Embers at Galdrilene

by Audra Trosper

  Neda brushed away Emallya’s comment as if such a weakness in herself was unacceptable at any age. Instead of answering, she turned and began helping the others of her group roll back the large covers that protected the saddles on their journey to the hold from the Craft’s workshops.

  By the time they were all uncovered and displayed, Kirynn’s fellow riders had gathered on the inner terrace. Each saddle sat on a stand with coils of strap laid neatly around them. The leather, although unadorned by any scrollwork or special workings, had a healthy sheen to it.

  Bardeck and Emallya examined the saddles carefully while Neda and the saddle makers watched. None looked worried about whether or not the two would find any flaws in their work. Kirynn could understand why. She rarely saw such beautiful or thorough saddle work done. Even the newest recruits among the cavalry at Galdrilene had exquisitely made saddles.

  After the inspection, Bardeck stepped back and faced Neda and the craftsmen gathered around her. “You have done exceptionally well despite the faded instructions you had to work with.”

  Neda inclined her head. “Thank you, Di’shan Bardeck. Mernoth’s saddle as a model helped, too. These of course are but training saddles for the young dragons. They will adjust some with them as they grow and are sturdy enough to take rigors of training. Although I doubt they will have to take the kind of abuse the saddles used for starting horses do. Dragons are smarter than horses.” There were several snorts of agreement among the dragons.

  Kirynn found herself remembering the first time Syrakynn met a horse. Her dragon looked at the equine and asked, “These animals are important to you and the other humans?”

  “They are,” Kirynn had replied.

  “They look tasty. You are certain I am not permitted to eat them?”

  Kirynn laughed and reiterated the rule about not eating the horses. That didn’t stop Syrakynn from eyeballing the animals anyway. Horses generally shied away from the red dragon as if they sensed her restrained desire to make a meal of them. Syrakynn’s amusement threaded through her mind as the red relived the memory with her.

  Bardeck’s voice drew the pair back to the present as he bid farewell to Neda and the craftsmen. When they disappeared into the Great Hall, he turned toward Kirynn and her companions. “It is time for you to fly.”

  Kirynn’s pulse quickened, a surge of excitement flushed through her body. Syrakynn rumbled with pleasure at the thought of taking her rider flying.

  “These saddles,” Bardeck continued, “are a lot like the saddles you put on a horse and at the same time, very different. One major difference is with a horse saddle, you want to make sure you can fly free of the saddle. With these there are special straps to help ensure you don’t come out of the saddle and an additional catcher strap in case there is a failure in the initial safety straps. These saddles also have no tree. They are made to bend and flex with a dragon in flight.”

  He picked up one of the large saddles and strode over to Miya. “If you will please lift your wings up and back for me Miya.” The yellow obligingly moved her wings as directed and Bardeck addressed the fledgling riders again. “You will place the saddle just in front of the wings where the dorsal ridge is smallest.” He settled the saddle on the yellow as he said it. He then showed them how to fasten the straps. One went around the body like the girth on a horse saddle, another went across the chest like a breast collar with another strap running from the center of the breast collar down between the front legs and attaching to the girth. Two additional straps, one on each side, went down around the foreleg in the same way the straps on a backpack went over a person’s shoulders.

  Stirrups rested up on the side of the saddle. Bardeck showed Miya how to position her foreleg so Serena could climb up on it to reach the saddle. Before he let her up, he showed her how to fasten the long catcher strap around her ankle. He then let her reach up and take hold of the saddle and put her foot in the stirrup. Once she settled in the seat, Bardeck began showing them how to fasten the remaining safety straps.

  “These straps are not for show. They are not for weak people. When you are in the saddle you will be flying through the air. If you end up in combat, your dragon will be rolling, flipping and diving. Without these straps you will not be able to stay in the saddle.” When he finished walking Serena and the rest of them through the proper way to fasten the straps, he had her remove them and dismount. He then undid everything and removed the saddle, placing it back on the stand.

