Heartscale

by Lola Ford

“We are going to start off with the different stitches. I will instruct you on a stitch, and then you will duplicate it the full width of the hoop. I will then examine your work. If it is acceptable, we will move on to the next type of stitch - if not, you will repeat the practice.”

  Alaena was tucking her own handkerchief into the hoop and had a green floss.

  They started with the straight stitch, it was simple, into the fabric, then back out, in a line over and over. Nerie felt confident in her work and quickly made a line of red floss and handed the hoop to the queen.

  “This is unacceptable, your stitch length is wildly inconsistent and there are gaps between the end of one stitch and the start of the next. Again.”

  Slowing down, Nerie carefully placed stitch after stitch.

  Alaena in the meantime had pulled out a third hoop that had an elaborate scene forming on it. Nerie could make out Ilex and Eras, and from the thread still in the basket she guessed the queen would be adding the other dragons too. More than once she pricked her finger looking not at her own work, but the queen’s.

  After the straight stitch they moved onto the backstitch and then buttonhole. The longer they sat there, the more that Nerie’s focus wandered. The first stitch had taken three replicates before being satisfactory. The second had taken five. She was currently on the fourth round of the buttonhole, but she didn’t think this one would be up to the queen’s standard either.

  When her stomach gave a slight growl, Nerie flushed pink.

  “I’m sorry your highness, I ate a light breakfast at the king’s behest.”

  “Of course. He does not want you ruining that waste of leather on your first flight,” Alaena said, tucking away her own hoops. “This basket is yours. I want you to start again from the beginning in blue for each type of stitch you learned today. Have it ready for tomorrow’s lesson.”

  Alaena opened the door, and one of her maids came in, bowed to Nerie, and grabbed the larger basket, quickly following the queen.

  Nerie looked down at the sad little handkerchief. It was spotted with droplets of her blood and the lines were woefully uneven. To complete her task meant she would either need to get up early the following morning or stay up late that night to finish it on time.

  For a moment Nerie considered not sewing the assigned stitches, but she knew that would just cause more issues between herself and the queen.

  “My lady,” Karina said softly, taking the hoop, and placing it in the basket. “I have brought your lunch - more fruit and toast - as well as a basin of hot water for you to soak your hands in before you eat. It will help the wounds on your hand close up.”

  “Then I can change?” Nerie asked hopefully.

  “Of course. We wouldn’t want you to be late to your lesson with his majesty.”

  She winked at Nerie with a small smile.

  The hot water stung the small punctures, but when she patted her hands dry, no blood was left on the towel. Nerie quickly ate and then made her way back to her room.

  Nerie quickly discarded her dress onto the floor. She then pulled on the leather pants. They fit like a second skin. She pulled on the plain linen shirt, then slid the jacket on over it. The soft fur that lined it made her want to run her fingers through the luxurious texture.

  There were pockets on the front which had flaps that buttoned down - one of which she shoved the gloves into temporarily. The king had also ordered her a pair of stout boots. Lined with the same fur as the jacket, they went midway up her calves, and buttoned up the sides. While she buttoned up one boot, Karina helped her with the other.

  Standing straight, she walked to the wall where a large mirror hung. She smiled, running her hands over her hips and squatting, then leaning from one side to the other. The leather moved with her and wasn’t the least bit uncomfortable. She looked at the cap that was still lying on the bed and frowned.

  “Karina, do you have a leather thong to tie my hair up? I don’t want it flying all over the place in the wind.”

  Nerie tugged at a ruby lock.

  “I do my lady.”

  Karina grabbed a brush off the nightstand and walked over to where Nerie stood. She quickly smoothed down the long auburn mane, quickly pleating it and tying off the end.

  Nerie was surprised to see that the braid hung past her shoulder blades, halfway down her back. Maybe she would think about cutting it in the near future, but for now, she was ready to get to the king’s chambers and the courtyard in which the dragons waited.

  “Thank you, Karina!”

  Nerie snatched the helmet off the bed and ran out the door.

