Reneta rolls her eyes. “We may not have a powerful dragon to ride on, but we have dragons just the same. We’ll send them to the sky to follow you and Redara, and we’ll travel on foot. They’ll guide us. We won’t be as fast as you, obviously, but we’re pretty fast when we pull from our dragon speed.”
I take in her words. “Huh. Okay.”
“Besides, how else were you going to get him on his dragon? Lift him and carry him up?” she asks.
Honestly, I hadn’t really thought through that part. “Are you going to be okay flying again?” Thorne asks. “Want us to wrap your knee in the meantime?”
“No,” I manage a hobble backwards. “Don’t touch it.” It already hurts so badly, my heartbeat is keeping time with it. The idea of somebody touching it or wrapping it makes me want to scream. “I’ll survive. Let’s just get Rauk the medicine he needs and get back here, and we can go from there.”
It takes a much longer time than I would have liked for Kaldar to return. When he does, he brings a small bag. “Let metell you how this works.” He explains to me how to use the pain reliever. “It will numb his nerve endings and help take the pain away for a while.”
“How happy was Sryena to part with her precious healing ointment?” I ask.
Kaldar’s eyebrows knit together. “Not very. Now go, so you can get back.”
“Will that help with the pain from her leg?” Reneta surprises me by asking.
Kaldar shakes his head. “No, sorry. This helps for nerve pain; it shuts down the pain receptors. It won’t do anything for her leg.”
“That’s okay.” I take the bag from him. “Real quick. Did we get all the guivres?” I ask Kaldar before he can leave.
“Not all of them; some escaped. But we will hunt them down and finish them off. They will never be a threat again.” I expect some kind of incredible feeling to wash over me, but it doesn’t. I think I feel more like what I can see on Kaldar’s face—resignation. It had to be done, but there’s no joy in wiping out a group of people, no matter how terrible they are.
I turn to Thorne, Shane, and Reneta. “I’m leaving. You guys will follow?”
“Want help?” Shane asks.
“No, I’m good.” I turn towards Redara.You good to head back? I’ve got what we need.
Are you good?She asks in return.
I’ll survive.I actually feel a little like I’m going to throw up, but I push the pain aside just like I have every other time in mylife. She bends down, and I stare up at her, willing myself the strength to get back on her. To distract myself from the pain of what I’m about to do, I ask her what I’ve been meaning to ask.Would you or Noxlyn ever let someone else ride you, like if I couldn’t? Would you let somebody like Thorne or Reneta or someone ride you?I push myself the rest of the way and get into place behind her neck. My leg is screaming at me, and I try to breathe through the pain.I take it from your silence that’s a no.
Dragons only bear their bonded one.
But you took Auri with us when we had to leave the Dragon Kingdom,I remind her.
Yes. But that was in a dangerous situation, and you were still my rider. She wasn’t riding without you.
We lift into the air, and I breathe a sigh of relief that we’re finally moving towards Rauk. Movement out of the corner of my eye startles me, and I nearly fall off Redara’s back.Careful!She snaps at me.
I take in the three spirit dragons flying beside me in awe. It truly is an amazing experience flying through the sky with them. I keep a careful watch for any guivres, but I don’t see any. The flight doesn’t take too long, and soon Nox comes into view. Redara lands at the top of the first hill, as close to the edge as she can. I stare at the ground, willing it to come to me instead of me having to climb down. I finally start the process. When I finally get to the ground, I lean against Redara’s leg. My hands are shaking; I feel like I’m going to throw up. I don’t know how in the world I’m going to get this to Rauk. The three spirit dragons make a sort of circle around Redara and I. I manage to lowermyself to the ground before my good leg gives out on me.I just need a minute,I tell Redara. I hate my weakness. I know I need to get to Rauk, but I just can’t take the pain right now. I just need to give it a moment to...well, I don’t know what exactly I want it to do except stop hurting so stinkin’ much. I lower my head onto my good knee and try to catch my breath and find my willpower. I’m not sure how many minutes I sit there before I hear voices.
“We’re here,” Reneta says. “Where is he?”
I lift my head, which feels like a thousand pounds. “He’s right down there.” I try to move to get to my feet, but I can’t.
“Here, let me help you up,” Shane offers, but I push him away.
“I’m okay.”
He steps back, and I try again. When I can’t get off the ground, I hit the ground in frustration. Reneta comes over. “Come on.” She takes my hand and pulls me right up on my good leg. Pain still ricochets through my leg, but at least I’m on my feet.
“Thank you.”
She puts her hand out to me. “Give me the pouch.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “I’ll do it.”
