Page 4 of Wild Bond (Wild Bond #1)

I spent most of the next day sleeping and recovering in bed. Skye kept me company when I was awake. The bond between us still felt new and alien, but I couldn’t help but love it. I had yet to hear any more words from her, but the images and emotions that accompanied the dragon’s thoughts were fascinating. She had seen so much more of the world than I had. Having never been outside of Dessin, that wasn’t hard to do. I especially loved seeing views of the land from above when she was flying. I couldn’t wait to start flight training, and Skye couldn’t either. She also didn’t understand why we couldn’t just go now. I tried to explain to her that in my condition I would probably fall to my death, being barely strong enough to hold on. Not to mention, we would need a saddle.

When the sun was just beginning to set in the sky, Millie returned to help me get ready for the Exodus Ball, where I would be presented to the queen.

I thanked all the gods that she was carrying what looked to be the rider training leathers in her arms, rather than a dress. I would not have known how to handle myself in a dress, let alone trying to curtsy in front of the queen or whatever I was expected to do.

As I stood from the bed, I noticed that for the first time since awakening yesterday, my head was no longer throbbing, and I didn’t feel nearly as weak. I was well-rested, and it was the oddest sensation not to feel the gnawing hunger of an empty stomach.

I was able to pull on the brown pants and boots but had a little more trouble with the leather straps of the vest-like top. Millie helped to secure them over my shoulders and around my waist. Then she had me sit at the desk and braided my hair partially back with part of it still hanging around my shoulders.

When I looked in the full standing mirror, the girl staring back at me looked like an imposter. I was clean, but I was still gaunt and too thin. My features were all sharp angles, and my skin was pale, not the normal tan I used to have before, when I spent most of my days outside.

Thanks to my new healing abilities, there wasn’t even a bruise on my cheekbone to mark where Holt had struck me. I glanced down to see the burn scar on the inside of my left forearm was still there, though—the skin still ugly, smooth, and glassy. I guess my new healing ability didn’t apply to marks and scars sustained before I bonded with my dragon.

“You look beautiful and fearsome, miss,” Millie declared from where she stood behind me. I gave her a short smile in the mirror. I didn’t look beautiful or fearsome. I looked a little pathetic, to be honest. I was grateful for the lie anyway. But I made a vow to myself then that I wouldn’t waste this opportunity I had been given. I would work and train hard and become a rider worthy of the title.

Skye surprised me by landing on my shoulder. She perched there, her small wings folded behind her and her tail brushing lightly against my back. She huffed slightly, blowing strands of my hair out of her face.

I smiled. It was because of this magnificent creature on my shoulder that I now had a second chance at life.

There was a knock at the door, and I turned and nodded at Millie to open it.

She did, revealing a woman around my age standing on the other side, dressed in training leathers like mine. She was taller than me, with a lean, muscular build and beautiful dark skin. Her black hair was pulled tightly away from her face and secured in a knot. A cream-colored dragon in its minor form stood at her feet, reaching to about knee-height.

She glanced at Millie, then her eyes fell on me, taking in the dragon on my shoulder. She didn’t look impressed.

“I’m Nesenya,” she said in a brisk, no-nonsense tone. “I’m here to escort you to the keep.”

“Oh, right.” I nodded. “Thank you.”

I gave Millie a small smile and a wave as I left and followed the other girl out.

Nesenya and her dragon strode purposefully down the hall while I followed a few steps behind. When she seemed content not to speak, I ventured, “My name is Rin, by the way.”

“I know,” she replied, not turning around.

“And this is Skye,” I continued, not letting myself be dissuaded by her apparent disinterest.

To my surprise, she stopped in the middle of the narrow stone hallway, turned, and inclined her head respectfully at Skye.

Skye just blinked and stared back at Nesenya as if the deferential nod was her due. I refused to let myself smile at the feeling of smug superiority that trickled to me through the bond.

“And this is?” I asked, gesturing down to the cream dragon staring up at us with large golden eyes.

“Tencilla,” Nesenya finally answered.

I mimicked her gesture and bowed my head slightly to the dragon. “Nice to meet you, Tencilla.”

The dragon snorted as if she was as unimpressed by me as her rider.

We continued down the barren hallway, passing several closed doors on either side which I could only assume were more trainee bedchambers. I followed the trainee and her dragon down a set of stone stairs that opened into a small entryway before leading us outside into the cool evening air.

“Do all the trainees live here?” I asked curiously, glancing back at the large rectangular building that was several stories high.

“All those who are twelve years of age or above. If they bond with their dragon before that age, they only come to the compound to train during the day and live at home the rest of the time. Once they turn twelve, they live here year-round.” She could probably see my next question forming because then she went on, “You don’t get a room in The Tower until you pass the trials and become a dragon rider in truth.”

