I’m still reeling from the smell of troll—which lingers on us despite hours of walking through the forest—when Ward Mortimer calls a halt to our day’s walk.
“We made some good distance from the trolls, and I think rest would be best for everyone.” Ward Mortimer has Undabouclier lie down on his haunches, just like a dog does, to check the wound on his left shoulder. “Just to be sure we can fly tomorrow.”
Astralux inhales deeply, stretching her wings out, and I feel a dull pain in my back. “I can’t wait to fly again!”
I shudder. I’m not sure I want to fly just yet. But, then again, I don’t want to linger any longer than I have to in this area, with trolls and Vladykars not far off. Still nauseous from the fight with the trolls, I head over to a bed of moss that smells amazing, earthy and rich, and I’m overcome with a desire to roll in it. Giving in, I lay down and wriggle back and forth.
Astralux busts out laughing. “Estelle, that is exactly what I want to do. I’m just too proud to do it.”
“I don’t want to smell like troll anymore,” I say.
Ward Mortimer chuckles. “I’m sure Undabouclier can help with that, if you don’t mind being wet.”
“Not at this point,” I say. Besides, it’s warm enough out that I’ll only be a little chilled. I stand off to the side, holding my arms out as Undabouclier lowers his head to be eye-level with me.
“Brace yourself,” Undabouclier says. I shut my eyes as he opens his mouth. Water blasts across me, strong but it’s nowhere near as powerful as what I’ve seen him do. When he finishes I wipe the water from my face and wring out the animal skin dress and pants I’m wearing as best as I can without taking it off.
“Here, I can help dry you off.” Astralux stands on her hind legs and begins to bat her wings toward me. It’s quite the breeze, even with her still-healing wing, and I shake out my wavy black hair, drying it off even more.
“Thank you,” I say to her and Undabouclier.
“You’re quite welcome!” Undabouclier turns and sprays down Ward Mortimer’s armor, which he has set aside, and then Astralux. Once finished with her rinse, Astralux steps off to the side and shakes from side to side, just like a dog or a cat does to get water off of them.
“Much better,” Astralux says.
Undabouclier suddenly looks off to the north, tilting his head to the side. He opens his mouth and I feel a pulse, but no sound comes out.
“That’s a dragon’s call,” Astralux says to me. “He was calling to someone.”
“Vitegadium!” Undabouclier says cheerily. “He’s not far.”
“Another Ward?” I ask.
“Yep,” Ward Mortimer says. “He and Ward Thorn are our newest members, in fact. At least, they were, until….” He trails off, glancing at me. “At any rate, this is good news!”
“We should still hunt,” Undabouclier says to Astralux. “Maybe find extra for Vitegadium.”
“Right.” Astralux starts to walk off and then glances at me. “I will be back.”
“Okay,” I say, surprised that Astralux bothered to tell me. I watch the two dragons leave, and suddenly feel a strange impression in my heart. It’s the faint sense of a presence nearby, in the same direction the dragons have left, and I rub my chest. “Does being bonded allow you to feel where your dragon is?”
“Yes, and vice versa.” Ward Mortimer glances up at me as he cleans his pronged mace with a cloth. “It gets stronger the longer you are bonded.”
Stronger? This entire dragon-bonding thing is overwhelming. However, despite all the questions I want to ask, I really need some privacy, and head off in the direction opposite the dragons.
“Be careful,” Ward Mortimer says.
I nod before stepping through the foliage, going a distance from our camp because I have a feeling that the dragons—and maybe even Ward Mortimer—would be able to smell anything too near. Finding a secluded spot, I set about relieving myself, and then use some of the safe ferns before rinsing my hands with the water canteen Ward Mortimer had provided me earlier that day. Slinging the water canteen over my shoulder, I shake my hands clean of the water. My eyes, still adjusting to my improved vision, flicker from a small beetle near my feet to a field of tall grasses in an opening between the trees. Then I notice a beautiful patch of fireweed and make my way over. Maybe Ward Mortimer has enough food, but I’m certain it can’t hurt to have a little more. Besides, if candied beef is all he has, vegetables will be good for us.
