Page 10 of The Storm of the Empire (Flyers Of The First Kingdom #3)

NINE

HAZEL

E xhausted, I landed on the peak of Damona Island. I was two-thirds of the way to my home, but I had to rest if I was to be functional when I arrived. Storm dragons are not built for endless distance. Our bodies are made to weave through storms, not cross oceans, and I couldn’t make it without a rest.

I drank greedily from the island’s spring and let my bellowing breaths subside, the wind cooling the sweat prickling on my skin. I looked down over the island, its ports brimming with cargo and boats. It was a never-sleeping hive of activity I enjoyed exploring.

But on the whole, Damona Island was not somewhere a lone female should leave herself vulnerable. Though it was technically part of the First Kingdom, it’s people were quite different from those of the mainland. Sea farers who controlled all the trade routes across the Middle Sea, they were toughened by the life, and while it wasn’t a lawless land, they didn’t quite live by the same rules.

I never felt threatened here, but I knew what I was capable of. Unconcerned, I found a small cave in the hillside and curled up. An unarmed sleeping female could land herself in trouble out here if she didn’t have her wits about her, but I had no possessions with me, and I stayed in dragon form. Any islander who came upon me resting and wanted to take on a storm dragon was welcome to try me.

I must have dozed for a while because I came back to consciousness at the sound of distant bells. The temple calling the priests to afternoon prayer. I stretched and shook off the sleep, rising to stare towards home. From here, I could see the shores of Storm and the weather lingering over her citizens. It called to me, and I couldn’t resist the lure any longer. I took flight, desperate to know it wasn’t bad news that awaited.

Giant clouds billowed as far as the eye could see when I reached the edge of my kingdom. The turbulent winds made it nearly impossible for any other dragon to fly through, but to me, it felt like home. Instinctively, I adopted a flight style only used in the Storm Kingdom because the winds threatened to rip wings apart when left fully outstretched or blow the flyer straight across the Middle Sea. Instead of the easy glide accomplished in stable weather, all my senses awoke, ones nearly dulled from not using them for so long, but the carnage was like riding a bike. I’d missed it.

I was less focused on my destination and more focused on reading the clouds and picking a route through. There were no straight lines in this kingdom. The term 'as the dragon flies’ could not apply to the shortest distance from point A to point B where I came from. It was all about being flexible and nimble. I could change direction on a pin head and did many times each flight. But I soon reached the rooftop landing platform of my family home and shook off the rain as soon as my feet touched down.

I shifted and made for the entrance, taking a soft toweling robe off the waiting hook. While nudity was no issue, dripping water over my father’s floors was a huge no-no.

“Hello?” I called out when I was not greeted at the door, not wanting to wait another minute to hear their voices. It was early afternoon, and they should have been here if all was well.

“Hazel?” I heard my mom’s voice from below.

“It’s me,” I replied, taking the stairs as fast as my fae legs could manage.

As I descended into the large open kitchen, I could have fallen to my knees with relief. Mom was rushing to take me in her arms while Dad was at his usual spot at the stove, hovering over some massive pot with an apron tied around his hips and grinning in warm welcome. The sight alone made my chest ease, and the anxiety I’d carried from the First Kingdom faded away. This was home, and they seemed fine.

“What are you doing here?” Mom asked, squeezing me tight. “This is a lovely surprise.”

Dad set down his spoon, rounding the counter to join our hug, and there was no rush to leave it. I’d missed how calm it was here. It wasn’t a bustle of endless commerce like the First.

He pressed a kiss on my head and wrapped his arms around us both. “Welcome home, Sparky,” he crooned, and I felt myself sag with relief inside their circle of love.

I was well into my third decade, but you were never too old for this kind of love. I was still wondering why I felt so compelled to be here, but it wasn’t them that called me home, so I took comfort in that as I let them love me.

“I’ve missed you,” I said as they released me.

“We’ve missed you too,” Mom said running her eyes over my form, checking me for the Goddess knew what. Injury, mental or emotional instability, signs of malnutrition? It was a parent thing. “So what brought you home?”

I shrugged. “Can’t I just want to visit my two favorite people?”

“Of course you can, this is your home.” My father interjected, offering me a smile before returning to his pot. The smell of his famous beet stew filled the room.

