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CHAPTERONE
The day had finally arrived.
I lifted my chin and took in a deep breath of country air. Birds flitted about the groves of trees on either side of the road that stretched out of view. Rabbits scurried off the winding dirt road and into the tall grass that lined the path. They disappeared amidst the mess of brush a few yards beyond the dirt edges.
And a handsome dragon man sat by my side in the carriage seat. He, too, had a calm smile on his lips as he admired the view.
“So how long has it been since you were there?” I asked him.
A chuckle escaped him. “So long that I hardly remember. I believe it was some time before my twelfth birthday. My aunt had invited us for a visit and my father could get away from his duties only long enough for a weekend.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Why so long ago?”
He leaned back in his seat and sighed. “As you know, there were some health complications due to my condition, both before and after my mother’s intervention. I was thought too frail to make this half-day journey, especially as my doctor rarely desired to leave the city.”
“Who was your doctor?”
“Professor Impara.”
I snorted. “I can believe that. He doesn’t seem the type to go anywhere unless it’s for his honor.”
“Or a summons from the academy, though even that’s doubtful due to their treatment of him,” Ben mused.
His words perked up my ears. “Treated him? What did they do?”
He folded his arms over his chest and shrugged. “Truth be told, even I’m not sure. The details have been obscured by time and secrecy. I only know that he had a falling out with them and left the academy many decades ago.”
I snorted. “Are you sure he didn’t try to blow up the academy?”
Ben chuckled. “That may not be far from the truth, but we’re forgetting the beautiful view around us.”
I took a deep breath and smiled. “It is nice to finally get out of the city.”
“Has the view begun to bore you?” he wondered.
There was a touch of worry in his voice. I smiled and nudged his arm with my elbow. “I haven’t had a moment’s boredom since I got here, but I could use a break.”
And that’s when the car flew out of the nearest thick grove of trees and careened toward us. Ferox reared up and the carriage rocked from side to side. Ben pinned me against the seat with his body as our steed scurried backward and pawed the ground. The strange vehicle, meanwhile, had flown across the road and into a mess of brambles on the opposite side. The bushes had stopped its maniac driving and swallowed all but the rear end.
Ben sat up and I craned my neck to catch a glimpse of the driver and his machine. “You guys have cars?”
My local guide shook his head. “I don’t know that word, but I believe the machine is called a thunder.”
I blinked at him. “Why?”
“Because they’re known for being as loud as that force of nature,” he explained as he climbed out of the carriage.
“But that one wasn’t,” I pointed out as he helped me down.
“No, and that makes it rather unusual,” he mused as he stepped off the road and navigated the broken bramble branches to reach the vehicle. “Hello there!”
A soft groan came from the driver’s compartment. Ben held out both hands and his fingers lengthened into dragon claws. He used the talons to slice through the brush and reach the driver.
My heart beat hard in my chest as I watched Ben unbuckle the person and drag the semi-conscious driver out of the bucket seat. He was about thirty and shorter than average height. The man wore a simple brown suit and a pair of goggles. His short brown mousy hair was filled with bits of brush and dirt, and his face was scratched in many places.
Ben carried him over to the road and lay him on the dirt. “Is he going to be alright?” I asked him.
Ben nodded. “Yes. I think he hit his head on the wheel, but it’s nothing more than a bad bump and a pair of black eyes.”
