by Martha Carr
Once he reached the top, his stomach sank. “Raven? Don’t hide on me.” He looked to his left and right. Nothing.
“Not funny, Alby.” He looked down the hill and saw her in the middle of the three dragons, who were sizing her up. All the color drained from his face. Don’t shout or you’ll disturb them. Just get down there and get between them. “I’m coming, Raven,” he said as calmly as he could.
Raven waved her arm, signaling for him to stop.
He froze in shock.
“It’s okay,” she yelled, but he could see she was breathing hard, and her face was covered in sweat.
“Right?” She peered at the dragons around her, and they nodded in response.
“They aren’t attacking her,” he muttered. Every muscle in his body was tensed, and he took a few more steps, unsure, watching the dragons circle Raven. “What have I done?” He took a few more steps toward her, about to wave his arms. Get ready to run, Raven. His breath caught in his throat.
The female dragon leaned toward Raven’s face, almost knocking her over again. William raised his arms and let out a loud, “Hey!” as his eyes widened in horror. He started to run but stopped when he saw that instead of trying to snatch Raven up in her jaws, the dragon nudged the girl’s open hand with her nose. She placed her large jaws near Raven’s ear.
“Sometimes, when I dream, I can still feel the wind streaming past my wings, and if I reach out, I can touch the stars,” whispered the dragon. “Then I wake up and remember all over again where I am.”
Raven’s eyes widened, and she put her hands around the dragon’s face. Her hands were dwarfed by the dragon’s head. “You deserve to be free and choose your own destiny. We all do,” she whispered back.
William stood higher on the hill, baffled, his mouth agape and a chill running up his back. Things could change at any moment. They’re listening to her, but how?
She pointed to the pasture behind them, and the dragons nodded and retreated, turning away from her and lumbering to their clans. William felt relief flood through his body. He wanted to run down and grab Raven and carry her back up the hill, but his knees were shaking, so he waited to get steady.
Raven started walking up to William and saw that he was standing there with his eyes wide. “What?” she asked, looking over her shoulder and back at him.
“What do you mean, what? How? They…” he sputtered. He was drenched in sweat. “How did you do that?”
Raven looked at the dragons, who were retreating to another pasture. “That was amazing, wasn’t it?” Her face lit up with delight. “I’ve never felt like that before! I mean spells are cool, but…”
“These are feral animals. Do you understand? They don’t listen to anybody. That’s why they’re here.”
“Yeah, I know, and they listened to me!” She walked past William as she ascended the hill, smiling until her face hurt, her eyes shining.
William put his hands above his eyes to shade them, watching the dragons in the fading light. They had no reserved aggression. They weren’t spooked or disturbed by Raven’s presence. It was as if she was part of a clan. Their clan. If anything, they were calmer.
“This doesn’t happen,” he protested.
“You coming, or what? I can’t wait to tell Teo! I mean, I thought I got the whole ‘dragons are wonderful’ thing, but wow! This is better than when I pulled off that spell—that one I’m not supposed to say I even know and could have really gone wrong. But I talked Grandpa into it, had to wear him down. This is better!” She kept talking excitedly the entire way up the hill and over the crest, her good hand moving in every direction. The pain from her shoulder was forgotten.
“Uh, yeah.”
At the top of the hill, Raven ran to Teo and wrapped an arm partway around his neck, squeezing him as she laid her head down.
“What’s this?”
William looked at the ground while running his fingers through his hair, a confused look plastered on his face. “No, they can’t. Remember, they’re here because…” He paused again, looking at the packs of beasts spread out in the valley. “They don’t listen to anybody.”
“Maybe you’re doing it wrong. I didn’t have any problems with them.”
“You’re a riddle wrapped in an enigma inside a girl who can eat more than her body weight.”
“That was one festival, and I won that pie-eating contest.”
William paced around Teo, shaking his head. “They didn’t attack you. They weren’t threatened by you. I don’t get it.” He stopped pacing. “This morning, you threw yourself into mortal combat with an elf who would have killed you for a goat, and you got the better of him! Now, you stood among feral dragons and let them blow steam into your face.”
“I’ll never forget this day.”
“You’re no normal mage, Raven, no matter what you say.”
Teo curled his long neck and looked back at Raven, smelling the air.
“That’s just what those dragons were doing,” said Raven.
William looked at Teo. “Dragons can take in things with their senses that we can’t.” He nodded at Teo. “You and I are gonna talk later,” he said to the dragon, puzzled. “But right now, we have to go. The sun is falling below the horizon. It’ll be dark before you know it.”
William held out his hand and helped Raven onto the dragon. She stepped onto the wing and swung her leg over the saddle, sliding forward to leave room for the rider.
“Get us home, Teo! Ahead of the sunset.”
“As you wish. Hold on tight.”
They took off into the air, Teo spreading his silver wings, which glittered in the last of the daylight. Raven giggled as they climbed to soaring altitude and evened out. She stared down at the ranches below and the mountain range in the distance. Several lakes dotted the landscape, and dense ancient forests stretched out beyond the kingdom that were interrupted in sections by the wall.