We were moving across a large open manicured lawn in front of the barracks, heading past Rider Tower itself. My eyes travelled to the massive tower, and I couldn’t help but think it was even more intimidating up close. The square-shaped stone structure with its pointed spired roof rose into the sky as if it meant to disappear into the clouds.

I looked past the tower into the fading light and could just make out what looked like training fields beyond it. Skye seemed just as fascinated as I was with everything around us, taking it all in from her spot on my shoulder.

“What are the tri—”

“Do you always ask so many questions?” Nesenya growled, turning to face me again and stopping us in front of the stone steps that led up to the double door entrance to Rider Tower.

I shrugged. “Not usually, but then again, I haven’t had many people to talk to in the past two years, so . . .”

She stared at me, and I couldn’t read the expression on her face. “Let’s just get you to the ball and then—”

“That won’t be necessary, trainee,” an unfamiliar male voice said.

We both turned to see an older rider with silver hair, in full dragonscale armor, approaching us. The scaled armor gleamed dark blue in the dying sunlight and matched that of the dragon flapping its wings in the air beside him.

“Councilor Varron,” Nesenya stated sounding startled. She was no doubt wondering why one of the members of the Dragon Rider Council wouldn’t already be at the keep for the celebration. I wondered that myself.

He came to a stop before us. “I’ve been sent to escort Trainee Darrow to the council chamber. You may go on ahead to the ball.”

Nesenya’s brow furrowed. “The council chamber? But she is to be presented to the queen—”

“There has been a slight change of plans,” he interrupted again. “Someone will take her to the castle after she has met with the council.”

Nesenya’s eyes widened at that, and my gut tightened with sudden anxiety. He wanted to take me to see the council? The council was made up of some of the most powerful riders in Baldor. Commander Rakim was one of its leaders, as was the Crown Prince.

Skye chuffed and rubbed her nose into my neck in comfort, obviously feeling my apprehension.

“Very well, Councilor,” Nesenya acknowledged, still sounding confused at this turn of events.

“Follow me, girl,” the councilor ordered, barely glancing at me before turning and heading up the steps to the tower.

I made to follow him, but Nesenya grabbed my arm to halt me. Her face was grave when she whispered quickly, “I’m not sure why they want you, but keep your mouth shut unless they ask you a direct question. And don’t touch anyone else’s dragon, it’s considered extremely rude and even taboo to some of the older riders. Got it?”

I nodded briskly, unsure why this woman who seemed to dislike me was now helping me.

She released me, then strode off without another word. Warm and fuzzy she was not, so maybe it wasn’t necessarily dislike.

I watched her go, then followed the councilor, uncertain of what awaited me now.

Councilor Varron led me through the large oak doors and into a grand entrance hall, at least by my standards, though admittedly, I hadn’t been in many nice buildings in my life. Silver and green banners emblazoned with the Baldorian crest hung from the walls, as well as the high ceiling. Two large, curved staircases toward the back of the hall led to the upper floors. I wondered if Commander Rakim had a room here or if he preferred living somewhere else in the city.

Instead of going up either of the staircases, the councilor took me to the right and through another set of doors into what I guessed was the council chamber.

The room was large with another high ceiling and tall windows along either side. Dozens of benches were lined up facing a long raised dark wood podium that curved forward into a half circle, along which sat nine council members.

No wait . . . seven council members. Two seats were empty. One of them was quickly filled by Varron as he abandoned me where I stood and found his spot amongst the other councilors. The other empty seat was one of three seats raised above the others in the center.

I did a quick scan and realized that Commander Rakim was not here. I wondered why he wasn’t and had a feeling that wasn’t a good sign. The rest of the council appeared to be here. Three women and five men, including Varron and Prince Pierce Andor himself. He was a fit man in his third decade and wore white dragonscale armor that matched his dragon. The prince’s golden hair was swept back from his handsome face, though the arrogant sneer on it kind of ruined the effect.

I had only seen him once before during a victory parade to celebrate the end of the war with Zehvi, just before I was imprisoned. He still looked every inch the general he had been then, though it felt odd to see him so close. He sat in one of the other two raised seats in the center, along with an older female rider with dark hair that was pulled back severely from her face. She had a no-nonsense look about her and was the only one not in dragonscale armor. Instead, she wore a silvery gray robe with a dark tunic underneath. Her gray-scaled dragon sat primly on her shoulder and watched me and Skye with sharp silver eyes. I had never met her in person but knew her to be Councilor Felain Zadeth. The third and final leader of the council.

