The Boon of Alon

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

Even when I wake up the next morning, I still feel...well, like I'm not myself. Suthi just smiles at me as she passes my bunk and my chest fills with bubbles. On the bright side, I've figured out why it bothers me—she makes me lose control of my reactions, of my own body. Naturally, I hate losing control. It's so predictable that it stings—I'm a gods-damned caricature of myself. Lemi even asks me if I'm okay in line for breakfast.

But what else can I do? Either I accept that Suthi has this power over me, or I, what, force myself to stop liking her? Is that even possible? She sits next to me at breakfast instead of across from me and bumps me with her elbow whenever she gets excited in conversation, and my stomach does acrobatics each time. Dear gods, is this what it feels like to fall in love? And can I stop internally cringing just thinking of the word?

At least the morning at the lakeside—much clearer today, though not any warmer—gives me a breather, once I find a free dragon to oil. I'm not popular down here anymore; after the first couple conversations with Iamon the dragons stopped stretching towards me so much, but they don't even ask the sorts of probing questions I'm used to. The blue I'm oiling today, while friendly enough, barely even bothers to introduce himself. Eventually, I ask him what changed.

"Iamon's already claimed you, hasn't he?" is his response.

Has he? Iamon hasn't said so to me, though I guess it might look that way. He doesn't let anyone else near him, and I don't oil anyone else if he's around. And I don't irk him as much, I think.

But none of that means he's ready to take a new rider, and I'm running out of time. Every day that passes could bring the rebels closer to corruption—the riders, too—and they've already come after me twice up here. It's not lost on me that Kirt waited for Tack to walk away before he said anything, either; at minimum, they've learned the riders will protect me. That limits our options. Maybe literally—next time I see Iamon, I'll ask about it.

I get the chance sooner than expected, because he comes flying in as I'm walking back up to the monastery. I hurry over to meet him—unlike when Yrite did this, today's not a rest day, and I have to get up to the archive soon.

"The rebels have chosen a less likely path," he informs me as soon as my outstretched hand meets his snout. "A faster one."

"Shit." Is this because of Kirt? That was quicker than I expected. He must have sent a message by bird or magic, or else the rebel leadership is quite close by. "How fast? How much time do I have?"

"At best," he says, "we have a month before their course cannot be corrected."

A month. "Shit. At best?"

"At worst, a week, but that is very unlikely," he adds.

A week. If they take that path, there's really nothing I can do. But even if I have a full month...

"I'm not ready," I breathe. "I won't be ready. I only just got here, I can barely hold a sword, I–"

"Della," he interrupts, pushing against my hand. "You will not be alone."

I take a deep breath. No, I won't. To do anything about this, I'll have to be a rider, and as a new rider, I'll be following Chama around for a few missions until I've got the hang of things. And...I'll have a dragon.

"Will you..." I start, but I don't know how to ask.

He nudges my hand aside to nose into my stomach instead, golden eyes fixed on me. "I will be there with you."

I breathe out and lean into him. So it's true. "You actually want me as your rider."

"Is that so hard to believe?" He snorts. "Was it not your goal?"