Last two! You can do it! Get your altitude quickly!
Pammon was beside himself as Tazorath closed in on the last two turns of the course. He couldn’t believe how fast she had progressed in her flying skills, but each day, her mother would set a path before both of his children, helping them follow her as much as possible.
I told you she would get it before Foros.
Pammon thrummed. Glynnis was dripping with excitement, and waves of satisfaction at how her daughter was flying seemed to radiate from her.
Tazorath came to the last turn, banking hard to the right, starting the drop, and diving into the ninety-degree turn.
Her wings almost clipped the trees as she turned at the wrong angle, but Tazorath managed to clear the branches by less than a yard.
Pammon and Glynnis were anxious as they watched their daughter start the barrel roll that would set her up for the next part.
Weeks had been spent practicing the move higher in the sky, and doing it from this height provided a greater chance of risk and injury if they hit the ground.
Tazorath rolled out, her body giving the slightest stall in the air as her wings adjusted to point her in the right direction.
She finished the turn, claws almost brushing the limbs, and managed to divert her direction to the middle of the last long stretch of open space. Beating her wings as fast as she could, Tazorath was running out of room as the trees at the end of the clearing drew closer, every second risking a crash that would require Amaranth’s assistance.
Faster daughter! Faster!
Pammon watched as Glynnis dropped in altitude, getting closer to Tazorath, trying to will her to rise faster.
Tazorath fought for every foot of altitude, her body angled as she had learned from her mother countless times. As she rose toward the treetops, Pammon heard his daughter’s roar.
The trees shook as she raced above the top, so close that the wind of her passing shook them.
Pride filled Pammon’s heart as he saw his daughter and her beautiful red-scaled body flying over the tops of the trees.
Well done, my child, well done!
Thank you, father and mother!
The joy in Tazorath’s came through their connection as her words reverberated in their mind.
Come, let us land and celebrate this accomplishment for a moment.
The three of them began to turn as one, changing direction to land in the one clearing that would hold all three of them.
You’re as skilled as a flyer as your mother, Pammon said as he nuzzled Tazorath with his neck and chin.
She trilled as both parents doled love on her.
I wasn’t sure I would make it after I messed up that first turn, but I wasn’t going to stop. Either I would clear it or crash.
Glynnis thrummed, giving a few extra touches with her snout.
I had no doubt you would do it. You have learned well.
Trilling still, Tazorath watched as Foros and Amaranth joined the three of them.
Well done, sister. I am glad you succeeded.
Foros moved between the gap Pammon created and touched his head with his sisters.
Thank you, brother. I am still upset that you beat the challenge before I did.
Thrumming, Foros turned and looked at Pammon, who was showing his teeth. His smile was so wide that it was evident how happy he was at this moment.
Our sire was very persuasive after his last talk…
All four of the dragons began to thrum as Pammon groaned.
I do not believe you appreciated what I really said. The good news is that we still have plenty of light in the day, and there is abundant food in the forest. After that, we can surprise your riders with the good news.
The roaring by Tazorath and Foros filled the trees, and Pammon couldn’t help but laugh as his children celebrated their success after so much training.
You are a great father to them. Glynnis and I are grateful for how you treat them compared to the other dragons from where we come. Once again, I am thankful that you have shown us all why having a rider is not what we have been told.
Pammon shifted slightly, hoping to draw Amaranth closer with his neck and wing.
The council fears being controlled, yet they have no idea how much that fear holds them. Imagine living one's life for centuries as they have. They will never know the love that we do. The joy we share right now is a treasure outside their realm of understanding.
Amaranth and Glynnis came over and forced their way under Pammon’s wings, each trilling as he drew them close and took turns rubbing each of them with his snout.
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Let us hunt together and then share the good news.
Foros and Tazorath raced off, each excited that this part of their training was done and ready to share their success with Phillip and Frederick.
Kaen noticed the five dragons approaching them as he stood on the tower, watching the battle wind down.
Frederick was closing in on defeating seventy guards with just his squad, yet Hess was harassing him as the guards still alive shifted tactics, picking up spears and creating distance between the dragon rider.
I have felt the joy and pride rolling off you like that water on the island. I will not share the surprise your children have, but I am happy for you.
Thank you. Inside, I feel like I am filled with gas, but not in a bad way that hurts but one that makes me feel at peace.
Kaen started to laugh so hard that he began coughing at Pammon’s attempt to describe his feelings.
You mock… no… that was not a good way to describe it… Perhaps if I said –
No… that won’t work either. I understand, and by no means do I want to hear what you were about to say. Now tell me what you think of this fight.
Pammon watched as Frederick struggled against the last fourteen guards and Hess. Unable to close the gap and reduce the number of guards, he was getting pressed closer to the boundary as Hess continued to defend against his attacks.
Maybe he will kill a few more guards, but he will lose. His head is moving too much, and he is trying to focus on too many men. If he would commit to one side and clear out a portion of them, he could use the space to –
Pammon stopped talking as Frederick did just what he had described. The rider rushed toward three guards with spears, tossing a sword at two of them that struck them in the head while grabbing the spear of the one thrusting it toward him, hoping to stop Frederick.
