Redemption - Fourth Wing

38. Deverelli

Ronny's Pov
Because of Anca's consequences, the Senarium could've done nothing but follow through every one of Andarna's requests through Sorrengail in regards to the Deverelli mission, among which there was a list of the members of the squad.
When Degrensi was ordered to let us go, he walked up to Aifos and placed a hand on their shoulders, "You may be a few years younger than my own daughter, but you're a great ally. Perhaps we have a sliver of hope to make it to this summer."
They bowed their head and twisted their wrists inward, "Sé onr sverdar sitja hvass. May your swords stay sharp."
"So may yours."
When we landed in the flight field, we recognised the dragons, and a couple of gryphons. Tairn and I acknowledged each other with a flick of a tail, while Andarna snorted smoke to her brother who slid towards Sgaeyl and bumped his wing on hers.
-She's still annoyed about last time,- huffed Chex, and Aifos adjusted their position on my back, -Well, she's here now, isn't she?-
"Absolutely not!" Exclaimed a boy, "I will not get in that shit!"
He gestured to a basket, and Tairn sighed a plume of smoke.
-Who's this one?- asked Aifos, and I shrugged, -Don't know.-
"Either you get in, or you go on foot," snapped Riorson, "The choice is yours."
"I am the heir to the throne," hissed the boy, "It's unbecoming of me!"
"My prince..."
"No, shut up! I will not stand for this!"
The red-haired woman lowered her eyes.
I shifted my weight, and rustled my wings; I hoped we wouldn't miss the favouring winds because of that specimen of mankind.
-The heir to the throne?- echoed Aifos, their voice caught between disdain and surprise, -Seriously?-
-My sister says he is,- answered Chex, -And that he once romanced Violet.-
At this, Aifos snorted a laugh, and covered their giggles behind the back of their hand.
-What? That's true!-
-We believe you,- I said, and Chex tossed me a glare.
"Halden," the youngest Sorrengail bristled, "Get in the basket right now. We don't have time to waste."
"Easy for you to say when you are all comfortable in a saddle."
Tairn dropped his head and let out a deafening roar, to which Halden blanched and wobbled back and every human slapped their hands over their ears.
His click of teeth was sharp, and his Rider grinned, "Tairn disagrees. He also said he'll burn you to ashes if you keep complaining."
"He... He can't! I'm the prince!"
"Titles are of no value for a dragon," added Riorson, "Now, do get fucking in the basket or I'll drag you in myself."
The princeling muttered something under his breath, then haughtily spun around and strode in the basket, the auburn-haired woman at his heels.
We flew to Tecarus' palace with short breaks in between, and at the last stretch of sky the gryphons started struggling.
-I still can't wrap my head around it,- I grumbled, -Half eagles who can't fly!-
-That's why they're the inferior species,- nodded Chex, and Aifos shook half heartedly their head, but at the end admitted their own doubts about the gryphons crossing the ocean.
-Hopefully Kiralair will drop the basket,- huffed Chex, and Aifos laughed.
The white columns of the Viscount's palace sprawled under us, and Aifos stiffened slightly. Tairn was the first to land, as usual, and Andarna almost tripped on her feet.
We stayed there one night, and then off we went again, this time flying towards the ocean and without carrying any basket, since the princeling would be escorted by Tecarus and his people, only because we were going to be hosted in the Viscount's villa in Deverelli.
From Chex's back, Aifos turned towards me and I chortled at them, to which they answered me with a soft smile.
The ocean was stretching itself as endlessly as the sky, and the winds remained steady in their favour behind our wings; nonetheless, Andarna lost her balance and started losing altitude, so Chex quickly swept under her despite her snap of teeth.
Aifos had just called up a wind to sustain her, when Tairn's own wingbeats faltered and he dipped down.
I widened my eyes at him, and from my left Cath grumbled, and he slid down a bit too close to me. I turned to look at him, and heard the unrhymed beats in his wings, saw the tension of his muscles.
