Page 38 of Mountains of Mist and Magic

But it seemed she didn't have a choice.

They would be flying to the Sun Realm.

She really should blame Renya. And she would, if she didn't have such a fondness for her friend. When Renya suggested it, the others chimed in, excited. Only Esmeralda—and perhaps Sion, she thought—seemed apprehensive about this mode of travel. But for better or worse, she would be riding on the back of a monstrous dragon. With Phillippe.

At least he would keep her safe.

Always.

“Come on Beauty,” Renya coaxed, and Esmeralda watched with envy as Renya clambered over to the dragon, not an ounce of fear in her step. Her friend stroked the dragon gently and whispered to her as Grayden climbed on the back of the beast.

Even Selenia was excited to ride a dragon; she was in the corner of the courtyard, seeming to give Sion a pep talk. Esmeralda recognized his hesitation because it was the same that she felt heavy in her belly. But whereas Sion and Selenia were riding on the smaller juvenile, Berline, it was Esmeralda who had to ride on the biggest dragon.

Although it could potentially be worse, she thought, watching Agatha struggle towards Cressida's bound dragon, with her sister in tow, manipulated by magic.

Doria and Almory had worked together for twelve hours straight to sew and create saddles for the dragons. Esmeralda made a big show of observing them, trying to delay the moment in which she'd actually have to climb up on the giant beast.

“Come on, my Sea Star,” Phillippe encouraged. “Do you want me to go first, or you?”

She gulped, eye-level with the dragon's neck. The leathery skin rippled with every giant breath Belinia took.

“You first.”

Phillippe chuckled, but then gave her a sympathetic look. He eyed the dragon, who turned her head to look at the male dragon on her left. Brutus gave a snort, and as if a discussion had taken place between the two creatures, the large dragon knelt a bit, and Phillippe climbed up, settling himself in the seat. He held his hand out, and Esmeralda hesitated, but then grasped it tightly.

“That's my good, brave girl,” he praised, and Esmeralda felt the pink in her cheeks burn. He hoisted her up, and she sat behind him, clinging on to him as if her life depended on it. Her arms were wrapped around his torso, her face pressed into his back. She turned her chin just enough to watch the rest of their party mount their own dragons. Grayden and Renya clambered on top of Beauty, and Agatha held Brutus’s reins tightly in her hands.

Esmeralda watched as Agatha magically manipulated Cressida on the back of Brutus. Cressida simpered, and Esmeralda was hoping that it was just because she was reunited with her dragon, not because she was plotting something sinister.

Once they were all mounted, Renya gave the cue, and all four dragons rose to the sky. The sound of their flapping wings was deep and booming, and for a split second, Esmeralda looked around, expecting to see lightning or thunder, but none came. She continued to hold on to Phillippe even tighter, as she felt an odd sensation in her middle as the dragons lifted above the treetops. Phillippe let out an ecstatic “whoop” of delight, and Grayden chuckled and smiled in pleasure. Even Selenia's eyes were wide as she took in the landscape, growing smaller before her eyes.

Only Sion looked apprehensive.

Esmeralda watched as the village of Wesalie grew smaller and smaller, and soon she could no longer distinguish the individual little homes. Up they flew, the air getting colder as they rose higher. Esmeralda was thankful, however, that the dragon's effect on the weather of their world had stopped the snow from falling on them.

The dragon's wings beat steadily underneath them, but she still felt dread in her stomach at each sudden jerk or movement. Every time the dragon dipped or accelerated, slowed or dove, she clung even tighter to Phillippe.

“It'll be okay, Esmeralda,” Phillippe yelled loudly, taking his one free hand and grasping her fingers, which were clenched tightly around his waist. “It's only for a few hours.”

The use of the dragons definitely saved time, partly due to their speed, and partly because they could move freely over the land with no mountains or lakes in the way. However, it was still a long journey. Even at the creatures' top speed, it would take several hours to get to the Sun Realm.

Esmeralda wished she could talk to Phillippe, but instead she was left with her own thoughts. The rushing wind over the dragon's body was too loud as they reached a higher altitude, and even when they yelled, their voices were drowned out by the thunderous flapping.

So, Esmeralda closed her eyes, and waited for it to be over.

After what seemed like an eternity, she felt Phillippe grasp her fingers, trying to get her attention. She opened her eyes and followed his outstretched hand, watching as the golden desert grew larger and larger, stretching on for miles. She smiled, the clenching in her heart slowly releasing as she realized they were almost there.

The temperature gradually got warmer, but Esmeralda was too fearful to remove so much as a glove, since she was feeling so unsteady on the back of the giant beast. But she could feel the perspiration at her forehead; feel the trickle of sweat along her chest. She welcomed it gladly, knowing it meant they were almost there.

The flight of dragons circled the walled city, familiar with it, no doubt, due to their participation in the battle that had raged there. However, they hovered above the golden buildings, unable to penetrate the magic over the city. It appeared that Cyrus had cloaked his city with the same magic that protected the lodge. But unlike the protection over the lodge, the dragons weren’t able to break through, no doubt due to Cyrus’s close proximity.

Phillippe whistled at Grayden, who nodded. They began urging the dragons lower, away from the inner city and towards the gates.

As the group lost altitude, Esmeralda fixed her eyes on the glimmering city, entranced by its beauty. She understood why Renya wanted to come back to her homeland. The sun was high above them, but it bathed the land in such warmth that it felt almost like the embrace of a lover. Esmeralda could see that the palace had been mostly repaired, and the city looked much improved since the last time she was here. The rebuilding efforts from the fallouts of the war had been brutal, but Esmeralda hoped that would be the last battle her world saw for many, many years.

The dragons finally touched down upon the ground, and with a slight shake, Belinia's talons slid into the sand.

“You're okay, my love,” Phillippe cooed, helping to release her fingers from his. He slid down the dragon's body easily, not even waiting for the beast to kneel. He just let himself fall the last several feet, still managing to land upright gracefully.

---