“Right…” Sonja doubted him. She’d enjoy going for a drink or hunting, but this weirdo didn’t look like he’d be interested in such activities. “What have you got in mind?”
“What I am thinking doesn’t suit women as well as the other facilities in Aestridge.” He revealed a big toothy grin. A grin that she wanted to plant her fist into.
“Women?” Sonja’s bright, blue eyes narrowed. One thing she hated was being categorised by her gender. She was tall, solid, strong, and more capable than a lot of men at ‘manly’ tasks after all.
“But, you aren’t like other women, are you?” He turned away from her, and the tall man begun walking away in long strides.
“Hmm…” Sonja bounded up to the man, treading alongside him. “Alright, what have you got in mind?”
He chuckled to himself, then looked at Sonja. “How do you feel about joining a short, wyvern piloting course?”
Sonja’s eyes widened. She wasn’t too fond of wyverns, and if this guy knew how many she had killed in the past was sure this offer wouldn’t stand. She wasn’t even sure herself how many she had slain! It was common knowledge that the folk living around the mountains of Altkruga controlled the flame wyverns—most of them—but the thought of her flying one herself had never crossed her mind. Not until now. It did seem a little more exciting than having another bath. “I’ll do it,” she nervously agreed.
“Of course you will!” The man reached his hand out. “The name is Alexander Kingsford, but everyone calls me Ace.”
“Of course they do.” Sonja gave Alexander’s hand a tight squeeze. “My name’s Sonja Bluwahlt.” A cheeky grin grew across her face. “But my friends call me Queen Super-Awesome Butt-Kicker.”
“My apologies!” Alexander’s mouth dropped open. “I was unaware I was in the presence of royalty.”
“I’m not royalty!” Sonja laughed, then tilted her head sideways, the way she did when she thought someone was stupid. “I was just pulling your leg.”
“Of course, I knew that.” He pulled his head and chest away from her, making an odd smile. “I was just playing along.”
The truth was he didn’t know, and Sonja wouldn’t know either. There were no royal families living so far east, and she doubted that any would travel to visit Aestridge. “Alright Ace,” she said with a nod, “let’s see these wyverns of yours.”
Walking out into the freezing exterior of the volcano comforted Sonja. She was used to the bitter cold of the frozen suns and hiding in the warmth of the volcano just didn’t feel right. It was unnatural, smelt weird, and was drying out the back of her throat something shocking.
Walking back into another tunnel, the air grew considerably warmer once more, and Alexander explained a little more of the operation. “The Altkrugan Wyvern Pilot Academy only comes to Aestridge from time to time, but the staff here can’t get enough of it. They love escaping from their hospitality positions, enjoying the freedom you can only find while soaring through the skies.”
“Can’t blame them,” Sonja added, “rubbing people’s backs all day is no way to live. I couldn’t do it.”
“Who could!” Alexander agreed with Sonja at every opportunity. The entrance to this cave was large, and it quickly hollowed out into a wide cavern that opened to the interior of the volcano itself. “So, I’d like you to meet our wyverns!” He gestured a hand melodramatically into the room.
“Shit!” Sonja looked around and began counting them in her head. She was cataloging them by size, figuring which ones were juvies, which were alphas, and everything in between. There were a lot of them, too many for her to handle on her own. They were all coloured a mixture of dull oranges through to bright reds—definitely flame wyverns. Some were standing on their hind legs, spreading out the winged membrane attached to their outstretched fore claws. Others seemed to be resting, their wings wrapped around their body for warmth.
“Are you alright?” Alexander gave her a worrying look.
Sonja’s right hand brushed against her short, curly, blonde hair. Instinct had sent her searching for the handle of her sheathed weapon, but she forced herself to stop. These were domesticated wyverns, something she had never seen before. “Yeah, just a little startled.”
“Were you reaching for that chunk of iron on your back?” Alexander laughed. “These are wyverns, not some wild beasts! They are tame, used to human contact. But if they weren’t, I doubt that sword would help you much!”
He was somewhat correct, blades weren’t really all that effective against flying creatures. Not when they could spew forth flaming projectiles anyway. Arrows and bolts were far more efficient. “Ah, of course,” she agreed, trying to recall how many wyverns she had finished off with the ‘chunk of iron’ on her back. “What was I thinking?”
