Darkling

Flying

Dinner was strange. Not so much tense, but certainly uncomfortable. Ashtoreth was quiet, mostly ignoring anyone who attempted to speak with her. Lost in thought. Mithra picked at his food and Deimos ate without his typical griping over the extra dishes. I was ever so relieved when the meal concluded and the nobles dispersed.

Ashtoreth absently took my arm as I led her out of the dining hall, gaze distant.

"Would you like to visit the gallery? Or maybe the library?"

She blinked at my suggestions, startled out of her contemplations. Then she gave me a half smile for the attempted distraction. "I would greatly like to fly."

Hesitating, I considered that desire. Then nodded and led the way. She chuckled, the sound soothing after an entire evening of tense silence.

The western palace walls stood atop a cliff-face, with the rushing sea far below. A broad landing provided space for fliers to come in or take off. The stiff ocean winds required some skill to navigate, I had been told, but I was willing to believe the Nyxians were strong enough on the wing not to mind much.

Ashtoreth breathed in the salt air as we moved out to the center of the landing, her wings already lifting to catch the breeze. Behind us, I heard the snap of leathery wings and smiled as Deimos hovered on the wind for a moment before dropping back to his feet.

Ashtoreth drew away from me, spreading her wings and letting them fill with the wind. She darted for the edge of the landing, diving into the wind and off the side. I could hear the snap of wings as she plummeted out of sight and then she was up like a firework. Deimos dashed past me to leap into the wind next, with Mithra right behind, the two males joining their Empress as she took to the skies.

I watched them darting and diving, falling and rising. A laugh fell from my mouth as they began to tease and play. Ashtoreth rushed Deimos and he rolled out of the way. Mithra came for him next and they locked hands, whirling around each other before pushing off in opposite directions. Some moves were clearly used for mid-flight battle. Others were for the simple joy of flight.

Ashtoreth came gliding down to land next to me, face flushed and smile wide. "Won't you join us?"

"Oh, I don't know if I'm strong enough to-"

She grasped my hands, giving me a light tug. "We'd never let you fall. Please?"

I drew in a breath and looked up into the night sky, at Deimos and Mithra hovering with heavy beats of their wings. Waiting for us. My gaze dropped down to Ashtoreth's green eyes, noting the hopeful anticipation there. Sighing, my fingers tightened around hers. "You won't let me fall?"

Ashtoreth grinned. "I swear on my life."

Huffing, I let go of Ashtoreth and loosened up my shoulders. My wings spread a bit, feeling the strength of the wind and the direction of the drafts. Angling my wings gave me the same sort of brief lift Deimos had been playing with and I bit my lip, concentrating on riding the wind. My stomach lurched as I wobbled, dropping half the height I had gained before I caught the updraft again. Ashtoreth gave me gentle encouragement, coaxing me to keep trying.

I lost the wind and landed lightly. But I thought I knew what I had done wrong and took two quick steps forward to jump into the draft again. My wings caught the wind and I made a quick down-beat to climb. Behind me, Ashtoreth laughed and praised.

I struggled up into the air, wings beating twice as fast to keep me aloft as any of the Nyxians, but none of them looked anything other than pleased at my success.

"You're quite soft on the wing," Mithra noted.

Deimos nodded in agreement. "Definitely a night flyer. Built for stealth in the dark."