As I gather the fireweed, relishing its vibrant purple color, a strange breeze blows through. I stiffen, unsure of why the wind set me on edge, but unable to ignore the sense of foreboding that’s on me. Straightening, I peer between the trees. Then I freeze as my eyes barely make out the outline of something humanoid, cloaked, hidden among the shadows, watching me.
“Astralux!” I shout. I turn and sprint back toward the camp, losing a few fireweeds in the process. A shadow falls over me, and I look up to see an emerald green dragon flying in a circle above me. My heart sinks in fear. “Astralux!”
Astralux comes crashing through the trees, growling, and nearly knocks me over as she lunges toward me. “Estelle? What’s—” She spots the dragon up above, and her tail begins to thump. “Vitegadium! It’s alright, Estelle. That’s a Ward.”
“There was someone in the woods,” I say.
“Must be Thorn,” Astralux says. “He and Vitegadium often try to be stealthy. Or at least, Thorn does.”
I’m still uncertain, and cling to Astralux’s front right leg as the new dragon, looping around, glides toward the clearing I had been gathering fireweed from. Just as Undabouclier and Ward Mortimer show up beside us, Vitegadium’s wings beat heavily as he lands. The dragon grins at Astralux, showing off the same sharp curved teeth all dragons seem to have. His vibrant green scales fade to gold at the tips, and he has a particularly notable silver, vine-looking marking across his chest.
“Astralux!” Vitegadium says excitedly. Something between his size, litheness, and tone makes me think he’s not far from Astralux’s age. He comes bounding through the field, while Astralux hurries forward. They wrap their necks around each other, one of Vitegadium’s legs coming up to hug Astralux as well. Tears form in the creases of his eyes, which match the color of his scales, and run down the side of his face. “I was so worried about you!”
“I’m sorry,” Astralux says, her voice choked with emotion.
“As long as you’re safe.” Vitegadium steps back, sighing in relief. “That’s what matters.”
“What matters is you not running off like that,” a gruff voice says. Dropping from the saddle on Vitegadium is a young man—at least in appearance, but now I know that looks can be deceiving for those that are dragon-bonded. He has very dark brown hair pulled into a short ponytail, and adjusts his dark green cloak as he walks our way. Taller, though nowhere near as tall or as big as Ward Mortimer, this man, who must be Ward Thorn, frowns as he walks toward Astralux. His green eyes observe Astralux’s wound on her wing, and the faded ones that dot her being. “You know that you shouldn’t go running off, alone, especially unbonded.” Then Ward Thorn heaves a sigh and holds out his tan-skinned hands. Astralux presses her nose into Thorn. “We were worried.”
Ward Mortimer chuckles. “Glad to see you’re working on those people and dragon-skills, Thorn.”
“I’ve been practicing with him!” Vitegadium says, wriggling. I can’t help but smile at his energy. He waits until Ward Thorn has stepped back and then nuzzles Astralux again. “I thought for sure the Klevorians and Vladykars had gotten you.”
“Without Estelle, I probably would have been lost,” Astralux says. I shy back a step, embarrassed, but wave as Vitegadium and Ward Thorn glance at me.
Vitegadium’s eyes widen. “Oooh! I love your blue eyes! So pretty!”
I smile. “Thank you.”
“This is Estelle Brand,” Astralux says. “She’s from Amenyl. Estelle, this is Vitegadium and Ward Thorn.”
Ward Thorn frowns at me, eyeing me critically. “You brought an Amenylian here?!”
“Easy, Thorn,” Ward Mortimer says. “Klevorian soldiers and a Vladykar pair attacked her village.”
