Page 53 of The Arrival of the Dragons

Tez looked at him as if he were an ugly insect. “They just got their Spirit, Illarion. I am certain at this same stage you were tripping over your own claws.”

Illarion’s face purpled. “You--”

“Hush! They need quiet!” Mei held up a hand and both Illarion and Tez surprisingly quieted.

Caden had made his way around and was hovering awkwardly about 100-feet above the plaza.

The ground looks really far down, Valerius!Caden mumbled.

You are safe. You are fine,Valerius soothed.Now, I want you to slowly start decreasing the number of flaps you’re making. You will lower slowly.

Cadenstoppedflapping and he nearly dropped like a stone, but quickly started flapping double-time again.

I don’t think I can do this! I really can’t!Caden gasped.

You can,Valerius put all of his will behind those words. Then he stepped out in the middle of the plaza right before where Caden would land if he landed perfectly.

What are you doing? Are you insane?Caden demanded.

Raziel snorted. It was completely amused and entranced by all of this.

I trust you,Valerius told him.

You shouldn’t!Caden squawked.Valerius, I’m new to this and--

I trust you in this, because you would do anything not to hurt me,Valerius answered simply and stood there.

Valerius then lifted his hands into the air, and feeling rather like an aircraft controller, started to guide Caden down. There were sharper dips in Caden’s altitude than were ideal, but slowly, but surely Caden landed. When his clawed feet touched the ground, Caden let out a huge sigh and immediately pressed his head against Valerius’ front. Valerius petted him gently. Esme started clapping. Tez gave a chant of appreciation. Illarion crossed his arms over his chest and looked unimpressed. Mei just had a small smile on her lips.

Phew! I made it!Caden gasped.

You did! I knew you could, Caden,Valerius assured him.

You were right that I didn’t want to crush you so that’s why it worked.

Caden let out great gusts of icy breath from his nostrils in relief, which coated Valerius’ clothes with a sparkling layer of frost. Raziel allowed their fires to build and the frost dissipated faster than it had come. His Spirit wanted them to shift and curl their neck around Iolaire as they breathed fire and ice.

“What are you saying to one another?” Tez asked as he came over, eager to pet Iolaire once more.

“What do you mean? They are saying nothing!” But Illarion looked interested in spite of himself.

“Can you hear Iolaire’s thoughts, Valerius?” Esme asked as she, too, drifted nearer to Iolaire.

“Yes, and they can hear mine.” Valerius continued to pet Caden’s head.

“That is a rare gift. It must be Iolaire’s gift,” Mei said quietly as she approached Caden. “You would have shown the ability with the rest of us if it was yours, Valerius.”

Or maybe we’re just meant to be together!Caden lifted his head and gave her a narrow-eyed look.

Mei stopped in mid-stride as she read right that Iolaire was unhappy with what she had suggested. She lifted her hands as if to show that she was the helpless girl that she had portrayed herself to be to the mayor’s son so long ago.

“What else can you do, Iolaire?” Mei asked softly as she took one step closer then another. “I know about your ice breath. Weallsaw that in technicolor.”

Her smile grew slightly larger as she put in that dig against Valerius. He couldn’t quite blame her, considering the ones he’d had at her expense. And yet, she had come here and annoyed him first. He had the right to be testy. She was just being rude.

“Iolaire can make it so we cannot shift,” Tez offered with a sort of acidic helpfulness. He wasn’t fond of Mei, believing that she enslaved her people. “Ask Illarion here. He can tell you exactly what that power is like. Instead of erectile dysfunction, it’s Shifter dysfunction.”

Mei stopped walking. Her eyes slid towards Tez and Illarion to see if he was telling the truth. Clearly, she worried about that power being used on her. Valerius thought it might drive her far crazier than Illarion to not be in control of the Shift.

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