Leah slumped.
Adelina patted her shoulder. “It was good that you came to me. Don’t worry, the next information you bring me will probably be very valuable.” She waved a hand. “Roberto’s always here and there doing business for Master Lars. Sometimes he’s gone for weeks on end. People often gossip about him.”
After the girls left, she saddled up Linaia. “Where to, Adelina? Do you want to look for your brother?”
“Of course. But we don’t even know if it was him.”
“I melded with Septimor, Seppi’s dragon, and he showed me where he saw the man.”
“He did? Could you show me?”
“It’s only a short flight from Dragons’ Hold.” Linaia showed Adelina the image Septimor had shared with her. It was early morning, on the cusp of dawn. A man wearing a cloak was sitting in a strongwood grove. He did look like Roberto from above. Her heart pounded. He looked up as Septimor flew overhead, but the dragon’s shadow prevented Adelina from seeing his features. “Septimor has seen him in the same spot at dawn for three days running.”
It could be Roberto. He was about the right build and height, and his hair was a similar length.
But then again, it could be anyone.
If she talked to Marlies, she’d forbid her to go. Adelina climbed into the saddle. “We can’t leave Dragons’ Hold, I’ve only been a rider for a day. Lars would kill me.”
“If he killed you, he’d have to find me a new rider, silly.” Linaia’s chuckle reverberated through Adelina’s mind. “I often fly beyond Dragons’ Hold on my own. I see no difference in taking you.”
It was tempting, but what if something happened to her? “We shouldn’t go on our own.”
“Bring a friend. We can slip out before dawn and be back for breakfast.”
Adelina laughed. The tightness she’d felt in her chest for days eased. Even if this Naobian wasn’t Roberto, and even if she didn’t go, it was good to be planning something. If—and it was only an if—she did go, who could she take? Ezaara would have to tell the council. Gret was too straight-laced. She needed someone who didn’t mind bending rules.
“Linaia, let’s pay Kierion a visit.”
§
“Zaarusha, I’m going outside for a break. Please tell Reko to let Master Derek know I’ll be back soon.” Ezaara walked out of the main cavern, leaving the dueling trainees under Master Derek’s supervision. Her breath huffed in the cool air. She stretched her arms and cricked her neck.
Scales flashed in the sky. “Hello, Antonika.” Lately, every time she looked up, Tonio’s dragon was flying overhead. At first, she’d thought it a coincidence, but now she was sure Antonika was dogging her steps. She shrugged. What else could she expect from the spymaster’s dragon? She was one of Tonio’s sets of eyes and ears.
Nightmares had kept her up half the night again. She was drained after instructing the new riders with endless flight and stunt training, weapon drills and combat skills. She didn’t know what was worse—the constant need to put on a brave face or the horror-filled nights. Both left her chaffing at the bit to get Roberto.
A dragon shot out of the cavern, its massive multi-colored wings catching the sun. Soothing warmth washed through Ezaara. “Don’t worry,” Zaarusha melded. “Only five more days until the council gets him.”
Five days that stretched into forever.
§
Lovina passed Tomaaz Maazini’s saddlebag, her eyes bright. “And then Taliesin told me he’d had nightmares for the five nights before you came home, just like I did. The poor boy.”
“Is that so?” He was listening, but distracted by the malicious gossip he’d heard about Ezaara in the mess cavern. Someone at the next table had said Ezaara was a mage and had magicked the council members to let her be Queen’s Rider. Ridiculous. He threw the saddlebags over Maazini’s back. His dragon stood so Tomaaz could fasten the straps.
Ajeurina nuzzled Maazini. The siblings were happy to be reunited after her being on swayweed and Maazini being Zen’s captive. Roberto was still in Death Valley. Shards, it’d been five days since Tomaaz had returned. The council had to do something.
“When I told Master Hans, he said Taliesin might also have the gift of prophecy.”
“What?” Now Lovina had his full attention. “So, both of you have the gift?”
“Don’t you see? Taliesin and I both had nightmares about you being hurt—from the day you were attacked until you got home. Once you were healed, they stopped.”
Tomaaz rubbed his hip. Thank the Egg for Ma and piaua. “So, is Pa going to train you both?”
She nodded. “Your pa says, at the beginning, its usual to have visions or dreams about people you know. The trick is to train yourself to seek visions about the realm. Apparently, it’s like casting a fishing net in the ocean, instead of using a line in a pond.” She shrugged. “I’ll learn.”
“I’m sure you will. You’re so talented.” He squeezed her hand. She was finding her place in the world. No longer a slave, she was an artist, a dragon rider, and now, a visionary.
Maazini snorted impatiently. “Well?”
“Ajeurina wants to fly, too. We’d better go before they take off without us.” Lovina laughed.
Her laughter made him smile. They climbed into their saddles. Maazini bunched his legs and leaped off the ledge. A thrill coursed through Tomaaz. His heart stuttered and his stomach dropped as they swooped over the forest, Ajeurina and Lovina at their side. The wind tugged Lovina’s hair from her braid and pinked her cheeks. Today she was absolutely radiant. Since imprinting with Ajeurina, her smile had gone
