"A successful first day," Thrane proclaims, echoing the words he'd offered me after he caught me from my first fall. "Would you not agree, Aurelia?"
His smile warms me, and the cold suddenly doesn't seem so bitter. I return his grin and nod. "A successful first day."
Ten
Shaye
Exactly three days later, whether Nyx is truly ready or not, our small caravan saddles up for our early morning flight. The wind is nippy, and I puff out swirls of cold breath as I tug the leather gloves Atlas gifted me up to my wrists. Currently, I have so many layers on I'm sweating, but my mother assured me each piece was necessary since we are flying as far north as we can go without the dragons' wings frosting over.
Nyx sits on Drexel's back with confidence, as if he's been flying all his life. I'll admit, he was a much faster learner than I was. Competitiveness and comparison whispered in my soul watching him complete maneuvers in a few attempts when it took me several days to land them. But whenever I saw Nyx's smile, my jealousy dissipated and I remembered he's my best friend and I want him to succeed. His accomplishments don't diminish my own. It then hits me, perhaps that's exactly how Atlas feels about the situation. He would rather his brother be happy and whole than stew in jealousy that he wasn't the onechosen. Atlas' love for Nyx far outweighs his need or want to compare.
"You ready, Kitarni?" Nyx's familiar greeting pulls me from my thoughts.
I flash a bright grin his way, resting my elbows on Seraxes' saddle horn. "Bet you a pint atPrue'sI'll make it to the Northern Crest before you."
"Interesting," he coos, eyes dancing in mischief. "Make it a stein and you have yourself a deal."
"A stein it is," I agree, patting Seraxes' side. "Get us there before Drexel and there's extra treats with your name on them," I whisper to my dragon. She turns her head slightly so she can stare at me with one narrowed eye. "I'm not questioning your speed," I defend myself before she gets cranky. "Just giving you extra incentive to be the first dragon there." She mulls over my words before what I can only describe as a wicked gleam in her eyes takes over. That's when I know, without a shadow of doubt, Seraxes will do everything in her power to beat Drexel. She takes the utmost pride in her swiftness and that ability won't be called into question.
"That's my girl," I slide my gloved hand up and down her scales.
Thrane struts up to his dragon, Artax, like he's a deity amongst men. Even this early in the morning, there's not one strand of his long white hair out of place. He is void of kingly adornments, not even sporting the thin silver band he typically wears. However, he grabs an outstretched helmet from one of the stable boys as he mounts Artax. The rest of us – Nyx, Sylvane, Kamari, and I – were given similar ones to match our armor. The helmets are unlike anything I've ever seen before. Carved at the front, there is a dragon head with its mouth open. At the top, the dragon's spine runs the length of the rest of the helmet, the tail trailingdown the back of our necks and seamlessly fusing into the flexible metal plating stretching across our shoulders.
It feels odd to be sporting armor instead of dragon riding leathers. For one, it's much heavier and two, it's extremely uncomfortable. But I suppose I should get used to the metal option if we are to fly our dragons into battle against Drogon one day.
"Ready?" Thrane stares at each and every one of us. We nod and flip our visors down to shield our eyes. And that's when the nerves kick in.
"This is just like every other flight," I mutter to myself. I'm not sure why I'm anxious. Perhaps it's journeying to the unknown frostbitten terrain or maybe it's something deep in my gut signaling something is amiss. I don't have time to second guess this mission. So, I tuck my body against Seraxes and prepare for takeoff.
"On me!" Thrane orders, and Artax spears into the sky, piercing through the snowflakes fluttering down.
Seraxes bounds upward like an arrow shot from a bow. As we taper off into a horizontal flying position, my nerves are forgotten, and I breathe in the cold air, soaking in the sunlight warming my face. This is my favorite part. It's not the tricks or barrel rolls; it's not the obstacle courses or competition with other Basilius flight times. It's this. The feeling of freedom. Seeing what most mortals will never be permitted to experience. The world from above. I extend my hand as Serxaes flies through fluffy clouds and watch as my fingers dance in their whisps.
What I wouldn't give for Atlas to experience this just once. Maybe I'll sweet talk Seraxes into letting him fly with us one day.
A gust of wind propels Seraxes upward, jarring me in my seat. I clench my thighs around her torso to steady myself. Seraxes growls, barring her dagger-like teeth as Drexel and Nyx fly up next to us. Drexel is twice, if not, three times Seraxes' size, andif I've learned anything about my dragon in the last month, it's she truly hates when other dragons get too close to her. Part of me wants to believe she's being protective of me as well, but then again, Seraxes might be annoyed they're throwing off her rhythm.
"How far is it to the Northern Crest?" Nyx yells his question for me to hear.
I roll my eyes. "We just started our flight and you're already asking how much longer until we get there?" I tease.
"Very funny." He picks up on the childish implication, but presses, "Seriously, I don't understand travel times with dragons."
I hold up a hand in surrender. "Fair enough." Granted, I'm also not an expert in trip times. However, I asked my mother the exact same question this morning. "Sylvane said it would be a six-hour flight."
"I see you already asked," he smirks.
"Only because I knew you'd want to know," I fire back with a smile. "I just didn't expect you to ask two minutes into the trip."
Nyx barks out a hearty laugh before we all take our positions in flying formation. Thrane leads the charge, Sylvane behind him on his right and Kamari on his left. Nyx and I are at the back, but I don't mind so much. I'm just glad to have my best friend with me. Now to stay alert. I'm not sure what could possibly harm us all the way up here, but I don't permit myself to relax. Whenever I get comfortable, something bad seems to happen. If my hair wasn't already white, I'm sure my stress would sprout them.
Atlas pops into my head and just his presence in my thoughts alone brings me great comfort.
Get to the Northern Crest. Find evidence of the portal to Orabelle. Fly to Tronovia. Be reunited with Atlas.
That's my plan and I'm going to fight tooth and nail to ensure that's exactly how this journey goes.
My mother's timing is spot on. By the time Thrane signals for us to begin our descent, I am nearly frozen through all my layers, bits of ice clinging to my armor.
