Page 36 of Sea and Sky
“You’re trembling.” Gavin pulled him closer. “The saddles are safe. It’s riding bareback that’s terrifying. So I hear. But if you have to, the trick is to strap yourself to a horn and hold on.”
Before Kyler could comment, Gavin ran towards the clearing. Scales rattled along his arms as he transformed into a beast. His dragon was silver with deep violet and cerulean.
“You will get me a ladder. I am not climbing up. It’s undignified,” Ailey said beside Damon’s dragon form. Luckily for the attendants, they were ready.
Kyler brought his attention back to the great silver dragon in front of him. Gavin snorted, blowing Kyler off his feet with a yelp. Dragon Gavin made a sound much like laughing, and Kyler joined in as the attendants wrapped the saddle around Gavin in quick order.
Once the saddle was in place, Gavin held out a forearm. His clawed paw was massive. His scales wiggled and loosened, making a ladder right up to the saddle. Kyler assumed he was to climb and slid his leather gloves on before grabbing the closest scale and pulling himself up.
“You fools, get him a ladder, don’t make him climb,” Ailey said from atop Damon.
“I’m fine,” Kyler’s voice came out more strained than he had hoped.
“No, dear. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to climb him later. At least use the ladder this time.”
Attendants and both dragons snickered at her comments. The tip of a smile graced her lips. Kyler’s cheeks heated, and he had to wonder if she was playing her own game. He dropped from the scale and waited for the attendants to bring the ladder his way. It was simple wood, and he scrambled up to find the saddle decadent. Beautiful oil slick leather with dragons in flight etched into it. It was shaped much like a horse’s saddle with a back. He settled into the seat and belted himself in.
“I’m ready,” Kyler called out.
Ailey leaned over in her saddle as if to get closer to him. “We’ll catch up with the ship by nightfall, no doubt. But until then, we’re on our own. I’m not sure talking will be feasible. But we can try if you wish, young Kyler.”
Her attitude had changed so abruptly, he found it comical. “I’d like that, I think.”
“Plus, they can’t tell us to be quiet. Isn’t that right?” Ailey leaned down and rubbed the back of Damon’s neck as if he were a dog. He bristled at her touch. “Oh, come now. I’m only playing with you. I appreciate you taking me. Now, let’s go before the sun bakes poor Kyler and I before we get halfway to our destination.”
With that, Damon took off at a trot and jumped from the cliff.
“W—wait!” Kyler cried, but he was too late.
Gavin was quicker than Damon and made it to the cliff in a heartbeat.
Kyler squeezed his eyes shut. He knew when they were falling, not able to catch a breath, his lungs burned, stomach somersaulting worse than before. He gripped the saddle horn but didn’t feel as protected as he hoped the action would make him feel. He felt untethered, unanchored.
Growls rumbled from both dragons.
Kyler knew when the air caught Gavin’s wings, stopping their descent.
Gavin flexed his wings, moving the massive shoulder blades beneath Kyler.
Kyler opened his eyes slowly and watched the scene below over a massive shoulder. He let out a whoop. Maybe he wasn’t so scared. Kyler was ready for more.
Chapter 16
Thetriptotheship would take the entire day, and after a few minutes, Kyler was having regrets about the whole adventure.
For a split second, he thought flying would be like swimming. It was not. In the water he had control, and everything felt right. In the sky, it took everything in him not to fall off the dragon despite the belt keeping him strapped on. Gritting his teeth, he gripped the saddle horn and refused to release it. Of course, that only led to his hands hurting after a few minutes. But he couldn’t let go. He had to force himself from closing his eyes and shutting out the world.
They’d fly overland to get to their destination. It’d be the quickest way to join the ship and stay with it for the rest of the trip. There was just too much distance to cross to stay dragon for the entire adventure. At least that’s what Gavin had said, and Kyler believed him. With the ship leaving earlier, it meant they’d get to the phoenix stone faster. Which meant Kyler still had hope of his freedom.
Taking a deep breath, Kyler adjusted his head so he could watch from the side where his eyelashes didn’t flutter. He didn’t dare lift a hand from the saddle horn and shield his face.
Damon’s form flew gracefully in front of them, with Ailey riding like a professional.
Enormous trees passed. Kyler wondered how far they’d gone. He’d never been that far inland. The trees were so tall that Gavin flew among them instead of above them. Kyler wondered how much more of the country he hadn’t seen. Always stuck on the coast. Not that he minded. Being close to the sea made him happy. He needed it. But he’d like to see more of the world.
Inch by tiny inch, he found more of his courage to find a better view if he angled his head just right. If he let the massive dragon head shield him, he didn’t get so much wind in his face, which made the experience more pleasant.
He took deep breaths of the lemony scent of the trees and ventured a look to see if he could see their tops. They grew all the way to the clouds, it seemed. A wonder he’d never experienced. He’d have to ask Gavin about them after he shifted. What would it be like to climb so high? What would the bark feel like beneath his hands?