My focus narrowed on Chex, but he was keeping up the right rhythm; besides, we had no winds against us, and should Chex grow weary of flying, Aifos would sustain him with their energy; Aifos and I'd flown around the asleep forest of Cordy last night, so as to wholly replenish the energy of the belt of Beloth the Wise.
I reached out to Tairn, who'd taken back up his leading spot in front of us with a couple of mighty wingbeats; not that I was too far off.
-Is something the matter?-
His voice was clipped, -We draw our strength from the earth. I haven't realised until now just how much we've grown dependent on it.-
-We are children of the sky, not of the earth; the Dwarves are such.-
Andarna again losed altitude, so Tairn followed her and clipped her on his chest; but the added weight had him stumbling a little, and I watched him pulling up with laboured wingbeats.
He snarled, then grumbled, and again I talked to him, -You are displeased.-
-I can't talk with Sgaeyl. We're cut off.-
The utter annoyance of his tone, and the subdued worry under it, had me stretching out my mind towards my two bonded, and relief slackened my body when they were quick and smooth to answer to my slight nervous prodding.
-I can hear everyone just fine,- said Chex, -I don't know why, though.-
-It could be because of our bond,- said Aifos, -You had no worries talking to any dragons, back in Vaeta.-
I chuffed an agreement, and he slowed his pace to fly under Sgaeyl and brush her wing with his. She rumbled, but spread her own and allowed the touch to linger.
The blue of the sea deepened, and by the time we reached Deverelli, the sun had heated the air up to the point that Aifos had stuffed their gloves in the pack, and had unbuttoned the start of their coat.
The island was soft, with white beaches stretching out to the horizon, and cream-coloured villas sprawled their rooms on the gentle cliffs. But the colours were dimmed, and the sky was almost eye-blinding in comparison.
-Look,- said Aifos, -That's the city, hidden among the trees. Almost Elf-like.-
When Tairn turned east, I twisted my head trying to catch a glimpse of the city, and Chex quickened up his pace to glide next to me. We flew above a stone littered with ominous cross-bolts, and I saw Chex shivering.
-They will not hurt you,- said Aifos, -Should they be loosened, my magic would knock them off immediately.-
-I know,- he answered, and his body relaxed slightly, -What did you mean by Elf-like?-
So, Aifos showed them a memory of Ellesmera, with its high, twisting trees and the very air permeated by magic; they focused on the elegant writing across the walls of the house-tree Aifos and I had stayed in a couple of years ago, and Aifos joked that it was the same which Saphira had scraped off during her first stay in the Elf city.
At our sight, people screamed and cowered, and I had to focus on the graceful jumps of the dolphins so as not to remember the fear anytime my shadow would have fallen during the Rider That Was Not Meant To Be's empire.
We landed on Tecarus' grounds, and the villa was a smaller replication of the one in Cordyn, with part of it open to the crisp ocean breeze. Our claws sank in the warm sand, and Chex curled his talons in, -It's so soft!-
Aifos slid off, and knelt down to run their fingers through it with a smile, -Indeed it is.-
At our left, Andarna sent the sand everywhere by shaking it off her talon, and I splayed my wing and shielded Aifos up with a pointed snap of teeth towards the younger dragon.
She growled back, and Tairn swivelled his head back and forth. The other dragons huffed and puffed, and I spotted a middle aged man, probably a servant of the Viscount, shaking in fear and gazing up at the two black dragons in front of him.
But then, Aotrom let out a roar which sent the man running up the hill, and Aifos commented, -Oh, well. It was meant to happen, in one way or another.-
I snorted my agreement, and Chex promptly followed his sister to the ocean. Tairn pivoted to keep the siblings in his sight, and his tail nearly clashed against a tree, -Do not go any deeper than your claws! I swear, if you two get in over your head, I'll let you drown.-
-Sure, yeah, don't worry,- answered Chex, but we all knew he hadn't listened to one word his guardian had just said. Andarna jerked her head away when Chex splashed water in her direction, and she slammed her wings on his head. He stepped back, and slammed his tail in the water, and as Andarna was distracted by Aotrom taking up his frustration to his Rider, Chex shoved her in the water.