  “All of you will have to saddle your dragons yourselves and place the safety straps properly on your own.” He said in answer to the questioning looks Kirynn and the others gave him. “Begin.”

  Kirynn walked over and hefted the saddle meant for Syrakynn into her arms, the smell of the new leather filled her nose. Though a little larger than any saddle she had ever handled, she found it surprisingly light. The seat was a proper size for her, but the underside was made to fit over the dragon’s shoulder peak. She climbed onto the red’s leg and stretched to settle it onto the dragon. Syrakynn twisted her head around on her long neck so one big green eye could watch Kirynn as she began fastening the straps that held the saddle in place.

  “Is it comfortable enough?” Kirynn asked.

  “I can barely feel it. The straps seem a bit strange and restrictive, but I will get used to them if it means you can fly with me.”

  Once everyone had their saddles in place and straps fastened properly, Bardeck walked among them inspecting the fit of each saddle and the placement of the straps. After he finished, making corrections here and there, he turned to them and said, “Dragon Riders, mount up.”

  Kirynn stood on one foot with the other propped on the red’s leg while she fastened the wide cuff of the catcher strap around her left ankle. She gave it a tug and felt it slide a finger width lower on her ankle. She readjusted it and tightened it a little more. She tugged the cuff again; this time it stayed in place. That should do. She fastened the buckle, double checking to make sure she had it right.

  She climbed up to stand on Syrakynn’s leg. From that height Kirynn could reach up to the saddle, though she had to stretch. She hooked her left her foot into the stirrup and pulled herself up.

  The seat seemed to mold itself to her while the pommel and the cantle snugged her in further. Unlike a horse saddle, the pommel of this saddle curved in toward the cantle and she found herself sitting in somewhat of a shallow U-shape. The cantle and pommel curved around her perfectly. Two polished wooden handles on the pommel were just big enough for her hands to grasp.

  Once she settled her right foot in its stirrup, she began on the two wide safety straps. They ran snug across her upper thighs and snapped to heavy D-rings in front of her legs. The straps, as well as the shape of the seat, were designed to keep her in the saddle through all of the maneuvers her dragon might perform.

  The catcher strap on her ankle served as a backup in case the other two failed. She glanced down at the wide cuff around her ankle. Falling from the dragon, only to be stopped by slamming to the end of the catcher strap, would be a painful proposition.

  “Not as painful as it would be if the catcher strap gave way too and I was unable to catch you.” Syrakynn’s sending sounded light hearted, but there was a strain to it as if the dragon found even the thought of Kirynn’s death, painful. Kirynn sent waves of comfort to her greatest friend.

  “Have no worries Syrakynn. The saddle is well made and the straps are supple and strong,” she sent back, seeking to reassure the red.

  Bardeck made rounds among them again, checking the safety straps for fit and proper fastening. Satisfied, he moved to stand by Mernoth. He looked around at all of them and said, “Emallya and I instructed you to the best of our abilities. These past months we taught you the history of dragons and Galdrilene. We taught you to read and write. We instructed you in flying techniques. We encouraged and guided you. This first flight is a significant moment for you all.”

  He smiled. “No longer will you be F
ledglings. You still have plenty to learn about your magic and your powers although even there you have made great strides. But the minute you leave the ground on the back of your dragon, you are officially full-fledged Dragon Riders with all of the responsibilities that go with that. You may fly when you wish, where you wish. Your days are yours to do with as you please. If you seek more learning in one area or another it will be provided. The expectation is that you behave as a rider should and you set aside time to continue the study of your magic. You may offer help wherever it is needed.

  “Like everything when it comes to dragons, this step must be taken willingly and with no hesitation. If any one of you feels you are not ready for this yet, you may dismount now and wait until you feel you are. There is no shame in it and you will face no recriminations from Emallya, nor myself, nor your fellows, not even your dragon. This is a decision only you can make.”

