Page 163 of Under Restless Skies

“So you say. Where’s the dragon?”

He stops and turns to me. This time, there’s kindness in his eyes. “You’ll see that dragon again. That’s a promise. And he’ll be fine. You have more things to worry about now.”

“What about Ava and Vos?”

He blinks. “What did you say?”

“The little dragons. I gave them names. Will they be safe?”

“They flew away with their aunt. They’ll heal.”

I exhale, untangling the knots in my heart. They’re safe. They’ll get to fly and be free and happy. I want to thank Foros and Vigorlu and Cardiana. The hatchlings are safe, and at least one thing didn’t go wrong.

“What’s his name?” I ask. “The dragon. He saved me twice now, and I don’t know his name.”

He pauses. “A dragon will give you their name when you’re worthy.”

“Ah. Never, then.” We step onto a wider path, from where I can see him better.

“I didn’t say that.” He extends a hand. “My name’s Tauan.”

“Oh. I’m worthy of your name?” I say, half teasing.

“What you did back there was very brave.”

I take his hand. A strange feeling moves through me at the contact, charged like the air before a storm. “I’m Mayara.”

“I know.”

“How?” I let go of his hand, an odd emptiness taking hold where our palms touched.

“One day you’ll understand.”

I don’t like the non-answer, but I’m not going to complain. He saved the little dragons, after all. And me.

“Can I at least ask where we’re going?”

A faint smile touches his lips. “You can ask anything you want. Whether I’ll answer is a different thing.”

“Right.”

“But I’ll answer you. I’m taking you to my home village. We’ll need to walk there, so that nobody sees us. Other Derkeinians might want to kill you on sight.”

I swallow. “Will I be safe there?”

“I’ll make sure you are.”

His confidence brings a sudden, unexpected warmth to my chest, alleviating some of the fear lodged there.

He continues, “I’ll let them know how bravely you fought.”

My face feels like it’s on fire.

“It was nothing.” I shake my head, queasy with his compliment.

Walking into the Kingdom of the Riders, or rather, Derkein, is terrifying, but I try to hope that maybe there’s a reason I’m here, maybe this is not the end, even if I might never see my family again. The thought makes my heart heavy.

Still, for so long, my dream was to fly. I flew today. Truly flew.