“And she can come home anytime she likes,” Mom told Dad before she eyed me. She was like iron to his honey. Fierce and fit, still in her warrior leathers. Not at all what anyone in other kingdoms expected a maternal figure to be. “But you are usually so busy at the palace, as your dad is always telling anyone who will listen. The Flyers would be nothing if they couldn’t learn from you.”

I sighed. “Thanks, but they could spare me for a few days.”

I didn’t want to get into this ‘ Hazel is so wonderful at what she does, nonsense. It only made me feel like more of a failure. It was great that they were proud of me, but it wasn’t exactly confirmation of any success. They were kind of programmed to think I was amazing. In reality, I was the dud daughter of the Storm Kingdom’s most revered warrior.

If Mom hadn’t been injured and lost her ryder and the tip of her wing in the battle of Third, she would still be flying now. Dragons of her calibre never retired unless they were forced. And here I was, never having even gotten off the ground. A weapons teacher with no combat experience. Some scion I was!

But those injuries haven’t slowed Mom down at all. She’s in the training school every day. No kingdom boasts better warriors than our Archeiai, and since her injury brought her back home, mom has led them. I should feel some sense of accomplishment taking what I learned from her to train the next generation of the King’s Army, but I feel left in this holding pattern waiting for a ryder while everyone around me moves forward.

When I looked up at their supportive faces, though, I knew it didn’t matter to them. I could be a hunter or at least a guardian like my brothers. They wouldn’t care as long as I was happy.The problem was finding happiness when I knew so much potential was being wasted.

My brothers had no choice in their paths. Storm unions rarely produced dragons at all let alone male dragons. As the only daughter, I was the only dragon gene carrier. The boys were fae like dad. It was only me disappointing our legacy.

“Sparky?” My dad pulled me from my thoughts.

“Hmm?”

“Are you okay?” He put the spoon down and frowned.

“I’m fine.”

He shook his head. “No, come sit down and tell us what’s wrong. Celeste, bring her over to sit while I pour her a drink.” I followed my mother, powerless to stop the incoming questions fueled by Dad’s home-brew.

“It’s nothing. It’s just good to be home,” I said, smiling at last as I took a seat and waited for Dad to treat me to his latest creation. It would be some concoction from his crops, and I knew it would pack a punch too.

“If you think I don’t know my daughter,” he chided. Family was everything to them. which was lovely until I was trying to hide something.

“I’m not saying that, Dad.”

“So come on then. Out with your woes,” he said, handing me a cup.

“I don’t have any woes,” I assured them. At least no new ones. But he gave me a look, so I just said it. “I just had this—feeling—that I needed to be home.”

They exchanged a look. “What kind of feeling?” Mom asked.

“Can’t say exactly. I was worried something might have happened to one of you. Are the boys okay?”

“Those boys don’t know how to stay out of trouble, but they are fine,” Dad chuckled. I knew he was right. If there was a problem, they would know. The Storm Kingdom had the most advanced alert system of any kingdom.

We had to. With the weather the way it was, the need to raise an alarm was an almost daily occurrence. Lightning strikes, flooding, rough seas, they were all certainties in this kingdom, and fae had to be able to summon help quickly when needed. After all, few in the kingdom had the ability to launch and become one with the storm, and those that could were summoned away.

So if harm had come to any of my brothers, a call would go out, and word travels fast in the Storm.

“Well, I’m relieved it was a false alarm. I just need to convince my body to come out of panic mode. I dropped everything and flew straight over.”

“Did you rest at all?”

“I stopped on Damona Island for an hour or two,” I admitted.

“Good Goddess!” Mom exclaimed, putting her hand over mine. “You must be exhausted. You could have sent a raven.”

“I would have driven myself mad waiting for the return. I knew I could get here faster and see for myself.”

“It’s very strange indeed,” Mom mused, glancing again at Dad.

“What’s that look?”

Dad shook his head, but Mom took my hand in hers. “Could it be the call?”

I groaned, slipping my hand from hers and taking a large swallow of my home-brew. No one wanted for me to get the call more than I did, but with them always on the lookout for signs, it only made it harder when they never came.

