League of Improbable Riders

8

Shaska sighed as she walked down the hall, Taz clattering behind her, and Shadow with Rogue tagging along after. Why hadn't her brother listened? Because of his foolishness, Alisha was now dead. True, visiting her might not have been enough to save her, but then again, it might have.

All of a sudden, a horrifying thought hit her and she ran back past Taz to Shadow, the hood on her jacket thumping against her back.

"Rogue!" she exclaimed agitatedly. "When we went to Gordean, the guards left and we were attacked! Is it—did Alisha—"

Rogue's face paled and Shadow moaned, fear and sadness in her eyes. "What have we done?" the boy murmured.

Taz sensed something was wrong and turned back, nosing Shaska's coat. "What's up?"

Shaska rubbed his head and looked him in the eye. "We may've let the Commoners in: the guards were gone."

Taz drew back, shocked, and beat his navy-blue wings in distress. "Oh no!" he groaned, then crouched. "Quick! Get on my back!"

Shaska did so; wondering what he was planning as dread and guilt coiled in her stomach, and Taz leaped into the air. They flew the rest of the way to the training grounds where they were meeting with Alfsten and Teradun, and Taz explained what he was doing as he beat his wings with desperate speed.

"The Commoners might not've attack through the Precipice Gate," he said. "I need to find out, and Teradun and Alfsten will know. I so hope we didn't cause Alisha's death."

Shaska patted him reassuringly but said nothing.

They touched down with a thump outside a pair of thick stone doors that blocked out the sounds of clashing metal, humming bows, and the solid thunk of spears and darts hitting targets.

Taz nosed the door open and made his way inside the large room full of dragons, riders, and weapons. The room was crowded, but there were little walkways cutting between each group, so Shaska's claustrophobia wouldn't be a problem, here.

Each training ground was dug a few metres into the rock, and Blackwire nets ran up the sides and extended into the air to protect people from stray arrows and clumsily thrown spears.

Shaska looked around as she and Taz moved forward, and spotted Alfsten and Teradun alone in one of the training grounds. "Over there," she said, pointing.

Taz rumbled his thanks.

"Welcome," Alfsten called as they approached. "You've finally arrived." He smiled slightly.

Shaska didn't respond; she wasn't comfortable being herself around any humans except Rogue, and she was distracted with her guilt.

"Alfsten," she said urgently as she dismounted from Taz's back, "where did the Commoners attack?"

"The Southern Wall," he replied, and Shaska clutched Taz in relief: they had only left the Precipice Gate undefended.

"Now," the older man said as Shadow finally bounded to a stop beside them, Rogue situated atop her back, "your training begins."