by T. A. White
Tate glanced at Trent. The former cabin boy had grown a lot since the last time she'd seen him. He was still a youth, but his sharp edges had smoothed out as he'd grown into his gangly form.
He was handsome, with the same roguish smile as Jost and Ripley. However, his brown eyes were kind instead of jaded. His face was tanned from the sun and his body lean from a sailor’s work. He seemed happy and at ease out here on the ocean.
"I'll take you inside and get you some of cook's soup," Trent offered. "It'll help settle your stomach."
Dewdrop let out another groan but didn't argue as Trent helped him up, supporting him when he staggered, still unused to the rolling movement of the ship.
Tate shook her head as the two disappeared into the dark belly of the hold. She turned back to the ocean as it danced and glittered in the sunlight.
She'd forgotten how much she enjoyed being out here, the salty wind blowing in her face, the waves hypnotic. It was peaceful.
"You're awful quiet up there," Tate said, not turning from the promise of the ocean.
Ryu appeared, hanging upside down next to her. She looked up to see his legs wrapped around one of the masts. He let go of the beam and flipped in midair, landing agilely next to her.
He rested muscled forearms on the railing as he gazed out at the sea, both of them silent as they studied the beauty of it all. Right now, it was a quiet beauty, gentle and serene, but it could flip in an instant, turning into a roiling mass of cutting splendor as capable of destruction as life.
These were the first moments Tate and Ryu had spent alone together since embarking on the journey. The dinners in Jost's cabin didn't count. More often than not, Ryu and Jost's senior crew members spent the time with their heads bent together as they discussed plans and strategy, leaving the rest of them to entertain themselves.
Neither of the representatives from the Black Order or the guardians were invited to these dinners, leaving Tate, Roslyn and the rest free to relax and plot.
"Come with me," Ryu said finally.
Tate faced him. "Why? What are we doing?"
"It's time to start your training."
He didn't wait for her, striding away with a confident step. Tate scrambled after him, the promise of learning about her dragon tearing her from her contemplation of the sea.
Jost's ship was midsize. Still, space was limited; you often had to step to the side to let others pass.
They waited patiently as two sailors moved past them. Tate was so caught up in the prospect of training she almost didn't recognize the one near the handrail.
He was an average-looking man, his face friendly and his gait confident.
She blinked at him, too startled to more than gape as he and the other stranger moved past.
Tate watched them continue to walk, even when the pathway was clear.
"Are you coming?" Ryu asked.
She didn't move for several long minutes and he stopped waiting for her and moved forward. There were only so many places on the ship he could go. She'd find him soon enough.
She snapped out of her thoughts and hurried after him. "That was Ben."
He made a noncommittal sound.
She grabbed his arm and jerked him to a stop. "I know you heard me. Why is the Lord Provost's spy on this ship?"
She'd been under the impression he worked on behalf of the Emperor. What was his interest in this matter?
"He's not the only one," Ryu said, seeming unperturbed.
"What does that mean?" Tate asked as he slid out of her grip and walked away again.
She followed him as he mounted the steps leading up to the quarterdeck.
Ryu nodded a greeting at the sailor there. Tate gave the man a suspicious once-over, paying more attention now that she knew Ben was here.
This man wasn't familiar, his bearing that of a normal crewmember.
"Are you planning on answering me?" Tate walked across the deck toward where Ryu leaned against the back of the ship.
"It means Ben isn't the only one here who isn't what he seems," Ryu said quietly. "Every sailor not part of Jost's senior crew is part of the Emperor's navy. That's roughly two-thirds of the crew."
"Why?"
"This mission is of utmost importance to the Emperor. He can't officially deploy his navy to Silva territory without starting a shitstorm that could split the empire." Ryu nodded at the rest of the ship. "This gives us a last line of defense and might make the difference between success and failure without upsetting the delicate political balance."
Tate stepped closer. "How dangerous is this mission?"
Until now, it had seemed important but not life threatening.
"The last diplomat the Emperor sent to the Silva came back in pieces after offending their Harridan."
Tate reared back. "I thought the Silva had sworn fealty to the empire."
How could such behavior be tolerated? The Emperor hadn't exactly struck her as the understanding type. Such an action should have been grounds for severe repercussions—if not war.
Ryu sighed. "The ties that bind the Silva and Kairi to the empire are delicate. The Silva, especially, are cognizant many humans see them as little more than animals, good enough for the jobs no one wants but not worth inviting to the dinner table. Humans outnumber them ten to one."
All the more reason to play nice.
"They vowed loyalty of their own will, and their soldiers serve as the backbone of the Emperor's armies. They might be few, but they are mighty and possess a rigorous code. Violate it or insult them at your peril. A war with them would be costly and not necessarily one we would win."
"I'm beginning to think the Emperor wasn't as amused by Ilith stealing his crown as he appeared," Tate said slowly.
Ryu's smile held a flash of humor. "Oh, he was. Otherwise you would have been collared and escorted to Devos. It’s where he sends those dragons who can no longer be trusted in the world—those who are mad or are a threat to the empire."
