“And thus after aiding our mysterious ally with his wound,” I explain to King Mahlir, “he and his dragon left.”
King Mahlir sits upon his throne, he and his four generals (and in fact, everyone in the court) staring at us with wide eyes. The only one who doesn’t look as astounded is Prince Philander—he sits upon his throne beside his father, looking regal, even with his bandaged arm carefully propped up on the arm rest, hidden under his royal purple overcoat. I know one good pat on his shoulder and someone would realize how badly wounded he is. But then again, who is going to so leisurely pat the Prince of Amenyl on the shoulder?
“And you have no idea who this bonded rider and dragon are?” General Norman asks.
“They call themselves the Wolf and the Dragon,” I say. “We discovered their identity, but at their request we are keeping it a secret to allow this person to reveal themselves when they so desire.”
“What?” King Mahlir exclaims. “You will not keep a secret from me!”
I bow my head. “The Wolf keeps their secret out of concern for they and their dragon’s wellbeing, and the wellbeing of others around them.” I’m not sure that’s the whole reason, but I decide it has to be true on some level. “I do apologize, your Majesty, but I would like to honor their request, as they have proven that they are in fact an ally of the Wards.”
Thorn’s earlier accusation of Prince Philander being the one bonded to a dragon and to attack us is clearly still in everyone’s minds—King Mahlir looks directly at Prince Philander, who is busy winking at a woman in the court. She responds by coyly smiling back.
“Well.” King Mahlir at last gives a sigh. “I suppose this…Wolf and their Dragon did show themselves helpful.”
“Not to hurry the conversation along,” I say, “but Ward Thorn and I are concerned about the Vladykars’ attack, and so close to Remyssus. We wish to return home and alert the others as soon as possible.”
“Of course,” King Mahlir says. “Please accept this as a token of our agreement, and as a thank you for rescuing Riverton.” The king waves at a servant at the base of the throne, who steps forward and offers to us a gilded shield emblazoned with the Verlassen coat of arms.
Thorn accepts the shield carefully. “Thank you, your Majesty.”
“I am also sending a letter back to Ward Veremund.” King Mahlir beckons a second servant forward, who hands me a sealed scroll. “To assure him that we will permit all who wish to unite with Amenyl to gather here against Klevor and the Vladykars.”
“Thank you,” I say. I accept the scroll and bow my head.
“And thank you, Ward Estelle and Ward Thorn.” King Mahlir inclines his head to us. “Your gesture is appreciated. May Ariadna be with you.”
“And may Ariadna be with you.” With a last bow to the king and prince of Amenyl—who winks at me one more time—I turn and exit the throne room after the four generals back to the courtyard, where Astralux and Vitegadium are waiting. They received a much more welcome gesture upon our return, and I spot them chatting with a few brave soldiers that had neared.
One of the Verlassen soldiers turns to Thorn and I as we approach. “Your dragons are quite intelligent!”
“Some more than others,” Vitegadium says lightly. Astralux gives a growling chuckle, nudging him with her shoulder, and I smile.
“Safe travels to you, Wards of Adytol,” General Easton says. “I can’t tell you how relieved we all are that you came.”
“I’m happy that we did,” I say. “As I said, we will return to Adytol speedily, and report everything to Ward Veremund.” I glance at Thorn. “I would think that at least one Ward may soon return to Remyssus.”
Thorn nods. “Very likely.”
“We look forward to the return of a Ward. Ariadna’s speed to you all,” General Norman says.
Mounting Astralux, I wave at the generals before Astralux turns and bounds along the courtyard, her wings flapping heavily. I can feel that she’s still wounded from our battle, but she pushes through the pain and rises in the air, Vitegadium breathing heavily behind us.
“Let’s take it easy today,” I say to Astralux.
“I feel fine!”
“I’m more worried about Vitegadium.”
Astralux glances back. “True.” She slows a little, and I’m relieved to see that Vitegadium catches up. He’s not badly wounded, but the fight with the Vladykars definitely took a bit out of him.
“I think we should take it at a slow pace,” Thorn says. “As anxious as I am to get back home.”
“Agreed,” I say.
Despite our decision, Astralux and Vitegadium still make it through the most populous regions of Amenyl before we decide to land early for the day, the sun shining bright. Finding a nice fresh pool of water, Astralux and Vitegadium happily drink while Thorn and I set up camp.
“You did a great job.”
I look up from the campfire I’m building to find Thorn watching me from where he’s setting out our bedrolls.
