Adelina released his hand, scrubbing her cheeks with her sleeve, and pasted a bright smile on her face. “I’m all right now.”
Who did she think she was fooling? She looked terrible.
Then her face changed. Eyes bright, she smiled—a genuine smile. “Can you feel it?” Adelina asked, her voice filled with wonder.
What? Kierion shrugged.
And then he felt it. His tiredness vanished. Excitement pulsed through his veins. He wanted to run straight up the stairs onto the plateau.
“It’s the dragons. Come on.” Adelina snatched up his hand again, and they raced up the stairs.
Out on the plateau, Kierion’s heart pounded. The sky beyond was filled with flapping wings, sinuous necks and dragon maws shooting tiny flames of excitement. Scales flashed in the sun: emerald, copper, scarlet, violet, mustard, orange, blue and more. The whole sky seethed with color.
With thuds, dragons landed in the snow, flurries eddying with their wingbeats.
And then Kierion saw her. His dragon. His heart exploded wide open, and a rush of love enveloped him. He was swept up in a river of feeling, his feet moving effortlessly toward this golden-eyed beauty out on the plateau. Her purple scales glinted with gold specks as she approached him.
“Kierion, you were born to be my rider.”
No one had told him that imprinting was like this—a rush of emotion so intense, it could sweep you away; a harmony so sweet, you could cry; a dragon so exquisite, you’d give your life for her. “How did you know my name?”
“Since your prank with the arrows, all the dragons know your name. It caused quite a stir, you know.”
Kierion’s ears went red, yet again. “What’s your name?”
“I shall now be named Riona, in your honor—because it’s an honor to have a rider like you.”
“L-like me?”
Then Kierion had the oddest moment of his life—and he’d had plenty of odd moments. He saw himself as Riona did: tall, lean, with a shock of blond hair and blue-gray eyes. Pretty sea eyes, his Ma had called them. But it wasn’t his features that were strange; it was his face, etched with love as he gazed at his new friend.
He touched her snout. Her scales were warm and as supple as worn leather. He scratched her eye ridges, and she thrummed, like a purring cat. A shot of vicious pleasure ripped through his mind with an image of Riona devouring a cat. Her lip curled back and her fangs glinted.
“You’re smiling.” Kierion laughed. “You have a sense of humor, too.”
“And I like pranks, as much as you.”
Master Alyssa approached, holding a bowl of meat scraps.
“Thank you.” Kierion held some out for Riona.
Her snout tickled his palm as she snaffled them down. “Come on, Kierion, let’s fly.”
Riona’s impatience thrummed through Kierion. Stepping upon her extended foreleg, he climbed onto her back. She had no saddle, so he settled into a soft hollow between her spinal ridges and hung on tight. Riona’s haunches tensed, coiled with energy.
A voice rang out over the plateau. “Please wait before you fly.”
It was Ezaara, flying on Zaarusha, sitting tall in the saddle, holding a stick high in the air as the queen landed on the plateau. Hang on, there was something familiar about that stick. Kierion squinted against the sun. It was the cane Roberto had carved for Ezaara.
Riona’s body trembled beneath Kierion, full of suppressed energy. Other new riders were straddling their dragons, perched in the snow, ready to fly. With one short call, Ezaara had stopped them all.
“Welcome to the ranks of riders of fire,” Ezaara said. “In time, you’ll learn to harness the energy from your dragon to enhance your abilities. Some of you may inherit their gifts too. Use what they give you wisely. Now, before you fly, you must all pledge to serve our Honored Dragon Queen, Zaarusha, and Dragons’ Realm.” Ezaara held her staff high again.
Voices fired up, everyone chanted, “We pledge to serve our Honored Dragon Queen, Zaarusha, and Dragons’ Realm.”
“I pledge to serve my queen, Zaarusha, and Dragons’ Realm,” Riona said at the same time.
Zaarusha roared, accepting their allegiance.
A ripple of pride flowed through Kierion from Riona. He chuckled. “Your emotions are so glorious. You make the colors in my life brighter.”
“You inspire them, Kierion. Everything feels richer since we’ve imprinted. I can’t help sharing that with you.” Again, a rumble built in his mind.
