Page 120 of Veiled Flames
And, as supportive as he seemed last night, I don’t even trust that Tynan won’t try to stop me if I reveal my plan to head for the dragon enclaves this morn.
Turning my head, I look up to find him staring down, admiration and warmth in his eyes. “Before you leave,” I say, “can you help me get past the guards?”
His eyebrows rise, but his expression shows interest in the idea. At least Ihopethat’s what I see. “What’s your plan?”
“I want to talk to Saxon.”
He winces but quickly wipes that expression away. “Why?”
“I want to make a final appeal. Saxon knows me better than Treacher or Roule. He may even have…tenderfeelings toward me. Before they exile me from camp, I’d like a chance to plead my case.” I hate misleading Tynan like this, but what I’m saying isn’t a lie. Not exactly. I would like to plead my case with Saxon and the others; I’m just hoping to avoid it.
Tynan sits, pulling me up with him. “I’m not certain Saxon can be swayed.” His lips shift to the side, as he thinks. “Perhaps it’sbetter if I speak to him on your behalf.” His chest expands. “I saved Saxon’s life yesterday.”
Tynan told me how he slayed his first demon, and how the demon had been chasing Saxon and Surath. But Saxon has been a dragon rider for five and twenty years and must have slain thousands of demons. I’m not certain he’d see what happened in the same light as Tynan.
“I appreciate your offer.” I smile at him. “But I’d like to make my own appeal.”
Tynan’s eyes cloud. “Does your appeal strategy with Saxon includefuckinghim?”
I shake my head. Both annoyed that Tynan thought I might do that, but also oddly pleased that he cares. “No. That would be giving in. Saxon wants me to become his courtesan. He wants to push me out of the program, so I’ll land on his cock.”
The clouds in Tynan’s eyes turn to storms. “In that case, I’m doubly glad to help. I’ll do anything to help keep you at camp, and out of his bed.” The storms clear and his eyes twinkle with mischief. “I can easily distract your guards long enough to secure your escape.”
Forty-Six
Rosomon
Tynan holds true to his word, and I watch and listen with my door cracked open, as he charms the guards with stories and antics. He seems to be making a bet with them, and then he beckons them into the courtyard.
I open my door further to watch. Tynan jumps and performs a back flip in the air. Then he does a second, then a third, as the guards chant the number.
I sneak out. Tynan does a fourth flip, and I catch his glance as I race to the other side of the courtyard, heading toward the exit that leads to the enclaves.
My choice of direction may have exposed my white lie to Tynan. But I have no idea where the dragon masters’ quarters are. And if Tynan’s figured out my plan, he hasn’t stopped me.
The sun has not risen, but several times I have to hide, both from servants and from rider candidates, but compared to my escape from my father’s castle, this one proves easy.
Once out in the field, I draw long breaths of the cool morning air, feeling elated and free, and beyond excited. I’m going to do this. This morn, I’ll either bond with a dragon or die trying.
As the sun rises, I run across the field quickly, and when the entrance to the dragon enclaves comes into view, there is no guard posted. Another good break.
But the door is locked. Slumped back against the wall beside it, I consider my options. Do I dare bang on it asking for entry? Even if there is a soul left at camp who doesn’t know I’m a girl, I can’t think of a reason why a junior candidate would be here on his own, or this early. The walls are higher than two building levels and would prove very difficult to scale.
I study their surface, trying to spot a route with enough hand and footholds, but find none.
My best option is the door. I’ll claim someone sent me on an errand. But for what? To fetch a misplaced sword or quiver of arrows? I don’t know enough about the storage and control of the riders’ weapons to come up with a lie that won’t immediately expose me.
I turn back toward camp. A large group is heading toward the dragon enclaves. Toward me.
I peer through my looking tube. It’s my compeers. Myformercompeers.
We weren’t scheduled to visit the enclaves today, but after what Tynan told me about the severity of yesterday’s rupture, perhaps our training has accelerated again. Will they allow someone from our class to attempt a mounting? Roule said he was recommending me to be first.
With or without the masters’ guidance or permission, I plan to bond with a dragon today. I’ll choose one of the smallest ones and will talk to her first. Calm her.
Remembering how well Surath accepted my touch, bolsters my confidence. I’m doing the right thing. I’m going to succeed. I need to believe it.
Spotting a boulder a few dozen spans from the wall, I make a quick plan. I’ll hide behind the boulder until the group arrives and then slip in behind them, just the way I used to pass through the gates to my father’s castle.
