“I will. I think we're good now.”
With my back blocking the wind and Rian's tucking hold minimizing it, his flame didn't even flicker. But even when a stray current shot through my claw cage, the fire burned steadily. Vashana was unbothered by the cold. She got braver and edged forward to stick her head out between Rian's claws, much as Sebastian was doing. Although, the human didn't stay that way for long. He eventually drew back and pulled his hood down. His dragon had summoned a flame for him.
Below us, Vagasof became a child's toy. The people pointing up at us were soon the size of dolls. We passed over peaked roofs and the park where the winter fair was still going on. Every race on Serai had its traditions for this time of year, often dictated by the Gods. There would be celebrations soon, including Fulgark's Night, when my people set promise wings (lanterns shaped like wings) in our windows to remind ourselves that winter will not last forever. Summer will come again, and then, we could return to the sky. In Vix, King Throll, the one before Dhrostan, had liked the castle decorated for winter. He would host a ball and sometimes, a few of his people would visit. But I couldn't recall any ceremony being conducted. Perhaps it had been done in secret. The Rites of Ensarena were always conducted privately, if not exactly secretly, but that was a summer tradition. I wondered if I'd be invited to attend Dragon rites if I became Rian's mate.
But I couldn't focus on that yet. Instead, I pulled down my hood and peered at the city wall. The Horns on duty saluted the King as he flew past, and Rian roared in acknowledgment. I knew that would thrill them. It wasn't every day that the Dragon King flew over the city with his King's Guard, and to have him roar for you must make it even more special.
Sure enough, the soldiers whooped and waved. But we were past them in seconds, rising even higher above the Rucholden Forest. I thought I spotted our clearing, the one Rian and I had dined in, but I couldn't be sure. With so many trees barren, there were quite a few clearings covered in snow, the fall made into lace by the hoof and paw prints of animals.
It was a peaceful sight, enough to settle my doubts and fears temporarily. It's hard to feel such things when flying. At least, for those of us who enjoy it. And this was a treat for me as much as it was for the human. Winter grounded the Argaivs of Sken, something I'd never had to deal with before. Fulgark's Night never had a great impact on me when I lived in Vix. Now, however, I understood why the lanterns were important. Hope is necessary to life.
The thought gave me pause. Hope was necessary. That's why Rian got so upset when I tried to deny him his. Hope saw you through the winter on wings of light. It lifted your heart from the cold dark. But hope for the coming summer was well-founded. Summer always came. Hope for mating Rian? It was as certain to be fulfilled.
But, as I said, such dark thoughts couldn't find purchase up there. They got blasted away by the sharp wind. Stolen by the sight of the kingdom of Sken, spread in a patchwork of green, brown, and pale blue below us, the whole of it spotted with white. Smoke drifted up from chimneys in the distance, and then we were beyond the forest and the scent of that smoke reached us. Still, it was faint. Dissipated by distance.
Ah, the distance. It was a treat to fly in the cold, but also to fly so high. Argaivs rarely went this high. Push us off a mountain, and we'll be all right. But we wouldn't deliberately rise to that level. Children were taught when they were little tonever fly higher than their eyes allow. In other words, if you can't see the details of the ground, it's too high.
I couldn't see the details and I loved it. How could I not? Cradled in the claws of my lover, in the company of a loyal companion, with a fire to keep the cold at bay, traveling couldn't get better. And there was another bonus to going so high. Miles went by in seconds.
I'm not sure how long passed. It had to have been at least an hour, but it didn't feel that long. I was still excited to be up there, flying with Rian, when our group started to descend.
I looked closer at the ground. Directly below us was a massive manor with several wings branching off a main hall, and several miles away was another. In the distance, a collection of buildings stood much closer together—a small town. We circled down toward the courtyard before the huge house, its stone walls bowed out to create a half-moon entrance.
“I'm setting you down now, my jewel,” Rian said.
“I'm ready!” I called to him and gathered Vashana close. “Up, Vash!”
Vashana climbed into my lap as Rian set into a hover above the courtyard. When he saw that I was ready, the fire on his palm went out, and he opened his claws.
“Come on, girl!” I lowered Vashana's legs, got up, and raced to the nearby steps to get out of the way.
Sebastian was set down next, then the trunks, off to the side. As Dragons landed and shifted, one by one, Sebastian joined me, standing next to Vashana. We watched the beasts turn back into men, then stride across the snow barefoot toretrieve their clothing from the trunks. I was so distracted that I didn't notice the man who stepped up on my open side. But Vash did. She gave me a warning yip just before the man spoke.
“And Argaiv and a human,” the man said as I turned to see what had attracted Vashana's attention. “What are you doing here?”
Vashana looked from me to the man, waiting for a clue. His tone had been inquisitive, not belligerent, so her hackles weren't up yet. But I heard more than tone, and I knew immediately who this man was. It was impossible to ignore the resemblance between him and his grandson.
“We are here at your grandson's request,” I said.
The Dragon lifted his pale brows. No, he didn't share Rian's coloring, but the shape of his face was the same and so was the line of his stern lips. Those lips parted with surprise before he asked, “How did you know?”
“That you're King Rianvar's grandfather?” I asked.
“Yes.”
Things had gone quiet around us, and I glanced around to see several of Rian's knights standing on the steps, watching our interaction. Not Rian, though. I was on my own. Well, not entirely on my own. I had Vashana, who was watching the Dragon man intently.
“He's spoken of you,” I said.
“Has he?” The Dragon's brown eyes narrowed at me. “In enough detail that you can recognize me?”
“To tell the truth, no. He mentioned that he has grandparents. I assumed you were of the oldest generation, if not close to it, and your question felt appropriate for a man of that age.”
The Dragon snorted. “I believe that was the nicest way anyone has called me an old elitist.”
“That is not at all what I meant.”
That was exactly what I meant.
