Page 56 of Of Scale and Blood

I’ll send her over once she returns.To Kele I shouted, “The drakkons are going to hunt. You need to dismount.”

She immediately grabbed all her gear, then quickly slid down Yara’s extended leg. After scratching the offered eye ridge, she slung her stuff over her shoulder and walked across to me. “You want me to grab your gear before Kaia takes off?”

“That would be great, thanks.”

I glanced up at Kaia, and she immediately extended her leg. Kele dumped her packs beside me, then climbed up, unhooked all my stuff, and slid back down. As Yara took off, Kaia ambled away so the wind of her rising wouldn’t knock us over, then leapt skyward and followed the younger drakkon into the clouds.

“That,” Kele murmured, her gaze still on the spot where they’d disappeared, “was possibly the most exhilarating experience I’ve had in my entire life. Of course, it was possibly also the mostdangerousthing I’ve ever done in my entire life.”

I grinned. “That feeling of exhilaration and danger never goes away. At least, it hasn’t for me yet.”

And I truly hoped it wouldn’t. Truly hoped that riding Kaia continued to remain as magical and as special as our very first flight together.

“I don’t think it’ll fade for me, either.” Her gaze came to mine. “What’s the plan now?”

I reached for the pack containing my quill pen. “I’ll message Esan and let them know what’s happened. Hopefully they’ll have reestablished contact with the council by now and can pass them a message that we’re here.”

“And if they can’t?”

“Then we find a safe place to wait out the night.”

“We can’t stay here indefinitely. Aside from the fact we’ve little in the way of supplies, it’s not safe for the drakkons—too exposed.” She paused, her gaze dropping down my length. “And I’m thinking that leg of yours will need attention before too long.”

“If the arrow had hit anything vital, I probably would have bled to death by now.”

“No doubt, but Vahree only knows what nasties they might have laced their arrowheads with. I mean, we’re talking about a people who useshitas a weapon.”

“I did put some salve on it.”

“Salve doesn’t help the internal festering though.”

“True.” I motioned toward the two riders who’d been taken out when my flame had exploded the tube. “Can you check the condition of those two over there? I think at least one of them might be alive.”

“You want me to kill them if they are?”

I shook my head. “The only chance we might have of finding out who the hell these people are—and what their full intentions are when it comes to Arleeon—is to interrogate a prisoner or two.”

“I think it’s pretty clear what their damn intentions are,” she said, but nevertheless headed over, picking her way cautiously through the rubble.

I dug the quill and tablet out, then messaged my father, giving him what amounted to an itemized list of what had happened.

The cursor blinked for several seconds then he came back with a simple,Any injuries on your side?

An arrow through the calf and a damaged wing, but neither is life threatening.

Right. I could almost hear the dry disbelief in that short reply. But then, I did have a habit of understating things when it came to personal injuries, and he was well aware of that.Any gilded riders left alive?

Kele’s just checking that now. Were you able to reestablish contact with Hopetown’s council?

Yes, a couple of hours ago. They’re underground, and safe.

Let them know we’re here and need some help.

With those injuries that aren’t life threatening, you mean?

I smiled.In part, but also in setting up sentry positions. I fear the riders will be back, as Hopetown provides a good jumping-off point into the rest of Arleeon.

We’ve been discussing defensive priorities. They’re intending to temporarily restrict access into the harbor.

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