by A. Wrighton
“Jaxin hates… everyone.”
“Seems friendly enough to me.”
“I ... Don’t…”
Kalyna ignored Alaister’s sudden insecurity and disbelief.
“He does look like her… except bigger and… orangey red.” Kalyna chuckled as she rubbed above the Beast’s eye. “He must be fast.”
“Uh… extremely…”
Jaxin emitted a low humming noise before pushing Alaister backwards, so Kalyna had full access to both sides of his face. Kalyna laughed at the Dragon’s persistence and continued rubbing with both hands. Beside his ear ridge, she whispered a poem to him in Drakanic.
“What is that?” Alaister asked.
“A poem from the Solasti... Vee used to make me repeat it whenever I got upset.”
Alaister collected himself, fixing his vest and cloak. “Right. Well, would you like to see?”
“See what?”
“Him fly?”
Kalyna gasped. “Of course!” Quickly, she stepped back to allow Alaister to mount, but the angry chortle from Jaxin startled her. The Beast knelt and locked eyes with Kalyna.
Alaister squinted at his Beast, mouth agape. “I think He wants you to come…”
“You think? I thought you Riders were supposed to have a connection with your Dragons?”
“We are… We do. But, very few can feel their emotions, if that is what you’re implying. Even fewer can read their thoughts. Gavasti, I don’t think there has been someone who could do that in over a century.” Alaister leapt into his white saddle and looked back down on Kalyna’s puzzled face. He extended his hand and felt Jaxin hum as she drew closer. He laughed at the impossibility of it all. It was nothing short of amazing; almost as amazing as finding The One, the last Soleran Runic in the Creipan Swamps.
Alaister hoisted Kalyna up into the saddle in front of him and adjusted her position until she was secure within the confines of the leather saddle. Then, remembering her last flight, he wrapped an arm around her. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
“All right, now ask him to rise.” He leaned forward, his face becoming enveloped in flaxen curls. “You know that one, right?”
Kalyna spoke the Drakanic command with such authority that even Alaister straightened at her call. “Rise, Jaxin of Mylfina.”
Jaxin eagerly obeyed, rearing on his hind legs before lifting his heft from the ground with a harsh slap of wings to air. Alaister smiled. Jaxin had always been an overly cocky show off and now that Kalyna had somehow sparked a connection in the soul of his Beast, Jaxin took it to extremes. If he had not been enjoying it himself, Alaister would have reeled Jaxin back in. But the air felt amazing against his face and it freed his thoughts.
Alaister had never seen or heard of a situation like Kalyna’s happening before and it set him on edge. She could speak Drakanic and the Beast seemed to understand her, but she was not a Kindred since she failed to hear their thoughts or replies. She was a special paradox. Kai had to have saved Kalyna because she was special in a way, aside from her Runic lineage, and though definitive reasons escaped, hope dangled that it perhaps had to do with her ability to connect with the Beasts.
As Jaxin rose higher, Alaister’s mind raced through the pages of his father’s logbooks he had decrypted. There was nothing mentioning anything of the sort. No example. No protocol. No logical approach existed to his knowledge, but Synge predated even Kai and he would be the person to ask now. If anyone would know an answer, it would by Syn.
“Alaister?”
He missed her eager voice at first.
“Alaister,” Kalyna said clearing her throat. “Now what?”
Alaister smirked and braced her weight squarely along his chest. “He’ll need a voice command and a physical command. He’ll hear you if you speak from your depths. He’ll feel you if you press from your soul. Use your legs and heels. Feel him beneath you.”
Kalyna closed her eyes and slowed her breathing. She searched her thoughts until she found nothingness. And there, in the darkness of her mind, she felt the beat of Alaister’s heart behind her and the flexing of both his and Jaxin’s muscles. Kalyna calmed her heart further until she felt the rhythmic throbbing of the massive life organ beneath her body. She could feel the Beast’s breath pull in and rest in his chest before swirling back out. Eyes shut, Kalyna turned her head to speak against Alaister’s throat. “Ready,” she said.
His spine shuddered. Alaister paused, lost on the contours of her face until Jaxin flexed. Alaister blinked and stirred to attention. “Tell him to bank right by applying pressure with your right leg and command him to do so. Squeeze hard, Kal. It won’t hurt him.”
