said in a low growl.
The princess stood near the edge of the soldiers’ barracks, surrounded by Guardsmen. Krystal pushed herself past them so she could get a better view. She waved at us before disappearing again.
I climbed on Cynder, wishing she could have said goodbye in a more intimate way. It didn’t matter. In a few days I would see her again, assuming all went well. I made sure my pack and purse straps were fastened across my body. I hugged Cynder’s long, red neck.
“Make sure your weapons and supplies are secure,” I said to my friends. “It gets rough up there in the cold wind.”
“Ready?” Cynder asked. Holding on to his neck, I could feel his booming voice reverberating beneath my hands.
My friends nodded, and I said, “Yes. Cynder, if you please.”
“Hang on, everyone,” Cynder said. “You’re in for the ride of your mortal life!”
The great dragon unfurled his wings, readying to take us back to the place where I first met him and learned how to utilize my powers and my destiny. Back to the White Mountain, where unknown dangers lurked.
CHAPTER 3
Cynder discharged a mighty roar. Everyone around us ceased their movements and ogled in awe. Cynder basked in the attention before flapping his great wings. The fiery dragon rose into the air. He cleared the castle wall, causing those standing on top of it to duck. His hanging tail grazed a building’s rooftop.
Cynder swooped over Alexandria, aiming southwest. The people of Alexandria were entranced by his flight, even though he caused complete chaos. Donkeys and horses panicked, threatening to run away. A cart of melons broke loose and spilled its cargo on the ground. A girl’s skirt flew up over her head. Yet despite all the trouble Cynder caused, the people didn’t panic or yell obscenities at him. However, I was about to.
“Cynder,” I said. “Stop showing off!”
The great dragon finally rose away from the city. He puffed dark smoke and flew into it, knowing it would make us cough and gag. He flew faster, and my face felt like it was going to peel off. We rose until I was granted a bird’s eye view of the landscape.
Cynder flapped his wings long and slow, decelerating his frantic speed. I took a moment to get used to the now gentle wind, ruffling through my hair. Birds scattered out of our way, Cynder blowing a stream of fire at those he deemed too slow. One bird narrowly avoided getting roasted alive. Deer in the forests below scampered away from the passing shadow, doing their best to hide in the dark greens.
The dragon rose until there was nothing but clear, blue sky encompassing us. I ducked my head behind Cynder’s to shield myself from the blinding light as we continued our flight to the White Mountain.
It took us less than half a day to fly back to the place that had been my home. While I had learned how to use my powers there, I had also found something far more in Stradus. I smiled, thinking about him. I had thought he was a rather strange old man when I first met him, but then he became a teacher, a friend, and something I had never known—a father.
The White Mountain was so named because centuries ago, my former master had captured the winter around the mountain. While spring and summer came in the surrounding lands, the mountain remained in eternal winter, as if frozen in time. While some were brave enough to explore it, none ever returned. That was due to Cynder, Stradus’s guardian. Stradus had stayed holed up in the mountain, studying references to the prophecies he’d once read in the Book of Shazul, waiting for me to fulfill my destiny.
I’d spent two years living in Stradus’s huge cave complex at the top of the mountain. The last time I was there, it was to ask Stradus’s help in the battle to save Alexandria from Premier and the Wasteland creatures. Even though I knew it wouldn’t be the same without him, I still leaned eagerly forward for the first glimpse of my former home. But when I saw it, a
The princess stood near the edge of the soldiers’ barracks, surrounded by Guardsmen. Krystal pushed herself past them so she could get a better view. She waved at us before disappearing again.
I climbed on Cynder, wishing she could have said goodbye in a more intimate way. It didn’t matter. In a few days I would see her again, assuming all went well. I made sure my pack and purse straps were fastened across my body. I hugged Cynder’s long, red neck.
“Make sure your weapons and supplies are secure,” I said to my friends. “It gets rough up there in the cold wind.”
“Ready?” Cynder asked. Holding on to his neck, I could feel his booming voice reverberating beneath my hands.
My friends nodded, and I said, “Yes. Cynder, if you please.”
“Hang on, everyone,” Cynder said. “You’re in for the ride of your mortal life!”
The great dragon unfurled his wings, readying to take us back to the place where I first met him and learned how to utilize my powers and my destiny. Back to the White Mountain, where unknown dangers lurked.
CHAPTER 3
Cynder discharged a mighty roar. Everyone around us ceased their movements and ogled in awe. Cynder basked in the attention before flapping his great wings. The fiery dragon rose into the air. He cleared the castle wall, causing those standing on top of it to duck. His hanging tail grazed a building’s rooftop.
Cynder swooped over Alexandria, aiming southwest. The people of Alexandria were entranced by his flight, even though he caused complete chaos. Donkeys and horses panicked, threatening to run away. A cart of melons broke loose and spilled its cargo on the ground. A girl’s skirt flew up over her head. Yet despite all the trouble Cynder caused, the people didn’t panic or yell obscenities at him. However, I was about to.
“Cynder,” I said. “Stop showing off!”
The great dragon finally rose away from the city. He puffed dark smoke and flew into it, knowing it would make us cough and gag. He flew faster, and my face felt like it was going to peel off. We rose until I was granted a bird’s eye view of the landscape.
Cynder flapped his wings long and slow, decelerating his frantic speed. I took a moment to get used to the now gentle wind, ruffling through my hair. Birds scattered out of our way, Cynder blowing a stream of fire at those he deemed too slow. One bird narrowly avoided getting roasted alive. Deer in the forests below scampered away from the passing shadow, doing their best to hide in the dark greens.
The dragon rose until there was nothing but clear, blue sky encompassing us. I ducked my head behind Cynder’s to shield myself from the blinding light as we continued our flight to the White Mountain.
It took us less than half a day to fly back to the place that had been my home. While I had learned how to use my powers there, I had also found something far more in Stradus. I smiled, thinking about him. I had thought he was a rather strange old man when I first met him, but then he became a teacher, a friend, and something I had never known—a father.
The White Mountain was so named because centuries ago, my former master had captured the winter around the mountain. While spring and summer came in the surrounding lands, the mountain remained in eternal winter, as if frozen in time. While some were brave enough to explore it, none ever returned. That was due to Cynder, Stradus’s guardian. Stradus had stayed holed up in the mountain, studying references to the prophecies he’d once read in the Book of Shazul, waiting for me to fulfill my destiny.
I’d spent two years living in Stradus’s huge cave complex at the top of the mountain. The last time I was there, it was to ask Stradus’s help in the battle to save Alexandria from Premier and the Wasteland creatures. Even though I knew it wouldn’t be the same without him, I still leaned eagerly forward for the first glimpse of my former home. But when I saw it, a
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