Page 127 of Under Restless Skies

“Yes.” She doesn’t sound in the least enthusiastic.

“I’ll come next time. In fact, I’d love to see what you learn.”

She lets out a bitter chuckle. “Nothing useful. We learn how to fend off riders. When are we going to get that close to them?”

I stir as I recall being pinned on the floor of the hallway, those dark eyes piercing me. “Probably never,” I lie, then ask, “Is there anything specific you learn to do against them?”

“It’s the same as the dragons.” Nelly shrugs. “Try to run from them, but if we get close, we can use a dagger and go for the eyes, the throat, things like that.”

The throat. Like Alayel did. It means that it’s not his special move. “How, though? A slash?” I trace a line across my own neck.

She makes a forward movement. “More like stabbing, but I can’t be sure. The instructor is not super clear.”

I frown. “How can you not know what you’re supposed to do?”

“Everything is very vague, and I’m not joking.”

Celine nods. “It’s true. I always hated that class, but at least he didn’t make us fight each other.”

“What do you do?”

“Movements…” Nelly chuckles. “In the air. Then he shows us a diagram with vital body parts. Then we run. It’s bizarre.”

“I’m sorry.” And I’m even more sorry when I consider that the riders have magic, so sentinels are completely unprepared to face them. Maybe I should tell my friends about the riders’ powers, but I still recall Mallor’s words forbidding me from mentioning it to anyone.

Mallor. He might call me soon. At least now I’m not as worried, since I should have Alayel’s protection. Maybe I could even ask my betrothed how to find information to help the hatchlings.

We finish eating, and I follow Celine, who walks with her class to the Outer Hill, until I part ways with her and head to the Outer Beach.

I take my shoes off, letting the warm sand caress my feet. At the water’s edge, I walk on the wet, cool ground and close my eyes, feeling the ocean breeze on my face and the cool water bathing my soles in short bursts as the waves come and go.

Instead of joy, I feel something tightening inside me as I think about the little dragons stuffed in that room. I’ll figure out a solution for them. I have to.

To ease my mood, my thoughts turn to Alayel. My future husband. He danced with me in front of the entire academy, then introduced me to his father as his future wife. It was like a wondrous dream, the kind that feels too far-fetched to ever become real. But it’s my reality. I’m betrothed to a prince.

When I look at the sky again, I spot the first glider in the air, and that old, deep yearning comes in full force. I still want to be there, flying—despite everything.

Some wishes are illogical, I suppose, and yet if I close my eyes, I can feel the air drifting beneath me, can see the beach from up above, can imagine myself flying so clearly that the absence of it aches. And yet it’s safer down here. It’s safer to know that I won’t have to fly when there’s an attack, that I won’t have to confront dragons.

Unless Mallor decides I should fly, after all. I suppose I’ll see what happens.

A familiar scent catches my nose.

I turn and see Alayel walking toward me, his stride confident and relaxed, a lovely smile on his face. “Why is it so hard to find my betrothed?”

“I was at the refectory this morning. You don’t eat?”

He grabs my waist and pulls me toward him, then gives me a brief kiss on the lips. “I sleep until I absolutely must get up. But I found you. What are you doing here?”

I point to the hill. “Celine’s flying.”

He looks up, squinting against the sun. “My batch is going next.”

“You’re going to fly too?” My heart speeds up and I don’t know if it’s from worry or yearning.

“No. I don’t really fly, I just monitor the group.”

“So you’ll never have to face the dragons.”