All of this, everything that had happened to Kaden, hadn’t been his choice. He didn’t know anything about anything and they kept throwing him into the deep end. He was okay with just living his life with his family. Being ignorant of all the drama that was going on within the government was so much more blissful.

Now he personally had seen his own country’s lords bickering, ambassador’s bickering, and the possible beginning of an uprising. He could have just rejected them, rejected the offer to learn the magic, but he didn’t think they took kindly to those who did so. They for sure wouldn’t have left him alone with Zuma. So far, he had just been bumbling through everything, trying to hold on to the edge of reason as the ground kept shifting under his feet.

Zuma’s head popped out of the massive pillows and a huff of mist blew his way. He couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of it. Zuma had been his one rock in everything. They caught him when he was falling, been there when he was deep in a darkened slumber, and even helped grant him the magic he now can use. There they were, playing in pillows.

Letting out a chuckle, he made his way toward them and he thought he heard their tail whacking into something like an excited dog. He wondered what it was that the white mages had done to subdue them before. It unnerved him that they were able to even do such a thing and that they were even willing to do such a thing to such spirited and wily creatures like Zuma. It didn’t feel right.

They blew mist at Kaden again and their hair ruffled. Scratching right under their chin just how they liked it had them rumbling in delight. They were actual sentient creatures with thoughts and feelings. It baffled him how anyone could hurt them. The horror of the Serpent assassins cutting them out of the air was going to be seared on his mind forever.

He watched as the other three riders were similarly interacting with their dragons. Not a single one of them was being formal or controlling of them. They all treated them as friends. It comforted him to know that the people he was going to have to spend the most time with for the next several months were treating the creatures how they should be treated.

It didn’t take them long to figure out where they would be sleeping and staying. He still wasn’t entirely sure how to treat his fellow riders. They were, as Sayori said, of different nations. Once their pilgrimage was over, they’d go back to their countries and live their lives, never thinking about him again. He wanted to be able to trust someone with all the craziness that was happening, but he knew that trust had to be limited in their situations at hand. He didn’t want to cause any international issues.

Exhaustion was pulling at him, though. They had shared a harrowing evening. He didn’t know if he could trust them with politics, but he knew he could trust them with his life. He didn’t know if there was that much of a difference, but he knew his life would at least be safe with the three of them around.

Sleep took them all fairly quickly. There were no rituals to prep them this time, no routines. They were all passed out, getting the rest they needed after such an eventful night.

The dreams that came to him were dark, full of the wisping darkness, even though he was next to Zuma. The laughing faces in a smokey pub were now fully in focus. It was his dragon riding team. They were there the whole time, only their faces hadn’t been shown to him like the Lord Commanders had been. He questioned out loud in his dream that maybe their own fates hadn’t been decided before or maybe his hadn’t.

His mind rumbled in response, shuttering and buzzing. It reminded him of the voice of the matriarch that had bounced around his head when she blessed him. It didn’t say anything, didn’t answer his ruminations, but it did acknowledge that it was aware. Were the visions capable of some type of sentience? His mind eased back into a dim slumber as he pondered the thought.

"So… about that weird darkness you had felt, Kaden.” Reese was snacking on some bread he found in the loft. “Do you feel it now?”

The other two stopped their own snacking and stared at him, waiting for an answer. Swallowing hard, he shook his head. “I, uh… haven’t really tried to look for it again.”

He squinted his eyes at Kaden. “Go on then, try now.”

They all nodded along and waited for him to do something, anything. Closing his eyes, he tried to push his will out. Zuma was right next to him, so he wasn’t looking for them. He was just trying to sense something, anything.

There wasn’t a lot there. It was a buzz of noise. He didn’t know what he was looking for as he searched. With Zuma, he had a specific goal, something to aim for. Sitting there, being stared at by the others, all he had was anxiety.

He popped an eye open and looked back at them. “I don’t feel anything but static noise.”

All of their shoulders dropped as if they were waiting for him to reveal something dramatic to him. Reese sunk into his seat. “I thought that would at least give us something to work with.”

“We’re going to have to do an investigation the proper way,” said Evonne as she nodded.

“And what’s the proper way?”

She gave them a shrug. “I was hoping one of you would know, honestly.”

They all laughed at her and she blushed. Kaden had a feeling she wasn’t the most outgoing normally, so he was glad she was feeling more comfortable with making jokes. He knew that their evening before set them further in motion of being a close-knit team of riders. Even Reese was less hostile to him ever since the incident. When the moment came, they all protected one another. At least from what Kaden knew, they’d defend him in battle.

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A rumbled echoed from one dragon to the other and they all perked up to see what the commotion was. There was a loud knock at the door of their stable. The setting sun gave off dark silhouettes in the frame. He heard Sayori telling Taldor to calm down as they all cautiously made their way to the intruders.

Kaden didn’t know what to expect. Were they walking into a bunch of armed assailants again? They wouldn’t have knocked. None of the dragons were pleased by their appearance. If that didn’t say something, Kaden didn’t know what would.

As they neared, the four ambassadors became visible. Kaden’s heart dropped when he realized that Remni, the earth ambassador, must have been correct when she said not to trust her cohorts. Even the dragons could sense something was off with one or more of them.

Kaden shared a look with Sayori and she lightly shook her head as she put her hand back to calm Taldor once again.

Reese crossed his arms and said, “Can we help you?”

