Dragon Run by Ash Roberts

Author:Ash Roberts
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ash Roberts

Chapter 12

The sky was just shifting to that shade of purple it takes when it starts to think about the morning when Farean woke me for our turn at watch. It was something that was reserved for the third-years at Tulta, but here all riders had to take their turn, every night. We’d drawn straws, and Esgeril and I were lucky enough to get the last ship, just before morning.

Bit and Nel had left a pot of brewed stimleaf by the fire, close enough to keep it warm without boiling it off. I poured a cup and handed it to Esgeril. I’d chewed a wad of the leaf before leaving my tent but took a few sips to hide the fact that I didn’t need it. We made small talk to avoid talking about anything important as we made our rounds around the campsite, checking for goblin signs. Those of wild animals, too, but most kept well clear of our eleven dragons.

I wanted to talk to her about what Bailis had said last night, but I told myself that Esgeril’s understanding didn’t change anything. Even Farean, who usually pushed me on the topic, kept silent this morning.

After what felt like an eternity, the sun rose above the horizon. The others stirred and Authand made breakfast. I hadn’t thought he could cook with only one hand, but he did a better job of it than I could have managed.

Among the gear that Nel had brought was a picnic table, or rather the parts for one which he had spent the afternoon assembling. The thing was huge, and all of us, save Bior who claimed to have “fed” – I tried not to think about on what - in the night, sat around it for the pile of pancakes that Authand had made. The acrid scent of brewed stimleaf filled the air as mugs of it surrounded me. The obvious morning people clumped together in small talk while the other night people sipped their stimleaf in silence.

After we finished our meal and washed the dishes in the stream, Authand explained the games we would be competing in. “There will be a series of challenges to test dragon and rider. First place in each challenge will receive four points. Second place gets three. Third, two, and fourth gets one. Points are doubled for the final race. The team with the highest score at the end wins and is named the Darnetan champion who will compete in the Dragon Race next year. In one hour, we will fly to the field where spectators will be assembled. Contestants, the non-riders will ride with your seconds. When we land, the first challenge will be announced. You will have five minutes to choose the best teammate for the challenge.”

“You’re not still going with your plan to do the entire thing yourself, are you?” Farean asked when we were in the air.

“Of course not, I’m doing it with you.”

“That’s not what I meant,” she retorted before landing in a large field on the west side of the forest.

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