“Really? I didn’t know dragons could sing.”
“Alban and Banikan.” Alban was on an emerald dragon.
Hopefully, he’d be sent off to the green guards in Naobia. Kierion was sick of his scowl.
Raising a hand, Master Alyssa called, “Now fly. Trust your dragons. We’ll see you in the training cavern after dinner.”
Flapping, roars, and whoops filled the air as dragons launched into the sky.
Instead of leaping after them, Riona strode to the edge and dropped down. The mountain face whooshed past. Wind tugged at Kierion’s hair. The snowy clearing rushed closer. His stomach plummeted.
Riona flapped her wings to break their fall, and soared over the basin. Above them, dragons were blurs of color in the sky. Riona caught a thermal and spiraled up toward the snowy peaks. Kierion was filled with a rush of energy that took his breath away. Every wingbeat sent a tremor of joy through him. Shards, he felt so alive. He’d never be the same again.
So that’s why riders said life wasn’t worth living if you lost your dragon.
Mage Gate
Fenni and Master Giddi traveled over the rocky pass and down through foothills. “Try that snow drift,” Master Giddi ordered.
Flame blasted from Fenni’s fingertips, shooting under the foliage of two strongwoods to hit the snowy hump. His fireball sizzled, melting the snow and revealing a rock.
Giddi grunted. “If you can manage that from horseback, you might have a shot at doing decently on dragonback one day. Try that stump.”
On dragonback? That would be awesome. Fenni flung out his hands, but his fire fizzled out on the side of the trail. Oh, shards, his flame still wasn’t reliable.
A bushy eyebrow raised. “Keep practicing.”
“I’ve never seen a mage on dragonback.” Oh, what a fool. He was speaking to the dragon mage himself. “Sorry, I meant—”
“Don’t worry so much, Fenwick. Of course you’ve never seen a wizard on a dragon, but years ago, we rode behind dragon riders, blasting tharuks with wizard flame while riders shot arrows.” He sighed. “It’ll never happen again, in your lifetime.” His master gave such an ominous scowl that Fenni didn’t dare ask anything else. They rode on in silence, Master Giddi deep in thought with his bushy eyebrows pulled down.
When they entered the northern part of Great Spanglewood Forest, the woods were carpeted in deep snow. The horses trudged on until they arrived at a wide snowy clearing, sliced through the middle by a fast-moving stream. The far side was edged with tents, a stable and cabins with green mage smoke curling from their chimneys.
Master Giddi chaffed his hands together. Fenni’s behind was saddle-sore and his shoulders ached from flinging flame all day. If only he could rest.
Wizards dotted the clearing, shooting flame at targets, and dueling each other with snow, water or flame. Thick vines wrapped themselves around one woman’s legs, and a magical gust of wind knocked a man down. Bolts of light flashed from trees and mages conjured magical shields to protect themselves. A group were gathered by a cauldron over an outdoor fire, brewing a smelly concoction that wafted plumes of blue smoke.
Master Giddi and Fenni walked their horses through the low point of the stream, then dismounted and led them toward the stable.
“Hey, it’s the dragon mage,” a group of Naobian mages called out, waving at Giddi.
“Master Giddi.” A Naobian, a couple of summers older than Fenni, with broad shoulders and long black hair broke away from the group. His skin was tan, and his eyes were a startling blue—not typical for a Naobian. He was a flashy type, wearing three earrings—turquoise, jade and garnet. “Jael of Naobia.” He held his hand out to Fenni.
Fenni shook it. “Fenni of Montanara.”
“Ah, so you’re Fenni?” Jael smiled. “I’m helping you train, right?”
Fenni shot a querying gaze at Master Giddi.
Giddi gave a sharp nod. “Ah, right. Forgot to mention that.”
Jael pounded Master Giddi on the back. Master Giddi embraced him.
His gruff old master hugging someone? Fenni’s boots nearly flew off in surprise.
“So, I got your messenger bird,” Jael said. “I’ve brought the herbs with me. You say the former master healer is back at Dragons’ Hold? What’s she like?”
Master Giddi grinned. “You’ll meet her later. First, Fenni needs a little practice with underwater fireballs.”
“Sure, come with me.” Jael led Fenni past a blonde mage aiming her hands at the snow. Light shimmered from her fingers and snow was swept from the ground, exposing the lush grass beneath. A flurry formed, then thickened, growing into an impenetrable wall, blocking their way. The wall iced over, solidifying.
“Ah, Velrama, could you please let us through?” Jael asked with a laugh.
“Sure.” The blonde girl shot a bolt of green flame at the wall. The snow in the center sizzled and melted, creating an archway for them to walk through. On the other side of the wall was an old mage with snowy hair and a beard threaded with brightly-colored mage crystals—turquoise, green, red and purple—that indicated his rank as a senior wizard master.
“You’re Giddi’s lackey, aren’t you?” The mage’s gaze was so intense, he could’ve peeled skin.
What had he done wrong? Fenni drew himself up, and met the master’s eye. “Yes, sir, the dragon mage is my master.” That ought to impress him.
The wizard’s lip curled and his nose wrinkled in distaste. “Don’t miss the choosing pouch ceremony at sunset or you’ll forfeit your place in the trials.”
Fenni and Jael made their way into the woods. “Who was that old grump?”
“Master Starrus,” Jael replied.
“That was Master Starrus?” Fenni had heard of the high master on the Wizard Council. “He’ll be judging the trials tomorrow?” The Egg help him—he was going to need it if that sour man was determining whether he passed or not.
Jael’s bark of laughter startled a deer, its white tail flashing as