Tate kept her shiver of dread hidden. Thora and Ryu had impressed on her how much she did not want to go there. The island situated on a rocky outcropping was isolated and barren. Not the worst of fates, but add in the special properties of the rock which interfered with the bond and she would have been trapped as human as Ilith slowly went mad.
"That's if he didn't execute you outright. Either fate would be easier and quicker than this," Ryu said.
Tate held her silence, considering this new information.
"Ilith impressed him, as did you. This is a test. Fail it, and he won't be so understanding in the future."
So, as long as Tate was useful, she'd be tolerated. The moment she stopped having a purpose, all benefits and rights would be rescinded.
It was a silken cage, one built through her ties to Ilith and tightened by the makeshift family she'd created.
Another person might have rebelled at the restriction. Tate, however, had never intended to go against the Emperor, and she knew herself well enough to know she needed purpose. Serving the empire's needs was as good a purpose as she'd find.
For now. That view could always be reassessed in the future.
Ryu waited as Tate worked her way through all the ramifications of this new information, folding his arms over his chest as he fixed her with a long stare.
"Alright. What's next?" Tate asked.
"Tell me what you remember about the creature's attack."
Tate's lips parted before she frowned. "I already told you."
"I know what you said in front of Thora; now I want the truth."
Her frown became more pronounced. He didn't budge, his expression calm. He was going to be stubborn about this. She could tell.
Her shoulders lifted and fell. She toyed with a nick in the railing wood beside him. "I died—or at least came closer than I ever have before."
He didn't move, his expression a bland mask except for a faint tightening around his eyes.
"Ilith took control. I don't remember anything after that,"
Tate confessed.
"No impressions or feelings?"
Tate shook her head. "Nothing. It's like I was so deeply asleep, I wasn't even dreaming."
Ryu grunted, his gaze distant. Tate waited.
"She seems to respond when you're in danger."
Tate nodded. "That's my conclusion as well. My first transformation was also because we were dying."
"How many times have you transformed voluntarily?" he asked. "With no immediate danger?"
"A handful of times. Maybe five?"
Part of that was Tate's irrational fear she'd get stuck in the other form. The other part was the earlier ban on shifting Ryu and the others had placed on her.
"Did you initiate or did she?"
Tate thought about it. "I always ask her to take ascendancy."
His gaze sharpened. "Is that what you call it?"
"It’s her term. It makes sense, so I use it."
He nodded absently, one hand stroking the dragon tattoo curled around his forearm. "Your connection with the dragon seems to be stable. Most can't handle the pressure of the dragon's mind and go mad."
Until now, it was thought those who heard their dragon's voice were destined for a slow descent into dragon madness.
Tate was an example of doing things the opposite way. From what she'd been able to find out, one of the reasons she'd been left to sleep was because of the madness she’d suffered.
The intervening centuries had healed her mind and body, allowing her brain to bear the brunt of the power transfer. No one could explain how or why, but more than one had offered to study it. Something she resisted. She wasn't an experiment and wouldn't let anyone treat her as such.
"I'm going to skip some of the exercises we teach those who first take the bond. They're designed to bring you and your dragon into some type of balance. Since you've already achieved that on your own, I'll concentrate more on the dragon itself," Ryu said.
Ilith became alert inside Tate, her interest pricking. Shift?
Tate shook off Ilith's voice, knowing she had to focus.
Before she could ask any questions, Ryu shifted, his form twisting and turning until a large dragon stood in his place. He took up much of the foredeck, his tail curving around the helm.
The crew member on duty gave them a startled look but didn't react otherwise.
Tate took a moment to appreciate the beauty of Ryu's dragon. He was bigger than Ilith, his head towering several feet above Tate's. His body was built for speed, sleek and elegant, belying the strength contained in every line.
He was regal and intimidating, with horns curling back from his head. Each claw tipping his paws was the length of Tate's forearm.
His scales glimmered in the sun, fire given form. The red-gold and blacks shimmered as if they were alive.
The dragon lowered his head. Tate held very still, not wanting to tempt him into eating her. He could too. One snap of his teeth and there'd be no more Tate.
He nudged her instead, snorting his amusement. Warm air blasted her, shaking her out of her trepidation.
Beautiful, Ilith said, echoing Tate's thoughts.
Ryu's dragon tapped his claws on the deck, getting her attention. He carved several letters into the wood.
Tate cringed, already hearing Jost's strident voice in the back of her mind. He was very possessive of his ship. Damage it at your own risk.
F-O-L-L-O-W.
Tate didn't have longer than a second to consider before Ryu's dragon pushed off hard from the deck, the ship bobbing disconcertingly under the force of his jump. Several startled cries escaped those on deck.
Ryu's dragon leapt into the air, his wings snapping out and catching the sun's light as it danced along his scales.
He skimmed inches above the water before rising high into the sky. Tate shielded her eyes against the harsh glare of the sun as she watched him arrow through the air.
Ilith's excitement beat at Tate. She wanted out. Her turn was here, and she wasn’t willing to wait a moment longer than she had to.
For once, Tate agreed, as eager as her dragon to experience the freedom of flying.
