Constancy by Tilly Wallace

Author:Tilly Wallace [Wallace, Tilly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tilly Wallace

16

Oliver swept a bow to the crowd. “Very well, then. If Valiant is agreeable, we shall put on a demonstration of our fighting moves.” Then he trotted down the steep steps to the sand.

He approached the basking dragon, who lay on his side with his wings extended to soak up the summer warmth. The grey-green scales of the great creature shimmered like gems plucked from the ocean and reflected the sun’s rays.

“Valiant, might I disturb your rest, oh mighty one?” Oliver called out, his voice tinged with both respect and familiarity.

The dragon raised his enormous head, his snout covered in sand, and he regarded the captain with eyes the colour of vibrant emeralds. A low rumble escaped his throat as if he were chuckling at some private joke. Watching the exchange roused Moire’s curiosity as to how the dragon accepted someone not from its family line as his rider.

“The people here have heard of your magnificence in battle. Would you mind giving them a demonstration of your ability?” Oliver asked in a light, playful tone.

Valiant responded with a soft snort that created a small sand cloud. Then he rose with surprising grace for such a large creature. Shaking like a dog, a fine spray of sand misted the air. Once clean, he seemed to bow to the captain, extending one leg towards him to offer a steep path to climb.

“Thank you,” Oliver said as he reached up to grasp Valiant’s sturdy limb. With practised ease, he climbed onto the dragon’s back, positioning himself between the hard neck ridges.

Even though Moire had grown up with Caliban and climbed over his massive form as a child, she still held her breath in wonder that the dragon allowed the man to sit atop him. Horses, and occasionally wyverns, also allowed people to ride them. But a dragon was many times larger, far more opinionated, and had the ability to spit flame.

Clipper rubbed his face against Moire’s cheek. Clipper, sit on Moire, he crooned.

She touched the piptere’s chest. They were friends, and she adored the little dragon. That was why she allowed him to perch on her shoulder. Did the massive dragon have a similar relationship with a human as a human had with a piptere? There was a line of thought to consider later. Especially since most pipteres were unwilling when made to sit on a shoulder like some sort of living decoration.

The onlookers were captivated by the spectacle before them. Their faces displayed a mixture of astonishment, delight, and a touch of fear. After all, it was not every day that a battle-hardened dragon took an ocean swim and then a sand bath in front of you.

“Are we ready?” Oliver shouted to the people on the road.

A cheer went up, and the dragon answered with a rumble, flapping his wings in anticipation. The sight left Moire breathless, her chest tightening with equal parts joy and trepidation as she wished for a safe journey for both rider and steed.

With a deafening whoosh, Valiant unfurled his wings and leapt into the air.

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