Flying with Rioux was an experience that Efrite never grew tired of, no matter how many times in her life she did it.
It wasn’t just the chill wind, which kissed her skin and tugged at her hair and clothes. It wasn’t just the way it whistled in her ears, punctuated by the heavy booms that accompanied every beat of her dragon’s wings. It wasn’t just the way the world spread out before her like a tapestry, providing an incredible vista that no artist could ever dream of capturing. It was the sense of freedom their situation offered, the boundless possibilities that it suggested, and the intimate companionship that only dragon and rider could ever hope to experience, let alone understand.
Not for the first time, Efrite found herself pitying the civilians they were charged to protect. At least most of them would never know what they were missing.
When the nation’s capital came into sight, Efrite knew that their journey was almost at an end. The palace and its immediate surroundings were a marvel of modern masonry. Cut into the side of a mountain, the ornate towers and metal-plated ramparts were a sight unlike anything else she’d found during her travels. The construction of the rest of the city was a little more ordinary, but was made impressive by its size alone. The buildings flowed down the side of the mountain and out into the plains beyond, expanding outwards in all directions before ending in a large stone wall. One that had stood for hundreds of years, if the stories were to be believed.
Rioux soared over it all without a second thought, cutting straight for the palace itself. Efrite glanced down, just momentarily, so that she might enjoy this vantage for a second longer. From this height, most of the buildings looked like the size of the blocks children so often played with. The people were little more than ants. Even so, it wasn’t difficult to imagine the stir that their passing made. She imagined that more than a few people had stopped to witness their passing.
When her dragon began to dive, Efrite turned her attention away from the rest of the city, and towards the palace courtyard. She tightened her grip on the large spike just in front of her, in preparation for landing. A weightless sensation came over her as Rioux began to dive, before gravity seemed to press down on her as the dragon pulled back at the last moment. A large boom echoed throughout the courtyard when they touched down; despite Rioux’s experience, she was simply too bulky for a less obtrusive landing. Now back on solid ground, Efrite reached forward to pat the side of Rioux’s neck affectionately a few times while the dragon knelt, before she slipped out of her leather saddle and dropping the remaining distance to the ground.
A quick glance around was enough to confirm that most of the guardsmen were staring. Many of them stared in open awe, their expressions akin to what Efrite expected from civilians. A few of the more experienced members, though, watched with more casual familiarity. She nodded respectfully towards their captain – an old friend of hers – before she turned away and made for the castle proper. She hadn’t taken more than a couple of steps before one of the stable-hands rushed over, and stepped into her path, bringing her up short.
“Welcome back to the palace, my lady. Is there anything I can do for you or your…uh, mount?” Efrite didn't answer straight away. Instead, she let her gaze drift over the boy. He was a thin, wispy thing. No more than fourteen at the most. On any other day, she might’ve been impressed or amused by his guts. Today, however, the interruption did nothing but annoy her.
“Tell me, boy. How much experience do you have caring for dragons?”
“Efri.” Rioux’s rich voice echoed inside Efrite’s mind, spoken through their shared bond. She'd only called her rider's name, but her tone held an unmistakable note of reproach. “Leave the boy be. He’s only trying to help, and you know the king hates it when you torment his staff.”
Her words were enough to make Efrite hesitate, just for a moment. She threw a sideways glance at Rioux, who was watching her with one large amber eye. After a few seconds, a soft sigh slipped from Efri's lips, and she turned her attention back to the stable-hand.
“Rioux is quite capable of looking after herself, but I’m sure that if she needs anything, she’ll let you know.” She waited until the boy nodded his relieved agreement and scurried away again, before she resumed her journey towards the large double doors that served as the palace entrance.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can. Try not to eat the king’s entire winter larder before then.” She spoke only through their bond, just as Rioux had done the first time, teasing her with the easy familiarity that only came with a lifetime of friendship. The dragon responded with a deep-chested rumbling that Efri had come to know as her version of laughter.
“No promises.”
With those parting words, Efri began to climb the palace steps, finally making her way towards the entrance proper.
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