At the back of the plateau, Sofia and Alban were perched on dragons, scowling.
Kierion couldn’t imagine them pledging to anyone. Sofia had been as sour as an unripe grape lately, and had poisoned Alban’s attitude, too. Behind them were the trainees who hadn’t imprinted yet, most trying bravely to smile and failing.
“Before you fly, please introduce your dragons to us,” the Queen’s Rider requested. “We’ll start with Gret.”
“Gret and Hagret.” Gret was sitting on a scarlet dragon.
“Adelina with Linaia.” Adelina sat smiling, on a fine blue mount, whose scales changed from light to dark as she moved.
“Lofty with Itziga.”
Their names didn’t match. Murmurs immediately broke out among the new riders.
Ezaara raised her staff again. “I know it appears Lofty is breaking the naming convention between rider and dragon because their names don’t have a common syllable, but he isn’t.” Ezaara laughed. “His true name is Fritz. My brother Tomaaz nicknamed him Lofty, back in Lush Valley because he’s so short.”
The towering Lofty, short? Everyone laughed. Lofty grinned and gestured at the next rider to continue.
It wasn’t until Ezaara laughed that Kierion realized something was wrong. When she’d arrived at the hold, Ezaara had laughed easily. Now it was forced. Dark shadows smudged her eyes, her shoulders were weighed down and her smile was brittle.
“Kierion with Riona.” He inclined his head.
Riona roared, and a tremor ran through him. “I want to fly,” she said.
“Not long.” As more riders introduced themselves and their dragons, Riona’s impatience grew, making Kierion itch to get going.
At last it was Sofia’s turn.
“Sofia and Aria.” Sofia’s dragon was also purple, but not as beautiful as Riona.
“Aria sings,” said Riona. “When she was tiny, her voice was awful, but now she’s quite melodious.”
“Really? I didn’t know dragons could sing.”
“Alban and Banikan.” Alban was on an emerald dragon.
Hopefully, he’d be sent off to the green guards in Naobia. Kierion was sick of his scowl.
Raising a hand, Master Alyssa called, “Now fly. Trust your dragons. We’ll see you in the training cavern after dinner.”
Flapping, roars, and whoops filled the air as dragons launched into the sky.
Instead of leaping after them, Riona strode to the edge and dropped down. The mountain face whooshed past. Wind tugged at Kierion’s hair. The snowy clearing rushed closer. His stomach plummeted.
Riona flapped her wings to break their fall, and soared over the basin. Above them, dragons were blurs of color in the sky. Riona caught a thermal and spiraled up toward the snowy peaks. Kierion was filled with a rush of energy that took his breath away. Every wingbeat sent a tremor of joy through him. Shards, he felt so alive. He’d never be the same again.
So that’s why riders said life wasn’t worth living if you lost your dragon.
Mage Gate
Fenni and Master Giddi traveled over the rocky pass and down through foothills. “Try that snow drift,” Master Giddi ordered.
Flame blasted from Fenni’s fingertips, shooting under the foliage of two strongwoods to hit the snowy hump. His fireball sizzled, melting the snow and revealing a rock.
Giddi grunted. “If you can manage that from horseback, you might have a shot at doing decently on dragonback one day. Try that stump.”
On dragonback? That would b
e awesome. Fenni flung out his hands, but his fire fizzled out on the side of the trail. Oh, shards, his flame still wasn’t reliable.
A bushy eyebrow raised. “Keep practicing.”
“I’ve never seen a mage on dragonback.” Oh, what a fool. He was speaking to the dragon mage himself. “Sorry, I meant—”
“Don’t worry so much, Fenwick. Of course you’ve never seen a wizard on a dragon, but years ago, we rode behind dragon riders, blasting tharuks with wizard flame while riders shot arrows.” He sighed. “It’ll never happen again, in your lifetime.” His master gave such an ominous scowl that Fenni didn’t dare ask anything else. They rode on in silence, Master Giddi deep in thought with his bushy eyebrows pulled down.
When they entered the northern part of Great Spanglewood Forest, the woods were carpeted in deep snow. The horses trudged on until they arrived at a wide snowy clearing, sliced through the middle by a fast-moving stream. The far side was edged with tents, a stable and cabins with green mage smoke curling from their chimneys.
