steady as he got his ankles hooked over it. The ondium tailfeathers counteracted the drag of his legs. Until she could separate from him, his tail was going to be her tail.
For a moment she was silent, concentrating on finding the air currents. Cristof's short hair blew into her face and she nudged up higher on his back, putting her mouth close to his ear.
'Good job!'
'Are we safe yet?'
'We're fine. It's a beautiful morning for flying.'
'Okay.'
He sounded frightened.
'You're not looking down, are you?'
'I'm not looking anywhere.'
'Are your eyes open?'
'No.'
'What? Scrap, open your eyes! You can't fly blind!'
A moment later he groaned. She felt his muscles tighten beneath her thighs.
'What?' she asked.
'The ground.'
'Cristof! Keep your eyes up and open and don't panic! You have to see where you're going!'
'No, I don't.' His voice was faint. 'I trust you.'
'Open your eyes!' she commanded, digging her boot heels into his ribs for emphasis.
'Oh, Lady…. 'His voice dropped into the steady murmur of a prayer and she felt him tensing beneath her again.
'Breathe. Long, deep, slow breaths. You're safe. Keep your eyes forward so you can see where we're going.'
She was beginning to get tired, maneuvering for them both, but she kept them rising until she felt his sides and back begin to relax. She felt an updraft and leaned them into it. For a second she felt him resist her, and then he caught himself, letting her take the lead. She touched her head to his for a moment to speak.
'Are you okay now?'
'No.'
Her eyebrows rose. At least he'd stopped hiding his feelings.
'Unlock your wings, stretch them out, and lock them into glide.'
He straightened his arms and she shifted her weight, pressing her collarbone against his shoulders so that their wings matched up. The metal bars of their armatures clicked as their forearms tapped each other. Ondium feathers rattled in the wind.
They began to soar, arm to arm, cheek to cheek. Taya drew in a deep breath, her heart leaping at the sight of the city wheeling below them, the brightening morning sky, and the craggy mountain cliffs glowing gold in the dawn.
'Beautiful!' she cried out, delighted. 'Isn't it beautiful?'
He didn't answer. After a moment, Taya sighed. Some people had no appreciation for nature. Maybe he'd enjoy it better after a few more lessons.
She squeezed her legs to get his attention.
'Do you feel me against you?' she asked.
'I — er, yes.'
'I'm going to give you a quick flying lesson. Relax and let me guide you through it.'
She felt, rather than heard, him clear his throat.
'Do I still have to keep my eyes open?'
'Yes.' She maneuvered awkwardly a moment, then managed to kick down her own tailfeathers. She tucked her legs into the tailset and stretched out flat against him. He was tall enough that the match wasn't perfect, but it would do. She rested on top of him, leg to leg, arm to arm, stomach to back, cheek to cheek.
'Okay, we're going into a right turn. The right wing's going down, and the left wing's going up. Left wing downstrokes harder. Feel me move, and move with me.'
His breath caught as she pushed his right arm down with hers, letting herself tilt in the wind. They were moving more slowly than she liked, but the city's thermal updraft and the extra ondium counterweights in his suit kept them from stalling.
'Good! I want you to keep your legs straight for now. If you were alone, you'd bend your left knee when you turned. Wing, tail, and tilt. That's how we steer. But just concentrate on using your wings.'
They soared into a long circle, cold air whistling against their faces, the industrial mass of the city sprawling out beneath them. Cristof's body was warm and stable beneath hers, and pale light gleamed against his metal wings. Taya lifted her arms, feeling his shoulders move beneath her as she guided him.
'Good,' she said, as they rose on the thermal. 'That's it. Fast downstroke, even and hard.'
Metal feathers beat against the air, lifting them higher. She arched her back, lifting their tails higher to give them more upturn. Then she evened them out again in another long circle and showed him how to make a left turn. They wheeled next to a dark cliff, then out into the pale sky again. Taya smiled, feeling Cristof's body moving comfortably against hers at last. It felt good not to be fighting him anymore.
'Do you think you've got it?' she asked.
'I think so,' he said. He sounded a little out of breath.
'Are you remembering to breathe?'
'Sometimes.'
'Work on it. I'm going to lengthen the line between us. I'll be right above you, but you'll have to keep yourself up without my help.'
'Wait! Don't!'
'I have to. We can't land together. Our wings will tangle.'
'Not yet. I'm not ready yet.'
'Sure you are. Keep your eyes open. Breathe.'
'No — Taya — don't. Stay there!' She heard genuine fear in his voice. His wings tilted and she pulled hers back to keep them from tangling.
'Don't flap! I'm still here. Come on, let's get some height together.'
For a minute they flew in silence, rising higher up the cliff face. The peaks of Oporphyr Tower gleamed in the first rays of sunlight, silhouetted against the clear sky. Taya sensed the morning winds increasing. When the sun rose over the mountain, the diispira would kick up and their landing would become much more difficult.
'Look ahead,' she called out. 'We're almost there.'
'How — how do I land?' he asked with trepidation.
'We're going to land on the ground, not on a balcony. Put your face into the wind, lock up your tailset, and spread your wings. The ondium gives us lift, so we don't need to maneuver much. Backbeat your wings to slow down. Bend your knees like you're kneeling. If you don't keep them bent, you could break a leg. Head for a wide open space. Lean backward and let your knees hit the ground first and skid. Keep your wings high — you don't want them to touch the ground — and keep backbeating until you slide to a stop.'
He was silent a moment.
'How do I backbeat?'
'I'll show you.' She lifted them higher, then arched her back against his chest, throwing her wings out. Cristof faltered a moment, then followed her lead, leaning against her breast, keeping his arms in contact with hers. She quickly backbeat a few strokes, feeling them start to fall.
'Taya!'
'Trust your metal!' She twisted, wings out, forcing him to move with her. With a powerful downbeat they caught the wind again, pushing back up.
'Oh, Lady.' He had tensed up again, his sides heaving as he breathed heavily. 'I don't think I can do this.'
