Page 91 of Flameborne: Chosen

But how?

‘Akhane,’I said hesitantly as a loose plan began to unfold in my mind.‘Are you too tired to fly more today?’

In the stable beyond my door, Akhane huffed audibly, and laughed in my head.‘No, Bren. I would fly all day if I could do so responsibly.’

‘What about the launching though. That’s the hardest work for you, right?’

‘Yes. And for you, as well.’

I nodded, because I understood that now.‘Well, how do you feel about some private practice? Tonight? When it’s dark, after the evening patrols leave. Do you know a place we could go? I know I’ll fall, but I think I need more practice than my brothers can give. I want to show them. I want to achieve something quickly for a change. Would it exhaust you too much if we practice with my brothers in the morning and alone at night?’

‘No, Bren. It wouldn’t be too much for me. But your orders—’

‘We won’t leave the Reach. We won’t go flying. They’re worried about me falling or getting lost. We’ll just do as we’ve been doing in the mornings, except on flat ground. That’s how we usually take off during battle, or on a mission, right?’

‘Yes,’she said unevenly. There was a sense of her considering my words.‘Very well, Bren. Yes. I think we should. But, we need to find a way to help you up and down. If you fall, you’ll need to be able to free yourself.’

‘Don’t worry. I’m going to see the Leathersmith this afternoon. I’ll take care of it.’

‘Very well then, if we can do so safely, and not fly… I think it will be fine.’

She didn’t sound entirely certain, but I shoved a wave of excitement and gratitude at her through the bond, then started planning.

Tonight I would begin the process of learning to ride my dragon’s launch if it killed me.

27. Don’t Tie Me Down

~ DONAVYN ~

It was late by the time I left the King’s Advisory. I’d taken Kgosi to the castle because when the Advisor’s met, they often asked for insight from my dragon. It wasn’t a long distance to the castle, barely a mile, but we were both tired. When I left the castle—sweating because I’d dodged the Queen’s sly approach at the end of the meeting—I asked Kgosi how he’d feel about flying back.

‘It would be my honor to save your weak legs the walk.’

I rolled my eyes.‘Thank you for humbling yourself.’

‘You’re welcome.’

We were in the air in moments. It was such a short flight and still within the confines of the Reach walls, I let Kgosi watch for danger and turned my mind back to the intelligence reports we’d been receiving from the field that I’d discussed with the King, and his concern about them. I asked myself once again to piece together what it meant that multiple teams reported different conclusions.

But then I felt Kgosi bank slightly to the right—away from the stables and I blinked.

‘Is there a problem?’I asked him, not yet alarmed, but on alert. Kgosi didn’t divert from our path without discussion.

‘Not a problem exactly, but…’

‘But what?’

‘Look ahead—can your eyes make them out?’

I peered into the dark, but all I saw on this cloudy night that blocked out most of the moonlight, was the blanket of trees and the shadows of the mountains rising in the distance.

‘No. Make out what, Keg?’

‘The girls.’

He meant Akhane and Bren. I tightened my grip on his neckstrap.‘Where are they? Are they training with her squad?’I’d kept my distance today, second-guessing whether it had been wise to give her the gift. But also wondering if she’d liked it.

Perhaps I could watch the training and speak with her afterwards, just to make certain the book wasn’t too complicated in its language.