Skies over Eigaden

Claire gasped as weightlessness settled over her, pitching her stomach. It lasted no more than a few seconds each time Koldis dropped in elevation. Like being in an elevator just before it stopped.

The moment her stomach settled, he swerved. This time she squealed, clasping her hand over her mouth at the entirely undignified sound of it. A draconic rumble came from beneath her. "Sorry, just avoiding the seagulls."

"Seagulls?!" she screeched. "What seagulls?!"

"You know, the ones over...Oh. I don't see them any more."

She smacked his scales and regretted it, rubbing her hand to diminish the sting. "How about a little warning next time, huh?"

"Of course, my lady. My apologies."

She rolled her eyes and didn't bother with a response. Perhaps unwise. Not two minutes later, he did the same thing again, pitching to the side. "Koldis!" Once more, she cried out clinging onto his scales for dear life.

"Pardon me. Just had to change direction a bit."

"Yeah, right! You're doing it on purpose!"

There was a brief hesitation, then—"Maybe just a little. If you stopped cawing like a bird every time, I'd be less tempted."

"Ugh, that's enough! Wipe that smugness out of your voice."

"Yes, my lady. At once."

"I'm serious! I'll jump off your back if you don't warn me next time. And you'll have to come catch me. Or explain to Talon how you're responsible for me splatting all over the ground." She would never have the courage for it. But he didn't need to know that.

He grumbled, perhaps a laugh at her threat. The sound radiated through her. "Tighten the harness around your legs. You're not going to fall off."

She did as he said, pulling the belts tighter and adjusting the fastenings.

Hours had come and gone since departing Fort Kastali. The sun was well into the sky, blanketing the land in a glow like spun gold. She inhaled, letting the cool autumn air sting her nose. She'd have frozen to death in the sky by now, were it not for the furnace of scales beneath her. Koldis was a living, breathing radiator.

As she gazed out over the landscape, she thought about what they had to do. What she had to do. Defeating the Vodar. It felt like a monumental task, but what choice was there?

"Banking right." Koldis broke her train of thought. She tightened her grip on the harness just in time. He dropped his right wingtip and the ground below tilted. Her stomach lurched. She soon found herself sideways in the air. They adjusted their direction and Koldis straightened out.

A smile tempted her lips. "At least you warned me this time."

"You threatened to jump off my back if—"

"Yes, yes. I was just teasing-arrahhh." Her words ended in another screech as her stomach flew into her ribcage. Koldis abruptly dropped ten feet. She groaned, trying to shake the sudden onset of nausea. "Okay! I get it! No teasing. But it's not like you're any better. That was unfair and you know it."

"I shall warn you next time," he said, voice laced with smug amusement.

"Gee...thanks."

Beneath them, the northern coastline of Galadhal sailed smoothly by. The Scattered Islands were to their left, with clusters of land sprinkled like freckles over the water. The Great Eigaden Peninsula was to their right, with its vast sprawling plains covered in long amber grass.

Their destination was north, the mouth of the bay where the Flat River drained. The marshes on the north side of the river's mouth where Muga was said to live. She snorted when she thought of the likelihood of that.

"Dropping altitude," Koldis said, gradually angling his body downward. He performed this maneuver more gracefully than any of the ones before.

As their angle changed, she had a direct line of sight to the ground. Her heart pounded, watching it approach. Blood rushed to her face. It was hard to keep from smiling, from spreading her arms out as if she were riding the wind. She refrained from the first because bugs in the teeth weren't fun, and from the second in an effort to appear dignified.

"How did I do?" Koldis asked.

"Much better this time. Thank you."

"As my lady commands."

"Shut up."

She loved flying. She'd missed it more than she realized. But it was more than flying that boosted her mood. She was glad to be doing something proactive. To be useful and needed. Best of all, she was on her way to destroy the creatures that had killed Cyrus.

A thought nagged at her though. The Vodar might have dealt the final blow, but they weren't the ones who'd given the order. Cyrus was dead because of Kane. Hopefully this little inconvenience would remind him of who he was dealing with.

Twenty of Fort Kastali's Drengr-Rider pairs flew in attendance, making two tightly packed V-formations around and in front of her. They moved in sync. Every time Koldis changed his position, her group followed, soon after, Jovari's did too.

Each Drengr was a unique color, with scales that glistened in the sun. Their colorful hues ranged from deep purple to red-orange, spanning the spectrum. Like all dragons, they had unique characteristics that set them apart. A Drengr's clan possessed certain physical differences like the shape of a tail tip, or the types of spikes upon the head and neck.