"Are you ready for this?"
Ilith voiced a wordless assent.
Tate took a deep breath, mentally taking a step back and allowing room for Ilith to take control.
Ilith surged forward, eager to gobble down all that life promised.
Energy crackled along their skin and nerves as Tate shrunk, taking the spot of beta as Ilith became alpha.
Seconds later a petite dragon stood in Tate's place. She was still big compared to a human, but took up only a fraction of the space Ryu's dragon had.
Ilith shook herself all over and raised her head to the sun, trumpeting her triumph.
She spread her claws, enjoying the feel of the wood splintering under them. She stretched, feeling her muscles pull and tighten pleasantly.
The light of the sun along her scales warmed her despite the chill in the air. In this form, she didn't feel the pinch of its cold as much. This form was the best. Nothing could hurt her when she was dragon.
Ilith's scales were a blue so deep they were almost black and edged in a lighter silvery color.
She stretched again before crouching, her entire attention locked on the promise in the sky above her.
Her wings fluttered and her butt wiggled. She leapt into the air, her powerful muscles bunching to propel her further. Her wings snapped out, the thin membrane catching the whip of the wind for one timeless second.
Her heart soared, the feeling of flying a barely remembered pleasure.
Seconds later, she plummeted, the icy embrace of the ocean closing over her head.
She thrashed as she sank. Her struggles lifted her snout above the water for one desperate breath before a wave swamped her.
She rolled, wings tangling around her as panic beat through her. The current dragged her further from the ship as she kicked and twisted and turned.
Swim, Tate shouted. Use your legs.
Ilith snapped at her even as she tried to do exactly that. It didn't help. She felt as uncoordinated as a newborn, unable to get her limbs to obey her or work together.
Do something. I don't want to die because you can't be a proper dragon, Tate yelled.
Insult rose at that jab, distracting Ilith from the gravity of the situation for a brief moment.
Like Tate could do any better.
I could. I definitely could! Trade places with me.
Ilith refused. It was her time. She'd figure this out.
She tumbled ass over end, trying to orient herself. Here, with water pressing around her, her wings became a hindrance rather than a help.
Something hit the water next to her with a great force. Clawed paws wrapped around the back of her neck and jerked her up.
Ilith breached the water. She lifted her head, seeing red-gold scales above her. Ryu. She was clutched to his dragon's chest as the powerful beast flew back to the ship.
His wings beat hard as he arrowed above the water. He lifted at the last second when they would have hit the side of the ship, dropping her onto the deck before shooting past.
She landed with an ungraceful thump.
The humans gaped at her as she righted herself.
She ignored them all, lifting a paw and licking it clean as Ryu circled the ship again.
She remained crouched, cold and miserable, as she wrapped her tail fully around her in the hopes it would lend her some warmth.
Ryu approached, back-winging at the last second to settle softly on the other side of the deck. He shimmered as his dragon folded back, revealing the human.
Ilith turned her head away, tucking her snout under the tip of her tail as Tate cackled in the back of her mind.
I can't believe you don't know how to fly, Tate chortled.
The tip of Ilith's tail flicked. She did know how to fly. She was just out of practice.
Ryu shook his head when Ilith refused to look at him.
His han
d was gentle as he touched the ridge of spikes running along the back of her neck. Ilith's sigh of pleasure was almost silent. Somehow, he caught it anyway, reaching up to rub the skin directly beneath where her horns started.
Another spike of pleasure moved through her. The skin there was sensitive, his touch appreciated even in the depths of her embarrassment.
Still stubborn, she kept facing away from him, unwilling to be lulled out of her snit.
Another approached. His scent too was familiar. Dragon, but not her dragon. He was the one who’d been kept in the cage and used to open the gate to bring more of their kind forth.
"That was new," Jacob drawled. "I don't think we've ever had a dragon who couldn't fly."
Ilith lifted her head, letting out a dangerous snarl before blowing a wave of smoke at him.
He lifted an eyebrow at her, but didn't move. "Your threats need work. All I need to do to escape is transform and fly away."
This time she didn't waste time on bluffs. Her head snaked out, her teeth snapping inches from his face.
He growled and jolted forward, his eyes taking on an alien cast as his dragon peered out.
"Jacob," Ryu warned.
Ilith watched with interest as the other man swallowed his dragon back, straightening from his crouch to adjust the sleeves of his jacket.
"I'll be in the hold. Away from novice dragons," Jacob said evenly, not sparing a glance at Ilith as he turned and disappeared down the steps.
Ilith let the insult to her exalted self go. She blew a sharp breath over Ryu, chiding him without words. She'd almost gotten the other dragon out of his self-imposed cage.
He gave her a wry look and patted her neck. "Jacob's been going through a hard time since his captivity. I'd appreciate it if you didn't toy with him."
Ilith snorted and turned her head away. He needed to be pushed. There was so much fear in both man and dragon, even Ilith could smell it.
She set her head down and sighed, embarrassment making her want to find the highest point on the ship and roar her challenge.
She looked with interest at one of the ship's masts. Maybe if she jumped off there, she'd get the hang of flying.