Yanking the guard forward with his own spear, Frederick knocked the man down with a fist to the guard’s chest.
He moved fast, trying to get free of the circle around him, and as he broke through the three he had knocked down, the horn sounded when a spear slammed into his back.
Hess was very dirty with that attack. It was good, however.
Kaen snorted and nodded as he started his descent down from the tower.
That boy might have won if Hess hadn’t hit Frederick with that spear toss.
Kaen was going over the fight's details when all of them, men and women, turned to watch the dragons landing near the tower.
Frederick and Phillip were smiling, each having felt their dragon and the joy they were exuding.
“Alright, everyone take thirty minutes. We need to see what our dragons need.”
The men and women nodded, moving to the food and water, waiting for them off to the side.
“Why are all five of them here?” Frederick asked. “And why is Tazorath like she is?”
Kaen shrugged, keeping a straight face. “Ask them yourselves, but me trying to figure out what is going on isn’t worth the time. If Pammon doesn’t want to tell me something, no complaining is going to make it happen.”
Both boys laughed, each having already learned that lesson from their dragons.
They took off jogging to where Foros and Tazorath sat, both almost bouncing from the excitement of their news.
Kaen stayed back a few yards, giving them a chance to enjoy their moment.
They are bigger and stronger than I remember you being at their age. The muscles along their back make their scales look tight.
Pammon snorted, shaking his head as he watched his children tell their riders the good news.
I would say the same about them being more muscular than you, but I know how you humans like to compare size, so I won’t.
A pair of whoops and hollering came as both boys learned their dragons had finally conquered the course. Trilling came as each dragon received a lot of scratches and hugs.
Waiting patiently, Kaen finally joined the group after the celebration between Tazorath, Foros, Frederick, and Phillip died down.
“Congratulations, you two on completing the course!” Kaen exclaimed, smiling and nodding at the silver and red dragon. “The good news is you get to be here for the next stage of training, and hopefully, with your help, your riders will finish their training soon.”
Kaen couldn’t help but grin as he saw the four look at him with confused looks on their faces and snouts.
“Are they going to fight with us?”
Kaen and Pammon both begin to laugh.
“That would not be fair, but they are going to help in a different way. They will play the role you practiced months ago. Unlike rabbits, they will give you information about your enemies. They will watch your back and sides better than you can,” Kaen informed them. “The trick will be learning how much information to give and when. Too much, and it will overload your rider. Too late and well… they die.”
Both boys groaned but never stopped scratching their dragon’s necks.
“I’m assuming we will go again even though it's getting a little late,” Frederick asked.
Nodding, Kaen motioned to the field. “We can go one time, and then we will break. It will be a good chance to try it, and then you four can discuss tonight what worked and didn’t.”
As Kaen spoke, Pammon moved around the group until he was standing beside Kaen. His massive size shadowed his rider. Had the bronze dragon stepped wrong, he could have easily crushed Kaen. Yet Kaen did not shift as his dragon moved to where he was.
“You’ve seen me and Pammon together for over five years. We have had countless opportunities to practice in ways you are just now getting to learn. There will be battles you cannot fight alone, and you need to learn how to communicate.”
Kaen turned and stared at Foros, who shifted slightly under his gaze. “Foros, you are very much like your sire. I know you think highly of yourself, which is a strength, but remember that Phillip depends on you. Embrace your strength, but also learn to trust Phillip’s. He is smart and steady. You two will do amazing things if you learn to depend upon the other.”
Ignoring the smile both Phillip and Foros gave, Kaen turned and looked at Tazorath and Frederick.
“You two are quite the same pair,” he said with a chuckle. “You both get excited, and often you start talking faster than I imagine is possible, but it is because you believe anything is possible. Tazorath, learn to breathe and slow down a little. Be direct and specific with your instructions, and don’t overload Frederick with them. You have a great eye for things and notice lots of tiny details others might miss. Use that to help Frederick in those battles. Frederick, you need to trust her and find a way to encourage her to speak up. Sometimes, she allows you to take too much of the lead. Learn to see that she is smart and crafty.”
After giving a few words of advice and encouragement, Kaen reached out and put his hand on Pammon’s scales near his feet. “One day soon, I hope to teach you two how to use your dragon’s eyes to see. It will take some time and require a change in your bond, but when you learn it, you will finally understand how they view the world.”
Both of you riders need to always remember: Dragons are not pawns to be moved on a board. My children are part of you. Treat them as your own body. Never see them as anything less than family. When you do that, the bond you two have will change, and you both will grow stronger because of it.
Phillip and Frederick both gave a bow to Pammon.
“We will and thank you again for trusting us with your children,” Phillip said.
Pammon nodded slightly before turning his head to look at the field behind him.
“Pammon is right. It’s time to see how you four do. Phillip, you’re up first!”
A trill came from Foros as Phillip scratched his silver dragon’s neck, and they touched heads.
“Let’s do this!”