Kalyna hesitated to obey, transfixed by the unusual human contact and warmth generating beneath Alaister’s hand that held fast to her side. Only when his fingers moved, did she nod in agreement. Her right leg squeezing and right heel digging into the Beast’s hide, Kalyna issued the Drakanic command. “Bank right, Jaxin of Mylfina.”
Jaxin dipped and veered to the right. The sharp turn caught Kalyna’s breath. She dug her left hand into Alaister’s steadying forearm.
“You all right?”
She nodded and slowly released her grip.
“Now, try left.”
Kalyna obeyed and urged Jaxin to the left. He wheeled to the left and spread his wings to reach a full, steady glide. Kalyna’s smile grew as the Beast swept through low-lying clouds. They tasted of dew and the sharp cold of a late autumn eve. Kalyna leaned back against Alaister, whispering into his throat once more and hoping that he could still hear her above the growing roar of the wind.
“Alaister, may I ask you something?” She felt him nod. “How is it that you’re the Commander? Like father, like son?”
Alaister laughed. He had heard it a million times. “No. Elected.”
“What?” she asked, craning her neck to stare after him with disbelief wild in her eyes.
“The active officers and those chosen to be their successors voted.”
“By how much did you win?”
“I never asked.”
“But you know.”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“All but one voted for me.”
“Callon?”
Alaister laughed again. “Me.”
Kalyna stared back at him as best she could. Her lips clung to her shock. “You didn’t vote for yourself? Then who—”
“Lanthar.”
“Really? He’s so…”
“Lanthar is a born leader. I had to learn to become one – quickly.”
“That’s not what they say. You’re a respected, able leader and you can talk to anyone. How you talk to Callon so calmly on some occasions is beyond me…” She paused and faced forward, hanging on to the information. “Why not you?”
“Because at that time, if we were to head into battle facing certain death, I knew that we’d all follow Lanthar without thinking. I would have had to convince them first.”
“Which you do well.”
“Too well, sometimes…”
Kalyna felt the chill in his voice and the awkwardness still the air. “Vylain says your riding speaks for itself too,” she added baiting him to see what she had been denied. She had seen all but Callon and Alaister ride, and the stories of both their abilities leeched her curiosity.
“Vylain is too kind, as usual.”
“Even Callon agreed.”
Alaister scoffed at her insistence but hid a flattered smile. “I can ride. Part of the job.”
“You ride well enough to inspire them – inspire Callon – and I’ve heard about how he rides. So what is it, Commander Paine? What is it that stands out so when you ride.”
“Level, Jaxin,” Alaister said in Drakanic. He then waited for a moment of level steadiness before leaping onto the top of his saddle. From there, he gracefully walked onto Jaxin’s lower back. There Alaister stood, feet wider than his hips, gliding atop his massive Beast.
“You fi
ght… from there?” The recognition raced across her face to her white-knuckled grip.
“It’s easier than dancing,” he said as he began to move along Jaxin as if solid, unliving ground were below him. He bowed and flashed a smile. “Much easier actu—”
“Are you insane? Get back here!”
Alaister laughed but complied. “I prefer it. Jaxin doesn’t need me to fly, Kal. He was born knowing how to and I was born knowing how to walk. Enemy gets the best of both of us this way.” Alaister slid back into the saddle with a grin and waited for Kalyna’s response.
She was frozen in mutated horror turned awe. Kalyna was quiet a moment longer before she leaned back and shook her head dismissively. “I prefer the flying bit. How do we get him to dive?”
“You sure?”
“You brought me here to show me how he flies, didn’t you?” Kalyna laughed. “Do your worst.”
Alaister smiled before guiding Kalyna into the right position. “Lean forward, like this. Squeeze with both legs and ask it of him.”
“Jaxin of Mylfina—”
“Oh, and Kal?”
“Mmmm?”
“Hold on.”
Kalyna smiled before ushering the command. “Dive.”
Jaxin screeched with pleasure at the order. He streaked the sky with blue flame as he barreled towards the earth at an alarming rate. Alaister felt the wind press Kalyna’s thin frame into him. He quickly tightened his grip on her waist. Jaxin twirled twice before righting himself and pulling up into a glide a few feet above the ground.
