Page 89 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury
My heart stuttered. “Did you know we have to do a talent show? Will you play your violin?” It was easier to ask that than to focus on my swirling emotions.
He huffed. “No. I won’t give that part of myself away.”
“You played for me.”He didn’t play when we camped.
“That’s different.” Kieran shook his head. “Aurelia didn’t fully explain that part of the festival. It’s not a talent show, but a display of our power. You’re at a disadvantage since you don’t have your Gift. Even though that’s normal, people will still see itas a weakness. That’s why you must keep up your mask. Show them you’re a threat. Be the powerful dragonsguard I know you to be. And don’t let them use you.”
My lips twitched. “Funny coming from you.”
“It goes both ways, doesn’t it? We’ll use each other.”
I swallowed and looked away. “We should get back.”
“In an hour. It’s nice to justbesometimes. I almost miss it.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
The next day, we practiced the dragon dance where all of our dragons would fly overtop the festival. The dance consisted of our six dragons instead of seven because it was too ‘plebian’ for Luther to join in. The dance was supposed to show how we and our dragons were one. I still thought it was a waste of time, but unfortunately, it was tradition.
Over and over again, we did the damn dance. My head spun from all the upside down spins and twirls. Umara had gotten better at listening and staying in formation. But every time a dragon got too close, she’d snap at them. One time, when Aurelia’s dragon’s wing grazed her after I steered Umara upward, Umara shot a ball of flames their way. It didn’t touch Aurelia, but it wasclose.
Aurelia veered out of the way and in doing so, her dragon knocked against Ben’s. Aurelia snarled, sounding just like her dragon. With the dance ruined, we all flew to the ground.
Aurelia slid down her dragon and stalked over to me, her jaw wound tight. “You need to get that dragon under control. We're going to look like fools if she can't follow the precise order.”
I bit my tongue. Umara hadn’t done the stupid dragon dance in centuries. Of course, she wasn’t used to it, because for five centuries she didn’t have to bow down to the whims of arrogant kings.
Umara roared at Aurelia. To her credit, Aurelia stood her ground and only slightly paled. Enmei immediately backed her up, standing behind Aurelia and baring his teeth at Umara. My heart stuttered when Umara rose to her full height. “No!” I slipped in front of Aurelia. “You can’t torch her for this.”
Umara gnashed her teeth inches from Aurelia’s face before dashing across the field to gobble up some poor sheep several hundred yards away. I winced. “Maybe she was just hungry.”
Ben threw his arm around Aurelia, who quickly shoved him off. “I’ve been there,” he said sagely.
“I hate to say it, but I agree with Aurelia.” Nimue winced at the look I shot her. “You need to be in sync with the rest of us. It’ll paint a target on your back if you’re not. The dance shows the kingdom—and the continent—how well we’re bonded to our dragons. That we’re one in mind and body. Umara isn’t just ignoring Aurelia. She’s ignoring you.”
I grimaced. “We’ll work on it.”
I could feel everyone’s gazes on me as I strode over to where Umara nibbled on a sheep’s thigh bone.Just going to ignore all the blood. No big deal. Don’t overthink it.“Hey, Umara,” I called out tentatively. She ignored me, still chewing the bone. “Uh, I know this whole thing is stupid, but the others have a point. Me and you, we have to be a unit.”
We never had an issue like this. On missions, Umara and I were perfectly in sync with the others, even if she didn’t fly in formation. But now that I thought about it… she only listened when we were in serious danger or when I did drills.It makes sense. Five hundred years creates a habit of independence.One I didn’t blame her for but didn’t help in situations like this when I needed her obedience.
I cleared my throat. “Umara, we have to keep practicing.”
Five minutes passed in silence. Umara got up to chase some more terrified sheep and pointedly ignored me. I clenched my jaw and sent a pulse of irritation down the bond. “Umara. Let’s. Go.”
Umara stilled before swirling on me, her nostrils flaring. My heart thumped when she towered over me, her gigantic teeth inches from my face. Her golden scales shone so bright they almost blinded me. She chuffed smoke at me. Even though I knew I wouldn’t burn, my heart still skipped a beat.
I swallowed. “What has gotten into you?” I lifted my hand. Umara lunged, inches from my fingertips. My breath hitched. On a cat, the movement would’ve been cute, but on adragon?My ears rang.‘Umara isn’t just ignoring Aurelia. She’s ignoring you.’
‘Do you regret it?’I asked through our link.
“I don’t understand,” I whispered. I sent my hurt and my confusion down the bond but was met with a wall of thick frustration. I shook my head. “Fine. You’re free for the rest of the night. We’ll talk later.” My cheeks heated when I returned to the others.
Aurelia huffed. “This is going to be a disaster. What if we have to go on without her?”
“We can’t do that.” Gareth frowned. “We’ve always done the dragon dance. Leaving her out would make her a target. If Umara won’t cooperate, we won’t be able to do it.”
“Luther’s gonna be pissed.” Ben whistled. “Glad I don’t have to deliver the news to him.”
