Ryn

Chapter Eight

The Queen or King's city is known to be glorious and expensive. However, if the colony suffers to allow this city to be grand, the claim the Queen or King has over the land is invalid.

This is Our Law.

~From the Dragonling Grimoire

Flying through the air with my mate at my side should have been a glorious thing.

It would have been, if there weren't half a dozen guards trailing after us to ensure we weren't attacked on the way to Queen Dominika's city, D'zastava. And if one of them wasn't Burian.

Ever since I had, as the other Ryns claimed, embarrassed him in front of Dmitri and the other well-respected Ryns, Burian had targeted me for endless harassment. Snide comments, a shove here or there, even going so far as to spread malicious rumors about me. I hadn't noticed before, too wrapped up in my own misery, but in the last few days, it had become rather conspicuous. He was relentless in his revenge.

It was weird, suddenly finding my own feet again. Alma had been practically holding me up for the past two weeks and suddenly, by Dmitri's insistence, she had stepped back to let me care for myself. And... I didn't mind. It felt good to get myself back together. Garik was thrilled, though the rest of my squadron didn't seem to even notice my absence. He stayed by my side as I got ready for our trip, gossiping and laughing with me as if nothing had happened. As we left, he hugged me goodbye and promised to come visit.

I tried to stay by Dmitri during the entire flight, but every once in awhile Burian would manage to wedge in between us. Occasionally he would even shoot a spurt of flame at me if he thought I got too close. Without the ability to continue his gossiping revenge, he had become an ever-persistent thorn in my side during the three days of the trip. Thankfully, we would arrive in the city tomorrow and I could finally be free of him.

Dmitri must have gotten tired of Burian too because he suddenly paused, flapping his wings to hover. "Burian, Summer." He called out. "I want you to scout ahead." Burian looked as if he wanted to argue, but Dmitri gave him a withering look and he sped off, the other Ryn at his side. Wow. Must be nice, getting peace and quiet with just a look.

As we began to fly again, I felt curiosity bubbling up in me. It would be a few sunleaps before sunset, so we had a while before camp...

"Dmitri," I said, speeding up to fly beside him. "Can I ask you some stuff?"

Dmitri tilled his head to the side so he could look at me over his shoulder. His eyes were slightly wary. Ouch. "Sure." He said slowly.

Trepidation made my scales tingle like lightning. What should I ask? After considering my options, I settled on the most benign one I could think of. "Uh, what's your weapon?"