Page 92 of Wild Bond

The opening grew larger, looking like a great jagged scar in the darkness, letting in the predawn light.

We were out of time.

“Come on!” I screamed. We were almost there. I leaned further forward, willing Skye to go faster. Our connection was such that my breaths were heaving in and out of my chest as if I was the one exerting the effort to propel us forward.

Almost . . . there . . .

Skye and I shot through the opening, just as the first rays of sunlight crested the peak of the mountain and shone down on the waiting crowd of dragons and dragon riders below.

“Thisismadness!Shecan’t be allowed to compete!” This last protest was shouted by Councilor Varron as Zade led me—with Skye perched on my shoulder—from the large stone chamber inside Three Points, where for the last hour my fate in these trials had been debated and discussed. Chaos had ensued for a time after I had emerged from The Rift with Skye. Apparently, Dembe and Prince Amir had flown ahead to warn everyone that I was here and competing in the trial.

After Skye and I landed, there had been no time to speak with Rake or anyone else before we were ushered inside. After being seen by a healer, I was brought to the council chamber for questioning.

I had explained the circumstances of my arrival here, as far as I knew them, though admittedly that wasn’t much. Then I had explained at length what had happened to me in the trial, excluding of course the fact that Daisha had tried to kill me. It wasn’t out of any loyalty to her, but because I couldn’t explain how I had healed from the resulting injuries. It was still something I didn’t understand, and something told me I didn’t want all those assembled here to know what my bond with Skye could do.

My participation was discussed at length between the council leaders from Baldor and the leaders from the other kingdoms as well—Councilor Varron and Prince Pierce being two of the loudest voices to the contrary—but they were overruled. It really came down to the fact that Con had vouched for me, telling all the gathered leaders—including his father—that he had seen me at the beginning of the trial alone and with a weapon and a feather like everyone else.

What seemed to concern everyone most—including me—was how I’d gotten here at all and been entered into the trials. Only a rider would have known how to do that.

But that was a problem for later. Right now, I felt totally drained. The injuries I had sustained during our fight in The Rift stung and ached and hadn’t yet healed. All I wanted to do was sleep. Luckily, as Zade guided me through the maze of tunnels and hallways inside the mountain, he explained that there was a day between the First and Second Trial allowing the trainees time to recover. So today was meant for resting anyway. Thank the Nine.

When we finally arrived at a small room, he motioned me inside explaining it was to be mine while I was here. I hardly took in the bed before collapsing onto it.

“Valla and I will be right outside the door if you need us,” Zade murmured. “We’ll figure out how and why this happened, Rin. I promise. Whoever did this will not go unpunished.”

After taking a much-needed nap cuddled up close to Skye—the nap not having been particularly restful since I was plagued by odd dreams the entire time—I was awakened by Nesenya barging in, saying she was returning the favor and presenting me with a gown for me to wear to the banquet tonight. Evidently, she had purchased and packed several for the week. I had been shocked to see she was wearing a beautiful magenta gown of her own before she was ushering me to bathe and get ready. After bathing, she helped me into an utterly gorgeous dress that made me feel amazingly feminine and beautiful, but also rather exposed.

The dress itself was dark green in color with a deep V in the back and off the shoulder straps that drooped low on my upper arms. The skirt was loose and flared out from the fitted lace-covered bodice, so I was still able to move freely. The back made it impossible to wear any kind of underclothing, hence my feeling exposed. Not knowing what to do with my hair, I had just decided to leave it down in its natural waves.

Apparently, the female bonding had been too much for her though, because Nesenya left almost immediately after I was dressed. We were definitely friends now, I decided as I stared down at myself.

When I emerged from my room with Skye, Zade’s eyes widened. “You look beautiful, Button,” he complimented. Valla cooed in agreement from where she stood at his feet.

“Thank you,” I smiled. “Did Rake come to see me while I was out?”

Zade shook his head. “No.” At my ill-concealed disappointment, he continued, “I’m sure he’s just busy with everything that’s happened, or he would have been here.”

I simply nodded with a swallow and tried not to clutch at the voluminous skirts as I stepped forward.

He tried valiantly to distract me as we walked, explaining that Three Points was not called that due to the craggy mountain we now resided in, but because it was located at the only point on the map where all three kingdoms intersected. That made it one of the only truly neutral locations in all of Palasia.

Though interesting, I was distracted by the unfamiliar feel of the dress I wore as we strode down the hall and down some stairs.

Skye and I were both itching to snoop around, but I set the urge aside for now. I decided to push away my insecurities as well and drank it all in when we finally entered the banquet hall, and I finally got my first real glimpse inside the dragon rider sanctuary.

I was not disappointed. The room I entered was magnificent. It was incredibly massive, big enough for Naasir to fit inside dozens of times over in his natural form, with high ceilings carved right out of the rock. Stone columns lined the hall, and I could see from the warm light of what had to be at least a hundred braziers scattered throughout, that they were decorated with intricate engravings depicting dragons and their riders in flight or in battle. Dozens of dragons, all in their minor forms, flew overhead and I could see several languishing on perches carved high into the rock walls, while some sat on the floor next to their riders or on their shoulders.

Skye felt excitement at seeing all the unfamiliar dragons and nuzzled into my hair, then took off to jockey for a place on one of the high perches.

Feeling a little bereft at her absence, I was thankful for Zade standing at my side as I continued to glance around.

Several long tables lined the center of the hall perpendicular to a raised high table at the back. I was late, and the dinner was obviously underway. Everyone was either eating, drinking, or dancing. More and more people seemed to be joining in the dancing, even as I watched. I was sure the amount of drink on offer probably had something to do with it. Most were dressed formally, though some were wearing their dragonscale armor. Even some of the musicians who sat off to the side were as well. I was surprised they were dragon riders too, but then realized they had to be. No one but dragon riders knew Three Points’ location. That made me curious, and as I looked around. I saw that the servers and those putting on the banquet were Hollow Ones, priests and priestesses in their long-colored robes, milling amongst the guests.

Sitting at the high table, I saw Rake, Prince Pierce, and Councilor Zadeth representing Baldor. On the other end of the table sat the two Zehvitian princes, Prince Amir, whom I had met during the trial, and his elder brother Prince Malik. The Halmarish princess, Princess Helene, sat conveniently between the Zehvitians and Baldorians.

The rest of the riders had followed suit, for the most part, and, like their leaders, sat clustered together in groups according to their kingdoms, with only a few riders here and there breaking the pattern. Everyone appeared to be acting civil, but the tension between kingdoms was still evident in the sharp, mistrustful glances.

My gaze returned to Rake. He looked devastating, once again wearing that black armor. A pang of something that felt a lot like jealousy lanced through me when I noticed he was smiling,actually smiling, at something Princess Helene was saying. She was beautiful. Her thick, blonde hair was partially done up in the traditional intricate braids her kingdom was known for, while still cascading around her shoulders as she gestured wildly with whatever story she was telling.

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