by Sam Hall
I looked into the mirror, noting the bags under my eyes. You’re a star, you’re a star, you’re a great big star, I told myself. See the jump, be the jump. Feel the fear and do it, anyway. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Everything happens for a reason. Live, laugh, love.
What is the twaddle you are blithering? Miazydar said. Why you would want to be a flaming ball of gas, I don’t know. You can’t ‘be’ a verb, it describes an action. Trauma doesn’t guarantee a rise in physical or mental strength. The next is purely an apologia for structural inequities and I would rather you survived, survived, survived. You got plenty of ‘loving’ last night when really you should’ve been sleeping and laughing is the thing we’ll do when we finally leave this repellent cesspit. Feeling the fear and doing it anyway is a foregone conclusion unless you’re thinking of riding out of here, guns a-blazing?
No.
So what are you doing then?
Trying to psych myself up. I’m pretty sure that’s what sportspeople and performers do before a performance. That and vomit.
If you’re looking for an inspirational quote to carry you through the day and rally your spirits, why not use this? Don’t let the machinations of an inbred monarch, kept in power by a misplaced sense of tradition and a vast bureaucracy, who maintains a base built on the suffering and exploitation of dragon and humankind alike, prevent you from achieving your goals. Show them you can’t be crushed by all of their petty attempts to bow you.
So don’t let the turkeys keep you down?
Well, if you wish to trade meaning for brevity, then I guess that’s an adequate translation.
I’ve got to get ready, I said, hearing the alarm go off. How’s things going with you? Any closer to getting your end in?
If you mean mate with the queen? It will happen today. It’s why I contacted you. All male dragons in the vicinity will be distracted and when she becomes receptive, they will all want to be nearby.
So you’re telling me I can’t rely on my pickups. The thought made my stomach lurch.
Exactly. They’ve moved us further away than was indicated. Don’t worry, I’ll be there if anything happens.
Christ.
Nothing will stop me, my heart, nothing. Now, there are men running around here for some reason and I would prefer to try and gather what intelligence I can. We’re in the midst of the enemy’s camp, the Queen of this land is infinitely more subtle and cruel than that clumsy dolt, Bhechro. We must keep our eyes open.
Will do. I need to get to the breakfast so I’ve got something to throw up later.
Good luck and regurgitate food in peace.
When I walked out of the shower dressed in the new teal riding suit that had been delivered last night I found Flea, Jez and Scalla standing to either side of the doorway like sentries.
“Morning,” I said and they were quiet for a moment. My head turned to look at one, then the other, then finally Scalla spoke.
“You’ll be fine. We’ll be watching the whole thing,” she said.
“You got tickets?”
“In the Queen’s box of all things,” Jez said. “Usually I like to get to know a girl before I get in her box and watch my friend nearly kill herself over and over, but beggars can’t be choosers.”
“Those riders who took your fancy might be there,” I teased.
“Oh, those guys are several fucks ago, but there was this lovely trio in the barracks. One had the most wicked —”
“I’m not walking to my death with an uncomfortable mental image of your sexual exploits in my mind,” I said, holding up a hand.
“Spoilsport. Now you’re going to have to survive because there was this girl who—”
“No fuckey fuckeys,” I said clapping my hand over her mouth. Her eyes went wide and then she went limp with an exaggerated submissive expression. She started thrusting her hips and grunting against my hand until I yanked her in close, surprising her into stillness with a hug. This could be the last time you hold your friend, my brain supplied helpfully. You could be a smear on the sand, with no more sense than a lemming.
You also have friends who love you, friends who are ready to rush to your aid, friends who have wings, I replied. Yep, I was already talking to myself and my feet hadn’t even left the ground yet.
I let Jez go and then went to Flea. He smiled down at me, his eyes telling me everything I needed to know. He laid the gentlest of kisses on my forehead, something that for some reason was more beautiful than an open-mouthed tongue bath. He pulled me close so that there was no space between us. “You’re that girl from my books. You’re just as powerful, just as prepared to kick arse and take names if she needs to. Go out there and show them what Earth girls are made of, and then let's get the fuck out of this insanity asylum.”