  She could hear the pitter-patter of Karina’s feet as she followed Nerie in a brisk walk, but the sound quickly faded. Nerie knew that if the queen saw her, she would be firmly reprimanded.

  She didn’t care.

  Instead, she picked up her pace.

  “Nerie!”

  Soren was standing in the doorway to the courtyard waiting for her.

  “Soren! I’m ready to go.” she panted, bending over slightly winded.

  “Hah, I can see that.”

  Soren’s smile was crinkling the corners of his eyes.

  Finally, having caught her breath, she stood. Looking past the king into the courtyard she saw Eras, Ilex, and Kiriga.

  Nerie! Look at me!

  Kiriga was standing under the noonday sun, her scales gleaming golden. A leather harness had been placed upon her chest, and it wrapped around to her back where it culminated in a strange looking saddle.

  No wonder you were quiet all morning! How long did it take to get that contraption on you? Nerie asked.

  She laughed as she ran her hand along the strong leather straps.

  Only a few hours. The first few servants didn’t want to get near me, but then a nice leather worker showed up. Most of the time was spent making sure the straps fit in the right places and that they would have room to expand as I grow. What do you think?

  Nerie could hear the slight twinge of nerves as Kiriga did a small pirouette for Nerie to see every side of her.

  You’re gorgeous of course. Are you ready to fly for the first time?

  Nerie, you know that I’ve been flying for a few weeks, right? Kiriga asked confused.

  But not with me! Nerie said with a giggle. And, not very high right? Just gliding?

  Kiriga pouted but laid on the ground in front of Nerie.

  “All right Nerie. I know you climb all over the dragons whenever you want, but there is a proper way to do it. You don’t want to hurt yourself as you age.” Turning to the great orange dragon he said, “Eras?”

  Eras laid down his large body, mirroring the pose that Kiriga was in.

  “I know that Eras has spikes you can climb like a ladder, but Kiriga does not. She will be Eras’ size one day. So, if you first step onto her elbow like this -”

  He demonstrated on the larger dragon, whose elbow was nearly as high as his head. To reach it, Soren first stepped onto the large talon, then placed his foot in the wedge of the shoulder and elbow, hoisting himself up.

  “Then you move from there to the wing joint -”

  Another series of steps forward, using the protruding wing as a handrail and Soren was nearly at Eras’s back.

  “Finally, you should be able to reach the saddle!”

  Eras was also equipped with a fine leather network of straps and an identical large saddle. Soren swung his leg over the seat pulling himself erect.

  “Lastly, strap your legs in. If Kiriga needs to roll or even swerve at a strong angle you want to stay seated.”

  He demonstrated with his own legs, motioning Nerie over to inspect his work. She followed his steps to climb the great orange dragon.

  “Your turn!” he said after he was convinced that she understood how the leg straps worked.

  Nerie didn’t take the same route down as she had climbed up. Instead she hopped from one spike to another, quickly lowering herself to the ground. Eras watched, amused. His eyes swirled a ca
lm green and orange.

  Nerie then stepped carefully up Kiriga’s comparatively small side.

  You won’t hurt me! Kiriga said, turning her great head to watch her rider.

  No, but you’ll hurt me if you don’t stay still!

  Nerie had been about to step to the wing joint when the dragon wiggled dangerously.

  Abashed, Kiriga muttered a quiet, Sorry.

  It’s all right love.

  Nerie settled into her own saddle, working on closing the leg straps the way Soren had shown her.

  Now, Eras’ voice boomed into their heads, Kiriga, you must watch me take off. Launching from the ground is natural to you. However, a rider - even as slight a human as Nerie - throws off your natural center. You’ll need to kick yourself aloft, beating downward at the same time.

  He moved to the center of the courtyard, crowding his two children. But when he stretched his massive wings, Nerie understood.

  She wasn’t sure he would clear the rooftops that surrounded the courtyard with his initial downbeat. His wingspan was longer than his whole considerable body. Nerie knew from experience that he could lay straight and the tip of his nose to the last spike of his tail was longer than the whole palace. As he reared back onto his hind legs and opened his large wings, he cast a dark shadow across all that she could see.