  He waited, but like the night they hatched the dragons, no one made a move to leave. Bardeck searched each face with his sharp eyes, as if looking for uncertainty. Kirynn knew he would find none in her face. She supposed he failed to find it in the faces of any of her friends as well because he nodded sharply, his face flushed with pride and said, “Then fly my young Fledglings and come back as Dragon Riders.”

  The dragons lifted their wings and brought them down with a rush that blew clouds of dust up around them. Kirynn grabbed the two handles on the pommel of the saddle as Syrakynn turned and lumbered head long down the crater. Within seconds, the lake rushed by and the drop off approached. Her stomach fluttered in excitement, her breath caught, the red leaped into the air and brought her wings down in a powerful rush. The edge of the crater flashed beneath them and they were in the air.

  The wind blew her long braid out behind her. Syrakynn banked to the left. Kirynn glanced over her shoulder. The others climbed into the sky behind her. As one, the dragons tilted and plunged toward the ground like diving hawks. Kirynn’s stomach jumped into her throat, the straps across her thighs strained to keep her in the saddle. She gasped in excitement and squinted through tears brought on by the rush of cold wind in her face.

  Just before the treetops, the red broke from the dive and reversed direction back up into the sky. One minute only the straps held her in the saddle, the next she was pushed into it. Her stomach dropped from her throat to settle somewhere in the vicinity of her knees. Her heart raced with exhilaration.

  High in the sky, she was again thrown against the straps as Syrakynn maneuvered through a series of tight rolls and short dives. Kirynn laughed in pure pleasure as the red made one last large loop before settling straight, her wings spread wide to either side, riding the updrafts.

  Kirynn looked around. The other dragons flew level with Syrakynn. Her eyes, sharper thanks to her dragon bond, could see each of her companions flushed with the same excitement she felt. They soared over the massive bay, the water glistening in the sun. Boats heaved among the waves, their white sails bright against the dark water.

  The dragons banked to the right, presenting their riders with a view of the crater, the sharp cliff with the waterfall pouring over its side and the range of mountains marching away. They circled the crater and flew low over the city. Below them, people stopped mid-task to look up and point. Another pass around the crater, over the edge of the drop off, and they were landing along the crater floor. The dragons came to a halt in front of Bardeck and Emallya.

  Syrakynn held her wings back so Kirynn could dismount. Her legs shook when she hit the ground and she leaned against the red for a moment to steady herself. She wasn’t alone. All of her companions did the same. Bardeck barked a short laugh and said, “It will take a bit to get used to flying. Don’t worry, eventually you will be able to jump off and move around like nothing out of the ordinary has taken place. When you have regained your legs, remove the saddles from your dragons so they can swim in the lake and relax for the rest of the day. While you were gone, we moved saddle stands to the equipment cave where they will be stored when you are not using them.”

  Kirynn undid all of the straps and placed the saddle on its stand in the large cave right off the crater floor. Her face felt numb from the cold air, but her heart still raced from the excitement of flight.

  That evening as they took their meal, Emallya looked around at them and said, “Now that you have flown, it is time you learn about Sliding.”

  Maleena paused, a bite midway to her mouth. “Sliding?”

  Bardeck nodded. “When dragons are flying, they are able to fold the fabric of the world and Slide from one place to another. For instance, you could Slide to Marden, in Shadereen. What would take months over land, takes only a moment when Sliding.”

  There was silence around the table as everyone took in the implications. “So,” Kellinar said, “we could just go anywhere in a moment when we fly tomorrow?”

  Bardeck shook his head. “No. Not tomorrow. Dragons begin to Slide about the same time they can flame. Usually around maturity which is two to three years. Your dragons I wager should be able to flame and Slide by the time they are a year or so old. Once they are old enough, you then have to practice. It’s possible to become lost in the fold if you don’t have a clear picture of where you are going.”

  Vaddoc leaned forward. “Not so simple as it sounds at first, like most things. I take it that you can only Slide to places you have already been to.”

  Emallya nodded in assent. “Or places that your dragon has seen. If say, Mckale and Tellnox have been someplace you have not, Tellnox can project the image to your dragon who can then share it with you.”

