Holt groaned. Pain flared across his body but not too sharply in one place. Nothing broken then.
His head lay on wet soil and he tasted damp leaves. Ash’s wing still enveloped him. Lifting the leathery flesh, he crawled out to meet darkness and humid air. Holt sniffed and almost choked on the smell. It was so sickly sweet. Brode wanted them to walk through this?
Getting up he tried to get a grip on their immediate surroundings. What little light shone from the moon and stars was lost down here. Every way he looked he saw nothing but creeping shadows. Only Ash’s white body stood out to him, nestled it seemed on a bed of broken branches. He was just about to check on Ash when the dragon stirred.
“Are you okay?” Holt asked.
Ash got up, extended and flexed his wings and twisted his long neck this way and that.
“I feel dazed, but I’m not hurt.”
Holt marveled again at the toughness of dragons.
“More importantly, are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Holt said, though he patted his body down absentmindedly to make sure. “What happened back there?”
“I saw through your eyes.”
“You… what?”
“I saw through your eyes. For a moment we were one and I saw myself above you. That’s how I was able to catch you.”
Holt had no words.
After a while he rallied. “Are you still seeing through my eyes?”
“No…” And Ash sounded a little sad. “But I shall treasure that image of the moon and stars so bright.”
For a moment Holt wondered how Ash knew what the moon and stars were. Then he remembered the impressions and memories inherited from his ancestors.
He gave the dragon a hug. “If it happened once it might happen again.” He tried then and there to focus on the bond with a similar intensity but nothing quite so dramatic happened. However, he did notice that the bond had grown again – the edges of it still burned but the connection felt more robust than before.
Brode said battle was the best way to develop a bond because of the true danger and fear. Holt falling appeared to have simulated that, although, as with dueling other riders, they couldn’t just repeat it over and over again. If Holt knew he would be caught, the danger wouldn’t be real enough to affect the bond.
He explained this to Ash.
“Well at least something good came out of it,” Ash said.
Holt grinned. “We were still flying! With practice I’m sure we’ll get there. Now, use that hearing of yours. Find the way back.”
Ash raised his head and a few of the scaled ridges at the back of his head lifted as though pricking his ears. The dragon’s enhanced hearing might not work so well in the air where there was nothing for sound to bounce off, but back on the ground it was like a magical ability all of its own.
“This way,” Ash said, turning. “I can hear them coming to look for us.” It didn’t take long until they came to the edge of the woods and found Brode, Talia and Pyra. After Holt explained what had happened, Brode
looked intrigued while Talia frowned.
Holt had the distinct impression she was using her magical sense to inspect the strength of his bond again. Sure enough, he felt the tell-tale gentle touch upon his soul.
“You’re progressing to the edge of Novice already,” Talia said. “This is the quickest bond to develop I’ve ever known,” said Brode.
“Thank you, Master Brode,” Holt said. He was just relieved Brode wasn’t angry about their botched flight. Yet, as he inclined his head out of respect, he received one of Brode’s signature cuffs.
“But a part of me wished it hadn’t gone this way,” Brode said. “I don’t want to encourage you to seek near death experiences to jump start your progression.” He huffed, then went on. “You say Ash saw through your eyes?”
“Yes, and I think it somehow improved my own sight,” Holt said. “Sense-sharing,” Brode said slowly. “I hadn’t considered it. Usually the
bond must be much stronger before it’s possible, and it rarely if ever has any benefit but for you two… yes. Perhaps mastery of this will let you fly after all.”
Ash swished his tail and happily stamped his feet.
“It will strain your bond when doing it,” Talia said. “You’ll want to do such a thing sparingly.”
“It’s better than nothing,” said Holt. “And at least Ash and I will be able to help you against scourge stingers and the like.”
“Indeed, and very soon you’ll rank up to Champion and you’ll be teaching me things.” Her tone could have cut glass. “I’m tired,” she announced. “Come, Pyra. Let’s get some sleep.”
Holt made to go after her but Brode held him back. “Leave her be. You’ll only make it worse.”
Holt sighed. He hadn’t done anything wrong. “I don’t mean for stuff like this to happen.”
“Oh, I’m well aware of that,” Brode said. “If you were half-way competent, you’d be the most dangerous rider alive with your luck.” He focused on Ash next. “How are you doing after such a strong connection?… I’m glad to hear it… Oh flying, yes, it’s wonderful. I miss it dearly.”
Guessing what had passed between the two, Holt said, “When we’re more experienced, Ash and I could take you on flights with us.”
A hint of a smile played at the corners of Brode’s lips. “Thank you. I’d like that.”
Ash roared in delight again when Brode cut him off.
“Calm, Ash. We don’t want to draw any attention beyond what your escapades may already have done.”
Holt wanted to roar in triumph himself. The idea of Ash being held back and unable to live like other dragons had been a weight on his heart. Assuming Brode was right and they could train with this ‘sense-sharing’ then that wouldn’t be the case at all. Ash would be able to see – well, see as well as he could hope for – and their biggest hurdle would be overcome.
Except, one last nagging thought came to him.
“Would that mean Ash will be reliant on me to fly?” Holt asked. “It would appear so.”
Holt lowered his head. His shoulders slumped as his breath left him; all trace of the high from a moment before gone. Ash would still be different than the others then.
The dragon nudged into him and licked his face. ’I’d rather fly with you than on my own anyway.’ Holt smiled. “I look forward to it.”
