Page 39 of Prince of Blaze and Embers (Emberveil Empire #1)

M orning light filtered through the window, casting a warm glow over the room.

I stirred awake, the memories of the previous day flooding back like a tide.

The throbbing pain in my side served as a stark reminder of the battles we had faced and the challenges that still lay ahead.

I stretched, wincing slightly as my wounds pulled taut, and swung my legs over the edge of the bed.

The house was already abuzz with activity.

Bella and Rosa were gathering supplies in the kitchen, their whispered conversations carrying through the air.

Hunter was sharpening his sword with a steady, rhythmic sound, while Cade stood by the window, his eyes scanning the horizon with an intensity that made my heart race.

I slipped out of the room, my bare feet padding against the wooden floor. As I entered the main room, all eyes turned to me. Bella rushed over, her glacier-blue eyes filled with concern. "How are you feeling?" she asked, her hand gently brushing against my arm.

I offered a reassuring smile. "I'm okay. Still a bit sore, but I'll manage. "

Rosa handed me a mug of steaming tea, the scent of herbs filling the air. "Drink this. It will help with the pain and heal your wounds faster."

I took the mug gratefully, the warmth seeping into my palms. "Thank you, Rosa."

Cade turned from the window, his eyes meeting mine.

There was a seriousness in his gaze that sent a ripple of unease through me.

"We need to prepare to leave soon. The queen's forces will be looking for us.

We can't be here when they find the Sythers' bodies.

We need to distance ourselves from this place, and the mystic is quite a ride away.

If he's still slumbering in the same place we found him. "

Hunter stood, sheathing his sword with a metallic clang. "Bella and I will gather the rest of the supplies. Rosa, do you have everything you need?"

Rosa nodded, her eyes flickering to me for a moment. "Yes, I have what I need. I'll be heading into the Faewood. I know the forest well; I'll be safe there."

I felt a pang of worry for Rosa, but I knew better than to argue with her. She was a strong woman, resourceful and determined. She had been a loyal ally to Cade, and I respected her deeply for it.

"Rosa, thank you for everything," I said, my voice filled with gratitude. "You've done so much for us. I can't thank you enough."

Rosa's lips curved into a small smile. "It's been an honor, Ash. You’re destined for great things.

I have faith in you. Good luck to you all.

Show the queen a thing or two for me. I'll be waitin’ when you need me again.

And Cade, if we don't meet again, it's been the pleasure of my life serving you.

I believe in you. Stay true to who you are, and show this world the true meaning of the word hope. "

She walked over to Cade, placed both hands on his temples and brought his head down so that she pressed her aged lips against his brow.

He nodded with a serious look of full appreciation for her.

With a final nod, Rosa slung her pack over her shoulder and headed out the door, disappearing into the dense foliage of the Faewood.

I watched her go, a mix of admiration and sadness swirling within me.

She was a woman of few words, but her actions spoke volumes.

Cade approached me, his expression softening slightly. "It's time to learn how to call your dragon. Now that you're bonded with Errax, she can somewhat hear your thoughts. Keep it simple and clear. Call her in your mind."

I took a deep breath, focusing my thoughts on Errax. I pictured her magnificent form, her deep blue scales shimmering in the sunlight. Come, Errax. I thought, my mind reaching out to her.

For a moment, nothing happened. Doubt crept in, but then, a distant roar echoed through the forest. The sound grew louder, and I felt a surge of excitement as Errax emerged from the tree line, her massive wings flapping powerfully.

She soared toward us, a breathtaking sight that filled me with awe and pride.

"She's coming!" I exclaimed, my heart racing with excitement.

Errax descended gracefully, her powerful form landing with a thunderous impact that shook the ground. She lowered her head, her emerald eyes meeting mine with a look of fierce loyalty. I approached her, my hand reaching out to touch her snout gently.

Errax let out a low rumble, her eyes filled with understanding. The connection between us was palpable, a bond that went beyond mere friendship. She was my dragon, and together, we were unstoppable.

