Astralux rushes back to the Sun Room as I sob into my hand. “Estelle? Estelle, breathe,” my dragon says.
“Amon,” I gasp in-between my cries. “Andeuten!”
“I know,” Astralux says. The pain is audible in her voice. “I know. The bastards.”
Mortimer picks me up off Astralux and sets me in a chair, tears in his own eyes as he dabs my face with a handkerchief from his pocket. “Sh. Take it easy.”
Veremund, who is walking toward us, freezes, staring at the table. “Where is Ariadna’s Star?”
Still weeping, I pull the Star out of my shirt pocket and hold it out. “I didn’t think it should be left unguarded,” I manage to say, my voice croaking.
“And you didn’t turn it over?” Volkan gives a chuckle that somehow sounds like he’s crying. “You did better than I would have.”
Veremund carefully takes the Star from my hand. But I feel worse without its comforting warmth and strength, and I sob afresh into Mortimer’s shoulder, clinging to the silver ruby pendant from Amon that hangs around my neck. Astralux nuzzles my back.
“What are we going to do?” Thorn asks quietly. “Are we sneaking out there to rescue him?”
The silence isn’t encouraging. Calming again, I peer up to see Veremund and Kalteratem simply staring at each other. Perhaps talking through their bond.
Veremund’s brow lowers, then he sighs. “It feels like a lost cause no matter how we act.”
“I know,” Kalteratem says. “Do we attempt a trade and risk the Vladykars….” The massive light gray dragon glances at me. “Risk the Vladykars not upholding their end of the deal? Or do we protect Ariadna’s Star and lose Amon?”
“You don’t seem to think they’ll uphold their end of the deal,” Vitegadium says.
Kalteratem growls. “No. My dealings with the Vladykars in the past have shown that, in most cases, they would rather break their word than lose anything to us.”
“Then…then Amon….” Mortimer swallows. “Is there nothing we can do?”
“I have one idea,” Veremund says. “We could attempt to trade supplies and resources for Amon. But it seems dubious to me that the Vladykars would accept this.”
“So we are keeping the Star?” Vitegadium asks with a trembling voice.
Veremund presses his lips together. Then he heaves a sigh and crosses his arms. “Yes.”
The finality of the decision strikes my heart, and I press my face back into Mortimer’s shoulder, sobbing afresh.
“I’m sorry Estelle.” Veremund puts his hand on my head, and I peer up at him to see tears in his eyes. “I would trade places with Amon if I could. But that’s also why I have to make this decision—you yourself were willing to give your life for Ariadna’s Star.”
Surprised, I give a feeble nod.
“So am I.” Veremund stands, looking around the Sun Room. “Is there anyone here who wouldn’t be willing to give their life?”
Everyone shakes their head.
“And Amon is one of us,” Veremund says. “Therefore, we have to trust that he would feel exactly the same way. He wouldn’t want us to hand over Ariadna’s Star to the Vladykars in exchange for his life.”
“I agree, but why aren’t we rushing out there to fight for Amon?!” Volkan asks. “Why don’t we rescue him?!”
“We will uphold our word,” Neil says. “At least until the time of trade.”
“Then we fight. We go for a trade, tell them no deal, and rescue Amon!” Astralux growls. “I don’t see why not.”
“Oh, your father and I are discussing the plans,” Veremund says.
This is the first time I’ve heard any bit of hope for Amon, and I lift my head from Mortimer’s shoulder. The other Wards are watching Veremund too.
Our leader smile, if sadly. “Don’t mistake our delay to attack as a lack of care for Amon: I have every intention of trying to rescue Amon. I was simply discussing the matters of the deal, and if there was any way to strike a bargain that the Vladykars would accept and actually hand Amon over without losing Ariadna’s Star.” Veremund shrugs. “It’s my preference to keep the Vladykars peaceful. A fight with Vladykar Vipul and Fulgarasaeva, let alone Vladykar Eder and Velenosever and the others, this close to Adytol, could be deadly to not just us but our citizens.”
