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“We’ve met before. The day you first arrived at the light court for the battle,” I said.
Erendrial smiled, looking at the ragamor, patting her on the neck. “Eeri old girl, are you cheating on me? After all these decades,” he said playfully to her.
She made a low grunt reaching her neck to the sky. She slowly lowered her body. Erendrial climbed on her back, reaching his hand out to me. I hesitated for so many reasons. One, I didn’t trust him. There was a darkness about him that told everything inside of me to run. Two, he was escorting me to the court of horrors and torture where I would have to witness humans being brutalized even more than what I had experienced at the light court. Three, I was about to ride a dragon creature. I didn’t like heights. The list went on and on.
“Princess, we’re losing daylight,” he said, reaching down for me.
I took a deep breath, extending my hand to him. His strong grip pulled me to Eeri’s back. I sat in front of him, between his legs. I shivered at the feeling of a man this close to me. I shifted uncomfortably, trying to get away from him. I felt his body still behind me.
“Are you going to be okay?” he asked bluntly.
“Yeah, I just don't like physical contact is all.” Not a lie, but not the complete truth.
“Could have fooled me. The last time I saw you, you were practically naked in Gaelin’s chambers.”
“Shut up, you don’t know what you’re talking about,” I snapped.
He laughed, taking a knife, and slitting a gash in each of his palms. “I’m sorry to make you uncomfortable, but I am going to have to lean over you to get us home. I need to fly Eeri here and I also need to make sure you don’t fall from the sky to your death. Your father would have my skin peeled off if I let that happen.”
A shiver ran up my spin as he leaned against my back, sliding both bloodied hands into small slits in the back of Eeri’s scales at the base of her neck.
“What?” I asked in surprise and curiosity.
“It’s how we control them. Our blood bonds with them, allowing me to tell her where to go and how to fly. Don’t worry, you will learn.” He leaned forward, tucking me underneath him. “If it makes the trip a little more bearable, I have a certain human waiting for you as soon as we arrive. I thought she’d make your homecoming a little easier.”
“Lily,” I said as a smile stretched across my face.
Eeri shot into the sky with a force I had never experienced before in my life. The wind was ripped from my lungs, and I fought to breath. Erendrial’s body smashed down on top of me, keeping me from sliding off the smooth scales. Eeri eased up as we soared into the clouds, traveling towards the sunset on the horizon. Her wings stretched out, creating a beautiful kite-like effect.
As she steadied out on top of the clouds, Erendrial eased up on my back, keeping his hands in the slits hidden beneath her scales. I peered out into the pink and orange sunset. The sky was tranquil and peaceful. The only sound I heard was Eeri’s wings flapping slightly as she navigated the wind. I smiled, touching my star pendant with my fingers. I inhaled, taking in the clear air.
“Freedom.”