  The force of him leaping into the air knocked Kiriga off balance and Nerie was instantly glad for the leg straps. The ground shook, and dust rattled out of the woodwork. He was triple the height of the palace into the sky before the first downbeat of his powerful wings. The air thundered and Nerie was left reeling, covering her ears. That reminded her of the cap and gloves. She pulled them out of her pocket and put them on as Eras gained height.

  Ready? Eras asked.

  He was high in the sky now, hovering, looking down upon them. The shadow he cast made the courtyard seem as if it were the middle of the night.

  Of course! Kiriga told him confidently.

  She walked to the middle of the courtyard, then stood on her hind legs, mimicking the large dragon’s actions.

  In a moment that only lasted a heartbeat, Kiriga and Nerie breathed into together. Nerie felt Kiriga’s muscles coil in anticipation.

  And then Kiriga launched them into the sky.

  Her takeoff was a little wobbly. She pushed slightly harder with her left leg than her right. Then when her wings came down in the first beat, she tried to compensate by doing the opposite. Nerie clenched the saddle, leaning low against Kiriga’s neck.

  The second wing beat was more stable, and then the third. They quickly gained altitude and Nerie looked over the dragon’s side.

  The entirety of the palace was visible, and Nerie had a moment of vertigo, the world spinning. Her heartbeat thudded in her ears and the world seemed to spin. She closed her eyes tight, nauseated.

  She was more than a little glad that the king had thought ahead and had her meals be light. She was not sick, but acid coursed up her throat.

  She focused on breathing in through her nose. The feeling subsided and Nerie took a deep breath, opening her eyes again.

  Her second look at the ground was breathtaking, but for a different reason than the first time.

  It was beautiful.

  She could see as far as the horizon. The palace was shrinking, and the great lake that bordered Roria to the west was glimmering in the afternoon sunlight. Taking her eyes off the ground, she looked up and saw that Soren and Eras were still far above them.

  Now, my daughter, you may fly like we’ve been practicing. We are going to work on diving and climbing, Eras told Kiriga.

  Hold on tight! she told Nerie in turn.

  Then they were diving at the ground, gaining speed.

  Nerie watched the trees, buildings, and even people get closer. She trusted Kiriga fully but was forced to close her eyes against the sting of the wind. Her pleated hair waved like flag behind her hitting her back in strange intervals as it was caught between one gust and the next.

  Nerie wasn’t sure when she started, but she realized she was screaming. Not in fear but pure unadulterated joy.

  The same joy that Wyla had shown her the night before that she and Kyre had shared on their first flight.

  They were climbing again, this time higher than Eras. Nerie could see Soros clearly lounging on the bank of the lake to the west of the city. Eras was gleaming in the strong sunlight.

  This is better than I ever dreamed, Nerie confided to her dragon.

  Love for one another coursed between them and Kiriga dove towards the ground once again.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  Nerie

  The following days were difficult for Nerie.

  They were near bliss as she learned to fly with Kiriga through the skies. Then they turned hellish as the tedium that Alaena had decided to teach her continued.

  Each day, by the time for her lessons with Soren, Nerie’s fingers were full of pricks and sores. She may have learned the stitches, but she was by no means any good at them, as Alaena was prone to telling her.

  On top of her lessons, she received word that Sir Ahlwin had taken her mother to his estate, so every night she dined alone. It was strange for Nerie not to see Myha. The night of the first flight, Nerie had been bouncing with joy as she waited to tell her mother all about it. The disappointment that had followed Karina’s news of her departure stung.

  She’d taken to eating in her small room alone and then working on whatever task Alaena had assigned her until she fell asleep. Karina seemed to be aware of her mood as every morning when she awoke the hoop and threads would be returned to their basket at her bedside.

  Nearly two weeks after their first flight lesson, Soren sat her down before their now daily flight.

