Before Elora could respond, a piercing shriek tore through the valley, and heavy, rhythmic whipping sounded overhead. Nureen gripped onto Elora as a huge, dark figure soared above them.
It was one of the brothers’ dragons. Gleaming jet black scales, glinted in the bright, crisp morning light. The creature was a wondrous sight to behold. Cries of surprise and delight rang out from the stream of servants in front of them as the creature soared above, but as it rounded, heading back toward them, it angled itself lower.
A a man stood on the dragon’s back. Enormous with rippling muscles, he stood like rock, feet wide and his hands clenched into fists. As the dragon angled downward, it became clear that the alpha’s hard glare was aimed directly at Elora.
Her breath left her and she froze, her heart pounding in her chest.
“That’s him,” Nureen gasped. “The scary one.”
The dragon swept by so close, Elora could have reached out and touched him, but he whipped by too quickly, before ascending back up into the sky. Elora, Nureen, and the rest of the staff, turned to watch the pair as they soared away, this time continuing on into the distance.
A chorus of cheers, clapping, shouting, and waving rose from the servants around them, their excitement heightened.
Elora took a deep breath, and Nureen let out a shaky laugh and she released her grip on Elora’s arm.
“As I said,” Nureen said, looking pointedly at Elora, “I don’t think he will ignore you.”
Elora trudged along the valley in the cool evening air, this time with three stewards surrounding her, and wishing she could have stayed with her friends.
It had surprised her that they’d all gathered to say good-bye, even people she hadn’t told. Nureen had looked at her guiltily. “Everyone wanted the chance to say good-bye,” she explained. “You probably don’t realize, but you made a big impact on many of us.”
Elora couldn’t help but grin at her. She hadn’t thought about making a big fuss, but she was also glad she was able to say good-bye to them. I’mya was away with Nyro, but they’d shared a tearful farewell before her ordination.
Amazingly, some of her closest friends had brought presents for her to take with her. I’mya gifted her a handmade Dao board. Syb had given her one of her beautiful paintings, and Tiiu a small figurine with the circular symbol of the Order of the Seven Goddesses.
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed your reluctance to praise the Seven, Elora,” Tiiu said quietly as she pressed the roughened gold gift into Elora’s palm.
Elora forced herself not to flinch. Tiiu was initially suspicious of Elora for not being as enthusiastic about the Seven Goddesses as everyone else, especially considering the dragorai were one of the Seven’s creations, but Tiiu’s doubts lessened when she saw how supportive Elora was of her faith. She even once called her “the heart of lair,” which had pleased Elora immensely. “This figurine has kept me safe. I pray it will protect you in your new home.”
Elora smiled and squeezed her hand in gratitude. “Thank you.”
She said good-bye to each of them until only Nureen remained, both of them tearful.
“Look after everyone, will you?” Elora said, her voice hoarse.
Nureen snorted. “That’s your job.” Her smile faded. “Elora, be careful over there.”
“I’ll try,” Elora said. She planned to avoid the alpha whenever she could. “The staff will probably give me advice.”
Nureen nodded. “Just remember, sometimes you have to be selfish and look after yourself first.”
Elora frowned. “That doesn’t seem like the right thing to do.”
“Maybe not all the time, but sometimes it’s the only way to protect yourself.” Nureen held out a book. “Here.”
“What’s this?” The book looked brand new, no wrinkled pages and no tears on the fabric cover. It also had no title.
“Something for when you’re bored over there,” Nureen said, pushing it into her hands. “Read it when you get there.”
While Elora was still learning to read, Nureen was capable of reading the most advanced books in the library. She’d been helping to teach some of the servants, including Elora and I’mya. Nureen had no doubt given her something that would help her to continue practicing. Elora grinned, pulling her into a tight, long hug. “Thank you. I’m going to miss you so much, Nureen.”
Dayatha appeared behind her and tipped her head to Elora. “It is time to go.”
Elora released her friend, biting her lip so she didn’t cry. Taking one last glance around her, she followed the steward along the corridor and down through sloping, twisting corridors until they reached a small area lit only with lamps. This was where she and the other girls had woken up after Dayatha had cast magic on them, rendering them all unconscious prior to entering the lair.
Dayatha stopped and turned to her.
“You have to make me unconscious again?” Elora asked.
“Yes.”
Elora cleared her throat and nerves sprung up in her stomach. She gripped her carrysack until her hand hurt. “I’m ready.”
Dayatha hesitated. “We’ll all miss you, Elora, including the stewards. But… sometimes events of the past can help to create the life we want.”
“I would have preferred a life here—in this lair,” Elora said quietly.
Dayatha smiled at her. “Maybe this is not where you are needed most.”
Elora frowned. She hadn’t thought about it like that.
Dayatha squared her shoulders. “Ready?” When Elora nodded, she began murmuring in the strange, old language of the dragorai, and everything faded to black.
She’d woken up out in the valley without her friends and without Dayatha. Elora took a breath, forcing her negative thoughts away. This would be a good, fresh start. The only thing that unnerved her was the way one of the brothers had behaved earlier, almost attacking her on the back of his dragon. She couldn’t be sure it was Zendyor, though he looked terrifying enough, and there was no reason for any other brother to single her out with a glare like that. She hoped it wasn’t him, but even if it was, she would have to convince him that she only wanted to live peacefully in his lair.
Night came gradually, turning the sky into a gorgeous indigo that stretched ahead over the mountain range. It was a fascinating sight.
When Elora was out in the realm, trying to dodge soldiers and the extremely dangerous magical debris called ember, which killed so many innocent people, there was never any chance to look at the sky. And even in the few peaceful moments she had, the sky was always filled with ash and grey clouds because of the constant magical bombs—never anything interesting or beautiful. But here among the dragorais’ mountain ranges, the sky was one of the most beautiful things she’d ever seen. It had depth and a vastness that made her feel small and insignificant as well as grateful to witness something so incredible.
As the night wore on, Elora began to slow and stumble as her legs tired, but the stewards accompanying her continued their pace.
“Are we not going to have a break?” Elora asked them. It felt like she’d been walking forever.
“No,” one of them replied. “We have to pass you over at daybreak and we cannot be late.”