Master Giddi chaffed his hands together. Fenni’s behind was saddle-sore and his shoulders ached from flinging flame all day. If only he could rest.
Wizards dotted the clearing, shooting flame at targets, and dueling each other with snow, water or flame. Thick vines wrapped themselves around one woman’s legs, and a magical gust of wind knocked a man down. Bolts of light flashed from trees and mages conjured magical shields to protect themselves. A group were gathered by a cauldron over an outdoor fire, brewing a smelly concoction that wafted plumes of blue smoke.
Master Giddi and Fenni walked their horses through the low point of the stream, then dismounted and led them toward the stable.
“Hey, it’s the dragon mage,” a group of Naobian mages called out, waving at Giddi.
“Master Giddi.” A Naobian, a couple of summers older than Fenni, with broad shoulders and long black hair broke away from the group. His skin was tan, and his eyes were a startling blue—not typical for a Naobian. He was a flashy type, wearing three earrings—turquoise, jade and garnet. “Jael of Naobia.” He held his hand out to Fenni.
Fenni shook it. “Fenni of Montanara.”
“Ah, so you’re Fenni?” Jael smiled. “I’m helping you train, right?”
Fenni shot a querying gaze at Master Giddi.
Giddi gave a sharp nod. “Ah, right. Forgot to mention that.”
Jael pounded Master Giddi on the back. Master Giddi embraced him.
His gruff old master hugging someone? Fenni’s boots nearly flew off in surprise.
“So, I got your messenger bird,” Jael said. “I’ve brought the herbs with me. You say the former master healer is back at Dragons’ Hold? What’s she like?”
Master Giddi grinned. “You’ll meet her later. First, Fenni needs a little practice with underwater fireballs.”
“Sure, come with me.” Jael led Fenni past a blonde mage aiming her hands at the snow. Light shimmered from her fingers and snow was swept from the ground, exposing the lush grass beneath. A flurry formed, then thickened, growing into an impenetrable wall, blocking their way. The wall iced over, solidifying.
“Ah, Velrama, could you please let us through?” Jael asked with a laugh.
“Sure.” The blonde girl shot a bolt of green flame at the wall. The snow in the center sizzled and melted, creating an archway for them to walk through. On the other side of the wall was an old mage with snowy hair and a beard threaded with brightly-colored mage crystals—turquoise, green, red and purple—that indicated his rank as a senior wizard master.
“You’re Giddi’s lackey, aren’t you?” The mage’s gaze was so intense, he could’ve peeled skin.
What had he done wrong? Fenni drew himself up, and met the master’s eye. “Yes, sir, the dragon mage is my master.” That ought to impress him.
The wizard’s lip curled and his nose wrinkled in distaste. “Don’t miss the choosing pouch ceremony at sunset or you’ll forfeit your place in the trials.”
Fenni and Jael made their way into the woods. “Who was that old grump?”
“Master Starrus,” Jael replied.
“That was Master Starrus?” Fenni had heard of the high master on the Wizard Council. “He’ll be judging the trials tomorrow?” The Egg help him—he was going to need it if that sour man was determining whether he passed or not.
Jael’s bark of laughter startled a deer, its white tail flashing as it fled. “One of the reasons you need more practice.”
The stream met a broad river that wound between the trees. Although the edges were crusted with ice, the middle still flowed. “Let’s work here,” Jael said.
Fenni took off his cloak, but Jael stopped him from removing more clothing. “You won’t have time to take off your clothes in battle. Do you really want to face tharuks naked?”
“Good point.”
“Go on, then, jump in.”
“But—”
“Come on, my feet are getting cold. We Naobians are used to the sun.”
As if Jael would get cold in his fur-lined leather boots. A thousand questions flooded Fenni’s mind. Who was Jael? What if there was another strangleton? Why had Master Giddi abandoned him to a stranger, nearly the same age as him?
“Now, Fenni. We can’t miss the choosing pouch.” Sparks flew at Fenni’s boots.
