Redemption - Fourth Wing

43. Hedonis

Chex's Pov
The fliers requested to spend a day in Deverelli so as to give their gryphons time to rest up before the trip to Hedonis, and Darna kept complaining throughout all the flight from the Viscount's villa to the so called island of wisdom, -Our family is waiting for us, and we have to waste a full day because of those scrawny birds! Absurd. We're dragons! We don't listen to any whims of anyone.-
-You don't even listen to the whims of the Elders,- huffed Tairn, and Andarna bared her teeth at him, -It's because they're old and senseless and/-
-If you keep this up, he'll let you fall,- grumbled Sgaeyl next to Tairn, -And I for sure won't be the one telling him otherwise.-
-I never asked to be collared, in the first place!-
-Your wings won't hold the strain of this journey,- sighed Tairn, and Andarna fired him up, and I stuck closer to Ronny, Aifos clearing their throat on my back.
-She looks quite... Snappy,- they said, and I exhaled a plume of smoke, -She's been such ever since we set out to look for the rest of our kind.-
-And... And you? How are you feeling?-
I spread my wings and slowed down a bit; Ronny kept his pace, and Molvic was on my left, his sapphire scales gleaming under the sun.
-I don't know,- I admitted, -My sister believes that they're our actual family, but we don't even know if they truly exist, so how could they be our family?-
-Well, Ronny and I did seek a dream of you.-
-That's a wholly different thing! You knew that I was real, and that I was waiting for you.-
-But you showed yourself to us as a projection, and thus we couldn't have been too sure of it until we saw you in flesh and bone.-
I twisted my head and narrowed my eyes, -The stars showed me my path, and you were meant to be in it. Don't ever mistake it as luck ever again.-
They bowed their head and cradled their flapping hair in a quick bun, -You're written in my Name of Names, and as such, in Ronny's too.-
I straightened myself up and followed a slightly colder breeze, -Does he know? Your Name of Names?-
Their voice was just a breath, -No,- and we let the matter fall.
When we reached Hedonis, the colours were as dulled as those of the previous islands, and Andarna scratched the soft ground with her claw, -I do not like this place. Our kind would not settle here. We should leave.-
I looked at the pale sky, then at the buildings ahead, and said nothing.
Aifos jumped off me and rolled their shoulders, while Xaden neared Violet.
"It's beautiful but all so... Uniform. They razed the original structures about a hundred and fifty years ago and rebuilt with that dad called intention," she said, and Xaden looked back between their shoulders, "That's a little unsettling. And there's no port. It's a coastal city with no port."
I sniped at Ridoc who walked too close to me, and he jumped back, then turned to Violet, "So, this one is all you, right? You have to take a test or something to enter?"
"One of us has to prove wisdom in order to meet with the triumvirate."
-Interesting,- said Aifos taking off their gloves while Cat shot a glare at the city, "I can't believe they elect people for high leadership. Town councils? Sure, but how can you confirm someone has the skills to lead if they're not trained from birth?"
-Classic nobility's mindset,- sighed Aifos, -Why am I not surprised?-
-Do you have something similar in Alagaesia?- I asked, and Aifos nodded, -Queen Nasuada thought it best to build up a parliamentary empire since Galbatorix's fall. For now, peace seems standing.-
-The New Order keeps fighting off the loyalists,- added Ronny, -But there's no war on the horizon as far as I know.-
"Being trained from birth doesn't make you more qualified," rebuked Aaric from the right, Trager by his side, "Any of you truly excited at the prospect of being led by Halden?"
Cat wrinkled her noise, and Trager nodded, "Valid argument."
-Wait, did Cat just flash a grin at Trager?- Aifos asked, and I chuffed amused, -She did! And if you look closely there's a bruise on his neck.-
Aifos grinned and nudged my foreleg with their shoulder, while Ronny sighed and shook his head.
Then, Trager checked up on Violet and Xaden (not that he needed to, since Aifos had tended at their wounds before taking off to Deverelli), and Tairn swivelled his head above us, his eyes narrowed to slits, -We have company.-
We followed his gaze, and saw a group of people strolling on the thick wooden walkway connecting the market to the beach we were currently standing. I swept a leg in front of Aifos and bared my teeth as the group closed in on us and the wind blew past their billowing pastel-coloured tunics.
They were gawking up at us dragons, and Cath snorted smoke in their direction.
