Vidarr nudges me and I nearly lose my footing. He pushes me again and I hop back. His snout connects with my chest a third time.
"Why is he doing that?" I call out to Thrane and the corners of his mouth tick upward.
"He wants you to play."
"Play?" My eyes widen. "How does one play with a dragon?"
Thrane shrugs a lazy shoulder. "Try running."
It's then I remember Sylvane comparing dragons to giant dogs. I thought that only applied to Frost Dragons, but maybe Vidarr is similar. Black Dragons hail from the northernmost lands, where mortals have not even tread for its treacherously cold climate. So maybe he is more like Seraxes and Artax than I originally thought.
I shift foot-to-foot, watching in wonder as he hops side to side with me. Then I take off into a sprint across the arena and Vidarr chases after me. I zip around, dodging obstacles, and doing my best not to put any of the Frost Dragons in Vidarr's direct path.
I'm not sure what propels me to do it, but I whip to face Vidarr and sprint at him. I've seen Shaye and Nyx mount their dragons countless times. We'll see if Vidarr permits me to do the same.
As I near him, Vidarr dips his head to the ground and I run up his snout, over his head, and spin to sit on his back.
A laugh escapes my lips as I smile at Shaye in the stands. She's beaming. My chest swells. But then my heart suddenly lurches.
Vidarr is still running but his giant wings flap and without warning, or proper gear, we're ascending into the sky.
Holy shit. I'm riding a dragon. I'm flying!
Wind whips through my hair and my grip on his scales tightens. I wasn't expecting to be flying today. But I'm learning Vidarr has a mind of his own and will do as he pleases. Probably a dangerous start to our relationship, but with time, we can work on –
He banks to the right and despite my best efforts, I can't hold my seat and slide off his side.
I'm falling. Fast. I open my eyes, daring to look below, hoping and praying I see the sea and not city streets. To my horror, I'm beelining for the square, filled with hundreds of Tronovians browsing the vendors in the market. Unlike the Frost Elves who go up with a flying partner for incidents like this, I'm alone. This isn't going to end well.
A shriek from above draws my gaze. White wings flap and Shaye's horrified face is all I see before everything slows. She shouts something I can't make out and Seraxes nose dives. They're attempting to save me, but I'm not a fool. I know she's too far to be helpful, despite their best efforts. I scan the skies but don't catch sight of Vidarr.
Naya's face flashes in my mind. I didn't even have the chance to repeat history.
A guttural roar to my right draws my gaze. With unnatural speed, Vidarr tucks his wings against his body and bulletsstraight for me. I know I'm getting closer to the ground when screams from below reach my ears. Whether their yelps are for my ultimate gruesome demise or the dragons hurdling toward them, I'll never know. I close my eyes and take a deep, steadying breath. If I am to go, I want Shaye to be my last vision. But when I open my eyes, searching for her, the fear I expect to see is gone, replaced with wonder.
Vidarr snatches me in his claws, hitching my body in a completely different direction. Fuck! That hurt like shit. My torso is banged up pretty good and will most likely bruise, but I'm alive and intact. I press my face to Vidarr's claw. He eyes me curiously.
"Thank you," I whisper against his leg.
Shaye and Seraxes fly up next to us.
"Are you all right?" Shaye asks. I can see the tears staining her face, the ones she attempted to wipe away but left a trail in its wake.
"I almost shit myself, but I'm all right," I try to infuse some levity and thank the Stars it works. A twitch of a smile crosses her face and it's enough to steal my breath. "You came for me?"
"Riders should never ride alone," she repeats what Thrane and Sylvane ground into her. "But it appears your dragon is fast enough to handle your slip ups."
She's not wrong. The Frost Dragons move with exceptional speed, but Vidarr puts them all to shame. I'll have to continue practicing over the next couple weeks before the other world leaders make their way to Tronovia for Ronan's wedding.
Suddenly, all the worry and doubt and fear I harbored this morning dissipates as I look out at the horizon. I've never seen a view more beautiful. Endless miles of forest and sea. I sense the bond between Vidarr and myself grow stronger after one brief session. I'm not sure if it's the magic or another reason entirely, but I have hope Vidarr and I won't suffer the same fate he andNaya did. Nyx's words echo in my head from last night. I am not Naya Valanor and maybe that's the point.
But one thing is certain. If I live in dread, I will manifest the very thing I fear. Vidarr and I have a lot to prove to ourselves and to everyone around us.
I pat his leg once more, his purple eye finding me as he flies us back to Draakstan. Together, we will find peace.
Twenty - Four
Finn
