Page 102 of Swift Wings Shadowed Heart
I switch my attention to the currents, eyes searching the sky for signs of change. I see none.
—Not those winds,he says.
—Then what are you talking about?
—I am not sure. All I know is that I have felt this way before. A long time ago.
—When?
—When I lost it all.
I want to ask more, but I sense he’s already retreating, tucking his thoughts and emotions away.
—I wish you would tell me more, Zephyros. You can trust me.
He offers no response.
Vaylen shouts a command, bringing me back to the moment. It’s time to go.
Fragor leaps off the plateau, his rider standing proudly atop his head. The sight of Vaylen—shoulders squared and legs spread apart as he flawlessly controls his Tethers—is short of magnificent. He exudes strength and confidence, the same way as when he does… well, anything. At the thought, I’m reminded of his strong arms picking me up and setting me atop the furs, and the way he skillfully turns me into malleable clay under the ministration of his warm hands and lips.
Phoebe and Trueno take to the air next, and I follow. The other riders join us, leaping from their own sections, then quickly getting into formation, a massive “V” with Vaylen at the forefront.
We fly for two hours, then stop to let the dragons hunt for their meals, while our repast consists of rations—dry fruit, nuts, flat bread, and jerky. We wash everything down with water, then take to the skies once more. We pass only small settlements. There are no big towns on the route that Vaylen guides us on. Mostly, we fly over farmhouses, where their residents stop their chores and shield their brows from the sun to look up and wave. We wave back, and my heart swells with a mixture of pride and the desire to protect them.
More than once, I catch Vaylen looking at me. His expression seems conflicted, making me wonder once more if he regrets what happened between us.
That’s the problem when you knowingly make a mistake. The fact that we recognize what it is doesn’t mean it gets easier to ignore the danger our actions create. On the contrary, our eyes are wide open to the consequences, consequences we’re not ready to face, no matter our willingness to break the rules.
Do I regret it? I search my heart for the answer and realize that I don’t. Perhaps if we get caught I will, but as of right now, knowing the dangers that await at the border, I’m glad we shared at least one night.
The sun is halfway past its midpoint when Cinderhold’s outline appears in the distance. I crane my neck as if that will help me see more, but the rough line is all I’m rewarded with. As we get closer, the tallest buildings take shape. None of them appear to be more than a few stories tall, making it clear this city doesn’t share Emberton’s grandeur.
When we finally reach Cinderhold, I realize the stupidity of trying to compare it to the capital. A large part of the city lies in ruins. The east side still has edifices untouched by war, but as we move further west, broken buildings greet us, slouching along roads littered with debris, as well as charred houses, the homes of Cinderhold’s residents who have long abandoned this territory, favoring safer places inland.
The injustice of it all has my jaw clenching so hard my teeth grind. A somber feeling settles over me, stoking a familiar hatred inside me. It’s the same feeling I’ve carried inside me for eighteen years, a rancor that only a dozen days ago was reserved for Neutro Cindergrasp. I thought it was gone, but seeing firsthand what the Screechclaws have done to my realm reawakens the ugly emotions. They’re not gone. They’re as much a part of me as the color of my eyes. They were simply waiting to resurface when a worthy replacement was found.
We fly the width of the city and find Fort Ashmire at the farthest west point atop an incline, a shield between our enemies and what is left of Cinderhold. Inside its fortified walls, I recognize the barracks immediately, provisional edifices erected by Claws with the use of their elemental powers.
At the Academy, we drilled on erecting them, combining our moderate skills to create the most basic structures to house soldiers. The Tides and Dunes mixed clay, then Singers helped the latter shape the foundation and walls while Blazes baked them into place. When the basic structure was done, Forges and Bolts combined their skills to create hardware for doors and windows. And at last, Dunes and Blazes melted sand, then manipulated it to create window panes. We did it so many times, I can direct my wind power to sculpt blocks and many other shapes.
When we fly over a large courtyard, we circle once, flying low. Skyriders and other soldiers stand in formation below, waiting for us. Vaylen is the first one to jump off his dragon and land in the middle of the courtyard with the use of Vortex Drop. Phoebe and I follow. The Skydunes and Skyforges join us an instant later along with their Primes. They can use their powers to push against the ground, the former pushing against the earth itself while the latter push against traces of metal found in it. Next come the Skyblazes, Skytides, and Skybolts. They have a more interesting way toDrop. Since fire, water, and lightning would either fry or soak their feet, they place metal shields under their boots, before sending columns of their powers down to support their descent.
When we’re all on the ground, Vaylen directs everyone to form a line in front of the awaiting troops. I feel their eyes roving over us. Commander Voltguard appears, striding through the ranks. She stops in front of Vaylen. He salutes, his right hand pressed to his left shoulder. We do the same and only stand at ease after she and the troops behind her return the salute.
The Commander steps past Vaylen to greet us, her gray hair slicked back into a perfect top knot. The gold-embroidered scales at her cuffs and collar remind me of her high status.
“Welcome, Skyriders,” she says. “It’s good to have you with us at last. Despite your training being cut short, your Primes inform me that you have excelled and mastered all basic skills. Your training will continue, of course. The abbreviated time at Sky’s Edge wasn’t adequate to master more advanced skills. I have no doubt you will all be more than proficient very soon, however.”
I swear her eyes pause on me a little longer than everyone else as she inspects our ranks, making me feel called out about my inability to perform Wind Spear and Wind Dagger satisfactory. No doubt she received detailed reports for each of us.Dammit!I need to get over whatever is blocking me.
“Congratulations on earning your wings,” she says.
The troops behind her cheer, pumping their fists in the air and hooting. I can’t help the silly smile that stretches my lips. Under normal circumstances, we would have had time to celebrate, a day of leave before joining the war efforts. The chants and solidarity of our mates feels good. I never thought it would mean so much.
“We will discuss your mission after you have settled. You are dismissed.” The Commander turns on her heel and leaves.
Each Prime leads their new Skyriders to their own Clutch. Phoebe trails behind me as we follow Vaylen. My smile slowly disappears. Phoebe looks as if she’s headed to her own execution, and she looks after Nate as if this is the last time she’ll see him.