Ward Thorn doesn’t stop frowning, but his gaze goes from condemnation to sorrow, as if he suddenly empathizes with my pain. Then he looks to Ward Mortimer. “I hate to bring you bad news, but there are Klevorian soldiers following your trail. And, we think they have a Vladykar pair.”
“I bet it’s Pesokvglazu and Vladykar Lochan,” Astralux mutters. “They do not give up!”
“How far?” Ward Mortimer asks.
“Not far—we almost got spotted,” Ward Thorn says. “Vite kept poking his head out of the trees.”
Vitegadium sighs. “I wanted to see what was going on. You know I can see farther than you!”
Ignoring his bonded dragon, Ward Thorn watches Ward Mortimer. “We should try to make it to Adytol. Tonight.”
Ward Mortimer, who normally seems so at ease, rubs the bristles on his chin as he glances at Undabouclier and Astralux. “Do you think you two are up for a night flight?”
“I’ll be fine,” Undabouclier says. “Just tuck my leg in a little and my shoulder should be good.”
Astralux hesitates. “If you can carry Estelle, I should be alright.” I’m not sure I believe her, but I also know that Astralux can push through pain like no one else I’ve met.
“Sure thing,” Undabouclier says.
“Then let’s gather up our stuff.” Ward Mortimer leads the way back to our camp.
Falling into stride with Ward Mortimer, Ward Thorn gives me another critical look before peering up at his fellow Ward. “How long have you been with Astralux?”
“We just found her and Estelle earlier today,” Ward Mortimer says. “A Vladykar pair had chased them down.”
“Vladykars can’t seem to keep to themselves, can they?” Ward Thorn mutters.
Meanwhile, Vitegadium walks alongside Astralux, his tail wagging a little as they go. “The others are going to be so glad to see you!”
“I look forward to being home,” Astralux says longingly.
I look down at my hands, rubbing the shiny six-point star mark on the back of my right hand. I jump a little when Undabouclier rubs his behemoth head against my shoulder. “Oh!”
Undabouclier chuckles. “I’m not known for sneaking up on anyone, you might be the first!” Then his expression grows a bit more serious, his left blue-green eye watching me as we walk. “It will be well. Hang in there a little longer, Estelle. We’ll take you to see Ward Veremund and Kalteratem. They’ll know what to do.”
I rub the side of Undabouclier’s face, smiling. “Thanks.”
“Know what to do about what?” Vitegadium asks.
“Astralux and Estelle bonded, rather hurriedly, to stay alive,” Ward Mortimer explains. “Estelle isn’t familiar with what it means to be a Ward, or even about dragon-bonding.”
Ward Thorn gives Astralux an incredulous expression. “You bonded?!”
Astralux shies away. “I didn’t think we would—”
“—No, you didn’t think. And she’s an Amenylian! She probably has no idea what’s going on!” Ward Thorn says sharply.
He has a point, but I don’t like his tone directed at Astralux, especially as the iridescent white dragon averts her eyes. However, before I can say anything, Vitegadium wraps his long, thin tail around Ward Thorn’s waist and tugs him away from Astralux.
“Relax, Thorn. Let’s just be glad that they’re here and alive,” Vitegadium says.
I frown, thinking I hear a noise. But to be honest, with three dragons walking through the forest—and Undabouclier one of them—it’s hard to hear anything.
Undabouclier suddenly stops walking, his eyes widening. “Mortimer. I smell him.”
I don’t know who “him” is, but Ward Mortimer spins. The normally calm man’s blue-green eyes are wide with concern. Ward Thorn and the other three dragons turn as well, and Vitegadium gasps. I follow their gaze to see yet another dragon hovering in the starry sky nearby, a rider in the saddle looking down at us. And on the black cloak that hangs from the rider’s back is a diamond-shaped gold background, on the foreground of which stands a rampant black dragon with a red sun and red moon in its claws: the coat of arms of the Vladykars.
Tamara Rivers 
Leave a comment