Alaister was certain that Kalyna, light in his arms, had fainted until, as Jaxin slowed, he made out her soft laughter. Before he could offer her or Jaxin more instruction, Kalyna gave his Beast the order he knew Jaxin would eagerly obey.
“Show me the sky, Jaxin of Mylfina. Fly.”
Jaxin pushed upwards into the thicker, fluffy clouds. Alaister was amazed at the trust and balance of the Runic in front of him. She had released the saddle horn and had her arms spread wide into the mist of cloud tails. Jaxin took her stance as happy encouragement. He swirled in and out of the clouds until dew adorned her clothing and hair like strands of translucent pearls. Only when Alaister felt Kalyna shiver did he reel in control.
“Land, Jaxin.”
The Beast immediately leveled for a gliding descent that took but a few heartbeats. Jaxin scanned the perimeter of the landing site near the inn at the same time as Alaister. Both satisfied that they were safe and unexposed, Alaister patted Jaxin’s shoulder and hopped off the saddle. He turned to help Kalyna down and carefully watched to ensure she could find her land legs. She was unbothered by the change, by flight.
Alaister laughed at himself at her ease in regaining balance. It should not have surprised him. Her abilities were that of the Beast and would be nothing too great or altered for Kalyna to become accustomed to. Alaister stood in jealous wonder at Kalyna’s post-flight demeanor as she nimbly ran to Jaxin’s head to nuzzle and coo at him in Drakanic. Arms crossed, Alaister waited patiently until he felt a shiver. He stepped beside Jaxin and nodded. “Wait in peace,” Alaister commanded.
Jaxin stretched before stepping backwards and leaping into the sky.
“You should get inside Kal – you’ll catch a cold.”
“I’ve never been sick a day in my life, Alaister. I’ve never felt more… alive. Does it always feel like that?”
“Yes.” Alaister smiled, offering his long leather coat.
Kalyna accepted, despite it looking obscenely large on her tall frame. The scent of riding through the clouds and spiced tavi rushed her senses. His soft fingers against her chin soothed her fluttering heartbeat. Alaister stared at Kalyna, with her flushed lips, dew-laden hair, and pink cheeks. He wanted to savor the rush of the ride on her lips before it faded from her skin – before it faded and they both were forced to face life back on the ground. Alaister leaned in until he tasted her sweet breath. Kalyna exhaled, relaxing under his fast approach.
“Alaister!” Callon burst out the inn doors and stumbled onto the path.
Alaister jerked back, straight and rigid, replacing his proximity to Kalyna with wide-open space. Kalyna shivered and rubbed the leather sleeves. Alaister scoffed at Callon’s brazen approach, though he was truly grateful for Callon stopping him from breaking an oath of protection. He smiled weakly at Kalyna before excusing himself to help Callon’s botched entrance. Left behind, she stared after Alaister, oddly amused and equally stunned.
Stumbling, Callon caught Alaister’s arm and smiled giddily. “Al! You’re never going to – you are freezing and wet! You! You are never going to believe this. This! This is… just… Wow! Bretzing amazing!”
“Oh?” Alaister asked as he guided Callon back to the inn.
“So I got this snarky blonde, right? Right! Of course, I did… Anyhow, she says she has a thing for men with black hair and I said, ‘Oh yeah?’ And then she said that if I find her such a man then she could find another woman and all four of us can—”
Callon’s head hit gravel as Alaister pinned him to the ground. His blue eyes stared blankly back – stunned and confused. “What is your deal?” Callon asked, squirming. Callon stopped when he noticed the flash of flaxen waves in the distance. “Oh, please. Kaly is fine, nothing she hasn’t heard before... Right, Kaly? Tell him to take one for the team, would you?”
Kalyna cocked a thin eyebrow at the two men, her stomach swirling as she walked around them to enter the inn. “I think I’ll go to sleep now. Good night, boys.” Kalyna paused halfway through the door, a misplaced look on her face. Her voice was delicate as she turned back to add, “Go team.”