  “Why can’t we go wherever we want to? Why does it have to be someplace we, or another rider, has been to?” Kellinar asked.

  Emallya regarded him. “How can you Slide to a place you have never been? If no other rider has been there so their dragon can project a detailed picture, what will you base the Slide on? You cannot simply tell the fold where you wish to go. Your dragon must know exactly where it is headed. However, once you know where you are headed and your dragon is able, it is quite simple. It is something your dragon is hatched being able to do and as natural to them as flying or flaming.”

  Serena asked, “You said they can do this while flying. Is that the only time?

  Bardeck nodded, rubbing his eyes and stifling a yawn. “Yes, they have to be airborne. It can be done when they are only a few paces off the ground, but it’s best if they do it from a good altitude. Opening a Slide near the ground can be dangerous for anyone around you. The edges will cut through nearly anything.”

  They lapsed into silence while everyone finished their meal. When the table was set with coffee and tea, the conversation sprang back up. Kirynn paid little attention. While her companions talked about the thrill of flying and the possibilities of Sliding, she turned her mind to her next thrill.

  After they finished their drinks and bathed, each retired to their respective lairs. Kirynn pulled off her clothes, wrapped her naked body in a thick, floor length robe and strode down the corridor to Vaddoc’s door. She paused before knocking. “Syrakynn, can I have some privacy for a while tonight?”

  “Certainly. I will be up on the ridge, contact me when you need me.”

  “Can you pass the word to Namir?”

  “I already have. He will join me on the ridge,” Kirynn felt Syrakynn withdraw from her thoughts and her mind. The sudden absence would have been worrisome if Kirynn couldn’t still feel the dragon’s presence.

  She knocked on the door and heard Vaddoc’s voice on the other side permitting entrance. He wasn’t in the room when she entered. She walked past the large bed and wardrobe to the doorway that led to Namir’s lair. The orange cat, always near Namir, blinked at her from the stone sleeping bench. Vaddoc stood on the ledge outside the lair looking up at the rim.

  “Is something wrong?” Kirynn asked him.

  He didn’t glance at her but continued staring up at the ridge. “For some reason, Namir just left my thoughts
and flew up to the ridge. He has completely walled me off.”

  “I know. Syrakynn has done the same with me.”

  “Why?”

  “I asked her to and she asked Namir to do the same with you, for me.”

  Vaddoc turned his full attention to her. “Why?” he asked softly, confusion in his expression.

  “I wanted a bit of privacy tonight.” She let the robe fall to the floor. The frigid night air made her skin pebble. She knew full well, even in the darkness, his bond sharpened eyes could see every naked curve of her body.

  Vaddoc stood as if frozen, his eyes on her. “You are sure?”

  “I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”

  He didn’t hesitate. He crossed the lair quickly; his arms went around her, lifting her feet from the floor. His mouth came down upon hers and she wrapped her legs around him as he carried her to the bed.

  Taela paced around the court garden in short, quick steps, unable to find pleasure in the first blooms of spring. Her mind raced as she tried to think of a way out of the marriage to take place in two days. She pushed away the strands of black hair brushing against her face. The cool breeze blew them back.

  Only eighteen years of age, she didn’t want to be the seventh wife of Sehlas, first prince of Turindar. He showed no regard for even his first wife, never mind the others. In his house, she would be nothing more than the lowest ranked broodmare.

  For a brief moment, she heard a soft crooning in her mind. It felt as if some other being tried to soothe her. The croon and the feelings had come before, always faint and always fleeting. Like the other times, she tried to reach out and connect with it, but it sputtered and died like a spent candle before she could hold on to it.

  She could feel the emotions of others, sometimes even hear their thoughts. It seemed she had always felt others to a small degree, but the ability had become stronger and more pronounced since she first heard the crooning two months before. Her ability to feel others had something to do with magic, but what she did seemed so inconsequential, how could it harm anyone?