The Raven Flame [The Crown Saga III] (First Draft)

Ripples of Unrest

Nariyath grumbled, annoyed, her body warm with anger.

"Are you going to sulk the entire way to the Golden Realm," I asked her, once more shifting my weight in my seat.

My bottom had been aching for hours, each beat of Nariyath's wings sending tremors up my rigid spine.

We had been flying since early morning, shrouded by Raelyn's mist. We'd held only two breaks, and now that the sun was starting to set beyond the horizon, it couldn't be long until our next one. I just had to endure until then.

"I will grumble as I wish until battle arrives," Nariyath muttered, huffing. "I told you, no saddle. Yet, leather and rope now swathe my body, and I have an unwelcome human riding my back. It is not acceptable."

Caiden's grip around my waist tightened as Nariyath steadily turned a bit.

I chuckled, glancing over my shoulder at Caiden's pale face. It seemed that the Water Iridis—so accustomed to water—suffered a greater challenge taming the air.

"You know why," I told Nariyath through our bond. "The rift to the Shadow Realm opened yesterday—a week before the Star's prediction. We didn't exactly have time to figure out the logistics, and I'm still not strong enough to stay on your back during complicated maneuvers without this saddle. So, unless you wish to also gamble my life in the battle you so often mention—"

"Spirits," Nariyath said, sighing. "I am aware of the imperilments, Willow Aldwyn. Otherwise, I would never have allowed this insulting monstrosity to touch me."

I cocked my head. "Which monstrosity are you referring to?"

Amusement teased the edge of my mind—Nariyath's amusement. "That is for you to interpret."

I snorted.

Nariyath was the only dragon who had complained about carrying another Iridis. Art sat behind Pangea, surprisingly content to be seated on the back of a giant dragon. However, I guessed his experience surfing on the air gave him an edge the others lacked.

Piper sat behind Apollo, smiling as she clutched his muscled torso. Her skin still looked ashen after puking twice during our first break. Like Caiden, she fared better surfing on waves of water instead of the wind, but she'd put on a brave face to appear strong in front of Apollo. She undoubtedly had a crush on him.

Eos rode behind Ariyah, and Alia behind Kova. None of them looked as bad as they had on that cursed boat, but they didn't look comfortable either, clinging to their rider as if the straps keeping them fastened to the saddles could break at any moment.

Most wore goggles and masks to endure the strong winds slashing our faces since only three of us—excluding Art—could break the wind. It didn't look comfortable.

"Is she talking to you?" Caiden asked, leaning closer to my ear.

I shivered as his breath grazed the helix of my ear, my heart skipping to my throat. "S-she is," I stuttered, clenching tighter around the saddle's handle. "Complaining, in fact. She's a stubborn and proud creature, and she whines about the saddle digging into her skin even though nothing can penetrate that armor."

"It is restrictive," Nariyath added, flapping her wings as if to make a statement. "And pull yourself together, Willow Aldwyn. Your heart is beating so hard I can feel it matching the strength of mine, and your thoughts are—"

"I told you to stay out of my head, Nari!" I chided before she could finish her sentence.

The dragon snorted. She didn't have to say it. I knew exactly what words lingered on that spiteful tongue of hers.