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“That looks like a good stopping place,” Thorn says loudly over the wind noise.

Astralux and I follow where he points to a small group of trees collected around a stream we’re loosely following south. “Agreed,” Astralux says.

Vitegadium, just ahead and to our right, dips his gold-tipped emerald green wings and banks toward the trees. Astralux waits a moment before following, arching more left to give plenty of room. Her wings beat heavily as we near the grassy ground. I wonder how she’s going to land with the rolling hills, but Astralux coasts until at last she drops at the base of a hill, using gravity to slow herself as she pads up the hill a few bounding steps.

“You’re a pro at this,” I say.

Astralux, panting heavily, laughs once. “What, landing? I should hope so! Falling when I land would be like you tripping on your own feet after you jump.”

(more…)

Chapter 5: Diplomatic Matters

“Well.” I peer around my suite in the Wards’ Palace, suddenly dreading this part. “I guess it’s time to go.”

Astralux’s claws click on the stone as she wriggles back and forth. “Isn’t this exciting?! We’re going on our first mission together!”

I smile and stroke the dragon’s nose, just above the nub at the tip. It’s a favorite spot for her. “That’s true.”

“And, we’re not going alone!”

(more…)

“Good,” Neil says. “Keep going.”

I sidestep Lyssa’s attack as she swings her wooden longsword at me. Gripping the staff in my hands hard, I drive it into the ground, propelling myself back even farther in case of a followup attack. But it’s not necessary—after so many hours of practice, I’m realizing just how much faster than Lyssa I am as a bonded. I circle around Lyssa, picking up speed.

“You’re doing great!” Astralux says from where she lays nearby. Finally out of the throes of the Spotted Fever, Astralux is still a little weak but at least well enough to leave our room and lay outside in the sunshine. She’s managing short flights now. Eclair and Giftigbun remain near her, perhaps both to make sure she’s okay and to make sure she continues to rest.

“Remember, Estelle.” Neil’s watching me very intently. “At some point, you have to make a move.”

(more…)

“I think we’ve got a pretty good draft here.” Mortimer scratches at the blonde stubble on his chin. “Astralux, I know you suggested an order of command, but I feel like that could quickly be taken out of context.”

Astralux, her head on a giant pillow so that she can easily look up at Mortimer at the desk, frowns a little. “But they might have questions about who’s in charge,” she says, her voice low and raspy.

“I think what Mortimer is getting at is that that would be a discussion that’s best in person,” I say. Dipping the towel into the bucket of water again, I pull it out, wring it, and whip it through the air to cool the water off further before placing it back on Astralux’s forehead. “It might be really easy for someone to be offended.”

“Oh.” Astralux gives a weak shrug. “Politics are dumb.”

(more…)

Listening to my recount of everything I’d noticed about Astralux, Domagoj nods as he rubs a damp towel over Astralux’s head. I want to join him, but Mortimer is holding me back. I’m not sure why.

“Hm.” Domagoj opens Astralux’s mouth before he turns and shoos Kalteratem away, who is barely squeezed into the room. “You had better go wash. It sounds like Spotted Fever.”

Kalteratem flinches. “But no spots yet?”

(more…)

Shifting my grip on the wooden practice longsword in my hands, I look up as the rain continues to drizzle. “So why are we practicing aerial combat maneuvers in the rain?”

Neil, standing on the ground beside Astralux and triple-checking the straps on her saddle, looks up at me. “Since rain makes everything slick, you’re forced to have a firmer grip. It’s both a challenge and a way to ensure that you have good posture.”

I grab a hold of the saddle horn in front of me with my left hand—and we haven’t even taken off yet. Lyssa, standing beside Blythe nearby, snickers at my reaction.

(more…)

“You want to ride up to breakfast?” Astralux asks me.

“Actually, I already told Amon I’d walk with him,” I say.

Astralux tilts her head at me. And then she grins. “You like Amon.”

“What?! I haven’t even known the guy for two weeks!” I realize that Astralux is watching me tie a blue ribbon to the end of my braided black hair, and I sigh. “Okay, yes. I like him.” I finish tying the ribbon. “He’s been really nice to me.”

(more…)

“Alright, Estelle,” Neil says. “Blythe needs a break. Your turn!”

My stomach drops as I climb over the short wooden wall into the dusty practice circle. Blythe, still panting from his sparring, pushes himself up to his feet with a groan and shakes Lyssa’s hand. “That was some good maneuvers! I think at this rate I have no hope of beating you.”

Lyssa smirks, leaning on her longsword-shaped practice stick. “You’re learning. Give yourself time to find the right weapon for you.”

“Clearly, it’s not the club,” Blythe drawls. He sets his club down by the array of weapons, where I’m standing. “What are you going to pick?” he asks.

(more…)

The wind blows through my ebony wavy locks, and I can’t help sighing. “I don’t think we ever got to fly leisurely,” I say loudly to make myself heard over the wind.

Astralux chuckles. “No. Not so bad now, is it?”

“This is amazing.” Seated in a comfortable saddle on Astralux’s back, I stare at Adytol, sprawled along Mount Nordstern, one of the largest mountains of the Wintersong Mountains. I can see a body of water to the north, between the mountain peaks. “Are we close to the sea?” I ask, stunned.

(more…)

By the time I make my way back outside, calm enough again to face the others, Neil has returned and is chatting with Astralux, who has a leather saddle tied to her back between her wings and close to the base of her neck. They both pause and look at me.

“Find the restrooms alright?” Neil asks.

“You mean the one in my bedroom?” I ask.

“Oh no, there’s a couple of restrooms on the first floor, so you don’t have to go all the way up to your room.” Neil gestures with one hand, at the Wards’ Palace, his other hand holding a large sword against his shoulder that would take two hands to wield for most men. “If you go straight in and to the left you’ll find the two restrooms.”

I completely missed them. “Oh,” I say sheepishly.

Neil holds out the massive sword to me. “I’ve got a number of tests for you to try out. First, we’re going to test out your innate ability with weapons.”

(more…)