"They're incredible," said the middle-aged up in front, "And well worth the walk to the beach to welcome you."
The sun gleamed on the metallic embroidery of his tunic, and caught the ruby carved at the top of his cane. Aifos frowned at him, and didn't know what to think of him, and at Ronny's grumble I lowered my head, just in case.
"And you might be?" Asked Xaden, who'd taken a step closer to Violet.
"Where are my manners? I'm Faris, the second of the triumvirate. The other two enjoy standing on ceremony, of course, but I see no benefit in waiting to meet you and therefore am here. Welcome to Hedotis." He bowed his head, then turned his smile on Violet.
Aifos thought that his smile lines were cold and distrusting, and I brought my Swordtail up for everybody to see it.
Faris went on, "You have very unusual eyes. Not entirely blue or green or gold, but an amalgamation of all. Fascinating."
"I was just thinking the same thing about you," she admitted, and Faris blinked his purple eyes slowly, "Mine are quite common on our isle. I've brought my household to formally make your acquaintance and escort you through our beautiful city. If you're amenable, we have room for you to rest at our home on the northeast shore." He gestured to the beach, then glanced behind him, "Darling, won't you say hello? I apologise for my wife. Talia seems to be overcome by your magnificent dragons."
"I'm here, my love," called up his wife, and she came up to stand beside him and locked their fingers together. Aifos' mind sharpened on her, and so did I, and I had a feeling I knew her cheekbones somewhere, and-
-The gold of her eyes,- said Ronny.
Aifos inhaled sharply just as Talia saw Xaden and flared her eyes in complete shock. Xaden remained rooted in the ground, and Garrick muttered a "Oh, shit," while Talia lifted her hand, only to drop it a wingbeat later, "Xaden? Is it really you?"
Xaden's voice was tight, "Mom."
Aifos ripped off their bun and covered their face up with their hair with shaky hands and I dug my claws in the ground. Their heartbeat was quick, and I snarled at a noble who was staring at me. Ronny bared his teeth, -Is there a possibility she may recognise you?-
-I don't know,- stammered Aifos, -Never seen her.-
-Nor your father,- said Ronny, -We don't know how much your features resemble his, but I don't want to test the odds right now. Keep your head low, and don't speak.-
"Oh, well. That's unfortunate," said Faris, before clapping his hands, "Nevertheless, you're still my guests, and my offer stands. I'm sure your dragons know the way: high up in the sky the whole world is your domain."
So we did, and we landed in the beach in front of the sprawling, marble villa of the second triumvirate. The sand was even softer than the one in Deverelli, and the waves lapped on the shore, but my eyes were fixed on Aifos' tight shoulders, and the way they straggled behind, silent and still, the saddle hovering above them as usual.
Andarna claimed she wanted to try some crabs and dove in the waters, and Tairn grumbled that he'd let her drown, but annoyance flared up in me at their noise and I stomped away. Ronny was hunting nearby, but he was still too far away from the villa, and I kept hovering in Aifos' mind. Xaden had shut himself in his room, and Sgaeyl was pacing to and fro in the other side of the beach, and I couldn't meet her eyes.
I remained as still as the dragon statues that Andarna had told me were standing in the hall of the Riders' Quadrant, until Aifos' mind spun and the portion of the sky seen from the window wasn't by far large enough to give them peace.
-Let me fly with you,- they whispered, -Please. I don't want any more scars.-
I jumped on my feet, -Of course! Just... without the saddle.-
-Why?-
I kept my voice soft despite their snap, -Trust me, and leave the saddle there. You do trust me, right?-
-You know I do.-
-Then leave the saddle there, just this once.-
They hesitated, then squared their shoulders and fretted away; their hair was cradled in another bun, and they tucked the unbound locks of hair behind their ears.
I quickly counted the scars on their forearms, and I was glad to know that there weren't any new. Aifos' voice was bitter, -There's a reason why I asked you to fly me.-
-I know, my love, and I'm happy you did. Now get on.-
So they took a running start and scrambled on the seat, and then they clamped their gloved hands on my pommel and clenched their tights, -Where do I put my feet?-
-Try between my scales.-
They did as they were told, and then inhaled sharply, -Gently, please.-
-Always.-
I started walking around, and they tightened their hold with their legs and hands; then, I splayed my wings, couched down, and off I went. Aifos let out a choked scream and squeezed their eyes shut as they pressed their whole upper body against my scales.