“It shows you have spirit.” Alexander smiled. “I knew this would be perfect for you!”
He continued walking into the cavern and a small female raced towards them. She dressed similarly to Alexander, with the same silly, brown, leather frap hat and jacket. “Ace,” she said with a smile, revealing a clipboard. “Y-you’ve found a recruit?”
“Recruit?” Sonja narrowed her eyes. She’d recently had someone try to ‘conscript’ her for war. It turned out he was a nice fellow in the end, but no foreigner would tell her which battles she had to fight.
The small girl—barely an adult—looked frightened. “You w-want to ride a wyvern?” Her eyes never made contact with Sonja’s when she spoke. “Y-you’ll have to sign.”
“Sign?” Sonja grabbed the clipboard and quill. “Do I look like a clerical worker to you?”
Alexander laughed, then gave the girl an affectionate pat on the head. “It’s protocol Sonja, don’t worry about it. People think wyvern piloting is unsafe.” He rolled his eyes. “So, we have to make everyone agree to this disclosure. Just put your signature down the bottom and we can move on.”
“Signature?” Sonja wasn’t stupid, far from it, but where she was from, you were either a slayer, or a scholar. Sonja was not a scholar.
“Just scribble some ink down here.” Alexander pointed to a clear spot on the sheet of paper.
“Easy enough.” She flicked the quill against the paper, probably a few too many times, creating what looked like a piece of abstract art rather than a quick signature. “Done!” Sonja puffed her chest out, handing the clipboard back to the girl.
“Excellent!” Alexander exclaimed, his eyes stuck to the piece of paper—in awe of her awesome signature no doubt. “Tequidi, introduce her to Raithia. I’ll sort out the harnesses, and we’ll get her airborne in no time.”
The small girl handed the clipboard to the instructor. “S-so this is your first time p-piloting?”
Sonja shrugged, keeping a watchful eye on the peaceful wyverns that walked past. They didn’t appear as though they were at home, but comfortable enough to suggest they had been here before. “I’ve ridden a horse,” she said, “does that count?”
The timid girl giggled, then tried to contain it, not wanting to offend the much larger woman. “I guess so.”
On one hand, Sonja felt sorry for the girl, she seemed devoid of any confidence whatsoever. But on the other hand, she strode among the fire breathers without the slightest hint of fear. “So which one is Raithia?”
“That one, up there.” Tequidi pointed to a large wyvern, nesting at the highest point within the cavern. “Beautiful, isn’t she?”
“She’s big! Is she the alpha?” Sonja didn’t like alphas, she didn’t like juvies either. She had assumed she’d be riding something in between, something—hopefully—predictable.
“No.” Tequidi began to climb a set of carved edgings in the cavern wall, they slightly resembled stairs. “Only Ace pilots Reizexus, it’s best to keep the alphas together.”
“Seems reasonable.” Sonja couldn’t help wondering what would happen if Ace and Reizexus both disappeared at the same time. Would the wyverns remain peaceful, or would everything go chaotic?
“Raithia,” the small girl called out, “it’s me Tequidi! I want you to meet a friend of mine, Sonja.”
The wyvern’s neck curled around towards Tequidi. Its yellow eyes locking onto hers, its lips curling then releasing an affectionate huff. Raithia then turned to Sonja, looking her up and down, studying her.
“Is this normal?” Sonja felt as though she was being sized up, not affectionately, but in the manner of someone appraising a foe.
“Give her a pat.” Tequidi smiled. “Let her know you want to form a connection.”
“Alright.” Sonja reached out with her hand, touching the warm, blood-red scales on its cheek. She knew flame wyverns generated heat, but had never felt how ‘warm’ they were. The feeling was different during the heat of battle.
“I think she likes you.” The lack of confidence in Tequidi’s voice seemed to disperse around the wyverns.
Sonja felt warm and fuzzy. “I think so.”