Jovari flew directly in front of her with his group, so she could easily make out his clubbed tail. His was more unique than the others around him, some of which were long spikes or barbs. Either way, she wouldn't have wanted to be on the receiving end from any dragon's tail.

She was near the front of the formation. She glanced over her shoulder at the Drengr-Rider pairs behind her. There were ten. A thought struck her. "Koldis?"

"Yeees?" That smug voice again.

"I have a question."

"Of course you do."

"Oh stop." She studied the group in front of her again. "Do the Drengr always fly in a V-formation? Or are there different patterns?"

"We almost always fly in a V-formation of some variation. Like a tight V or a loose V, unless we are in battle, in which case the formation changes. For flying like this, long distances at a moderate pace, a loose V is best."

"So, like geese?"

"Ha!" His chest rumbled. "Yes. Like geese. It is the most aerodynamically efficient. Those in the lead make it easier for those behind, creating lift. Notice the formation in front of us? Each pair sits a little lower in the sky than the pair before them." He paused. "Do you know why the leader of a formation rides in the front?"

"He's got the hardest path to carve?"

"Exactly."

She smiled. "What about each of the pairs? Do they get to choose their position in the formation? Is it a rank thing?"

"Ah...yes, it is a rank thing...at times. Not today. Watch everyone in Jovari's wing. Watch closely."

"Why is it called a wing?"

"Well, when a dragon's wing extends, it make a V shape. See?" Koldis turned to regard his own right wing. She did the same, looking at the wing joint and how the bones angled away from it. "Anyway, I would have thought that was straightforward."

"Straightforward?" She snorted. "Maybe for a dragon."

"Maybe so...as I was saying...If you look at the wing in front of us, watch their movements."

She studied them. "What am I watching for, exactly?"

"Patience..."

She paid close attention for nearly ten minutes before she spotted it. The Drengr-Rider pairs directly behind Jovari dropped out of the flight pattern and went to the back of the formation. After that, the positions rotated, everyone moving forward one place.

"They take turns," she said at last, intrigued. "But what about Jovari? He isn't switching. Won't he get tired?"

"It takes more than a little flying to fatigue him. Besides, he isn't carrying a Rider."

"But you are. You're carrying me and you haven't rotated. Aren't you tired?"

"Not one bit. You know, I was admittedly anxious to carry you. Now that we are in the sky together, I am thrilled to have a companion."

His words left her grinning. A lot had changed since their first meeting.

"We will land soon," he added. "Is that favorable, my lady?"

"I—of course. Yes. And stop calling me that. You never do."

She thought she could sense his wicked grin, but he didn't say anymore.

No one could forgo the necessities forever, no matter how quickly they wanted to travel. Besides, Koldis and Jovari still owed their traveling companions an explanation. They had chosen to keep their purpose a secret until they were well away from the city. It reduced the risk of information spread.

"There is a copse of trees ahead." Koldis broadcasted his statement to the company. "Prepare to land."

"We follow," came the response of twenty voices. She flinched as each struck at once. But she did not close her mind. As long as they kept their voices to a minimum, she'd be okay. The headaches only came if the talking was excessive.

As one, both wings angled downward. Her stomach tightened as the ground drew closer. Then it rushed right up beneath them and she jolted forward. They landed beside a cluster of trees. The copse looked much larger from the ground. She had to blink several times to adjust to the change in perspective.

Around her, Riders dismounted and Drengr changed form. Being on land was a relief. She almost wished they might linger. Her legs already felt a dull ache. She'd forgotten how sore she'd been those first few days traveling across Dragonwall. At least this time she had a harness.

Koldis gave everyone a few minutes to scatter out and attend to their needs, to rest, and even grab some water, before calling attention. "Form up," he ordered. The reaction was instant. "Thank you," he said, gazing at them. Everyone fell silent. "I'm sure you are wondering why we're here. Jovari and I hand-selected you because this is a highly complex, highly important mission. And you're a damned good bunch. We can all agree there." His praise left a few in the company grinning, as if they shared some secret knowledge of past adventures.

While he spoke, she studied her companions, letting her gaze move from one person to the next. Nearly all the males were young, except for three. Their aging was obvious, and she couldn't help but gawk. Two had streaks of gray running through their hair and beards. The third looked old enough to be a grandfather. Now that she thought of it, she'd never seen any older Drengr—not once.

The Riders fascinated her even more. Since arriving in Kastali Dun, there had been few opportunities to interact with Drengr-Rider pairs. They did not visit the keep often, and when they did, she was usually tied up with lessons. The Riders wore their hair similar to hers, in braids with caps over their heads, or cropped short to eliminate the fuss altogether. They too were dressed in pants and tunics.

