Page 140 of Flameborne: Chosen
There were no squadmates among this group, so all eight Flameborne flew the same game—the largest number we’d allow to test simultaneously, because there were only five targets. And that meant there werealwaystwo or three banners approached simultaneously. But because none of them were allied, it was an equal measure of each Pair, how they competed against the others.
The ropes were far enough apart that no dragons could intentionally interfere with another aiming for a different target. But when dragons both aimed for the same rope, it became a battle of confidence and strength—or gut-twisting flying—to see who’d turn the other off their path.
But here, at the same level as the playing area, I saw a pattern that concerned me.
So far, Bren had captured two of her banners and was aiming for a third. And this was the second time in the twenty minutes that two of thesameopposing Flameborne had happened to connect—forming a larger barrier for her to cross to reach her rope.
The first time, the Flameborne named Faren, the one Bren had almost hit when she rolled in the assessment, was racing her for a rope—and in the final stretch, when the dragons were wingtip-to-wingtip and someone would be forced to give way if they couldn’t draw ahead, another Flameborne, Lorr, had dropped into Bren’s line, giving hertwoproblems and only seconds to avoid them.
With no straight shot to the rope, she’d been forced to wheel down and away to avoid both of the others. She’d wisely changed course and ascended back to the rope from ahead of it, to change her trajectory and presumably, shift targets to avoid another race with Faren to the next one.
When it happened, I had a bad feeling, but these unlucky moments occurred when there were so many dragons on the field.
But now I watched her take aim for the third rope with Lorr, the other rider who’d been involved in that assessment debacle, racing to it from the other side to challenge her head-on. Yet, before either of them reached it, there was a scream as Faren dropped in from above to take his banner then intentionally turned into Bren’s path, despite the fact thatof the two banners he had yet to collect,the closer lay in the direction of Lorr.
The royals crowded against me, cheering the dragons on, the Queen in particular greatly thrilled by Faren’s unexpected appearance. But now my hackles were up.
When Bren turned Akhane’s course and Lorr looked over his shoulder and wheeled in her direction, I knew.
‘Keg—’My dragon, frustrated and grumbling, had been reduced to hovering above with the dragons holding our platform.
‘I saw it too.’
‘That dragon screamed. He didn’t like the maneuver. Can you speak to him?’
‘I don’t like to interfere between dragon and rider. It can be unsafe for both and affect the bond.’
I grimaced.‘What if you don’t single them out—I can talk to the riders later. You fly in, remind them all that you’re here and—'
‘If I fly into the playing field, the dragons willallsubmit to me—which will create confusion for their riders and interfere with those who’ve done no wrong.’
Forgetting my companions for a moment, I swore under my breath. The King frowned, but the Queen tittered into her hand as I turned to address them.
“My apologies, Your Majesties,” I muttered. “But it seems we have—”
There was a shout, and another scream. I’d taken my eyes off the dragons so didn’t see exactly what occurred, only registered that it was Bren and Akhane twisting to avoid the sweep of another dragon—Bren clearly unstable and Akhane screaming as she took a dive. A high, furious curse pierced the thin air. As Akhane leveled out and Bren pulled herself back into her seat, she glared and pointed at Lorr’s dragon flapping furiously, bugling, while Faren whipped past and snapped his fourth banner from the rope where Bren had been aiming moments earlier. And I knew.
Pure, hot rage coursed through my chest, but I snapped a lid on it.
‘Kgosi—'
‘On my way.’
“Forgive me, Majesties, but this requires my presence,” I muttered.
They both turned to me, brows high and questions in their eyes, but there was no time. “If I don’t return, stay at the center, grasp the straps when the horn is blown to keep yourself steady for the descent. Have no fear, the dragons will lower you safely.”
“But, what are you—” Diaan began.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty, I’ll explain later.” I hurriedly saluted the King, who nodded once, shocked, then I turned and ran to the edge of the platform, leaped to the railing, and dove off just as Kgosi swooped up from underneath and caught me so smoothly, I barely felt the impact. I grasped his neckstrap with one hand, and clipped in with the other, muttering curses as he arrowed straight for the playing area, his anger matching mine.
39. Finished
SOUNDTRACK:Spiralby Tommee Proffit, Sam Tinnesz, and Our Last Night
~ BREN ~
Those fuckers were trying to thwart me again. I didn’t know how they were getting away with it. We’d all been told the rules before we took off, and we weren’tallowedto help each other. It had to be every man—or woman—for themselves. Yet every time I crossed paths with Faren or Lorr, somehow the other one appeared just in time to stop us competing for the access to the rope.