I didn’t recognize any of the other council members, though a female councilor who sat at one end smiled faintly at me when we made eye contact. The rest of the council stared at me with blank—and in the case of Varron—even hostile expressions. Their dragons weren’t much better. Several of the councilors’ dragons were perched on their rider’s shoulders, and they all watched us just as closely. I assumed the dragons with larger minor forms must be sitting at their rider’s feet.

I tried to get a sense of how Skye was feeling through the bond, but all I got from her was calm and faint curiosity.

“Come forward, trainee,” Councilor Zadeth commanded.

I did as she asked, taking a deep breath as I went, trying not to be intimidated by the fact that I was now alone in a room with eight of the nine most powerful riders in Baldor. I halted just inside the half circle of podium seats.

“Now,” Zadeth continued, “Trainee Darrow, this meeting of the council isn’t traditional for new trainees, but given the circumstances of your bonding, some of our number,” she glanced pointedly at Councilor Varron, “thought it might be prudent to meet you before your presentation to the queen.”

“Circumstances?” I asked with a flare of irritation, knowing what she meant, but wanting to hear one of them say it. Most of them had been present in the square that day and were perfectly aware of the circumstances of my bonding.

“Yes,” Councilor Varron stated crisply, barely bothering to conceal his distain as he iterated, “the circumstances being the age of yourself and your dragon, your unnatural bonding, and the fact that you are a criminal who does not deserve to bear the name of dragon rider.”

“Now Varron,” the female councilor who smiled at me earlier spoke up, “no need to be so harsh. You were in the square. You saw it. The bond appears genuine.”

“I still think she should be tested,” Varron argued. “She and her dragon. I have a hard time believing the Jade Dragon would pick someone so unworthy.”

“Gemma has a point, Varron,” Councilor Zadeth argued. She gestured to Skye. “You only have to look at the dragon on her shoulder to see the connection. Not to mention my dragon can sense it. And no doubt so can yours.”

“But can we trust her?” Prince Pierce interjected, speaking up for the first time.

My frustration grew further when they continued to discuss me as if I weren’t there, and I couldn’t help but wonder how many of the members silently agreed with Varron. Skye was outraged as well, mostly by the fact that they doubted our bond.

I was about to open my mouth and point out that I thought it was the dragon who chose the rider—Nesenya’s advice about keeping my mouth shut be damned—when the doors behind us banged open.

I turned to see Commander Rakim stride in. Like Zadeth, he wore no scale armor but instead was clad in dark clothing similar to the day before.

“I wasn’t aware there was a council meeting tonight,” he said by way of greeting. “Especially with the Exodus Ball happening at the castle as we speak.”

Naasir prowled in after him. The black dragon was somehow able to look menacing even though he was only the size of a large hound. He had the largest minor form of any dragon I had seen yet.

Rakim didn’t even bother to take his council seat. Instead, he stopped beside me, several feet to my right. I peeked over at him, but he wasn’t looking at me. He was staring, or rather glaring , up at the council. “Strange that no one thought to tell me about it,” he mused pointedly.

Councilor Varron made a sweeping gesture with his hand. “I sent a trainee to fetch you. It is not our fault if you were nowhere to be found, gallivanting around the city as you do.”

“Interesting, since I’ve been in my rooms upstairs in this very tower for the last few hours at least. Where did you send this trainee, exactly?”

Zadeth and several of the council members looked at Varron, and the rider’s face reddened. He waved that hand again—a hand that I noticed boasted a jeweled ring on nearly every finger. “No matter, no matter. This is not a formal meeting of the council, anyway.”

“It isn’t?” Rakim raised a dark brow. “Then why is the whole council here? Is this a trial? Has Trainee Darrow done something that would warrant this?”

Before I could hear the blustering councilor’s response, an unexpected and overwhelming desire and an almost avaricious need nearly overpowered me. The need wasn’t sexual in nature, but all-consuming just the same. Confused, I looked at Skye to see that she was leaning forward slightly on my shoulder, and her greedy eyes were fixated on Councilor Varron.

More specifically on his hand.

Her thoughts were dominated by the gleaming jewels she saw there. And I heard one word repeated over and over again in my mind.

Shiny!

One of the other councilors said something, but I barely heard them. My mind was too caught up in what Skye was feeling.

Everyone knew that dragons were obsessed with treasure, and particularly anything gold, or anything that was shiny or sparkly. The few times I’d come in contact with dragon riders before being arrested, I rarely saw them with jewelry of any kind, since it could be a distraction to their dragons.

During the war with Zehvi, large plates of silver or gold were often used on rooftops in key cities or towns in Baldor, or on certain areas of the battlefield to distract enemy dragons from blasting their targets as they flew overhead.

