Redemption - Fourth Wing

58. We were eternity

Ronny's Pov
Death was a petty little thing.
It was hunger, curled within one's ribs until they splinted and hollowed out, and empty bones only remained, scattered among ruins of a golden city.
It was envy, old wings straining towards smooth membranes, dusty scales brushing against wet skin.
Or it might cloak in fading wards, as thin as Aifos' skin at the hollow of their collarbones when they smiled up at me and patted my leg once before turning back and following Sorrengail's squad in which Riorson had temporarily switched us into.
Their saddle dug in their leather flights, and I waited for the heavy doors of the palace to close between us two before I followed Tairn's gaze, lost in the horizon.
The rest of the dragons were already up in the sky, their scales gleaming.
-The wards are no thicker than a feathertail's,- grumbled Tairn, -A gust of wind, and they'll blow off as a dragonet at its first flight.-
-The wind has been steady under our wings,- I said, -Our enemies are still far.-
-Not far enough.-
My tail twitched, and my voice was slow, -When the ward was fired up, the truth was unknown to us. But months have passed, and now it isn't such anymore.-
Tairn swivelled his head, his golden eyes fierce in mine, -Andarna,- he rasped, -Grieves the refusal of her den, and is wrestling with the absence of her brother. Do not ask of her to force her fire for us.-
He was larger than me, and I rustled my wings, -He will be back. He promised us.-
-He's my ward,- Tairn chuffed, -I do not expect from him otherwise.-
Silence fell, and we both brought our gaze back to the ward. Magic hummed as shyly as a new Shur'tugal, and I knew that death was waiting for us beyond it, and the longer the shield held on, the more it grew hungry of fresh life.
And Aifos' smile had blossomed as spring, back in the lake.
Tairn's talons were thicker than my spikes, and his jaw was stern, and his wings were scarred.
-Come,- I said, -I owe you a hunt.-
He blinked at me, once, -The whole winter season has passed.-
-Deer is softer under a warmer sun.-
The pebbles of the courtyard creaked under our claws, and I could feel Aifos' eyes following the arch of my wings, the expanse of my chest.
We flew away from the palace, and deep in the valley where the grass was thicker and the preys fuller.
Tairn claimed two does, and I snatched a deer. We walked to the lake I'd thrown Aifos in, and I wondered if its water remembered the smoothness of their skin, the exact curls of their hair, how it brushed their shoulder-blades.
My tailtip's flicks rippled in the lake, and we each rolled the ribs and nipped on the leftover bones.
-My Blue One should return shortly from her patrol,- said Tairn, -I miss her warmth. Do not linger on your food.-
-My my,- I grinned, -Sgaeyl's warmth? How deeply love changes the perspective of us darling ones.-
He narrowed his eyes, -If you want to twist words, you'd best speak with the cream-robed ones, since your mind isn't necessarily linked to your rider.-
-Don't get your insides in a twist,- I sighed, my teeth nipping a tight, -My partner of heart and mind can expand their knowledge across many fields just as exquisitively.-
-As they made sure we were aware of it,- chuffed Tairn, -Multiple times.-
The leftover bones were pristine, and smooth, and my belly was pleasantly fool. I raised my eyes and held the black dragon's, and remembered the fierceness of his snarls, the authority he commanded over his kind.
-Shur'tugals are gifted by us immortality,- I said, -Because the dragon's life is tethered to each one of them. But the sky's empty, and death will always race every one to the edge.-
-It has the swiftest wings,- agreed Tairn, -No storm will break them.-
-And no wyvern will rip it apart.-
My throat worked, and my tail tip twitched, the water crisp around my scales.
-We have promised,- my voice was slow, careful, -Aifos and I, to your son, that we'd wait for him to come back. But Alagaesia is far away, and death is already flying towards us.-
His head tilt was serpetine, -One should never be sure of death's flight.-
-We may not know the details,- I said, -But we know enough. And yet, your son's flying because of love, and Aifos is beautiful under the sun, caressed by the lake. I have a memory I want to share with him, should the journey hold him up for too long.-
His eyes narrowed, and he followed me as I got up, rustled my wings. My chest was heavy, and I closed my eyes and tracked my Eldunari, great and oval and safe.
I ordered it to move around, and it jerked from my chest up to my throat, as a bone stuck before my belly. Tairn snarled at this, his pupils caught between narrow and large, and I jerked my head up and splayed my jaw.
A cough, a spit, and with a last, choked heave my Heart of Hearts slipped off my tongue and on my claws.
It was coated in my saliva, and it swirled and pulsed with the same rhythm of my heartbeats, and my wings half covered it, as if it were an egg.
Tairn's sound was sharp and puzzled, and I let out a shaky breath, -That's my essence, my Heart of Hearts. Every Alagaesyan dragon is in possession of one, and through it, one may decide to trick death for a while longer.-
My talons flexed, and my wings fell down, and Tairn's sniffs were careful.
-It has your smell,- he said, -Why are you showing it to me?-
-Because my kid and I are going to die,- my voice caught, -And Chex doesn't deserve such a loss. Should death come too swift, Aifos couldn't stay for any longer, but through my Heart of Hearts, I might. I would.-
With a breath between my clenched teeth, I slowly stretched out my claws, and Tairn reared his head back, -You shouldn't. I am not your bonded.-
-No,- I said, -But you are respected, and strong, and capable. If you allow me to, I'll temporarily hand to you my core, until my partner's mate comes back.-
A rumbling chuff, and Tairn smelled my Eldunari again. His tail and wings lowered down, and I couldn't breathe.
Then, a sharp rumble, and he raised his own claws; mine were shaking, and my core carefully passed between talons.
I was sure to shield my conscience immediately, and Tairn dipped his head, -I thank you for such a trust in me. I will not disappoint you.-
-It's Chex's,- I said, -You're simply its momentarily stead.-
-Still. You gave your heart to a dragon who isn't your mate. I respect it, and will act accordingly.-
His eyes were golden and steady, and I nodded, -Good. I do not expect otherwise.-