I let my lips twist like I was thinking about it. “How far away is it?”
“We could fly there, see the dragons and return before the ball, though you would need help with your hair and dressing when we return—but of course, I can provide that, as well.”
I stared straight into his eye as if I were measuring him, but actually stretched for Donavyn in my mind, cursing. Where was he that I couldn’t reach him? I should have been able to speak to him anywhere in the castle. He and Kgosi could follow us if I could tell him.
Hanson stepped over to a chest at the side of the room and squatted in front of it, opening the rounded top and leaning into it, before straightening again.
“Look in the mirror again,” he said.
Warily, I did as he asked, watching him in the shining surface over my shoulder. He walked slowly to stand behind me, close enough that I could feel the warmth of him on the bare skin at the back of my neck.
Then he lifted something in both hands over my head and draped it across my collarbones, drawing the lengths together behind my neck.
I felt his fingers brush my nape as he closed the clasp, then straightened it.
I gasped.
It was a perfect miniature dragon, with wings and a tail and four legs, even tiny horns and ears, carved out of a shimmering sapphire.
“It matches your eyes,” he murmured, then drew away, stopping two steps back, folding his arms, but never dropping eye-contact when I looked up from the necklace.
“Let me show you, Bren. Let me show you my dragons, and let me show you the world thatonly Ican open for you.”
58. The Claw of Fear
~ BREN ~
Hanson held my armsfartoo tightly, but helovedbeing on dragonback. He raised his head and shook his hair out—the first time I’d seen it out of its slick, waxed lines—and whooped into the late afternoon sky.
Akhane shook her head, but flew on.
‘I don’t think he’d harm me, Akhane. I think he really does want to convince me. But regardless, we’re together and we’ll find these dragons.’
Akhane shook her head again. We’d been flying for almost an hour, though not at Akhane’s top pace. Even she and Kgosi couldn’t communicate with words across this distance. But she’d spoken to Kgosi before we left, and he’d fill Donavyn in.
Kgosi didn’t know where Donavyn had gone. I hadn’t been able to reach him even when I walked through the castle. Hanson swore we’d return in time to attend the ball, and he’dhave Chardin help me dress—she would find a maid who could help with my hair when we returned.
It wasalsoclear that he hoped when we returned I’d walk into the ball on his arm. But I hadn’t agreed to do so. I needed him to believe he still had to entice me.
Finally, Hanson stopped whooping like a child and began to watch the ground, leaning over Akhane’s neck in a way that made me think he’d been on dragonback before. He didn’t have the instinctive fear of falling that most first-time riders were plagued by.
Then he sat up suddenly and turned his head, calling back to me through the wind. “Tell her to land there. That clearing. On the hillside.”
I leaned around him to see where he pointed. I knew Akhane had heard him herself, but I told her to wait a moment before responding. He clearly believed only certain people could understand or communicate with dragons. And I wasn’t about to disabuse him of the idea.
“The landing will be the most difficult part. Check your strap. If you fall, don’t panic. I’ll get you down.”
I didn’t know how I would do it, he was far too heavy for me to lift. But I might be able to unclip him and let him drop.
Hanson nodded. He jerked on his safety strap to make sure it held, then reached for my arms again which were around him to help keep him in his seat.
“No, hold the neckstrap and pull up on it the entire time, pulling yourselfintoyour seat.”
His face had gone pale, but he nodded. I told Akhane to land.
By the time she stopped, he was hanging off her withers with one knee, but he hadn’t actually fallen, which was impressive.
While I helped him get safely to ground, Akhane stood stock still, but her nostrils flared, and her ears flicked often. Then she snorted steam, and shook her head.