“God, I want to be eating pizza and drinking a Corona by this time tomorrow,” I said.
“I’ll be right there with you,” he said and then kissed my nose.
A quiet settled over me once I walked out the door. The sun had only just begun to rise, the only people about in this section of the palace were the servants and a few other riders. I felt the cool nip of the air on my face, my skin feeling too tight, my eyes too wide. I took a deep breath and hitched my helmet up under my arm. You need a soundtrack, I thought, to get you walking to that bloody amphitheatre. Inxs ‘Kiss the Dirt?’ ‘Falling to Pieces’ Faith No More? Tom Petty ‘Learning to Fly’? I smiled, feeling the cold on the enamel of my teeth. I need something that suits me. I looked around at how little attention I gathered. Zero, Smashing Pumpkins it is.
I marched over to the ring with the sulky, manic pixie boy snarl of Billy Corgan playing in my mind, all the way to the arena and into it, stomping over the sand to the refrain that the world was a vampire, past the riders scurrying around, getting wooden spears and helmets and rings sorted, past the riders mulling around and up to the breakfast buffet laid out to one side, snatching up a pastry and a glass of juice to the tune of God was empty, just like me.
“Tess!”
My head jerked up to see Keel approaching. I made myself smile, finding it harder now to pinpoint what I’d found attractive about him. Like, he was obviously good looking, but the grin was overconfident, he drew closer and laid an arm over my shoulders, forcing me to step back to maintain some personal space. “There’s been a change of plans today. I’ll be going up with you for the forty-second drop. Ace has had to pull out, been up all night throwing up and we don’t want to chance him at that height. So, are you ready? Feeling psyched?”
“I’m about to risk death or dismemberment in a gladiatorial style game for the edification of a woman who holds her position of authority based on an accident of birth, for the heinous crime of threatening the dragon monopoly of Aravisia.”
“Ah, well, I think you’ve impressed everyone with your performance so far. Not many could do a forty-second drop without crying like a child.” I flashed back to when I did exactly that and swallowed the lump of food in my mouth with difficulty. “If it was up to me, I’d be awarding you the citizenship right now, but we’ve just got to get over this hurdle and then you’re free to go.”
I nodded along. He seemed to be talking really fast, almost tripping over his words. I guess he was nervous about doing a fight sequence that high up in the air, particularly one he hadn’t practised.
“Anyway, this is your new helmet. The other one’s starting to get ratty and it was never that great a fit, being a hand-me-down. Look, I had them paint a herald for you.” I took it from him and turned it to see a rampant red dragon had been added. “No more goggles for you now when you’re on Miazydar’s back. How is he by the way?”
“Horny, I imagine,” I said. “The queen will be mated today he thinks.”
Keel nodded his head. “That’s the message we’re getting from the palace as well. Artor’s been a grumpy prick this morning, even though he would never be in the running to cover a queen. Ah...” he scratched at his scalp. “Has Keya disc
ussed the changes to riders when dragons mate?”
“No, why? Do we go into some kind of sexual frenzy or something?” I said with a laugh.
“Not quite, but let’s just say people aren’t unaffected.”
“So I’m going to want to make out with whoever I’m fighting when it happens? Shit, why didn’t anyone warn me?”
“I am now. We weren’t expecting the queen to be ready so early. Usually, it’s about a week after the dominance battle that she comes into season. I guess she’s just really keen to get things on with Miazydar. In light of that, we’ve reduced the complexity of the performance. We’ll be watching most of it, doing the forty-second drop as the climax of the whole event. C’mere.” He took my elbow and steered me over to where a plan of the day's events had been pinned on the wall. “We’ll take you up in a series of five-second drops, so fight until you get your cue, then jump. Someone will be waiting nearby to do the pickup and then you’ll go up again until we reach the final drop height. All fighting will be hand to hand, save the hassle with carting wooden spears around.”