Cade watched the exchange with a mix of awe and admiration.

"You have a natural talent for this, Ash.

" He turned to Hunter and Bella, his voice taking on a serious tone.

"Hunter, take Bella with you on Talonor.

Ash needs to focus on learning how to ride Errax.

Bella will ride with Ash someday, but not yet, not while she's training. "

Hunter nodded, his gaze shifting to Bella. "Come on, Bella. Let's get you settled on Talonor."

Bella cast me a quick glance, her eyes filled with a mix of excitement and apprehension.

I offered her a reassuring smile, knowing that she was in good hands with Hunter.

Bella approached the dragon, but stopped, knelt and plucked a clover from the grass.

She eyed it in the sunlight. She shrugged with a smirk and put it in her pocket.

I giggled. I loved when she did things like that. There’s truly no one else like her.

As Hunter and Bella made their way toward Talonor, Cade turned back to me.

"All right, Ash. Let's get you mounted on Errax.

Without a saddle and reins, you're going to have to command her by speaking into her mind and shifting your body weight to signal directions.

But most importantly, trust Errax. She was born to fly; let her instincts guide you. But don't fall off."

I felt a surge of nervous excitement as I approached Errax. Her massive form was both intimidating and awe-inspiring. With a deep breath, I climbed onto her back, settling into a comfortable position behind her powerful shoulders.

"Now, remember, keep your commands simple and clear," Cade instructed. "Errax knows what she's doing. Trust her to fly."

I nodded, focusing my thoughts on Errax. Fly, Errax. I thought, my mind reaching out to her.

With a powerful surge, Errax launched into the air, her wings flapping with a force that sent my hair whipping behind me.

The sensation was exhilarating, a thrill that sent shivers down my spine.

I gripped her scales tightly, feeling every muscle tense and release with each powerful stroke of her wings.

I glanced over at Cade, who was flying alongside me on Krakos. His expression was serious, his eyes scanning the horizon with a keen intensity. Hunter and Bella flew behind us, their forms silhouetted against the brightening sky.

Errax flew differently than Krakos. She was smaller, more agile, shorter wings and slender. I felt like a bolt of lightning in a bursting storm. The feel of my thighs around her felt awkward, but I told myself I’d get past that feeling. Soon, I’d be zigzagging in circles around Krakos and Cade.

"Remember, keep your commands simple and clear," Cade called out, his voice barely audible over the rush of wind. "Let Errax guide you."

I nodded, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nervousness. I focused my thoughts on Errax, feeling her powerful muscles ripple beneath me. Faster, Errax. I thought, my mind reaching out to her.

Errax responded with a surge of speed, her wings slicing through the air with a precision that took my breath away. The sensation was exhilarating, a thrill that filled me with a sense of freedom and empowerment I had never known before.

As we soared through the sky, I reveled in the scent of dragonfire, the heat of the flames mingling with the crisp morning air. The sensation was invigorating, a reminder of the power and majesty that lay within the magnificent creatures we rode.

Cade flew beside me, his expression serious but steady. "You're doing well, Ash. Keep it up."

His words filled me with a sense of pride and determination.

I had come so far, from a slave girl in Bramblebash to a dragon rider, wielding magic and facing the Blaze Queen herself.

It was a journey that had tested my limits, pushed me to the brink, and yet, here I was, soaring through the sky on the back of a dragon.

Cade's voice cut through the rush of wind, his tone serious. "Ash, listen to me. The queen is coming. We can't avoid her forever. But you must not engage with her. Not yet. You are not ready. Trust me on this."

I felt a shiver of unease at his words, a stark reminder of the danger that awaited us. "What should we do if she comes?"

"If the queen comes, we need to keep our distance," Cade said, his voice firm. "Do not engage with her under any circumstances. Even with your newfound magic, you are no match for her. She wields ancient powers fueled by malice and ambition. We must outmaneuver her, not fight her directly."

I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. The idea of facing the Blaze Queen, a figure of terror and darkness, sent a chill down my spine. But Cade's words were clear: engage only if absolutely necessary, and even then, trust him to handle the situation.

