Something in my voice must have gotten through to him because his defensive posture softened. "I keep seeing their faces, Alar. Not the dead, but their families. The way they looked when the flames went up..." He shook his head. "How do the Elucians endure it? Living with constant attacks, never knowing when or where the Shedun will strike next, and if their loved ones or they will be next?"
"They don't have a choice.” I put down what was left of the sandwich he'd brought for me. “They endure because they must. And hopefully, we'll soon be part of their defenses."
That seemed to be the change in thought pattern Codric needed, and when he smiled, it was genuine this time. "We will." He put a hand over his chest. "I feel the gift thrumming right here. We will be riders, Alar. Mark my words."
I stifled the urge to roll my eyes.
It was so much like Codric to change moods on a dime. From the pit of despair a moment ago, he was now soaring on the wings of fancy, or rather those of a dragon.
I glanced out the window, but with the constant aurora lights, it was hard to estimate the time. "We should head out soon."
"I'm ready." He waved a hand over his fatigues. "I'm just waiting for you."
After stepping out of the lodge, we joined a stream of pilgrims making their way through the predawn streets. The air was crisp, and the auroras seemed muted, as if in respect for the night's ceremonies.
I kept scanning the crowd for a glimpse of golden hair, but Kailin and Shovia were nowhere to be seen. Perhaps they were already ahead of us or maybe still at home preparing.
"Do you think the shaman will show up?" Codric asked as we followed the crowd. "After yesterday's attack, I wouldn't be surprised if he chooses to skip this one. If I were in charge of his security, I would advise that he skip it."
"He has to show up." I adjusted my pack. "If he doesn't, the Shedun win. They'll have succeeded in disrupting one of Elucia's most sacred traditions."
"Still, this once—" Codric's words cut off abruptly as we rounded a bend in the path and got our first clear view of the gathering place at the foot of Mount Hope.
Dragons.
My heart stuttered.
They perched on the lower slopes of the mountain, their massive forms silhouetted against the sky. Even in the dim light, I could make out different colors: obsidian black, deep copper, and burnished bronze. Their scales caught the shifting lights above and reflected them back, creating a mesmerizing display.
I'd seen pictures of dragons, of course. Illustrations mostly, because photographs and videos were rare, but nothing could have prepared me for the reality of their presence. They were enormous, magnificent, terrifying—every description I'd ever read seemed simultaneously true and woefully inadequate.
The riders sat astride their mounts with casual confidence that bordered on arrogance, which wasn't surprising, given how revered they were throughout Aurorys.
Well, except by the Sitorians, of course.
To them, dragons were the big demons, and their riders were the small demons, and both had to be wiped out of existence.
It boggled the mind how brainwashed and ignorant people could be and how easily manipulated and controlled by their leaders. Genetically, there wasn't much difference between the three ethnicities, so unless rumors about the Sitorians' inbreeding practices were true, their twisted culture was solely responsible for their barbarism and lack of progress.
How could anyone look upon these magnificent creatures and not be awed?
I wondered if they were present for security or ceremonial reasons. Still, given that even some of the Elucians had stopped in their tracks, seeming overwhelmed by the sight, I had to assume that dragons weren't a usual part of the ceremony and were here to safeguard the shaman.
Codric stood frozen beside me, his mouth hanging open, and he didn't respond even when I tugged on his sleeve. "Come on. Let's find the girls."
He still didn't move. "Did you ever imagine..." He swallowed. "I mean, I knew they were big, but..."
"I know." I tugged harder. "But we can't stand here gaping like fools. The ceremony will start soon."
That finally got him moving, though his eyes kept straying back to the dragons. I couldn't blame him. My gaze was drawn upward again and again, drinking in details I'd only read about before. The way their wings folded against their sides, the subtle movements of their heads as they tracked the activity below, and the occasional puff of smoke that escaped their massive jaws.
These creatures were intelligent beings who had chosen to ally themselves with the Elucians. What would it be like to form such a bond? To share thoughts and feelings with a creature so alien and powerful?
For the first time since hatching this crazy scheme, I fully internalized the magnitude of what Codric and I were trying to achieve.
"There!" Codric pointed toward a group of pilgrims gathering near the base of the slope. "I think that's Shovia."
I squinted in that direction, looking for a glimpse of golden hair, but there were too many people clustered in that area, and I sincerely doubted that Codric had seen Shovia. The crowd was growing quickly as more pilgrims arrived, all of us drawn like moths to the flame of dragfire and destiny.
