My heart is racing as I watch the new dragon and rider circle above us against the blue sky. Then the dragon swoops down, and my eyes widen.
This is the fourth dragon I’ve seen in the last few days. And this is the largest dragon I’ve seen yet, both in size and in build, its wings beating with a rushing wind as it lands with a heavy boom. I have a suspicion, based on the three prior ones that I’ve seen, that this dragon is male, though all I have to go off of is that Astralux beside me has a feminine appearance and slender look to her that the others don’t.
This new dragon’s scales, which are as large as shields across his neck and back, are a deep blue color that becomes turquoise at the tips of his four paws, his tail—which ends in a strange bulb—and along his short spines. He has a pair of horns that curve back over his head, protecting his skull, and his large blue green eyes glance between myself, Astralux, and then across the small stream to where Vladykar Lochan and Pesokvlgazu are.
Upon the dragon’s back is attached a saddle, and there sits a man dressed in armor that, while silver in color, mimics the style of the dragon’s scales. Across his shield is a coat of arms that pictures a rampant blue dragon on a white shield background that becomes dark blue at the top, a white star in the dark blue portion.
“Praise Ariadna, you’re here!” Astralux exclaims.
“Hey there, Astralux,” the dragon says, his voice a deep bass that reverberates through my chest. Despite his size he walks forward with ease, looking Astralux’s wounds over before he glances at me. Then he turns his attention back to Pesokvglazu and Vladykar Lochan. “Hm.”
“Astralux!” The human climbs down the ladder rungs on the side of the saddle and drops down, somehow managing not to fall over despite the armor he wears or the equipment he carries. He’s massive, like his dragon, standing tall and broad-shouldered. Similar to Vladykar Lochan, he looks young, maybe in his mid-twenties, but he has a strange step to his walk, as if he’s years older than his appearance. Brushing back blonde hair with one hand, the man pats Astralux on her neck. “You just take it easy now.”
“It’s so good to see you both,” Astralux says quietly. “I’m sorry—”
“—No worries,” the human says easily. He pauses, observing me with his blue green eyes, and then gives me a warm smile. “We’ll talk more later, ma’am.” Then he walks past us, turning his attention to the Vladykars across the stream. “Now what do we have here?” He stops, observing Vladykar Lochan. “Hello there. I’m Ward Mortimer. This is Undabouclier. May I ask, who are you?”
“I’m Vladykar Lochan and this is Pesokvglazu.” Vladykar Lochan scowls at Ward Mortimer. “And you’re interfering. Leave.”
Ward Mortimer gives a chuckle. “You don’t really think that such a simple threat will intimidate me, do you?”
Undabouclier walks forward lazily, as if he weren’t sure his presence were necessary. But both Pesokvglazu and Vladykar Lochan step back as if Undabouclier had made a threatening motion.
“Careful, they both have an affinity for sand,” Astralux whispers.
Nodding once, a small smile still on his face, Ward Mortimer unhooks his shield and a heavy mace from his side.
The corners of Vladykar Lochan’s lips begin to curl upward. “You will regret this.”
I cling to Astralux’s front left leg as Vladykar Lochan raises his hands and sand snakes it way out of the stream between us.
“That’s nifty,” Ward Mortimer says, rather cheerfully. “Undabouclier, since he needs water for his magic trick, let’s help him out, shall we?”
Undabouclier, grinning, raises his head and exhales—and sends a geyser of water forward. Vladykar Lochan dodges to the side, escaping the blast, but it completely wipes out the sand he had been working on. Pesokvglazu, growling, breathes at Undabouclier, sand pelting at the other dragon. It bores into the side of Undabouclier’s neck, until Ward Mortimer, who rushed forward, lands a decisive blow on one of Pesokvglazu’s feet.
Yelping, the light bronze-colored dragon leaps back, snarling at Ward Mortimer. He lashes out, his fangs exposed. Undabouclier barrels into Pesokvglazu, completely knocking him over. As I gape, Ward Mortimer turns and lifts his shield as Vladykar Lochan fires with his crossbow, blocking the black-vaned bolt. The Ward then marches forward, his mace ready in his hand. Vladykar Lochan, a sneer on his face, draws his thin longsword and darts in and out, so quickly I saw nothing, but the clang in the air announces that he’d only struck armor. Ward Mortimer doesn’t move as fast, but he keeps up with Vladykar Lochan, using his shield to block his attacks.
Then Vladykar Lochan hisses in pain, while Pesokvglazu gives a shout—Undabouclier’s heavy tail whacked him over the head so hard that the smaller dragon was thrown to the ground yet again. Vladykar Lochan looks from him to Ward Mortimer, who is still advancing steadily.
Vladykar Lochan glowers at his opponent. “Pesokvglazu!” he shouts. “We’re leaving!”
As if that were a cue that they were waiting on, Ward Mortimer stops and throws his mace onto his shoulder. Undabouclier steps back from Pesokvglazu and moves closer to his bonded. He yawns, and Pesokvglazu growls, pawing at the ground angrily.
“No,” Vladykar Lochan snaps at Pesokvglazu. Climbing back into the saddle, Vladykar Lochan glares at Ward Mortimer and Undabouclier. “This isn’t over.”
“Then why are you leaving?” Ward Mortimer asks. Astralux chuckles deep in her throat.
Vladykar Lochan turns his brown eyes to me. “I will find you again, Estelle.” He gives me a cold smile over his shoulder as Pesokvglazu turns. “At the very least, you should consider what will happen to your mother if you don’t surrender.”