“But Kalteratem said that their deals are rarely good,” Thorn says.
“That doesn’t mean they won’t take deals occasionally,” Veremund says. “All we are thinking is that we try to offer something besides Ariadna’s Star. If that goes down badly, then we fight for Amon.” He crosses his arms. “But if that’s the case, I want everyone resting today and discussing strategies of attack. We need to be at full strength. I do not want to lose another one of you.”
I sigh. Wiping my tears away, I stand shakily and hug Astralux. “I need to sleep,” I say.
“You should probably try to eat again,” Astralux says.
“Can I wait a little while?” I hold a hand to stomach, my other hand still toying with the pendent around my neck. “I’m not hungry.”
“I’m sure a little rest will help,” Mortimer says.
Astralux waits for me to climb into the saddle and then flies out of the Sunroom and around to the balcony that leads to our room. Stepping through the heavy curtains that act as a door, Astralux stops at her circular bed and I drop down. I stare at the massive, blue, gold, and silver-decorated bed that is mine, and then I crawl into Astralux’s bed. She doesn’t even seem surprised and curls up around me.
“I’m sorry, Estelle,” Astralux whispers.
I turn onto my back and look up, staring into my dragon’s face. Astralux knows my loss well—no doubt losing Tristin felt like this. Or worse. “You mentioned a while ago that your full name is Astraluxtristis. It sounds like you almost took on Tristin’s name.”
Astralux gives a small smile. “Dragon names are unique in that the first name is given by our parents and it almost exclusively refers to what we breathe. But all further names are discovered. No one gives them to us, we simply come to understand that we have a new name added to our own.”
Neil had mentioned this briefly in my training. “So, ‘tristis’ was discovered?” I asked.
Astralux nods. “In the throes of my grief, after losing Tristin, I knew that that was a part of my name. Both because it means ‘sad,’ but also in memory of Tristin, as it was so close to his name. Dragons have no choice in the matter when we come to understand a new part of our name. It just is.”
I frown. “Wait. How often do you discover a new part to your name?”
“Not frequently,” Astralux says. “Name additions are trigged by events, and as a result the first addition to your name typically comes a few years into adulthood. In my case, the depth of my sorrow and loss trigged my name addition. For Vitegadium, he understood ‘gadium,’ or ‘joy, happiness’ upon his bonding with Thorn. There are many other examples—it’s not just emotions. Tikokaftos, for example, gained ‘kaftos’ when he reached a new intensity with his breath. And then, as far as frequency after that, it’s just dependent on what sort of events you experience.”
“You don’t go by your full name,” I say, hoping it doesn’t anger Astralux.
“Oh no. A dragon may choose to go by whatever part of their name they want,” Astralux says. “Would you really want to say my father’s full name every time you spoke to him?”
“What’s his full name?”
“Kalteratemfilifuhrerperepenthosguerisonchronbruder.” Astralux smirks as my mouth falls open. “Amazing, isn’t it?”
“That’s crazy!” I stare at Astralux. “You can keep getting additions to your name?”
“Oh yes. Any event of any importance, good or bad, can be added to your name. Dragon’s names tell a story of the life of a dragon, at least broadly.” Astralux lays her head down beside me. “Right now, though, my name doesn’t tell a great story.”
I wrap an arm around Astralux’s head. “I think it’s a great honor that you carry Tristin’s name with you, even if it does mean ‘sad.’ Someday, maybe it will only remind you of the good times you had with Tristin.”
Astralux nuzzles my shoulder. “I hope so.”
***
I jump down a pit, intent on saving the fawn that had fallen. I squint through the sunlight pouring over me, trying to see past into the darkness beyond. Four gleaming yellow eyes peer out at me, and I press against the wall behind me as two massive snakes drag the darkness toward me, suffocating out the light. Distantly, I hear the beautiful chime-voice singing “Light of Ariadna!” as the snakes encircle me.