Malfor, the fire ambassador, crossed his own arms in response, their posture mirroring one another. “Your ceremony is being moved up.”

Kaden looked to his companions in confusion. “Ceremony?”

Sayori nudged him. “The one to confirm our rider status and send us on our pilgrimage. Why is it being moved up?”

Laramee took Kaden’s hand softly. He wanted to pull it back. The touch was strange and weirdly clammy. “We are worried about you four staying in the capital city. The fact that you were targeted directly multiple times does not bode well.”

Kartok, the wind ambassador, nodded. “It is clearly unsafe here for any visitors. After intense screening, we are sending anyone who doesn’t need to be here, home. The Citadel is shut down for the season.”

Kaden watched as Remni’s eyes darted from one of her companions to another. With how their conversation had gone earlier that only she and the lord commander could be trusted, he was even more intent on watching her reactions to the other ambassadors, hoping that maybe it would give away some of her thoughts.

Pulling his hand out of Laramee’s grasp, he said, “So, when’s the ceremony, then?”

“Tomorrow,” Remni said as her eyes followed their breaking off hand shakes. “It’ll let us give those who are reluctant to leave one last hurrah before they’re out of here. We came to inform you all about this change. When the ceremony is over, you’ll be sent to your first realm.”

Reese huffed and said, “about time. Which realm is first, then?”

“That’s still being determined.”

He gave them a blank stare. “Why? Shouldn’t be hard to pick one and let us go on our way.”

Remni cut her eyes to Laramee and said, “We have to evaluate the size and threat of the House of the Serpent presence within the realms. We hope to send you to the realm with the least presence of them for your safety.”

Kartok yawned and said, “It’ll give us time to hopefully stamp them out in the others, so the rest of your pilgrimage will go smoother. You four have already made a name for yourselves. We’re not about to let those snakes snuff you out this early into your political rise.”

Evonne had been quiet but found her voice. “So you’re hoping they won’t find us out there by ourselves? Are we really that safe, then?”

Laramee twirled his hand dismissively. “Well, you four obviously can handle yourselves, so we don’t have to worry about that too terribly much.”

“So why are you sending us away so quickly, then?”

The ambassadors shared an awkward look with each other. Remni sighed and said, “You being here is also making us targets.”

“Remni,” Malfor hissed.

She shrugged. “They need to know. What they did for the citadel saved a lot of people. We owe it to them, to be honest.”

Laramee took a deep breath, swallowed hard, and admitted, “You four are targets, obviously more so now. Being on the move is safer for you and safer for us.”

Sayori’s head shook in disbelief next to Kaden. “Excuse me? We’re four new riders! How are we so important that our leaving makes you all safer?”

Remni simply stood there and looked at her three companions, letting them explain their position.

Martok sighed a mighty sigh. “If you’re asking yourselves that you haven’t been paying attention to anything going on the last few years.”

“Clearly, you lot have lost control of the citadel,” Reese said with a louder, firmer voice. “I am disappointed. How dare you claim to represent our countries when you can’t even keep this place in order? You won’t be representing us long, not after this.”

“Lord Manderby, I implore you—”

“You don’t get to ask anything of me. The evidence of your incompetence has been well on display the last few days.”

“We are just trying to—”

“Enough,” he cut his hand out. “We will do this ceremony and get out of your hair. Don’t think I won’t report on all of this to my father. You will not be here much longer, Martok.”

The wind ambassador sighed and rolled his eyes. “Of course, sir.”

Reese waved his hand dismissively and the ambassador bowed, turning on his heel, and started heading back through the door. The rest of the group stared at the interaction with awe. Remni shook her head and turned to follow suit.

Laramee put his hand on Kaden’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere. I’ve already sent communication to the king. He knows full well what is happening here. He is very pleased with what you’ve been doing. After this is all over, he has advised me to let you know that you have a place in his court.”

He patted a few times and walked away. Malfor rolled his eyes and said to Evonne. “Our Lord doesn’t have any wishes like that, but do know we have your back if anything is to happen. We will see you all tomorrow.”

He nodded to them and walked off himself. Silence hung between them all for several moments before Sayori started snickering. Soon, the laughter was contagious and they all started giggling.

“That was ridiculous,” she sputtered out.

“Did you see Martok cow-toeing so easily?” Reese laughed. “He’s a fool. They’re afraid of us now. Isn’t that ridiculous? Us. Newbie riders.”

Kaden took a deep breath and shook his head. “I just have weird vibes from them. Did you hear that grandstanding Laramee made? The king? The king has no idea who I am and doesn’t care. They’ll probably ship me off to some corner temple and forget about me.”

Evonne shook her head. “No, they’ll parade you around for sure. They’re going to do it with me, I know it, and I dread it. I do not want to have to stand in front of a crowd doing a fake wave. Hard pass.”

They all nodded and silence fell again between them. Kaden took a deep breath and said, “one of them is a viper, huh?”

Reese twisted his hands. “Yup.”

“One of them probably helped organize this and doesn’t want us here to intervene again, huh?”

Sayori sighed. “Yup.”

Evonne’s quiet voice stuttered as she said, “we have to stop them, don’t we?”

Kaden shook his own head, baffled by the fact that they were all in sync with their thoughts already. Taking a deep breath, he said, “Yeah. We have to stop them.”

“We don’t have much time if they’re shipping us off so soon,” said Sayori, as she stretched out her hands and yawned.

Reese cracked his neck and said, “Well, we better get started then.”