Aifos burst out laughing at this, and tossed their head back, and sunlight poured in the brown of their eyes; Tairn sighed defeated, and I affectionately blew hot air on Aifos' messy hair before reaching Sgaeyl and Teine, who'd been nervously scanning the land since our arrival.
-The surroundings are calm,- I said, -None dared to come after us.-
Because Chex must've already spoken to Sgaeyl, she didn't flinch, while Teine whirled around and bared his teeth, -You can speak to us? How?-
-It's a matter of breeds, I believe,- I said, -My kind isn't as attached to the earth it flies above as yours is.-
-At least we can still coordinate with each other through you,- said Sgaeyl, -And I can keep an eye on Chex. I wonder why Andarna can't talk with anyone else apart from you four though.-
-Aifos said it may be because Chex is bonded to us, and because our minds have no borders to which remain chained up.-
She grumbled an assent.
"You made it!" Shouted Tecarus from the doorway, his arms wide, "Prince Halden hasn't awakened yet, but I was able to secure an emergency meeting with a chancellor to the king upon our arrival last night, and you'll be thrilled to know that your creatures may hunt in the valleys three leagues south of here where there is an abudance of wild game. Humans are not to be on the menu."
-I am none's "creature",- snorted Chex as he strode out from the water, and almost guiltily gave a wide berth to Tairn, who had his narrowed eyes fixed on him. His sister lingered in the ocean, now only claw-deep, and her scales glimmered blue.
I met Aifos' eyes, and at their nod I splayed my wings, and reached the minds of the other winged ones, -It's best if we replenish our strength now.-
Many of them widened their eyes, but at Tairn's sharp bark they did as they were told, and we took to the sky again, our wingbeats throwing sand everywhere.
When we reached the ground assigned for our hunt, we split off, and Chex nudged me to follow him and his guardians. Andarna twisted herself into a flip, and Chex dipped away at her scorpiontail coming up too close to him.
Sgaeyl snapped her teeth at the two, and Tairn spotted a flock of deers. The mates shared their prey, and the siblings fought for the one they both wanted; I ripped off the ribs of mine, and started eating.
-Kid, how is it going down there?-
-The people are distrusting.-
-Always keep your surroundings in check.-
-I know. We reached the shop.-
-Call us if anything goes sideways.-
They severed the connection, and I spotted Chex snatching one of my ribs. I snapped my teeth to him, and he dropped the stolen meat with a roll of his eyes.
Andarna cackled, and he shot her a glare.
Tairn's slow sigh caught my attention, and he slowly shook his head, -Adolescents.-
-I am an adult!- snorted Andarna, and Chex chuffed, -If you were an adult, you wouldn't have almost torn off my claw!-
-If you were an adult, you would've hunted your own dinner!-
-I did! You stole it from me!-
-I did no such thing!-
She hurled herself at her feet, and tackled her brother. He messily splayed his wings, and Andarna snapped at his jaw; Chex kicked her away, but she pulled him down with her and the two started rolling off the cliff. I jumped on my feet, but Sgaeyl told me to go on eating, -They'll get up, eventually.-
-Will they?- I asked, and Tairn tore off the chest from his prey, -They always did so before the Sleep. They'll scratch a bit of their scales out, but nothing much.-
Still, I kept my eyes fixed until the two of them reached the bottom of the cliff and remained laying there for a while.
-Chex! I swear to the stars, if you hurt yourself in any way, I will drag you to Aifos myself!-
But he didn't answer me; instead, he shoved Andarna off him and the two slowly made their way up to us.
My eyes studied Chex's golden body, and much to my relief no scale seemed to be lacking. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he haughtily stomped around his guardians and plopped next to me. This time, I let him get a rib of mine, and made sure the siblings behaved for the rest of the lunch.