Callon watched Kalyna disappear into the warming light of the inn and started to make to follow it, but Alaister's grip held him fast against the iced ground. He sighed and looked blissfully back at Alaister, his tongue tripping over his words. “Too bad she isn’t my type… too…. She’s too—”
“Too what? She’s perfection.”
“Yeah, I guess. I mean, yeah… but she’s so…” Callon turned and caught Alaister’s glare – cold and blade sharp. Callon laughed. “You like her! I’ll be damned to Udlast… the Mighty Alaister Paine is starting to sound human! Don’t tell me you’ve also recently discovered a human-like heartbeat?”
Alaister exhaled, his amusement for his blubbering friend gone. “Don’t even start—”
“You care about her!”
“We all do.”
“Do we all also throw people about on frozen ground?” Callon grinned. “Admit it.”
“She’s my responsibility. My charge.”
Callon squinted at Alaister until he released him. Callon smirked as he dusted off his pants and vest. “All right then, if that is the truth, join me in the fruits of the darling Gray Stagg Inn. There are waves of women starving for a battle-hardened Dragonic, Al.”
Alaister flinched. “I’ll pass.”
Callon shrugged and mocked a blow to his heart. “Watcher and Listener save us all! The great Alaister Paine is passing on the eager businesswomen of this lovely establishment. They will be crushed, sir! Bad form!”
Alaister’s eyes rolled, a small smile hiding on the corner of his right lip. “Whatever will they do without me?”
“Why, come to me naturally. Good thing too, ‘cause I have a lot of loving to give. You’re the best friend a man could ask for.”
“Oh?”
“Sure! You take the one none can have, thus leaving the rest that I can and do want for me!” Callon stumbled through the door and waved back at Alaister and his open but silent mouth. “You take care of her, Al. She’s like the kid sister or stray pup I never had… or … something.” Callon whirled back to the lobby and pumped his fists into the air. “Ladies!”
GRAY STAGG INN
NORTHERN ANRAK, CALDENON
The sun slithered through the worn blue drapes as the inn matron effortlessly navigated the three rows of long tables serving breakfast. Her full skirt brushed against the me
n with each turn as she dispersed tavi, water, milk, and juices to her patrons. Alaister smiled when he saw Callon giddily swat at the fabric and immediately scan the ceiling when the matron turned to scold the culprit.
The Rogues had taken to the farthest table in the inn that stood nestled amongst the fading shadows. It had always been a habit to avoid the commoners’ eye and the corner suited them fine, despite all the leather worn by the mountain travelers making them more common. The Rouges relaxed in their acceptance. They sat happily engaged in tormenting Callon and his righteous hangover convinced that should anyone bother to stare, they would be dismissed just as quickly. The Gray Stagg Inn had always been a place of freedom and safety and, for now at least, the inn remained just out of reach for the Council and their politics.
It was good for the Rogues to exist with some level of normalcy. They were at ease at the table talking and laughing, each taking care to annoy Callon. Alaister knew he should have been more concerned for their boisterous behavior, but he lacked the heart to deny them a moment of rest, free from worry or the weight of a coming death. And, teasing Callon brought great relief to the frustrations of moving the entire Order of Rogues. Even Alaister could not pass on the opportunity to torment his closest friend.
Alaister caught a scheming look from Lanthar, for once breaking his form, and nodded back. He leaned near to Callon’s head, which Callon had hid in his folded arms. “Lanthar, would you mind passing the cream?” Alaister asked.
“What was that, Alaister?”
Callon did not move from his posture and with encouragement from Lanthar, Alaister scooted closer, leaning ever nearer to Callon’s ear. Alaister inhaled a deep breath of air. “Cream, Lanthar! Pass the bretzing cream!”
Callon jerked up and stared hard at Alaister. His baggy eyes glared hard, trying to inflict radiant pain. “Gavasti, Al! Is that completely necessary?”
Alaister laughed at Callon’s predictability and patted his back.
Callon rubbed his eyes groggily until a slender brunette with legs for half her height strode past. He smiled, perked up, and cast her the look that guaranteed Callon whomever he wanted. The woman blushed with a quick curtsey before scampering up the stairs. All the men watched her leave and once she was out of earshot, Callon exhaled a moan that was too loud, even for him.