  “Nerie, and Kiriga - I know you are listening too - I think you’re both ready for an extended flight. In accordance, Sylas and Wyla have extended an offer for you to stay with them.”

  Soren searched Nerie’s face looking for any reaction to this news. Whatever he was looking for, Nerie must have done the opposite. Sitting up straight, eyes shining, Nerie’s smile was large.

  “Really? When? You really think we’re ready?!”

  With a chuckle, Soren patted her shoulder. It was the first time Nerie could recall him touching her in a fatherly way. If it was possible her smile grew larger.

  “Yes really. As for when, I was thinking you would leave now - if you’re ready? I’ve let Vizen and Karina know to pack for you. I’ll show you how to strap your luggage onto Kiriga, and you’ll do a small test flight until Eras is satisfied that she is capable of it. Then you’ll be on your way to Cian.”

  “Really?” Nerie asked again.

  She could hardly believe it. She was not only excited to see Sylas - who she still felt guilt about brushing off after Aldis’s departure - but to meet his family, and to finally meet Wyla in person.

  “Really, really. Now, Wyla will direct you and Kiriga as you fly, as well as help with landing once you arrive. The flight will take several hours. I expect you will arrive well after the sun has set. If you would rather wait until tomorrow to leave you may.”

  Kiriga? Are you up to going now? Nerie asked. While she was excited, she would not push the young dragoness past her own limits.

  I am! I want to see Wyla!

  Nerie could tell the golden dragon’s tail was lashing in excitement.

  “No, we’ll go now,” Nerie told Soren, “Does Queen Alaena know?”

  Nerie asked because she’d been assigned a small flower to complete for the following day, and she would not want to upset the queen.

  “No, only us, Sylas, Wyla, Vizen and Karina know - Sylas invited you just this morning.” Soren frowned a little, but Nerie was more focused on the upcoming flight.

  “What are my cousins like?” Nerie asked after a moment of silence.

  “Wonderful children. Well, I say children - I haven’t seen them in several years.”

  Soren chuckled softly
and muttered, “Time really has flown by,” before answering Nerie’s question, “Karsen is only slightly younger than Astra - I want to say he’s twenty by now. Kora is closer to your age, maybe fifteen? I’m ashamed that I can’t recall.”

  Soren shook his head, flushed a slight pink and frowning at himself.

  A soft knock on the door drew their attention to the doorway. Vizen and Karina stood there.

  “Your Highness, my Lady, everything is packed,” Vizen said.

  Karina was standing behind him, her hand resting on a pile of several large cases which were stacked on the floor.

  “Well then, let’s get everything strapped on,” Soren said standing.

  It took only a few minutes, as Soren showed Nerie how the saddle had not only the straps for her legs, but hooks and cords for attachments, such as luggage.

  “Remember, you always want to equally distribute the weight. Otherwise it could inhibit Kiriga’s ability to fly,” he said, pointing to the equal number of cases.

  It was only after they had all been strapped to Kiriga and Nerie was getting ready to mount the dragoness that she turned to look at Karina.

  “Aren’t you coming?” Nerie asked, realizing that the woman was still dressed in her normal clothing and had steeped back after everything was in place.

  “No, my lady. Lord Sylas will have more than enough servants to care for you,” Karina said with a bow.

  “Oh -”

  Nerie wasn’t sure what to say. It had become so routine to have the woman following in her shadow that she felt naked without her as she mounted Kiriga.

  I am not coming either, Eras said, but this did not surprise Nerie or Kiriga. However, Kiriga, you will be flying over the cities that your siblings, Riya and Mazen, live in on the way. I believe they would like to meet you.

  Shall I stop in their cities? Kiriga asked, unsure of the deviation in the flight path.

  No, they will come to you.

  Okay!

  Kiriga was nearly dancing in her excitement. Nerie had to ask her to calm down as she was trying to tighten the leg straps.

  Sorry Nerie.

  Are you ready, love? Nerie asked, stroking the base of Kiriga’s neck.