"And if she doesn't listen to reason?" I asked, my voice barely audible over the rush of wind.

Cade's eyes darkened, a storm of emotions swirling within them.

"Then we pray to Odiun that she will. And if that doesn't work, leave the queen to me.

I know her better than anyone. I know her weaknesses, her motivations.

Trust me, Ash. I will do everything in my power to protect you and bring an end to her tyranny. "

His determination was contagious, filling me with a renewed sense of purpose. We flew on, the landscape below a blur of greens, browns, and the occasional sparkle of water. The sun ascended higher in the sky, casting a warm glow over the world.

The journey to the mystic was fraught with uncertainty, but as I looked at Cade, Hunter, and Bella, I felt a deep sense of unity and resolve. Together, we would face whatever challenges lay ahead. Together, we would find a way to overcome the Blaze Queen and restore peace to Allovan.

As we flew, the sky darkened, clouds gathering on the horizon. The air grew cooler, and the scent of rain filled my nostrils. The distant rumble of thunder echoed through the sky, a portent of the storm to come.

"Storm's coming," Cade called out, his voice carrying over the wind. "Stay close, Ash."

I nodded, focusing my thoughts on Errax. Stay close to them, Errax. Storm's coming. I thought, my mind reaching out to her.

Errax growled low, her wings flapping powerfully as she adjusted her course to stay near Krakos and Talonor. The storm clouds grew darker, the rumble of thunder growing louder with each passing moment. The first drops of rain fell, cool and refreshing against my skin.

Cade scanned the horizon, his eyes narrowing as he searched for a suitable shelter. The landscape below was a dense, unending expanse of forest, the trees towering and ancient. There was no sign of civilization, no towns or villages in sight.

"We need to find a cave or an overhang," Cade shouted. "Somewhere we can take cover. It's too dangerous to fly in lightning storms."

I nodded, my heart pounding as the storm grew fiercer. The rain poured down in sheets, soaking us to the bone. The wind howled, whipping around us with a force that threatened to dislodge us from our dragons' backs.

Errax let out a low rumble, her wings beating steadily against the storm. I could feel her unease, her instincts urging her to find shelter. I focused my thoughts on her, reaching out with my mind. Find shelter, Errax. Somewhere we can take cover.

Errax responded with a surge of speed, her wings slicing through the rain-soaked air. She dove lower, scanning the forest below with a keen intensity. I clung to her scales, my heart pounding in as I scanned the landscape for any sign of shelter.

A thunderous roar echoed through the sky, and I looked up to see a bolt of lightning slice through the dark clouds. The air sizzled with electricity, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.

"Over there!" Cade called out, pointing toward a distant cliff face. "I see an overhang!"

Hunter and Bella followed closely behind, Talonor's wings flapping powerfully against the storm. We dove lower, the dragons angling toward the cliff face. As we approached, I could see the overhang, a natural shelter carved into the rock by centuries of wind and rain .

Errax landed first, her powerful body settling onto the rocky ground, her powerful wings folding against her body. I dismounted quickly, my feet splashing in the puddles that had formed on the ground. Cade, Hunter, and Bella followed behind, their dragons landing with a thunderous roar.

We rushed inside the cave, grateful for the shelter it provided. I looked around the cave, marveling at the natural beauty of the rock formations and the intricate patterns etched into the walls. The sound of rain echoed throughout the hollow interior of the dark cave.

"I'll get to making a fire," Hunter said scanning the darkness. "Once the storm passes, then we'll continue our search."

Bella said something that caused my breath to catch in my throat then. She said, "Ash... watching you ride your dragon... it was like I was in a waking dream. I can't believe it. You're a dragon rider!"

I couldn't begin to describe how I felt in that moment.

The best I could think was that I was about to die from excitement and pride.

It was as if a bright ball of light was building inside of me, brushing away the worry, self-doubt and shame of my past, paving the way for the new me, and I loved every morsel of it. ..