I can’t help the tear that runs down my cheek as Pesokvglazu takes off, limping, his wings beating heavily, until at last he takes to the sky. Bit by bit, they rise into the air, circle once above, and then fly south.
“Well now!” Ward Mortimer hooks his mace to his side and slings his shield over his left arm. “Can’t seem to stay out of trouble Astralux, now can you?”
Astralux gives a sigh, as if in both frustration and relief, and presses her nose into Ward Mortimer, nuzzling him. “I’m so glad to see you both,” Astralux says, her voice muffled.
Undabouclier comes over and puts a wing over Astralux, who leans against the larger dragon. “We were so worried about you,” Undabouclier says.
“And I see you picked up a friend along the way!” Ward Mortimer gives me another warm smile as he holds out his armored hand. “I’m Ward Mortimer.”
“Estelle Brand.” I take a hold of his hand, expecting to shake it, but Ward Mortimer kisses the top of my hand, as if I were a lady of the court.
“It’s wonderful to meet you, Miss Brand.” Ward Mortimer glances over my outfit. “Are you from one of the tribes?”
“No, they just gave her clothes,” Astralux says. “Estelle was wanted by Vladykar Lochan. She has magic!” the dragon adds excitedly. I hear a deep, rhythmic thumping. I’m not sure what it is, but I can’t help flinching at the word “magic.”
“Really?” Ward Mortimer looks at me curiously. And as I stare into his blue-green eyes, I feel a strange sensation, like water is being poured into my soul. I remember this—Astralux did this to me the first time she looked at me. She called it a dragon’s heart-vision ability. I stand still, letting Ward Mortimer look into my heart, and I see his eyes widen a little. “A warrior of great goodness and courage!”
“That’s a bit misleading,” I say, trying to keep the bite out of my tone. That heart-vision is exactly what led to Astralux and I’s hurried bond. “Also—how can you do the dragon’s heart-vision ability?”
“Ah, you know about the heart-vision!” Ward Mortimer says. “That’s something that bonded can learn how to do. So, Estelle—if you’re not a tribe member, and you’re not from Adytol, you must be from Amenyl?”
“Yes,” I say.
“King Gunnar has declared war against Amenyl,” Astralux says. “I rescued Estelle, who was trying to evade Klevorian soldiers, Pesokvglazu, and Vladykar Lochan.”
“War?!” For a moment, the air of calm on Ward Mortimer dissipates, and his brow furrows. Then he sighs and the aura of peace and control returns to him. “We’d better let Veremund and Kalteratem know right away. They’ll be glad to know you’re alright, Astralux.” Ward Mortimer turns to me. “And what of you, Estelle? I assume that home isn’t an option for you right now?”
“No,” I say.
Astralux clears her throat. “I, uh…bonded with Estelle.”
Undabouclier stares from Astralux to me back to Astralux. “You bonded?! …That explains the marks on your face.”
The white-scaled dragon paws at the grassy ground anxiously. “We were in a tight spot. I thought it was our only chance to survive.”
Ward Mortimer and Undabouclier share a glance. Then Ward Mortimer nods slowly. “I see. Well! Ariadna has used stranger people to do her bidding. Because I’m a Ward.” Surprised, I can’t help the chuckle that escapes me, and Ward Mortimer grins. “Let’s get you both to Adytol, for some good rest.”
“I can’t fly,” Astralux says, her tone despondent. She holds out her wing as Undabouclier inspects it. “It’s much better than it was, but I don’t think I’m strong enough to fly just yet.”
“No worries,” Undabouclier says, his tone as tranquil as Ward Mortimer’s. “I’d enjoy a nice stroll through the forest.”
Ward Mortimer starts to turn to Undabouclier and then pauses, looking back at Astralux. “You don’t have a saddle?”
“Estelle has been propping herself up at the top of my back,” Astralux says.
“Oh. Why don’t you ride with me, Estelle?” Ward Mortimer holds out his hand to me.
I look at Astralux, who nods. “You’ll be much more comfortable in a saddle,” the dragon says.
I take Ward Mortimer’s hand and he leads me to Undabouclier. To my surprise, Undabouclier lowers his head to look at me face to face. “Hello, Estelle! You have very pretty eyes. They’re so blue!”
“Thank you,” I say.
Ward Mortimer lifts me up by my waist so that I can reach the lowest rung of the saddle, and I climb up to the saddle. It’s immensely more comfortable. It’s also higher, and I cling to the saddle horn as I look over at Astralux, now at about her eye-level. She, however, looks relieved, almost giddy as she bounces on her feet, and I notice that her tail thumps against the ground a couple of times while she smiles at me. Her joy gives me courage, and I scoot forward while Ward Mortimer sits behind me.
“There we are. You alright?” Ward Mortimer asks.
“This is a lot better,” I admit.
Ward Mortimer chuckles. “I can only imagine. Let’s get you to safety. And let’s get you home, Astralux.”
Astralux gives another sigh of relief and pads forward, limping just a little. I cringe at the pain I share with her from her many wounds. Undabouclier puts his wing over her again, casually walking at her pace.
“There’s another hostile dragon nearby, named Saurentais,” Astralux says as we go. “Pesokvglazu and Vladykar Lochan might have gone to get his help.”
“You let us worry about that,” Ward Mortimer says. “We’ll take care of you.”
A deep relief settles into me as I begin to share in Astralux’s sentiment—at last, we’ve found allies. And with them, I feel a small bit of safety.
Tamara Rivers 
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