teeth ground together, my jaw muscle twitched due to how tightly I was clenching it.
Pain…Auren said the word almost in wonder, then her tail lashed out. My yelp rang out through the cave complex as she wrapped it around me and then dunked me into the water.
I bobbed up, spluttering and blinking water out of my eyes, then looked up at the dragon.
