Page 135 of Veiled Flames
The plateaus rising above the plains are barren and smooth, even lacking the strange shifting rocks. And there is no sign that there ever were trees, or anything alive on the raised, flat rock formations.
Zogar is filled with sadness and deep disappointment. I want to comfort him, but don’t know how. The rocks down below seem to stir as we pass. What I thought were rocks must be some kind of creatures, but since everything is the same shade of dark gray, it’s difficult to make out shapes, never mind identify any specific features.
Much has changed here,Zogar says.We must land.It’s even more crucial now that I fully restore my powers.
“Land? No!” Not if I don’t want him to. Dragons can’t go anywhere their riders don’t take them.
Defying that thought, Zogar chooses a direction and flies with obvious purpose. I shake my head. He’s made most decisions about where we’ve flown, ever since I got atop him. And even if I had any ability to control his path, I don’t have the faintest idea where to direct him.
He flies toward one of the plateaus, one far to our left. The rock formation rises high from the plains and is utterly flat on top, as if someone sliced it from a large slab of gray clay. The cliff face is sheared sharply too, in keeping with my carving analogy. The plateau does look like a safer place to land. None of those creatures down below, nothing at all, could ever climb up that cliff. Nothing I know of.
Once we’re directly above the plateau, Zogar descends rapidly. The force of our landing shifts his knot inside me, and the friction makes me gasp.
I look forward to entering you properly, he says.
I freeze. Did I vow tomarrythis massive dragon? Does marriage include?—
No. I’m a human and he is a beast.
Fear not, my queen. There is much you do not know.
“Clearly.” I frown. “I think it’s time you start explaining some of these things you keep criticizing me for not knowing.”
There is no criticism. Your ignorance is no fault of your own.
His knot contracts, and I draw a few shuddering breaths, realizing how much my body enjoys whatever substance he secretes. Not to mention how I love the fullness and security of his knot.
You may dismount.
Glancing around, I see no apparent dangers. No demons flying about.
As I have told you dozens of times now, you are my queen. I will protect you. Always. You have nothing to fear. Dismount. Now.
His tone is commanding and stained with impatience. I hate being bossed around but see no other option. Pushing down with my legs, I lift off his pommel and slide behind it, moving along his spine until I can see his bent wing below me. Somehow, he dug his claw into what looks like solid rock beneath us. And he did so at an angle that’s not too steep.
Now that he’s no longer inside me, our bond has broken, and Zogar is silent. I’m frightened of this place. I’m frightened of him. Frightened of the promise I made to save Tynan and Saxon. And on top of all that, our lost connection has left me feeling sad and empty.
Zogar turns his head, and the facets of his eye shift, as if he’s looking toward me. Even in this dull light, his eye’s facets shine, but I can’t make out my reflections like I could on the other side of the veil.
I have so many questions, so much to learn—as he keeps reminding me. But right now, even though this place is both barren and terrifying, I long to feel solid ground beneath my feet.
Holding onto the ridge of his spine, I draw my other leg over and slide until I’m hanging on the side of his body, directly over his wing. Fingers gripping tightly, I search for footholds. His scales move and provide traction for me to slide slowly down his body toward his wing, as if his scales can guide my direction and control my speed of descent.
Once on his wing, I discover it’s like a sling or a hammock, and I twist onto my back and slide down it, landing safely and easily on my feet.
Proud, I grin, but my elation’s short lived. I step slowly away from his wing, alert for dangers and seeking a source of water. The wind, combined with my fear, rendered me extremely thirsty. And I ran a long distance this morn, even before I met Zogar.
But given the stench of sulfur, even if I found water, I couldn’t trust it to be potable. I should have asked Zogar more questions before we lost our ability to communicate.
Far in one direction, I can barely detect the faint shimmer of the veil, and there’s nothing but utter blackness in the opposite direction. Is that the Darkness?
To the sides, I see nothing but the expansive gray plains. Nothing here has any color. Even my own clothes have lost what color they had. My skin, silver on the other side of the veil, is now a dull gray. Something about the light here changes my perceptions.
I turn back.
Zogar is gone.
My heart races. I’m all alone.
