Avian (The Dragonrider Chronicles) Read Online Free PDF Page B

the snow, staring at the letter.
    Mavrik came crawling out of the barn, yawning and making curious chirping noises. He leaned his big head down to look at the paper, too. His hot breath blasted past my head as he snorted, and sat back on his haunches.
    I scratched his chin, making him purr and flick the end of his tail. “Don’t worry. I bet you’ll like Southwatch. It’s probably a lot warmer there.”
    It didn’t take me long to pack because I didn’t have much to take. I gathered up enough rations of food to last a few days, some of Roland’s old clothes that were still several sizes too big for me, my armor, and my hunting knife. Once I had everything tied down to the saddle, I locked up the house, closed the barn, and climbed onto Mavrik’s back.
    We leapt into the sky just after midmorning and headed south along the coast. It was freezing cold, and I hunkered down as close to Mavrik’s neck as I could to keep out of the wind. He was warm, and it kept me from freezing to death, but my teeth were chattering until we finally got out of the mountains.
    As we soared past the last few peaks, I got my first look at the ocean. A blast of salty wind filled my lungs, and made me smile. The whole horizon was covered in blue, as far as the eye could see. Down below, the waves lapped at white sandy beaches. I could see fishermen dragging nets out of the surf. We passed little cities and towns nestled right close to the coast, rolling green farmland with cattle grazing, and huge marshes. In the distance, I could see the tiny dark shapes of ships going in and out of the ports. The cool wind didn’t bother me anymore, not with the warmth of the setting sun on my face.
    We followed the coastline, flying low and fast as I kept an eye out for Saltmarsh. My internal map was telling me we should be getting really close. Just as the sun was about to set over the ocean to the west, I saw the lights of a city down below. There was a big port stretching out into the ocean, with three-mast ships docked. I knew it had to be Saltmarsh. It was supposed to have one of the biggest shipping ports for goods going in and out of Maldobar, second only to Southwatch itself.
    I urged Mavrik to swoop lower, keeping a lookout for a good place to land. He let his wingtips brush the ocean, roaring happily as we swept over the beach and stirred up flocks of seagulls and pelicans. As we cruised the outskirts of the city, I picked a good spot on the open beach to touch down, and Mavrik started to flare his powerful wings to slow us down. He stretched out his hind legs, ready to grip the sand.
    Suddenly, I got a queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.
    Something wasn’t right. It hit me full-force, and sent a swirl of panic through my body like a cold shiver. Mavrik felt it, too, and he faltered in his landing. It was rough, and I had to cling to the saddle to keep from being thrown over his head.
    A dark shadow passed over us. I heard a sound; a deep thundering roar that made my heartbeat stop for a few seconds. I knew that roar, even though I’d only heard it once before. It was the kind of sound you never forget.
    The earth flinched as Icarus landed right in front of us. He bared his jagged teeth, his broad wings spread wide, and his red eyes burning like fiery coals. He flared his spines, puffing out angrily and making himself even bigger than the humongous beast he already was.
    The king drake was every bit as terrifying as he had been the first time I saw him. He was like a monster that had crawled right out of someone’s nightmares. His scales were as black as volcanic glass, and he was at least twice Mavrik’s size. I had watched him devour his own rider, the Lord General, in a fit of fury only a few months ago. But I had no idea why he was here now. Apparently we had some unfinished business.
    Mavrik snarled back at him, slicking his ears back against his skull and letting the spines on his back and tail raise up like hackles. He flared his