I laughed at their mind hurling insults at my head, and to ease their worry I clamped my bands of magic around their tights, and their body slackened a bit.
They felt my muscles working between their legs, and the sun gleamed golden on my scales, and I brought us past the thin clouds and on a colder sky, and they hollered their excitement at being far off from the weight of the earth. Then, they freed one hand and leaned back and right, and I followed their shift of weight and fell into a backfalling diagonal. The wind howled under my wings, until I closed them shut and gained enough speed to contort my body in steep spirals, to which Aifos shouted their adrenaline and I squeezed their tights with my magic. When the sea gleamed in my peripheral sight I splayed my wings wide and tightened my muscles against the whiplash, and Aifos almost lost balance, their tights desperately clinging to my scales.
-You alright?- I asked, as they righted up and flexed their hands on the pommel, -Yes. That was a good trick.-
-I know.-
With a pointed flick of my tail, I pulled up slightly and flipped us upside down, and Aifos stretched out their hand, almost as if to brush the glistening water with their fingertips.
I could feel their smile as my own, and I swivelled my head to stare back at the reflection of me.
-You ready?-
-Yes.-
-Take a deep breath,- and then drew my wings back and curled my body so as to sink past the water, which sloshed at my passing. It was cold, and Aifos made up a spell to breathe underwater. Banks of fish skittered away, and I carefully levelled out and spread my wings. I could feel the water pressing at me stronger than the winds, and when I moved my wings they only got in my way and I quickly stopped.
Aifos bent on their left and stretched out their hand, and again I followed them with a flick of my tail and heavy splashes of my claws and tail. I dipped my wingtip in a current which was similar to the wind ones, and by angling my wings I managed to catch it and to be propelled forward.
We dashed past corals, and algas tickled my underbelly, and we realised that the sea was way livelier than the sky, and I caught Aifos' desire to swim to its depths and find out its secrets.
I would bring them there, if they asked me to.
I would bring them everywhere that they desired to fly to.
At their taps on my neck, I freed myself from the current and pushed myself up, and waves splashed when I resurfaced. I shook my head and sneezed, and widened my wings to lazily swim about. Aifos patted my scales, then laid down on my back and closed their eyes.
I felt how the sun warming their face made them sleepy, and I twisted my head around to admire them in their slumber. Their wet hair was haloing their face, and droplets of water were sliding under their flight leathers.
Their voice was slow, -I don't know what to do.-
-About what, my love?-
-About Xaden, and the letter. Should I tell him, or should I let him bask in the easiness of a powerless land until it lasts?-
-Sgaeyl's pacing is nervous. I doubt Xaden is at ease.-
They brushed their scarred eyebrow and let out a deep breath,-Ronny's right. I don't know how much I resemble my father, but Xaden hasn't recognised me yet, so I mustn't be too much alike. Must I?-
There were shadows under their lower lip, and I took my time to answer, -I can't give you an answer, love. It's something that you must decide for yourself. But whatever it is, I'll stand by your side. And Ronny, too.-
-I know.-
They raised their hand and I sniffed their knuckles before straightening myself up. A shadow fell on us, and Ronny drew circles in the sky above us before veering west, shortly following Tairn, Darna and Sgaeyl before breaking off east.
I slowly paddled my way to the shore, and I stretched out my leg like Tairn would do and shook myself clean only after Aifos had slid off me.
They patted my foreleg with a soft smile, and then we watched two children gawking up at me behind their nanny. Then, I felt Aifos stiffening next to me, and I swivelled my head to narrow my eyes at Talia.
Intense emotions which I couldn't decipher flickered through her golden-flecked eyes, and at her steps forward I bared my teeth in warning; but she ignored all of it and clasped Aifos' cheeks instead. Their shoulders were locked in tight, and their nails were digging in their palms, and I swung my tail around, -Just a word, and I'll burn her to the ground where she stands.-
-No. She's Xaden's mother, and we'd break every possibility to broker an alliance.- Then, with a quieter voice, -It was meant to happen, one way or another.-
Talia's eyes remained steady in Aifos', and her hands combed back their messy hair and brushed the tip of their ears and the scar bysecting their eyebrow.
I noticed Aifos almost leaning in her touch, because they hadn't felt a mother's touch in so long, and I wanted to give them Sgaeyl's love.
But then, they drew back, their lips twisted, and Talia's voice was shaky, "You... You have his eyes."