How old were they? she wondered. What were their lives like on a day-to-day basis? Were they filled with adventures, exploring the wilderness of Dragonwall? A needle of envy crept into her heart when she thought of how different her lot was compared to others, stuck in lessons under the watchful eye of Dragonwall's king.

"Now then," Koldis was saying. "I would like to introduce you to Lady Claire. You've heard of her, I'm sure?" Humor colored his voice. "Claire, allow me to introduce our company." And then he began to name each of the pairs in succession. There was Briza and Astrid, Faedrol and Hannah, Gradyr and Leila, Nokin and Serena, Til and Darcie, Hiondel and Lilly, Celill and Eva...After several, she began to struggle. She doubted anyone could learn forty names in one go. But she was determined to know them all before this was all over.

"Now, to our mission." She almost sagged with relief when the introductions finished. Koldis and Jovari took turns, telling their company of what had happened in Celenore and what they hoped to accomplish by going there. "That brings us to Claire," Jovari said. "Before we go on, we must have an oath from each of you. What happens on this mission must remain a secret. You are not to breathe a word of it to anyone without permission. If you cannot abide by that, there is no penalty if you turn back now." His gaze circled the group, silently challenging them. No one turned back, as if there was any chance that they would.

"Minn verger ordun ut yaas. Elle heiit et hirla luth." One after another, they gave their oath in the old language. Her skin broke out in goosebumps. It was a pledge of sorts, magically sealed. She wasn't an expert in the old language, far from it, but she could pick out enough. She recognized minn meaning mine or I. Then verger was honor, while heiit meant to pledge. Overall, the statement roughly translated to, "My word of honor is yours. I pledge to uphold it."

"Good," said Koldis. "It is a matter of honor that you never mention Lady Claire's involvement. Everyone in Dragonwall must believe—and go on believing—that she is comfortably situated in the capital under Lord Verath's protection."

If Kane knew she had left the keep, that she was traipsing around the wilderness, he was sure to come after her.

Nods of understanding rippled around the circle. "Now, we are not ones to abandon propriety without good reason. Claire is here because she is the only person capable of vanquishing the Vodar...permanently." His words were met with furrowed brows. "Claire has discovered a way to destroy these demons with a special fire she alone can create. I will not say more on that matter. You must trust that she can do it."

She exhaled, relieved that he did not mention anything Sprite related. That would have caused a stir. The Drengr and Sprite races were never on the best of terms.

Vithran, one of the younger Drengr, cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Forgive my ignorance, my lords. How do we plan to keep Lady Claire's presence a secret? The villagers will see her once we arrive."

"Ah, good point," Jovari said. "That is why Claire must act in secret, unseen. This is not a mission for glory or renown. This is a mission to save lives."

"That is correct." Koldis nodded. "As far as the villagers go, we will not directly interact with them in our dragon forms. We can easily disguise our human forms." His words spurred a number of confused expressions. "I know it's not the best answer," he added. "But we must trust Lady Claire and her plan."

It was an effort not to flinch. Her plan? They were putting this directly on her? They'd asked for her help. Now they made it sound like it was entirely up to her.

After a painfully long silence, she realized that they were waiting on her to say something. Her heart hammered but she squared her shoulders. "I think I have a solution, but it's...rough." Everyone gave her their undivided attention. After quickly working out the details in her mind, she began to explain the steps they might take. Verbalizing helped to solidify each of the ideas she had considered while flying that morning.

"If all goes well," she finished, "I will remain in the sky, overlooking the villages, hidden by darkness. The villagers will never see me. They will only see the product of my accomplishments."

Elaine—Ardoweth's Rider—stepped forward. "Pardon, my lady, but how will you know what is happening if you're sitting in the sky? Even with a Rider present, yelling information over the wind, it seems risky to rely on indirect communication."

"We will use direct communication. The information will be relayed to me telepathically. You will speak to me as you speak to each other."

No one said a word. She could have dropped a pin in the bloated silence that followed. Looks of absolute confusion, and even disbelief, were shared in excess.

"Truly?" Hiondel stepped forward. "But that's...impossible."

She swallowed. "It might seem so. But I possess a unique ability to communicate with all of you."

Hiondel's eyes widened.

There was once a time when she hated her ability. She still wasn't overly fond of it, but now she took secret pleasure in telling others simply to see their looks of bewilderment. After her kidnapping, Talon had done what he could to discourage the rumor, that she'd somehow used telepathy to aid in her rescue. If information like that fell into the wrong hands...

The company's muttering grew louder. She glanced beside her, frowning. Jovari and Koldis had removed themselves, having stepped back behind her. Their position was clear—she was to handle this on her own. Perhaps she should have been flattered that they awarded her such authority.