She looked out to the horizon and leaned forward, her left hand holding tight to the horn on the saddle. “What’s out there? What creatures? What other kingdoms? I’ve read about a few of them, but what is it like?” she shouted over the roar of the wind.
“More of the same, I guess. I’ve never flown out that far. Too much to do here.”
Her imagination raced as she looked down, taking in as many details as she could. William settled back into the saddle, pulling on the reins. “What about the northwest route, Teo? It has the best views and should get us there just as fast.”
Raven gulped in the rushing air, her eyes watering as she looked up at the stars appearing above and all across the horizon. She stretched out her left hand as far as she could, her fingers reaching for the stars and felt a pang in her chest for the dragons she had left behind in the valley.
Teo dipped his head and bent his left wing, adjusting the flight and making a gradual turn to the right. Raven slipped to the side in the saddle, losing her footing in the stirrup.
William slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her back against him once again. “I’m going to have to tie you to that saddle. What were you doing?”
“Dreaming,” she said, grabbing the horn again. She looked back and smiled, then turned back to face front and watch the vanishing landscape below.
Just ahead of them, the ground rippled in an extensive line, puffs of dirt arising along a quarter-mile stretch.
“What is that?” she shouted, but her words were swallowed by the wind, and William was distracted by a crosswind, busy adjusting the reins.
Raven glanced down, but the ground was still now. Nothing. Optical illusion? She looked toward the horizon, worried about getting home in time, when she saw another ripple. It was along the ground, far off in the distance, outside their kingdom. What the hell is that?
Teo grunted, rearing back and nearly dropping Raven from the saddle. They bobbed left and right in a panic until William could calm down and get him back on track.
The Moss Ranch appeared on the horizon, the large dragons g
athered in the center of the fields, huddled for the night.
Teo circled the largest open pen twice, lowering their altitude and coming in for a landing as William held onto Raven to keep her from lurching out of the saddle. He threw his leg over and slid off the dragon’s back, holding out his hand for Raven to dismount.
Once Raven was on the ground, he marched to the front of the dragon near his eyes, his face drained of color. “What happened up there, Teo? What did you see? Was it raiders?”
“It wasn’t what I saw, but what I smelled. Something isn’t right with this day.” The dragon folded his wings back by his sides, the scales along the back of his neck standing on end as if he were ready for battle. “You would be wise to keep watch, young William.”
Raven came up behind William, her eyes widening. “It’s the…”
William whipped around, angry. “Don’t say, ‘Swarm.’ Don’t ever say Swarm, especially around any of the elders. There is no more Swarm, and all you can do is remind people of the darkest days of this kingdom. Think, Raven!”
“But I…” She looked at his reddening face and closed her mouth, then gave him a short nod. William slid the saddle off Teo, and they went to the tack room.
At the door, William stopped and sighed. “Look, I’m sorry I snapped at you.”
Raven shook her head. “It was me. I’m sorry. I didn’t think about what it could be like for others. I’ll be more careful.” She pressed her palm to her chest, her fingers brushing her mother’s pin. “Thank you for one of the best days of my life! Dragons…” she breathed in awe.
William didn’t respond, just shook his head as he hung up the saddle. Her first ride.
Connor sat at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of warm tea and staring out the window at the darkening sky. “Where is Raven? That girl!” He swallowed the last few gulps. I know she’s safe inside the city and just up the road, but she has a wounded shoulder.
The sky grew dark, and the old man became restless. He went to the window and looked out at the stars. Memories from long ago haunted him. “So many friends lost,” he murmured. A familiar uncomfortable feeling overcame him as he watched a red streak appear across the darkening sky. Not the first time he’d seen it lately. “Not possible.”
He willed the names of old friends lost a long time ago to leave him, then threw his hands up. “Never was good at waiting for much of anything.” He took his cap off the hook and adjusted it on his head, glancing at the sword hanging by the door and deciding against it.
“Letting the night play tricks on me. Just a walk down the road. The past does not predict the future, Alby.” He glanced at the sky again, but the streak was gone. “Dead and gone.” Simple as that.
Chapter Ten
The sound of crickets echoed across the Moss Ranch as William lit a lantern near the gate. “You’re going to head back home?”
“Yes, but I made my grandfather a promise I’d get you to walk with me if it got to be dark. He likes to be cautious.” She shrugged and looked at the night sky, which was full of stars. The dragon’s words came back to her, and she breathed in the excitement that still hummed through her body.
William walked down the perimeter of the property to light the next lantern. “Wise grandfather. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll be ready to go.”
“Thank you for taking me on the ride. You must feel like this all the time,” Raven said, grinning and pressing her hand to her belly.
William chuckled. “Dragons can make you feel like anything is possible, but never forget, we train them for battle. They’re magnificent, yes, and deadly.”
They reached the next lantern. This one was much higher than the first two. “Since you’re here, you can help. Hang onto this for a second.” He handed her the torch while he climbed up the pole. “Okay, give it back.”
She passed the torch to him, only lifting it high with her other arm pinned to her side. He reached down and grabbed it.