“Aren’t I supposed to showcase my ability to wield a plasma spear?”
He scratched at his head. “Well, as you’re not going to be issued one, either way, it’s been scrapped.”
“So all those hours I spent training with you and then ending up on the end of your dick were a waste of time? Great.”
He frowned, stepping closer and putting out a hand to touch me but I dodged him easily. “What’s going on? What’s changed? Is it Sabelina? Has she been to see you?”
“It’s got nothing to do with her or you, I just realised this wasn’t something I wanted anymore. It obviously had an expiry date and I’m glad of it.” I watched the expressions flicker over his face as he took the time to absorb what I’d said. I wouldn’t’ve thought ‘I don’t want to fuck you’ would’ve taken that long, but it appeared the good Lieutenant didn’t have many people saying no to his dick that often. Finally he nodded and smiled, a more practised public thing now and for a second I was sorry for that lack of intimacy.
“That’s probably for the best. Let’s practise the hand to hand sequences while we’re waiting. It’ll keep your muscles warm and limber, especially after yesterday.” I sculled down another glass of juice and then nodded, following him to an empty room inside the amphitheatre complex.
I was dimly aware of the growing crowds as we sparred. I could hear the steadily rising roar of thousands of people cramming into one space. I heard the fuzzy sound of someone introducing the entertainment. I didn’t hear what, just the answering cheers from the crowd. I was kind of sad I wasn’t able to watch it all unfold. I wouldn’t be back to Aravisia again if I could help it
37
“What the fuck?” I said after the tenth or eleventh time he’d knocked me to the ground. “Do we need to work things out or something, because I’d rather sit down and talk it through than get a message beaten into me with your fists.”
“Maybe I’m just done pulling my punches,” he said.
“Maybe you should pull your punches, seeing you’re a soldier with years of training on me, probably another twenty kilos of muscle as well as being taller. If you’re pissed about something, stop being a cunt and discuss it with me.”
He cocked his head. “What’s different? You’re different.” He tapped a finger on his lips. “You don’t talk like this, not to me.”
“Maybe I’m all out of fuck’s to give. I’ll go up there today and either survive or die. There’s no in-between. I’m leaving and I’m glad to be. I guess I’m just cutting ties.”
He nodded, scuffing the sandy grains we’d dragged in with his toe. “Perhaps that’s for the best.”
“Look, if I’m not ready yet, taking a beating from you won’t help any. I’m going out, I’ll wait for your cue and then I’ll do my part,” I said and then turned and walked away, not waiting for a response from him.
The show was everything I’d hoped it would be. Dragons wove through each other's flight paths above the arena, creating a tapestry of twists and turns. There were explosions and clouds of glitter, swooping through rings of fire lit by dragon breath, spiketails nailing targets with their spikes mid-flight, acid breath melting barriers of bright fabric and tearing through. It was perfect really. It was entertaining, skilful and firmly cemented the dragon riders as an almost inhuman superior race. I sat and watched and chewed popcorn just like any other audience member until the sun grew high in the sky.
It’s happening, Miazydar said.
What’s happening? The queen has become receptive?
There are men everywhere. They’re rushing around, spears at the ready. That Olongth fellow’s been in and out of the queen’s den all morning. He’s taken a black bag in there.
Maybe he’s taking her temperature or something? That’s what human women do when they want to get pregnant.
Something smells, feels wrong.
My fingers dug into the sand. You don’t have to stay. Come here. Mating with the queen surely isn’t that big a deal?
They’re coming here. Olongth has a blowpipe in his hands!
Go, Miazydar, now!
Instead, the most intense wave of sexual energy rolled over me. I went from kinda having fun with a garnish of simmering background nerves, to ready to fuck, right now. I gasped, scrambling to my feet as my cunt twitched, the beginnings of an orgasm spiking through my body. Keel appeared at my side like magic. My eyes raked down the muscular form encased in the skin-tight flight suit and I could see plainly that he was just as affected. My eyes were glued to the hard line of his erection. I knew exactly how it would feel going in, the warm burn of stretching pleasure, and how fast his hips would thrust, slamming his length into me.