She caught a smirk of amusement from Koldis and offered him a glare in return, before turning back to the company. "Listen!" She raised her voice. "I know it sounds incomprehensible, but yes, I can hear you speaking—if you address me." She didn't tell them that she could hear them otherwise, even when they didn't address her. She could only imagine how furious they would be if they knew she had invaded their privacy.

"Impossible." Celill stepped forward. "You aren't a Drengr."

"Try it." She flashed him a daring grin. "All of you." She regretted the challenge almost immediately as she was bombarded with twenty voices, all asking the same thing. Could she hear them?

"Yes, I heard all of you," she said to twenty minds at once.

Heads jerked. Eyes widened. Voices swore.

"Look," Koldis said, finally stepping forward. "Claire's plan is the best we have. Yes, you will have to speak directly with her, but I'm confident she can do what she claims."

She swallowed, but nodded anyway. What she had proposed was a gamble. To defeat the Vodar simultaneously, she needed to be in three places at once, which was physically impossible. But there might be a way to do things cleverly.

"Now," Koldis continued, "we must fly with haste. We will stop sparingly. Riders, sleep in the sky." He straightened, making his full height more apparent. "Drengr, are you with us? Riders?"

"We are with you!" they cried.

She grinned, witnessing their camaraderie. The Drengr transformed, Riders remounted, and all returned to the sky. She found herself comfortably seated in her harness as she reached into the pocket of her cloak and removed some of the meat jerky one of the Riders had given her. There hadn't been time for breakfast, and she wouldn't have wanted it anyway. She had been too anxious. The anxiety hadn't left, but her lack of food was making her jittery.

Giving the jerky a try, she bit off a hunk and chewed. It was venison, and softer than she expected. A peppery spice gave it a kick that soon made it addicting. She found herself demolishing the three sticks she had been given. Her stomach grumbled in complaint, wanting more.

"I didn't think to bring any food," she admitted to Koldis. "Should I have?" Even though they'd likely hunt on their journey.

"You knew this was a long journey, yet you brought no food?"

"I...I don't recall packing any." She scowled.

"Didn't Desaree help you pack? Did you check your bag?"

"I...no." She was embarrassed. Now that she thought of it, she'd let Desaree do most of the work. Her chest tightened. Desaree was meticulous.

"No need to fret. Our Riders brought more food than they need. Besides, we will catch plenty of game." He paused before adding more smugly, "You think we would let you starve, my lady?"

"No," she said all too quickly. "Now, help me learn their names."

They spent the next leg of their journey going over each pair. Koldis quizzed her relentlessly. He pointed out a Drengr or Rider, describing a few characteristics like the color of scales or neck spikes or hair. She was responsible for their names. It helped the time pass faster.

Koldis also taught her the wing formation positions in the process. "That Rider behind me in third—what's her name?"

"That's Rachel. Her mate is Odrick."

"Good."

Third position was directly to the back right of first, which was the tip or point of the V. Second was back left. Even numbers were to the left, while odd numbers were to the right. It made identifying the Drengr and their Riders even easier.

They stopped mid-afternoon for a quick meal. She was relieved to find a store of food, which Desaree had placed in the front pocket of her pack. Meat jerky, two dense loaves of bread in a funny flat shape—"We call them rounds," Koldis said when he saw her eying them—and a bundle of dried fruit wrapped in a towel.

Most of the Drengr preferred their dragon forms when traveling and hadn't bothered to transform. But Koldis had shifted to keep her company. She eyed the loaves he called rounds, turning one over in her hands.

"They are made densely for a reason. A little goes a long way. If I'm not mistaken, those there were made by Thomas. You'll know because the taste is a little sour, and he puts sunflower seeds in the dough."

"I take it that's a good thing?"

"You will be glad you have them, believe me." He winked and walked away.

She wrapped the bread in its cloth and gently replaced it. Then she rummaged around deeper. Near the bottom she found a couple of honey cakes, and at the very bottom, something in a silken fabric. A smile spread across her face. A drawstring bag of candy. "Oh, Des! Bless you!" she whispered eying the toffees inside. Even though Desaree had been frustrated with her, she had still been considerate.

A thought came to her leaving her warm all over. She often wondered how in the name of all the gods she might defeat Kane. She could hardly do magic without expiring. She was no great swordswoman. She was a mere fraction of his age. What did she have that he didn't? What advantage?

But now she knew.

Kane didn't have friends like hers. He didn't have a support system of people who truly cared about her without having known her very long. That was going to count for a lot before the end, she was sure of it.

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