Raven was mesmerized by the dancing flame. “Anyway, you have it lucky, William.”
“Why’s that?”
“Look at this place—complete freedom and independence. You get to do the job you want. You chose your destiny. And you’re always around dragons.”
William laughed as he slid back down, holding the torch at arm’s length as he landed. “Two problems with that observation. One, I didn’t really choose it; it’s the family business. I just happen to love it. You know, Raven, you saw a little of what I do. It’s not that glamorous. Training dragons is a pretty straightforward deal. My parents trust me because I don’t have a whole lot of room for rebellion and doing things my own way. There’s one way to train these creatures and one outcome. That’s the second problem.”
“Why is that a problem?” She glanced at down the line of lit torches near the row of buildings.
He stopped walking and turned to face her, a somber look apparent in the light from the torch. “This job is torture sometimes.”
“Why? What’s wrong?” she asked, taken aback.
“I played it cool when we visited the valley. Okay, right up until the dragons became your new besties. I go there a lot because I feel guilty as hell.”
“Because you had to clip their wings?”
He didn’t want to say it out loud. “Every time we breed a new dragon, I have high hopes for it. These big, beautiful animals—they’re built to do so much. Getting to see them move on to their new roles in the kingdom? That’s the reward of being a dragon trainer. So, when one of them doesn’t take direction—”
“You feel like you failed them?”
“In a way, yeah. I know what awaits them.” He took a deep breath and peered past her at the pasture stretching out behind them, where most of the dragons were sleeping. “If the valley is all that is left for such beautiful beasts, what’s the point of them even existing? It’s such a waste.” His voice caught as he got the words out.
“There still has to be a reason,” she said quietly.
William continued walking to the next torch. “Yeah, well, that’s why I want you to train Leander.”
Raven stopped and nearly burst out laughing. “You want what?”
“You’ve got something, Raven.”
“Yeah, school and chores.”
“Let me light this last one, then hear me out. I saw how you were around Teo. You know you want to.”
“I do want to, but there are more than a few people who won’t let that happen.”
Once he was done with the last torch, he walked past her. “Follow me.”
She hated saying the words. “I’m supposed to be a mage in training.”
William’s eyebrows shot up, wrinkling his forehead. “That doesn’t sound like you. You aren’t scared, are you? Fearless warrior who vanquishes small elves.”
“Hey, he had a crossbow and quarrels!”
“See? You can do this, and we can—”
“We can what? They won’t let it happen.”
“We’ll figure that part out.”
William led her to Leander’s pen, where the mighty beast paced anxiously. He pointed to the dragon as he lifted the torch high to illuminate him. “Look at this creature. This dragon is huge, powerful, and beautiful. He can be incredibly useful to the kingdom, right?”
Raven nodded. “That’s a certainty.”
“But he won’t be because he won’t listen to us. He won’t even calm down when we’re around. Watch.” William approached the gate and Leander growled at him, blowing a small fireball into the air so bright that both of them squinted and flinched.
“Buzz off, flyboy.”
William backed away and turned to Raven. “Now, you go.”
“I thought you liked me? If it’s about that time I bested you in archery, I gave you best two out of three.”
“Just go up to the damn gate.”
“And do what, let him singe off my eyebrows? That would not be a good look at the academy. I don’t train dragons. What am I supposed to do, wave m
y arms? Talk to him? Tell him to roll over?”
“Go up to the gate and look into his eyes. I have a good feeling about it. I know a special connection to a dragon when I see one.”
Raven edged to the gate and gazed at Leander, ready to duck if he blew another fireball.
The dragon’s eyes glowed intently as he stared at Raven, calmly snorting steam. Raven steadied her breathing, watching him without expression. Leander hunched over and slowly extended his long neck to her.
Raven held still, taking deep breaths and letting them out.
William smiled. “Just stay there. Don’t move.” He lifted the torch to get a better view. “You are a natural.”
With a long, loud sniff, Leander inhaled the aroma coming off Raven. He closed his eyes and sniffed a few more times, his nostrils flaring wildly. “What is that? Who are you?” His voice was a low rumble that Raven could feel in her chest.
Leander lifted his head until he was nose to nose with Raven. She stared at him, and he looked deep into her eyes. No snorting. No smoke. No fireball. “You’re more than a natural.”
The moment seemed to last a lifetime. Raven didn’t know how to react, or if she was supposed to do something. She didn’t know if the dragon was going to do anything to her. They merely stared into each other’s eyes in complete silence.
Finally, the dragon backed up in his pen and laid down in the far corner.
Confused, Raven turned to William. “Are we done?”
“I think you are.” William laughed.
“What the hell was that?”
“That, my friend, was progress. What you did in the last couple minutes is more than any of us on the ranch have done in weeks with that one.”
“But I didn’t do anything!” She held out her palms. “I just stood there and felt this strange connection.” She tapped her chest.
“Raven, the first step in training a dragon is establishing a comfort level. A mutual peace. You seemed to do more than that. Nobody else has gotten Leander to do anything but hurl insults and fireballs.”