“I hate to disappoint you, but I don’t think that’s what it was. It just felt like a pull to home, that’s all. Sure, I was worried about why. I thought maybe the Goddess was trying to tell me you were in trouble. But all I’ve read about the call suggests I would have a strong sense of that being the reason for the pull, and I didn’t. Maybe I just needed a break.”

Mom’s shoulders seemed to droop, which didn’t help. But telling her I was coming to terms with it never happening for me was a bad move.

“You can’t lose hope, my love,” Dad said, reading my thoughts easily.

I offered him a bland smile. “So what’s new?” I asked, sweeping all further conversation under the rug, officially.

They exchanged a look that was clearly an agreement to stop pushing me and concede to my subject change. I was relieved.

“Well, Alora is doing well. Her egg is halfway to hatching already! They are doing the six-month health check tomorrow actually."

“That’s great news,” I smiled, making a mental note to check in with my friend while I was home,

“And I’m trying to grow raspberries,” Dad continued. “But there’s been a lack of decent sun of late and no storm opals to be spared. Not even smaller ones.”

Mom rolled her eyes. “He’s going to drive me mad if he doesn’t stop talking about raspberries, I swear it to the Goddess,” But then she turned to Dad, and a loving smile broke out on her face.

They were so in love. Despite the years of their lives being defined by Mom’s career in the capital, they have always been strong as a couple and as parents. Dad held everything together and accepted her need to be away from our homeland, but I think they were both relieved when she had to retire.

Since then, Dad had really come into himself and found his happiness too among the males of the Storm Kingdom. He’d added a network of underground rooms to the family home to pursue his dream of hydroponic farming and test out new techniques to be developed for the rest of the city. He loved innovation, but there were hardly any opals to spare of late. Since they were the only way to cultivate most things in this climate, he was always looking for ways to improve things.

And here I was, feeling like I was missing out on a life promised to me in the First Kingdom as well as life here. I was stuck between two worlds, unable to take my rightful place in either. All my loved ones in both places kept moving forward, and I was held back by an ancient rule about needing a ryder and achieving the melded level of magic in order to qualify to do a job I would excel at just as I am. Okay so my magic wouldn’t grow, but my combat skills were unrivaled.

Sometimes, I felt like I shouldn’t be in the First Kingdom at all. I should admit defeat and return home to join the Archeiai. I would be of value in the schools working alongside Mom as an instructor. I’d just never be a flyer like I was supposed to be.

Why did I have to be born a dragon? I was envious of my brothers who fell so easily into life here.

What was the Goddess’ plan for me? That was what I really wished I knew. Then I’d have direction. A path to follow where I knew I could make a difference. I should pray on it while I was here.

It was said that to worship the Goddess on sacred ground in the place of your birth was to connect your energy with her in its purest form. I didn’t know when I’d get another chance to come home so I shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit the Temple of the Storm. If I was seeking answers, this was the place to try.

“Do you not like the home-brew, darling?” my father asked when I didn’t speak.

“It’s wonderful. I think perhaps I just need to clear my head. I might visit the temple and light a candle. That always gives me clarity.”

“But you plan to stay for a few days at least, yes?” Mom asked. “Your brothers will want to see you.”

“Yes, I’m just tired after the flight and not feeling my best..” And this feeling I didn’t know how to explain to them wouldn’t leave me. Now that I was here, it was less of a pull and more of an unease. It’s like I was waiting for the other boot to drop or for a disaster to unfold at any moment. Maybe whatever I was called home for hadn’t happened yet?

“You’ll be back for dinner then?” Father asked as I rose.

“Of course, I wouldn’t miss it. It smells amazing.”

He smiled. “I’ll send ravens to your brothers to make sure they will be here as well.”

I headed to the room I knew was kept as if I still lived beneath their roof to change into some spare leathers and pin my hair up in the looking glass. I grabbed one of my old cloaks from the hook.

“I won’t be long,” I called out as I slipped out the door, leaving them to share their concerns about me in hushed whispers.

The storm hours were approaching. The air smelled heavy with it, and the streets were mostly empty while the fae of the Storm Kingdom went inside for the still hours. The hottest part of the day was also the most turbulent, and storm fae formed our days around it. Only the watchers stayed in the fields tending the storm opals during this time. It was one of the most hazardous professions, but as the opals gave us energy and life, they had to be protected. In other kingdoms, such resources were taken for granted, but our skies were dark more often than not, so every ounce of power was harnessed and stored to keep our society running.