Fenni dived into the icy water. Reaching out with his mind, he ignored his sodden breeches dragging him down, and drew on the sathir of the river flora and fauna. Sparks flaring at his fingertips, he tried to warm himself. Shards, this was colder than Spanglewood River. Much colder. Icy water pressed in on him, chilling him. His chest constricted in panic and the air whooshed out of his lungs. The sparks at his fingertips died. Fenni burst above the surface, face dripping. He’d failed again.
“Don’t let the cold put you off,” Jael barked.
Under he went, but the chilly water stole Fenni’s breath again—and again.
Finally, Jael motioned him over to the bank and hauled him out. Instead of berating him, Jael embraced him.
What? When Jael stepped back, Fenni’s clothes were dry and he was toasty warm. “That’s great.”
“Sit.”
Fenni parked his rump in the snow.
“Here, eat this.” Jael gave him some dried beef to chew on. “What’s stopping you?”
“My breath,” Fenni answered between bites. “It’s just so sharding cold, it steals my air. It’s panic, I guess.”
“If you can manage fire across all mediums, you can manage anything. Master Starrus has a grudge half the length of Dragons’ Realm against your master. Tomorrow, he’ll do anything to make you fail. You have to try harder for Giddi’s sake.”
For Giddi’s sake? What about his own? What about vengeance for his uncle’s death?
“Your weakness is your fear, but you need to master it. What’s the worst thing that could happen to you in that river?”
“I could die of cold. Drown. Get caught by a strangleton. Eaten by a muncher.”
“I did a sathir sweep of the river when we got here and couldn’t sense any munchers or strangletons. Besides, Master Giddi would blast my britches if I let you die. Now, anything else?”
“I, ah …”
“Good, then get back in the water.” A fireball flew from Jael’s hand, right at Fenni’s head. He ducked, scrambling back into the river.
Fenni came up spluttering a few more times, but by the end of the afternoon, Jael had Fenni shooting fireballs at him from underwater, while he perched high in a tree. Finally, Fenni clambered from the river, shooting volleys of fireballs.
Jael easily caught every one of them. “Not bad,” he said. “Now dry yourself.”
How? Fenni had never done that with magic.
The icy wind cut through Fenni’s clothes, making him shiver. Jael leaned against the trunk of a strongwood tree and chewed on another piece of dried beef. “You must be freezing,” he said, watching Fenni with those strange blue eyes.
Desp
ite shivering, Fenni’s mouth watered. “Could I have a piece? I’m starving.”
“Once you’ve earned it.” Jael’s earrings caught the sun, sparkling blue, green and red.
That wasn’t fair. All Jael had done was sit around on his behind, barking commands, while Fenni had been using firepower all afternoon—freezing his backside off. Who did he think he was? Why, he was just a jumped-up trainee, only a year or two older than himself. “Why, you—” Hey, what was going on? Steam was rising from his clothes.
“Well done. Now, finish the job off without getting angry.” Jael tossed him a strip of beef.
Fenni caught it. The steam dissipated. Cold seeped back into his skin. Without getting angry? Fenni created an internal rush of energy, similar to the sensation of being angry, but without the emotion. His clothes were dry in a heartbeat.
“You’re a fast learner.” Jael passed him his cloak. “Now, let’s get back for the choosing pouch. I’m dying to see who you’ll be dueling.”
“Hey, thanks. My cloak’s warm.”
“You deserved that for putting up with me for so long.” Jael cocked his head. “Great stamina. You probably didn’t realize how many hours we’ve been at this.”
The sun was low and the woods were shrouded in early evening shadows as they arrived back at the clearing. Mages stood in a circle in the snow with a fat sack in their midst. The blaze of sunset peeked through the trees.
“Just in time,” whispered Jael at Fenni’s side.
From across the clearing, Master Giddi mind-melded. “Jael says your control was exemplary. Well done. Now that you can control fire underwater, you should be able to control it anywhere.”
A gentle glow spread through Fenni at his master’s praise, but he’d missed what Master Starrus was saying.
“… and may the best opponent win,” Master Starrus finished.
“The feathers will determine your dueling partner,” Jael whispered. “Watch, here they come.”
“What? We never did that at the last trial.” Maybe because Master Starrus had been away.
Jael’s only answer was an infuriating grin. Did that guy never stop smiling?
Riders of Fire Box Set Page 73