A low groaning trembled through the ground, and another wyvern rose to its feet beside Raithia. It was much larger than any Sonja had seen, having at least five metres on Raithia. It bumped the female wyvern out of the way and snaked its head towards Sonja. The large wyvern stared into her eyes. It had scratches on its face, and an old scar over its eye. Sonja figured out fast—that unlike the other wyverns here—this one had been in plenty of combat. Like Sonja, this thing had ended its fair share of lives.
“Th-this isn’t normal!” Tequidi’s confidence fell once more. “P-please be nice Reizexus, she’s a friend.”
Sonja was sure the wyvern could sense the same about her, that she had blood on her hands, that she was a slayer. She put her hands out in front of her in a peaceful manner. Unsure if wyverns could understand the words she spoke, she thought she’d try communicating. “Alpha to alpha,” she whispered quietly so Tequidi couldn’t hear. “I don’t want any trouble, and it would bring neither of us any good if we fought here.”
Reizexus opened his maw—with smoke billowing from the vents along his spine—then clasped its jaws together, centimetres away from her face. Sonja remained completely still, fighting the urge to bury her claymore deep into the wyvern’s skull. They both were presented with the opportunity to easily end the other’s life, but neither took it. Sonja released a sigh, hoping this meant a truce.
“I-I’ve never seen this happen before.” Tequidi’s face was full of worry. “I-I’m really sorry, it’s my fault.”
“No it wasn’t.” And it really wasn’t. Sonja was a slayer, and about to pilot the alpha’s mate. Given the circumstances, Reizexus was very well behaved. “Maybe wyvern piloting is not for me though?”
“Nonsense!” Alexander had just finished scrambling up the stairs, a metallic frame wrapped under his arm. “Can’t chicken out now, it’s almost time to fly!”
Sonja swallowed hard, and the pain in her throat from the hot, dry environment was getting worse. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
“You’re just getting the jitters.” Alexander began attaching the frame to Reizexus’ chest, while one of his assistants attached another to Raithia’s. “This is perfectly normal when someone is about to break out of their comfort zone.”
“You have no idea,” she mumbled, realising Reizexus’ eyes were still fixed upon her. “Are you sure this is safe for someone as heavy as me?” Sonja searched for any excuse that may get her out of this predicament.
“I don’t think you’d weigh all that much!” Alexander gave her a cheeky grin. “Don’t worry, you’ll be piloting Raithia. She’s a tough old girl, would be able to carry your whole family!”
Sonja thought of her brother, Kallum, for a moment. He would go crazy at the thought of piloting a wyvern. Definitely a good story to share with him when she got home.
“D-don’t worry.” Tequidi almost allowed her eyes to meet with Sonja’s, but she stopped short at her chest. “Y-you’ll enjoy it!”
“Frame attached?” Alexander looked to the assistant that was setting up Raithia.
“Sure is Ace,” he confirmed with a nod.
“Good, set up the harnesses while I go over controls and safety with Sonja.” Alexander watched another assistant—a rather chubby and unfit one at that—place two packs down by Sonja. He then continued towards the wyverns, carrying what appeared to be a couple of insulated sacks.
“I see you run quite a tight fitness regime,” Sonja said when the chubby assistant was out of earshot.
Alexander gave him a glance. “He’s a volunteer, helps out on his days off. He’s also one of the best chefs I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. If you could cook like him, you’d have considerable girth too!”
Sonja rolled her eyes. “So, controls and safety?”
“We’ll climb into those sacks that my assistants are attaching now.” Alexander pointed to the wyvern’s harness system. “It’ll hold you safely in place, nice and tight. But, just in the case of a bad scenario, we have these.” He picked up the packs that the chubby assistant had dropped off. “Just place your legs through these straps.” He stepped through a couple of loops. “Arms through here.” He slid the pack up over his back, then placed his arms through like a backpack. “Then, tighten this chest strap.” After feeding the fabric through a buckle, he tightened it up.
“Alright.” Sonja unbuckled the strap that held her claymore’s sheath tightly to her back. “Guess I can’t take this then?”
“No, sorry.” Alexander shook his head. “Policy doesn’t allow students to take weapons on training flights.” He turned to his short female assistant. “Put Sonja’s weapon with the supplies when we depart would you please, Tequidi. Make sure Sonja picks it up after her flight.”