I was glad not to meet anyone in the street. Explaining to acquaintances and family friends that I’d achieved nothing since we last spoke wasn’t exactly a fun idea. It had been that way for years on high holidays until I stopped coming home for them. There was only so much to say to “What have you been up to?”

No younglings, no relationship, no prospects, no advancement. At least if I had a ryder, I’d be honored for my service in the King’s Army as we prided our Archeiai above all else.

I slipped into the temple unnoticed and breathed in the heady scents of herbs and magic. The Shrine of Kalilah was always open. Our people came night and day to pray at this ancient place of worship. I just needed the sense of connection that being here would deliver so that I could ground myself.

I lit a candle and carried it to the shrine at Kalilah’s feet. Her likeness stood twenty feet tall over the temple and wore a crown of Draco Fulgurite, a crystal found only in this kingdom when storm dragon lightning struck the coastlines and fused sand into crystal formations. The shards in her crown were said to have been struck by the first storm dragons that lived. No dragon alive today had the strength to fuse structures of that size, so I believed the tales of old.

It was infused with the power of storm dragon’s lightning, which caused disturbances to other magic and disrupts natural energy fields, severing connections and preventing new ones from forming. Outside this kingdom, Draco Fulgurite was tightly controlled and could be dangerous in the wrong hands. But to those of storm blood, it posed no threat. The energy of the storm ran through our blood, and our powers were not disrupted.

Kneeling in the sanctum, I closed my eyes, and held my palms up to the Goddess, and breathed in the energy that filled the space from the ground beneath. I felt close to something here. It would be obvious to assume it was Her I felt close to, but really, it was the energy of the place. It was the storm. My home. It ran through me and filled me with a sense of self I only found here.

Here, I found me.

I meditated for a long while. Clearly it was what I needed, and I could feel the benefits immediately. Maybe that was the pull I felt. A need to come home and find myself again.

For far too long, I had been beating myself up for things I couldn’t control. If I never found my ryder and got to fly with the King’s legion, I was still one of the highest ranking Archeiai in this kingdom. I could be proud of all my achievements.

I blew out a breath.

Be proud. Be proud. Be proud!

And yet, despite the swelling sense of power I felt here and the support and assurance I always got from my family, I wasn’t fooling myself into being satisfied with my lot. If the Goddess intended for me to be ryderless and fail, then why did it feel so wrong?

Just then, a crack and a flash of light split the sky above the temple. The storm hours were upon us. I looked around the temple and realized I was alone. The priests took private afternoon prayer under the temple during these hours.

I was made to join the storm, not hide from it, but the sense of danger that prickled the back of my neck was completely new to me. Never had I feared a storm, but I could feel that this would be a bad one, and something told me to wait in the temple rather than head home.

I was battling with myself over that decision when movement caught my eye near the rear of the sanctuary, and I snapped my head around in time to catch a priest disappearing along a corridor I knew led to the outside.

I quickly got up and set out after him, down the dimly lit corridor. He should know better than to go out now.

I called out as he reached the door, baffled at why I would need to explain this to a native of the kingdom.

The priest stalled at the door after pushing it open a crack. I had no doubt what he saw was enough to drive my point home. He let it close and turned. Beneath his hood, I could only see shadow, but that prickle again told me something was wrong.

“You should be below with your fellows,” I cautioned, slowing to a stop a safe distance from him. I was armed, but I would not invite danger.

He looked around, seeming to want to escape me, and I knew this was no priest.

“State your business,” I demanded.

The priest bolted. Ripping open the door, he leaped out into the storm. I cursed and drew my dagger, sprinting after him.

He was navigating the wide steps as I caught up to him, and before he knew I was upon him, I had him pinned to the temple wall, face pressed into the stone and my blade to his throat.

“I said state your business,” I growled into his ear to be heard over the roar of the storm.

He shouted something unintelligible, but it was swallowed by thunder, so I turned him in a move I had perfected that happened so fast, he hardly knew my blade had lifted before he was spun and had it pointing right back into his jugular again. I tore back his hood and gasped.

“Luka?”