I was cleaning off a bone, when Aifos' deep laughter reached the corner of our minds. Chex's eyes softened, and I huffed, -What is it that's so fun, kid?-
-The shop-keeper just confused herself between Dain and Xaden! Oh my, I'm gonna die,- and went on laughing.
-What?- Exclaimed Chex, -No way! Let us see!-
-Must we?- I sighed, and he snapped his teeth, -Yes!-
So, they gave us their eyes, and through them we could see a cackling eldest Sorrengail, "I'm sorry. I can't. I just can't. I need a second." She walked behind the rows of shelves, and Aifos brought their hand up and bit their lower lip, their chest hurting from swallowing back another laugh.
We recognised Aetos' slightly tight voice, "How would you like this to go on?"
"Just like it's gone for the last eighteen months," answered Riorson, "Everyone assumes she'll wind up with you, but it's my last name she ends up wearing on her flight jacket in formation."
"Seriously?" Huffed the youngest Sorrengail, somewhere to Aifos' left.
"Glad to see you're feeling like yourself again," sighed Aetos, "But we don't have last names on our flight jackets."
"And yet you get the fucking point."
Then, Aifos looked at an elderly woman, who narrowed her eyes on Riorson, "You aren't Dain."
Riorson shook his head, and Aifos shot a glance to the eldest Sorrengail, and the two of them snickered again.
"I'm Dain."
"And he is?"
"Xaden Riorson," said the youngest Sorrengail, "And he's mine, even when he's being a possessive ass."
-Alright kid,- I said, a bit amused, -We saw enough.-
-No, we didn't!-
-I did.-
I retreated from Aifos' mind, and after a while so did Chex. At my question if there'd happened any other slip up, he signed, visibly disappointed, -No. They started talking about Violet's father, instead.-
-That's the actual mission,- I said, and he rolled his eyes, -I know, but it was funnier when Xaden and Dain started bickering over Violet.-
-Perhaps they will pick up where they left later on,- I said with a shrug, -Not that I care.-
-It's because you're old and boring.-
I flashed my teeth, and he snapped his own back. Tairn grumbled, and Sgaeyl chuffed a laugh and nudged her head under his chin. He closed his eyes and drew her in, and Andarna shot them a glare which bordered on enough disgust I barked a laugh.
Chex snorted smoke at her, -Come on now, they're cute!-
-They're our guardians!-
-And so what?-
-You are an overgrown lizard,- growled Andarna, but before Chex could come up with any retort, I jumped on my feet and put myself between them, -Enough now. You're giving me a headache.-
-Your fault!- screamed the siblings at the same time, and I groaned and squeezed my eyes with my claw, rather human-like.
Tairn rumbled a laugh, and I glared at him from under my talons.
-There's nothing to laugh at,- I grumbled, and Tairn chuffed, -Is there?-
I lowered my claw and narrowed my eyes, but he shrugged, and flashed me a grin.
Sgaeyl pressed herself against him, and I pointedly nudged the two siblings, -Come, let's get other stags.-
-But we've already eaten them!- complained Chex, but I dug my wing in his shoulder and levelled him a stare, -I said, come on.-
Chex frowned, but at my steady shove he splayed his wings and with a noise caught between a chuff and a sigh he took off, Andarna and I after him.
-Can I hunt a dolphin?- asked Andarna as she flipped around, and I shrugged, -Why not?-
-You're way more fun than Tairn.-
-Thanks, I guess.-
-We got the books,- said Aifos, and I sighed, -Thank the stars! So now I have an excuse to break off from the siblings.-
Aifos snorted a laugh, -Come on, now, don't exaggerate.-
-We all know I don't.-
As Andarna and Chex tried, but failed, to snatch a dolphin midair, I swooped down in the sand and flicked my tail in a greeting as Aifos walked up to me and patted my sandy scales.
They sat down, and I curled myself around them; I placed my snout on my foreclaws and they put their head on my flank.
But as the sun lulled Aifos to sleep, and the dolphins kept dancing mockingly around the siblings, I found myself remembering the blurred lines of a dragon long lost, and my heart ached.