Ezaara’s breath caught in her throat. Zaarusha’s haunches tensed and they were airborne. Handel shot toward Riona.
Kierion hollered, “Fooled you all,” as Riona snatched him in her talons again.
Shards, he was a trickster.
“That brat. We’ll show him.” Zaarusha’s relief swept through Ezaara.
Heart still pounding, Ezaara relaxed as Zaarusha backwinged.
There was stunned silence. Then someone clapped. Others joined in. The stunt pair spiraled lazily toward the clearing and Riona let Kierion down to the ground. He pumped his fists in the air. Raucous applause and cheering broke out.
Ezaara’s grip eased. “He always has the last laugh, doesn’t he?”
“Not today. It’s our turn. Hang on.” Zaarusha beat her wings.
The chill wind flung Ezaara’s ribbons into her face. She pulled up her hood, stuffing them inside. The basin was stunning, covered in its cool winter coat, stark against the blue sky. The icy forest and gray lake had been transformed from when she’d trained with Roberto on the sunny shore. Dragon’s claws, she missed him. Worried about him. Thank the Egg, they were going tomorrow.
“Focus.” Zaarusha broke into her thoughts.
Ezaara breathed deeply. “I’m ready.”
“We’ll start slowly,” thrummed Zaarusha. The queen flashed images at Ezaara, preparing her for their stunts.
She sucked in her breath. “That’ll be challenging.” She swallowed, trying to ease the knot in her throat. Ezaara relinquished her thoughts, letting Zaarusha take over. Fire slipped into her veins, warmth rushing through her chest and limbs.
“First, we’ll face our loyal and not-so-loyal subjects.” Zaarusha flew low over the crowd.
Ezaara scanned their upturned faces, taking in friendly smiles, sneers and suspicion—a far cry from when everyone had cheered her when she’d first come to Dragons’ Hold. Sofia had laid her poison well. Now, they had to undo it.
Zaarusha flew along the mountainside, past every dragon rider. “We can’t be divided when Zens attacks, or he’ll slaughter us. Today we must unite our people in their loyalty to you.”
Countless eyes stared at Ezaara. She slipped her arms into the leather arm-holds on Zaarusha’s saddle, anchored her feet in the stirrups, and pressed her knees against the queen’s sides. Her stomach plummeted as Zaarusha flipped upside-down, looping over and over.
Everything tumbled. Snatches of mountainside. Snowy trees. Wan sky. Blurred faces of dragons and riders. Zaarusha’s wingbeats whooshed in her ears. Her senses reeled, but through it all, fire danced in her, welcoming the challenge. She had Zaarusha. The queen would not let her down.
“I’ve stopped looping.”
“I can’t tell.” Everything was still spinning, images whirling in her confused brain. Her ears were roaring. Ezaara closed her eyes and breathed.
She opened them. That wasn’t her ears roaring, it was the crowd. She grinned, waving to them. “What’s next?”
“That will put Nadira in her place.” Zaarusha lazily circled the clearing. “Their applause is a bit premature, don’t you think? Wait until they see this.” Zaarusha shot up, zigzagging in and out of the peaks of Dragon’s Teeth.
Exhilaration rushed through Ezaara, making her chest expand until she thought it would burst. This was living. This was what their bond had been forged for. The queen hurtled down the slope at breakneck speed, swooping up just short of the trees. Ezaara’s laugh rang over the basin as they flew above the watching riders.
“Ready, Ezaara?”
“Give me the signal.” Ezaara stood on the saddle, waiting for Zaarusha’s tail flick. Sathir swirled around them like a vibrant river of colors.
Zaarusha’s tail twitched.
Ezaara dived, plunging head first, arms extended. Counting to four, she curled into a ball and somersaulted three times. Zaarusha flicked her tail against her back, bouncing her in the air. Ezaara readied herself for the second and third bounces, each one lighter than the last, then righted herself and fell into Zaarusha’s saddle, straddling it. She fastened her harness, and prepared to corkscrew.
Up they shot, higher than Zaarusha had ever taken her. Everyone receded from sight. Bitter wind tugged at her jerkin. Shivering, Ezaara shoved her arms through the arm-holds as the peaks of Dragon’s Teeth were dwarfed.
They dived, corkscrewing down. Zaarusha spun around her axis, wings tight against her sides. Ezaara’s eyes stung from wind, running with tears. Peaks flashed past in a dizzying whirl. The mountain faces blurred in a whirlpool of light, snow and rock. Down they spiraled in a dizzy coil. Nausea hit Ezaara. She closed her eyes and tuned into Zaarusha, sensing her sathir. Her stomach calmed.
With a lurch, Zaarusha unfurled her wings and righted herself, shooting up level with the riders on the ledges. “Sorry about pushing your limits, but they have to see that you aren’t just another rider.” Zaarusha’s fire blazed through them both. “They can’t touch us with their gossip, politics or personal attacks. You are Queen’s Rider, here at Dragons’ Hold to stay.”
Ezaara rubbed Zaarusha’s hide. “So, should we try some talon acrobatics?” They hadn’t practiced much, but why not?
“Absolutely. We still have height if I drop you.”
“You won’t.”
“You’re as cocky as Kierion.”
Ezaara laughed. “Maybe I’ll use some of his showy tactics.” Heart pounding, she slid off Zaarusha, the wind clawing at her jerkin. “Yahooo.” Just like Kierion.
Zaarusha dived, grasping Ezaara’s arms, twisting her talons around her hands.
Shoulders burning, she hung on. “I’m ready.”
Zaarusha’s grip slackened. Hand by hand, Ezaara adjusted her grip down until she was holding a talon in each hand. “I can’t hold on for long,” she melded. “It’s now or never.”
“Go,” barked Zaarusha.
Taking a deep breath, Ezaara tucked her knees against her chest, tipped her head and spun over.
The crowd below, oohed.
Breath rasping, Ezaara uncurled her body and transferred her hands to a talon. Lifting her legs, she swung back and forth, holding Zaarusha’s talon. Then Ezaara flipped upside down, hooking her legs around Zaarusha’s limb and releasing her hands.
This was amazing. The world was upside down and she was