He grabbed me by the shoulder and shoved me against the wall of the seating gallery, his legs tangling with mine as he pressed himself against me. My fingers clawed at his butt, trying to drag him that bit closer. “We have to go up,” he said, his breath hot on my lips.
“Right, right.” I tried to clear my head with a shake but it did little. Our fingers intertwined and I barely saw where he dragged me until we pulled up in front of Artor. I whimpered as I slid on the dragon’s back, the stretch between my thighs making my clit throb. I’m completely focused on the ache in my pelvis until the dragon pulled to a stop, hovering in midair. Keel turned to me, his grin as bright as the sun as we both got to our feet and took our positions on Artor’s spine.
He was pulling his punches now, the ‘blows’ little other than caresses that dragged across my body, my skin no less sensitive for the thick flight suit. I couldn’t defend myself because I couldn’t fight the urge inside me. It was huge and alien, foisted upon me and I shook within its grip. My brain remembered that I no longer wanted to do this with Keel, that I’d made my choice and it felt like the right one. But right now Keel was irrelevant, his was just a hard body that could give me what I needed.
Our bodies got closer, our attempts to mime fighting trailing away. Finally, his hands linked with mine and he drew me near, his lips ghosting just above mine, so I could taste his breath. “Time to jump, cadet,” he said. So I did. I heard his call for the pickup and a few seconds later I was caught and then brought up, deposited on the back of the next dragon.
The following few sequences were much the same, my partner and I pretending to fight while barely being able to keep our hands off each other. It occurred to me that we’re up so high and the angle is so bad that the audience won’t even see what we’re doing, anyway. It got a little sexually confusing when I was fighting a female rider at one point, evidently I’m not as vanilla as I thought I was, but then I’m jumping again and onto the next. Then I was deposited back on Artor’s back.
“Finally,” Keel said through the comms unit when I arrived. He moved in fast, not to attack but to pull me hard against him. His hand went to the zipper of my suit, something I’m academically aware I didn’t want, but the rising tide in my blood d
rowned it out.
My vision of him blinked in and out, exactly what I didn’t need at this height. I’m in a big dark cave, my blood was on fire and I’m storming up to the dark purple dragon before me. It shouldn’t be like this, matings are done slowly and with care, our necks should be entwined as I pump into a receptive mate. Instead, the dragon looks broken, her head hanging, her eyes glassy, her breath coming in hard pants.
Keel’s hand slid across my stomach, slowly moving down to where I needed him most. He chuckled when I widen my stance, making sure nothing would impede his process. “Needy, little cadet?” he purred.
I stop for a moment in front of the queen, her passivity throwing my instincts into chaos. Usually there was some sort of defiance, a clarion call for me to prove that I was worthy to be her mate. Instead, she just laid there, crumpled in on herself, not even able to rouse herself sufficiently to be mounted. But her scent, it told me lies about her receptivity, about how much she wanted me and I ached in response. I wanted to bury myself within her, ride those many waves of pleasure to their prolonged delicious conclusion.
“So wet,” Keel said, pulling his fingers from my pants to show me the evidence. “That’s what I’ve liked most about you, you’re always hot and ready to go. It’s gotten to the point I’m half hard every time I pick up my plasma spear. I’ll miss those fucks, you gasping into the padding on the walls as your tight little cunt milked my cock of everything I had.”
I’m moving over her, my jaws automatically closing over the back of her neck though there was no need to secure her. I had to shuffle her limbs into the correct pose as she seemed unable to do so herself. This should be enough to cut through any mating heat. We weren’t simple animals, to be overcome by instinct, disregarding the needs of our partners. To mate a queen is the greatest of privileges.
Keel flipped open his visor and licked away my residue from his fingers. “Time for one last jump.” And with that he shoved me from the side of his dragon, down into free fall.