“Of course.” Tequidi grabbed the sheathed blade, almost dropping it due to the sheer weight. She slowly let it drop to the ground, doing her best to slow its fall.
“Get the boys to help you with it.” Sonja gave the nervous girl a smile. She then copied how Alexander climbed into the pack—taking considerably longer—and almost falling over a few times. It was a rather awkward thing for her to climb in to.
“Now, you most likely won’t be using it.” Alexander raised an eyebrow. “But, if for some reason your wyvern becomes disabled and unable to fly, this will be your backup plan. Pull yourself from the piloting sack, clear yourself from the wyvern, then…” He turned to the side, and reached for a little, leather ball at the butt of the pack. “Then pull this out and throw it away from you. A cloth wing will be pulled from your pack, which can bring you to safety.”
“Shit!” Sonja’s confidence was not increasing with the words he spoke. “How often does that happen?”
“It doesn’t,” Alexander said in a monotone voice, like he had said it one too many times. “It’s only a precaution. If for some reason you do need to use it though, just make sure you are well clear of Raithia before deploying your cloth wing. We’ll keep constant communication while we are flying. If at any point things seem unsafe, we will return here immediately.”
“Right…” Sonja felt a sense of fear. It was not an emotion she felt too often, but it was definitely present right now.
“Remember, constant communication.” Alexander waved his hands back and forth between them. “And everything will be just fine.”
“Constant communication.” Sonja nodded, and a bead of sweat appeared on her forehead.
“When we’re flying, Raithia will mostly follow Reizexus’ lead.” He looked to the alpha with admiration. “But, just so you know, push forwards on the bar to let her know you want to go faster, pull backwards if you want to go slower. Yank the bar hard to either side, whilst pulling with your body weight, if you want her to turn.”
“Forwards faster, backwards slower,” Sonja repeated, still unsure if this was all a good idea. “Body weight yank to turn.”
“That’s it!” Alexander pulled some goggles from around his neck and up over his eyes, then threw a pair to Sonja. “Let’s strap in and ride out!”
“Alrig
ht,” Alexander called out from the pouch attached to Reizexus, “you ready?”
Raithia was standing next to her mate, with Sonja securely attached to her chest. The volcanic updraught was fiercely hot and dry. It almost felt like every breath she took was burning her sore throat. She didn’t want to be there, this was a bad idea. “No,” she mumbled.
“Go?” Alexander’s eyes went wide. He looked up, and Reizexus had curled his head down to look back at him. “You hear that, she’s more pumped than us!”
“I said no!” Sonja’s spoke with a dry stern voice.
“Again?” Alexander began to nod enthusiastically. “Alright then. GO, GO, GO!”
Both wyverns were consumed with the excitement, leaping into the volcano and catching the rising heat. The updraught shot them up and out and into the sky.
“Fuck! I bloody well said NO!” Sonja called out, but Alexander didn’t hear her. The alpha had rushed to be first into the clouds. She wasn’t sure if she was making it go faster or slower, but her knuckles were white as she clung to the frame for dear life. It didn’t take long for the air temperature to drop down, far below what she was expecting. Even with the warm wyvern close to her, the high altitude air of the frozen sun chilled even her.
After shooting above the thick layer of cloud, the alpha turned back towards its mate.
“Woohoo!” Alexander was forcing excitement upon her. “Nothing beats being up here!”
“Yeah, sure,” Sonja mumbled back.
“You’re going to need to talk a little louder,” he yelled back to her. “Sound doesn’t travel so well up here.”
“I SAID,” she yelled back as loud as she could, “SURE!” Sonja noticed that he was communicating with his wyvern, then without warning they dropped below the cloud.
Raithia was chasing Reizexus down like they were playing a game. Bursting out from the cloud, they skimmed along the edge of the volcano. Sonja’s ears popped as the ground rushed towards her. Before slamming into the snow, the two wyverns broke away from each other, gliding across the frosted plain. Raithia pumped her wings, forcing them higher into the sky, then meeting back together with her mate. Sonja was trying hard to have a good time, but she began to feel as though the stupid sack wasn’t all that safe. She swore she felt something tear.
Glimpses: an Anthology of 16 Short Fantasy Stories: An exclusive collection of fantasy fiction Page 19
