Page 79 of Of Steel and Scale

Just as it seemed we were about to crash, Kaia flicked her outstretched wings and soared upward with enough force to tear my fingers from her spine pits. The harness rope snapped tight, preventing me from sliding between her wings.

You still on. Harness workcame Kaia’s thought.

And if it hadn’t?I asked wryly.

You dead or in claws.

I couldn’t help but laugh. I guess diving headfirst off a cliff had certainly been one way to test the harness.Perhaps next time you could warn me.

Next time you expect.

I would. She continued to rise, and the mountains fell away, leaving us flying through the chilly, open space between the peaks and the thickly layered clouds. Though the sweep of her wings was slow and steady, we moved with surprising speed. The air was a whip that tore at clothes, hair, and skin, and the creeping chill across my cheeks forced me to pull up the neck of an undershirt to cover them, then tug down the coat’s hood in an effort to avoid frostbite. I could use my inner flame, of course, but I was wary of doing so simply because we had no idea what might lie in wait for us on Jakarra.

The sun rose, but the day got gloomier. By the time we neared the end of our continent, it had started to rain. I kept my head down and finally raised the inner fires enough to battle the chill beginning to creep through me. Far below us, the sea was a sheer expanse of blue that just seemed to go on forever. I’d seen enough maps—and been on enough boats—to understand how vast our oceans were, but somehow they seemed even more expansive when viewed from on high.

As the day stretched on and the strength of the wind increased, Kaia dipped and soared, playing on the currents while allowing me to become more comfortable with her movements. My grin might be hidden by my undergarments, but it was so damn fierce my cheeks were aching with its force.

By the time the sun dipped toward the haze of late afternoon, the distant shadows of ragged peaks became visible through the silvery curtain of rain.

Jakarra.

Black, forbidding, and possibly forever broken.

I shivered and shoved the thought away. While there was life, there was hope, and I refused to accept the possibility that the gilded riders had erased Jakarra as thoroughly as they had Eastmead. The Jakarrans might be fishermen at heart, but they were also fiercely skilled bowmen. If anyone could survive the onslaught of the gilded ones, it would be my mother’s people.

Let’s check the old aerie first, I said,and make sure it’s safe for you to shelter in.

No want shelter. Attack.

We can’t attack until we know what we’re facing.

Should fly over. See.

I hesitated.Only if you keep high.

You no see.

You can tell me what you see. But let’s check the aerie first.

She grumbled softly but nevertheless dipped her wings and did a slow curving turn toward the southern end of the U-shaped range dominating the western end of the island. These mountains might be a smaller echo of the Black Glass Mountain range, but they were just as fierce and bleak, especially in the driving rain.

Kaia swooped over a peak, then banked and flew along the ragged, shadow-filled, barren-looking leeward side. As we neared the junction of what was the range’s trunk and arm, a gaping maw became visible through the gloom. The old aerie. This one had no landing stone jutting out from the entrance, though ragged shafts of stone suggested it had once been there.

We should go in and check it’s safe,I said.

If find foe, you flame? I eat?

I thought humans were too gristly?

Are.She banked and swooped toward the entrance.Birds look fat and crunchy.

That will be the metal wings.

Belly not covered. Looks tender.

Are you hungry or something? Food seems to be on your mind.

Am good. Have hunted.

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