“Not just with the diplomacy part, although I thought you were the right woman for that job,” Thorn says. “I can see why Veremund chose you. But during the battle—you and Astralux held your own against a much more experienced Vladykar pair.”
“Astralux is very good at fighting.” I glance at where she and Vitegadium are rinsing in the water, the emerald green dragon splashing at Astralux in a playful manner. “I’m realizing more and more that for her age, she’s quite talented.”
“That’s true,” Thorn says, “but don’t discount your part. No pair is complete without their bonded.”
I smile. “Thank you.” Taking a breath, I blast the sticks I’ve put together with a small blast of golden orange and burnt yellow flames, setting the twigs and grasses alight. I blow on it, encouraging it, and at last one of the small sticks catches on fire.
Thorn frowns. “Why don’t you just blast more fire at it until it burns?”
“It does take energy to do magic,” I say.
“But is that why you don’t use just a bit more magic?”
I glance up at Thorn and then sigh, wrapping my arms around myself as I sit down on a log I’d rolled closer. “No. Returning to Amenyl reminded me of how afraid of my magic I am. I try hard not to think about it, but the truth is that it still makes me nervous.”
Shrugging, Thorn puts together skewers of rabbit meat, potatoes, and leeks, which he then sticks over the fire. “You’re having to relearn something you’ve been taught as truth for years—I can understand that.”
I smile. Thorn gives me one of his rare smiles in return.
Astralux, her scales glistening by the purple, orange, and yellow glow of the setting sun, comes to stand beside me. She nuzzles my shoulder once and then lifts her head. “Ariadna’s star is very bright tonight.”
I follow her gaze to the brilliant white star. She’s right—it’s already visible, and for some reason seems to be shining brighter. We both watch it intently as the colors fade into night, Ariadna’s star drowning out all other stars, even the moon.
Thorn waves a skewer in front of my face. “Are you going to eat?”
I accept the stick sheepishly, nibbling on the hot leeks. Astralux has lain down beside me, gobbling up candied beef before eating the pounds of venison we’d set out for both dragons. It meant the last of our venison, but both Thorn and I had agreed that the dragons needed to rest as much as possible. Vitegadium sighs in relief as he eats, and I glance over his and Astralux’s wounds.
Frowning, Thorn looks up at the sky. “Ariadna’s star is really bright tonight. It’s casting as much light as a full moon.”
I look around to see that he’s right—while I have improved vision at night, I can see about as well as I can during the day. I follow his gaze up to Ariadna’s star. “Has it gotten larger still?” I ask.
Astralux tilts her head at it. “I think so.”
Now all four of us are watching the white star in the sky. Then I inhale. “It’s not just bigger—it’s getting closer!”
“You’re right!” Vitegadium says. “But wouldn’t—”
I jump to my feet along with the other three as Ariadna’s star gives out a wondrous pulse of light that echoes with a glorious series of chimes. The magic in my veins throbs, my heart beating hard, as Ariadna’s star soars through the sky toward Zoi, a trail of blue and white following it. I put a hand on Astralux as the star, shimmering and singing with the sound of many bells and shattering glass, descends.
The moment the star falls out of our sight, northwest of where we are, there’s a thunderous clap that shakes the ground, and I and my friends stagger. A pulse of light like when the star first started falling spreads from the point out in every direction, and as it rushes past me the energy of my magic ignites inside me, and flames with a blue center burst from my left hand, setting the corner of my bedroll on fire. At the same time, I feel a beat inside me, different than my heartbeat—Astralux’s heartbeat, just as when we had bonded. Astralux gasps, taking a step back, and I cling to her as we both drop to our knees.
The chimes and shattering glass and thundering echoes fade away, and I look up. My mouth falls open yet again—northwest of us is now a beacon of light, rising from some point on the ground beyond our sight and not ceasing as it shines straight up into the dark night sky, now visible with stars once more. It doesn’t stop shining, it doesn’t waver, and as I and the other three rise to our feet again, I feel compelled to go toward the light.
“Ariadna be praised,” Thorn whispers. His green eyes wide, Thorn stomps out the fire on my bedroll and then puts his hands on his head, staring at the beacon of light. “It’s finally happened. I can’t believe it, it’s finally happened!”
“What happened?” I ask, my voice trembling as much as I am.
Thorn tears his eyes away from the beacon of light and stares at me. “Ariadna’s Star has finally come to Zoi!”
Tamara Rivers 
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