Once during the battle of Dessin, the only time the enemy prince, Prince Malik Kathar, had pushed his armies far enough inland to reach the capital, I had seen two dragons that were part of the Zehvitian army fight one another over a stray sheet of metal. I had been fifteen at the time and watched from under a nearby archway as they landed on the roof and ripped into one another.

Forcing my mind back to the matter at hand, I slipped one arm behind my back and yanked firmly on Skye’s tail that was dangling there.

Her head whipped around to glare at me.

Knock it off! I hissed through the bond.

She harrumphed and sat back, facing forward once more. Shiny , she chirped again, but it held a mournful note this time.

I sighed. She could be irritated with me all she liked; I didn’t care, as long as whatever spell she had been under was broken.

Finally able to lend my attention back to the discussion at hand—a discussion that very much involved me—I was only a little surprised when Varron pointed a finger down at me.

“That girl is a liability and a danger to everyone in this city. She is too old. She is untrained and doesn’t know our ways. Her dragon is wild and fully grown, and she won’t be able to control her. That is, if they are even truly bonded at all,” he sniffed.

I felt myself shrinking under every word he said, though I fought to not let it show. The amount of contempt in his eyes was unsettling.

Commander Rakim, however, didn’t appear even remotely affected by his fellow councilor’s words. In fact, there was a smirk on his face as he countered, “Yes, she is untrained, but she can be taught. Nothing she has done thus far indicates that she will be a danger to anyone. And the age of her dragon—and her own—is irrelevant.” Somehow, as he spoke, he made it feel like he was looking down at Varron even though he currently stood below him.

Something in my chest warmed at his defense of me, and I couldn’t help wondering why he was doing so.

“I’m inclined to agree with Councilor Rakim on this,” Zadeth said after a moment’s silence. “You know as well as I do that we need every rider we have. We lost so many in the war, and fewer and fewer are bonding each year.”

“But she’s a thief!” Varron argued vehemently. “Do we really want a rider with that kind of a history?”

Rakim scoffed. “We’re judging riders based on their pasts now?” He gave a pointed look to Varron and then a few of the other councilors who had the grace to look somewhat chagrined, though I got the feeling many of them didn’t share Varron’s opinion in this. “If we did that, Realms only know how many riders we would have left. You all know as well as I that the dragon chooses the rider, not this council. And we all watched in that square as that dragon,” he pointed to Skye, “chose this woman to be her rider.”

Skye puffed up a little on her shoulder perch.

My eyes met Commander Rakim’s, and the look he gave me had my heart jolting in my chest. I got the impression that, for some unknown reason, helping me was important to him.

He turned back to the council. “Corrine Darrow will become a dragon rider, and nothing this council says here today will change that. You know it as well as I do.” His words rang with authority and a sharp finality that cut through any tension left hanging in the air.

Varron sat back in his seat, adjusting a silver ring on his hand as he did so.

The female councilor, who Councilor Zadeth had called Gemma, concluded, “Rakim is right. I see no reason to treat Trainee Darrow differently than any other. We will assess her skills, and she can join in classes with the other trainees. We train her just like everyone else.”

“I agree,” Councilor Zadeth concurred.

“And who will train her to fly?” Prince Pierce asked. He had been glaring daggers at Rakim since he entered the room, and he wasn’t subtle about it. Rakim coldly returned the look. There was obviously no love lost between them. I wondered what the story was there. “Rider Altham is on an assignment in Halmar for the next two months, and we have no other flying instructors in the city at present. The trainee and her dragon are too inexperienced to be left unsupervised. They need to be taught as soon as possible.”

Skye’s attention perked up at the mention of flying. I couldn’t help but feel a little eager myself at the idea.

“We will just have to assign someone else,” Zadeth returned.

“Who?” the prince demanded. “Most of the riders in the city have their own assignments and couldn’t possibly make the time to—”

“I will,” Rakim’s deep voice interrupted. “I will train her to fly.”

I stared at him in shock. Never in a million years would I have expected that offer to come out of his mouth. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, either. Part of me was thrilled at the intriguing prospect of learning from the infamous rider at my side. But a larger, more cautious part, was extremely intimidated at the idea.

No one said anything for several moments.

“What of your own responsibilities, Spymaster?” the prince inquired, barely concealing the ice in his tone. “Is my mother not giving you enough to occupy your time?”

Rakim gave the prince that cold stare. “I will teach her,” was all he said in reply. “Now, are we done? I believe there is a certain event underway at the castle we are all expected to attend.”

Zadeth nodded wearily, and I got the feeling the councilor was often the mediator between these strong-willed men. She then surprised me when she looked at me with a speculative, but not unkind expression on her face, and said, “Welcome to The Tower, my dear.”