Every year, hundreds die within the walls of Basgiath War College. It's no surprise that many are those who choose the Riders Quadrant. Dragons do not tolerate much, but neither do the ruthless gryphons on the outside of the wards.
At least...
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Thankfully, no one questions when a mated pair of dragons and their presumed-dating riders take a flight late in the evening. Two facts any rider could tell you: the stars look best from the back of a dragon and a small get-away is a necessity out here. I smile into the wind, feeling the electricity lining my skin in response to our closeness to the ward's edge. We cross it quickly, giving me only a flash of heat that scorches my bone marrow before it spreads into a comfortable warmth across my body. Xaden looks across their touching wings at me, but I close my eyes to instead relish in my head that no longer aches.
"I still do not approve," Tairn asserts moments later. He even sounds louder, like they've just cleared the debris from a fallen temple and rebuilt the cella so his voice can echo off the walls. "Yet we still fly," I counter. "Only because I vowed to let you make your own choices after Resson. It is not because I agree." He turns to follow the slope of the mountain. It helps us keep a low profile under the full moon. I bask in it as the wind licks my skin like an excited dog. "And to let you beyond the wards once, since you seem to like it out here so much."
I laugh into the breeze at his snarky tone, leaning when he banks this way and that so I stay on. "Well, thank you for that. I do feel much better out here." "You might be the only one," he grovels. Even now, his voice is a bit scratchy in my head, scraping past my shields. "We're going to have to figure out how we'll keep me outside the wards," I comment, following him through another turn in his glide. He twists his wings against the air, slowly us down slightly so Sgaeyl can get ahead. I assume for landing, considering how close to the ground we are. He grumbles in his chest but doesn't answer.
The forested valley comes up to meet us fast, so I brace for impact. I sink even deeper into rock-hard scales when he flares his wings just after Sgaeyl. Over the ridgeline, the light of a Poromish village glows. His landing is shockingly smooth, a comment he chuffs at me for. He doesn't tend to mind making the ground shake, but I suppose that would be pretty suspicious and might set off some gryphons. When he turns around, his tail sweeps into the depths of the lake now behind us. I almost roll my eyes, knowing I'm going to be picking lakeweeds out from between his spikes for weeks.
Tairn swings his head back and forth as Sgaeyl lands off the side and a bit in front of us. "He's still pissed I came along," I tell Xaden as I lean forward to push myself up. "In some ways, I am, too," he laughs. I pinch my lips, but don't chastize him for the joke made in poor taste. "Do not even think of dismounting, crowned one," Tairn rumbles before I can reply. "Excuse me?" I challenge. His magic surrounds my legs, but it's really only a warning. "Stand, and I will launch." His head swivels and curls to he can position his eye to stare straight at me.
