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Mrithun huffed a hot breath that collected in the space in front of them for a heartbeat before they flew into it. The warmth of it still lingered when Meira passed through, giving her a reprieve from the cold, even if only for a second. She tried to stroke her fingers against the dragon’s smooth scales in thanks, but the leather of her gloves sounded more like shattering glass when she tried to move. If she lost her gloves, then she’d lose her fingers next.
Here she could make out the dark shapes of her legion, all the way up to their leader. He was nothing more than a shape made to match and dissolve into the night. He banked right and brought the group closer to the twisted branches and gnarled treetops.
The city was close enough to see the distinct shapes of buildings and homes, several of which leaned at odd angles or had fallen into disarray, crumbling away. Meira had never cared much for the warlords, each from the four leading families who had once helped the first emperor gain the country. Vigor, especially, was not known for his kindness. If a warlord did not care for his people, then why, Meira wondered, would they care for him? Warlords were as replaceable as leaders amongst the scale riders. All one would need to do is challenge him and win.
A whistle pulled her attention back to the legion. One leather-clad arm rose from Bram’s side as he moved his pointed hand up in a circle. Everyone would land except for the ninth and tenth cords who held the Pocket’s Edge; they would circle to do a quick patrol. Which meant Isaac and Meira were not coming in to land yet.
“You remember how to do this, deadweight?” Isaac shouted over the roar of the wind. Her answer was simply an obscene gesture that caused Isaac to flash a smile.
Both riders tugged gently at their dragons’ harnesses in command. The Bold Wings slowed as the rest of the group circled and found brief clearings between the reaching tree limbs to land. Meira muttered every terrible name she wished to call Bram under her breath, but it only made the ice layer on her covering that much thicker.
She lost sight of her legion as they disappeared under the canopy of the woods. With one last nod toward Isaac, the pair veered off in different directions. It was a relief to not have the wind from the other Bold Wings in front of her any longer. The slight reprieve made it easier for her to focus on the task at hand.
In large arching circles, she flew looking for signs of humans or beasts. They’d come to a stop at the east side of Olden. She scanned for signs of campsites, though she doubted anyone would be stupid enough to do that at this time of year. She watched for shadows larger than man but smaller than the Bold Wings. They were higher than the dragonis typically flew so she didn’t worry to look up. After several circles and no signs of threat, she and Isaac met back where they’d started.
“All clear as I see it,” Meira said.
“Clear,” Isaac agreed.
A bright burst of flames brightened the evening sky. The opposite end of the city took shape as it was illuminated for several long seconds. One of the large platform canons was in use at Olden’s opposite end, several miles from where the legion had stopped.
Meira cocked her head and watched as the brilliant glow of fire parted around the lean body of a dragonis. It was hardly more than a spec on the horizon from what they could see. Both their Bold Wings let out another puff of air. Mrithun’s body warmed as the power in her body ignited and she readied herself.
But there would be no fighting that particular monster tonight. The number one rule of battling the dragonis was to avoid it if possible. Even if they weren’t a match for a Bold Wing they could still cause significant damage to both the dragon and rider which could in turn easily ruin a mission.
Together Meira and Isaac watched as the animal screeched several times, bobbing up then down, before it turned away from the flame and went back the way it came, unharmed, but highly agitated.
“Annoying little creatures.” Isaac patted his dragon’s neck.
“I wonder if that’s what they think about humans,” Meira said back.
Her friend scoffed and held tight as he steered his Bold Wing toward the group and into landing. She followed at his tail, letting Mrithun pick the easiest route for landing. Still, as the Bold Wing came down to the forest floor to land she brought with her several tree limbs. A mess of branches and twigs littered the ground around the legion’s camp. Riders had already dismounted and gathered closer to Bram for further instructions in the small circle of trees.
With a crack, she busted the ice from her covering and tucked it back on the underside of her hood. The air was bitter as it licked against her bare skin and stole away her every exhale. Pulling herself free of the thin harness, she lifted her leg over the dragon’s back and jumped several feet to the ground.
“Clear within miles of us. Though we caught the city fending off a dragonis on the opposite side. It flew off back into the Deadwoods,” Isaac finished saying to Bram as she joined the group.
Bram nodded. His attention only found Meira long enough for him to look her over from head to toe before he turned his back. Had he looked her over for signs of weakness? For injury?
She held onto her stubborn anger and reminded herself that she shouldn’t care. He didn’t even want her here at all.
“I’ll head into the city to collect Valen Brendal,” Bram started. Someone whispered, “Warlord’s brat,” under their breath pulling forth several snickers and gaining a stern look from Bram before he continued. “Get the remarks out now. They will not be tolerated while on mission. Now get comfortable and rest. Willa, you’re on the first watch. Meira…” She looked up from where she’d found the ground so suddenly interesting before the mention of her name. Then she readied herself for some terrible task, some further position meant to embarrass her after he’d not gotten his way, “…and Lowell will join me.”
Lowell, with his black hair and facial wrap, blended in with the surrounding woods until he pulled the fabric down to reveal the moon pale skin beneath. He looked between Bram and her, his mouth tugging into a frown. Though he didn’t complain, his dark brown almond-shaped eyes said it all.
Meira hadn’t expected to join Bram after he’d purposely put distance between them. Even if it made sense for her to. Even if neither of them liked it. Lowell, though, was the buffer. He knew it and he loathed it.
With a low sigh, Meira cast a glance at Mrithun. Her dragon waited where she’d left her. When their gazes collided, the dragon hissed a smoky hot breath through her teeth. Meira jutted her chin upward in a motion that meant for the Bold Wing to follow. She’d watch from above.
“Good luck,” Jaselle whispered as Meira slipped by her to pull herself through the group to where Bram and Lowell waited. She’d need the well wishes. Especially if Bram thought to scold her like a child again and she’d have to quell the urge to knock a few of his teeth out.
She’d hardly made it to them before Lowell dipped his head and pulled his dark face covering back up. “I’ll go ahead and make sure everything is clear and meet you at the city's edge.” Bram hadn’t finished nodding in agreement before Lowell was striding through the woods, his long legs easily clearing the tangle of brush.
Bram looked at her with that same exasperated look he’d given her over an hour ago. With tightly pressed lips he motioned toward the city. He’s baiting me, she thought with abrupt annoyance as he watched her out of the corners of his eyes. The quiet chatter of the legion at their backs and Lowell headed for Olden somewhere ahead, they started between two thick trees. He’ll have to wait a while longer. I’m not taking the bait.
His behavior was uncalled for, not only as her legion leader but as someone she’d been intimate with. She would not be the one who apologized first. Not that she thought she needed to apologize at all.
The flapping of wings stirred the leaves overhead. Without looking she knew that Mrithun, Skiathis, and Ridden were taking to the sky. They’d follow their riders and circle above in case they were needed. Mrithun’s presence was a comfort as she headed into a city far larger than the size of the scale rider base she was used to. In fact, she didn’t much care for villages, towns, or cities. Really, she didn’t care for people in general. Especially strangers.
