Kanin craned his neck trying to get a good look at what Khollo and Ezraan were doing as they worked. I still do not like this feeling, he complained. The straps feel like restraints.
Khollo nodded sympathetically. I know, but you don’t want me falling off your back in the middle of a battle, do you?
No, Kanin agreed. That would be bad.
Khollo smiled and patted the dragon’s flank. “Then we have to use the straps,” he said. “Sorry.”
Ezraan cinched down the last of the adjustable straps that went around Kanin. “Right,” he said, climbing up onto the thin saddle between Kanin’s spines. “Left leg here – oh, thank you Khollo.”
Khollo grinned and continued tightening the leg straps for his father. “No problem. After all, I need to know how to do this.”
“Quite so,” Ezraan agreed. “A little tighter on the top one I think. I need to be pinned quite firmly for what I’m planning.”
Khollo tightened the specified strap a little more, then walked around to Kanin’s other side and began working on the second set of straps. Ezraan watched quietly, while Kanin shifted uncomfortably.
“And you’re sure these will work?” Khollo said when he stepped back, surveying his efforts.
“If they don’t, we’ll know soon enough,” Ezraan said cheerfully. He smiled in anticipation of the flight. “I never thought that I would experience this,” he said softly. “Ever since I found this place, it has been my dream.” He shook his head, returning to the moment. “Take us up, Kanin.”
Khollo stepped back as Kanin began to beat his wings and rise upwards. The young warrior shielded his eyes as dirt and leaves flew about in small cyclones under the force of the dragon’s wings. Ezraan raised a hand in salute, then Kanin wheeled and began to climb vertically into the sky.
Khollo meanwhile sat down on the floor of the jungle, leaning against the thick trunk of a creeper-festooned tree. He watched as Kanin climbed higher and higher, then finally leveled out. There he hovered, perhaps discussing the drill with Ezraan.
The old one says that we will practice the maneuvers individually, then in sequence, Kanin reported. His voice was somewhat muffled by the distance and the fact that his concentration was split between flying, listening, and reporting back to Khollo.
Khollo nodded to himself. I’m watching.
There was a short pause, then Kanin launched himself forward. Almost immediately, the dragon rolled sideways, rotating three hundred sixty degrees. He ended up several meters to the left of where he had started, flying on a parallel course.
That looked easy, Khollo observed.
It is good that we have the fighting straps, Kanin said fervently. The old one would have fallen without them. He paused, listening. The old one says we will try again. He wants me to roll higher and further from my original course.
While he had been talking, Kanin had turned a full circle in the air, gliding gently, and returned to his starting point. Khollo watched as Kanin beat his wings faster to accelerate. Then the dragon rolled up and over to the left, in a larger loop than on his first attempt.
Your father is pleased, Kanin reported. But this is the easiest part of the sequence. Next we will try the spin-and-dive that he described. Kanin’s voice sounded decidedly doubtful as he passed on the last bit of information.
Khollo grinned. Good luck. I’ll be watching.
Again, there was a pause, then Kanin folded his left wing, rolling over to the left and twisting his body so that his head turned to face roughly perpendicular to the path he had been flying on. Khollo heard Ezraan shout in surprise, then Kanin floundered for a moment as he spread his wings and tried to arrest their descent. Khollo could see Ezraan leaning down beside Kanin’s head, a hand on the dragon’s neck.
Your father says I should not stop all at once, Kanin told Khollo. I am to turn my dive into a glide, preserving my speed. This makes sense, I think.
What did he think of the dive?
Another pause. I surprised him with my speed and agility, Kanin said, more than a little smugly.
Khollo watched Kanin climb back into the air and begin the move again. This time, after he dove, Kanin spread his wings perpendicular to the ground, then rotated them slowly over the course of a few seconds rather than snapping them open parallel to the ground. As a result, he swooped by with enough speed to cause the trees beneath his belly to sway, leaves rustling in protest. Khollo whooped and pumped his fist.
Way to go!
That was much faster, Kanin agreed, surprised. I did not know I could do that.
Archers won’t stand a chance against you! Khollo crowed. What’s next?
The backwards turn and flame, Kanin said apprehensively. I am not sure about this . . . back flip?
You’ll get it, Khollo said encouragingly.
We will see.
Kanin climbed higher into the sky again and Khollo’s grin faded. He wished that he could be up there with his friend, experiencing the thrill of swooping and diving and flaming, of dodging imaginary arrows and charring ethereal enemies to a crisp. Anything but earthbound.
Khollo’s focus was brought back to the ground by a rustling in the jungle, followed by a low growl. Khollo whirled around and got to his feet, raising his Sen-teel.
Kanin, Khollo said urgently. We may have company.
He sensed Kanin break off a maneuver midway through and heard Ezraan shout in surprise. I come, Kanin replied grimly.
Khollo turned his attention back to the jungle. He caught sight of a striped flank sliding to his left. He moved with it, keeping