“Estelle?”
I jerk awake with a gasp.
Astralux immediately nuzzles my shoulder. “Easy there, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“What—” I pause when I hear a warning bell. “What now?!”
“Probably the Vladykars going back on their word and deciding they will take the Star, regardless of any deal.” Astralux bares her teeth at the balcony entrance, her tail flicking back and forth in irritation and anger.
Dressing into my Ward uniform, my armor still not yet complete, I scoop up my crossbow, my quiver of bolts, and my shortsword before climbing into the saddle. Astralux hurries to the end of the room, nosing aside the curtains, and then leaps off into the darkness. My eyes pick out the other Wards leaving the palace as well, although I don’t spot Volkan or Tikokaftos yet.
“There!” Astralux says.
I follow her gaze, as she banks to the left, and spot Veremund and Kalteratem, armor and scales gleaming in the moonlight, facing against several Vladykars. My jaw drops when Kalteratem out-maneuvers the smaller form of Pesokvglazu and swipes Vuurskliros back so hard he’s hurled off into the distance. Veremund flies about, his beautiful, glass-feathered armored wings working as if they were in fact real wings, and he nimbly avoids Velenosever.
Neil and Giftigbun, a little ahead of us, swoop down to intercede Fulgarasaeva from going after Veremund. The Vladykar pairs, seeing us, hesitate.
“Estelle!” Mortimer hurriedly points down at the ground. “Amon!”
My heart skips a beat as I spot Amon, still in tattered, bloodied clothes, scrambling up the side of the mountain. He’s going slow and looks weak. Normal, is what I realize—he’s unbonded.
“Go, Astralux!” I shout.
Astralux, her blue eyes alight with fight and hope, dives down. I glare as Vladykar Lochan and Pesokvglazu separate from Kalteratem and head toward us. I lift my crossbow and fire at them, forcing Pesokglazu to duck to the side.
Vladykar Jargoniew and Raucharger come swooping out of the trees, smoke trickling from Raucharger’s nose, his claws outstretched for Amon, Vladykar Jargoniew lining up a loaded crossbow pointed at Amon.
Astralux breathes a blast of light at Raucharger, blinding the dragon as the brilliant white light burst across his eyes. Reloading my crossbow, I fire, nicking the air so close to Vladykar Jarogniew that I’m pretty sure I drew blood. I shiver a little in disgust, but it’s the delay we need for Astralux to swoop down overtop Amon. She snatches him with her front paws and then lifts into the air, heavily at first, but then faster, rising along the side of the mountain.
“No!” Vladykar Lochan shouts.
Volkan gives a shout of victory as he and Tikokaftos arrive, flying behind Astralux and I to guard us. Panting heavily, Astralux flies up and over the wooden walls protecting Adytol. A cheer goes up as Astralux carefully, meticulously, lowers Amon onto the second story balcony of the medical center. I leap down from the saddle while Astralux is still flying, staggering on my feet, and rush to Amon’s side.
“Amon! Amon, can you hear me?” I check Amon’s vital signs, but they’re strong. He’s got a nasty gash along his shoulder and one on his side, and he’s covered in dirt and blood, and smells like a gross assortment of animals. But he’s alive.
“Estelle?” Amon gives a cough and opens one yellow-hazel eye. The smallest smile forms on his face. “Hello again.”
Neil gives a bellowing laugh from where he and Giftigbun are flying nearby. “Leave it to Amon for the understated greeting of the century.”
“I don’t know about that,” Mortimer says cheerily. He’s grinning, tears in his eyes. “I remember when you came out of that one fight, years ago. All you said was, ‘Hey.’”
Laughing with the other Wards, overcome with joy and relief, I hug Amon to me.
Praise be to you, Ariadna.
Tamara Rivers 
Leave a comment