Book 3: Chapter 56: Proving Himself

Book 3: Chapter 56: Proving Himself

The bad weather had given Arthur one advantage: He was able to keep secret how many dragons hed brought with him. Only his retinue was close by and visible in the gloom.

Thinking quickly, Arthur directed Brixaby to send a message directly into the minds of his followers: Land safely, get under shelter, and above all else, stay quiet.

Brixabys stated range was within shouting distance. Out in the open, even in a storm that meant he could easily reach most minds he wanted.

Meanwhile, Arthurs retinue followed Sams and the rest back down to land on the newest level.

On the ledge, the temperature was artificially warmed thanks to environmental card magic. Even the outcropping the dragons landed on was dry the rain evaporating inches above the surface.

Arthur took in a breath of fresh air that smelled familiar in a way that the Mesa Free Hive never had.

Were back, he thought to himself.

But he only allowed himself a moment to relish it.

Horatio had dismounted off his dragon the moment Samss claws hit firm rock. He came striding up to Arthur, boggling not only at him but at Brixaby as well.

Rumor had it your dragon hadnt been growing, he said, Seems you figured out what was wrong.

Nothing was wrong! Brixaby boomed. This hive simply did not afford me the right opportunity to grow!

In more ways than one, Arthur thought.

Horatio, how are you here? Why arent you at Buck Moon hive?

His friend shook his head impatiently. Never mind that. How are you even alive? News came in that you died during a scourgeling eruption. I didnt want to believe it at first, but then it seemed to be true because my friend would have sent me a message. He glowered at Arthur, just in case he didnt get the point.

Arthur didnt have time to let the guilt soak in. Several of Horatios other riders had dismounted and had come striding up to listen. But a few of their dragons had slid off to speak to purple messengers who clung on crags off to the side. Those purples quickly buzzed away.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

No doubt word of their arrival and miraculous survival back to Wolf Moon Hive would quickly spread.

Arthur glanced over his shoulder long enough to ensure the rest of his personal retinue of Cressida, Digger, Laird, and Tannai had landed safely behind him.

Turning back, he stepped forward to grip Horatios upper arm. We dont have much time. Tell me whats going on. Why is there a storm beating down on the hive? Is Valentina is her dragon he trailed off, unsure how to finish.

He would never say hed been friendly with the other two Legendary riders especially after theyd failed to prepare him for his visit with the king. But out of the two, he much preferred Valentina over Whitaker.

Horatios expression went from shocked and offended to grim.

No one official has said anything. Sams and I are Rares, but were still low on the totem pole. Valentina and her dragon havent died, he added quickly, but the general gossip is that their strength is failing.

Then why do I sense three Legendries? Brixaby asked in a dangerous voice.

****

For all the commotion on the lower levels, word had not yet spread up to the top of the hive.

The storm was every bit as bitterly fierce as it had been before, but this time Arthur and the rest of his retinue were prepared for it.

And, most importantly, they had Sams to light the way.

The big yellow dragon glowed like a miniature sun ahead of them.

Through the driving blizzard, Arthur lost track of where his position was in the sky, and most importantly, the stone-hard sides of the hive. One gust of wind could dash them all against the rocks.

But the dragons seemed to know where they were, and so Arthur was forced to put his faith in Brixaby.

Life was so much easier now he could ride his own dragon.

So instead of worrying about what could happen, Arthur let himself focus on the rapid beat of Brixabys four wings.

Odd. Hed always thought of it as a droning buzz, but now he realized that there was a pattern to his wing beats. The bottom pair beat a little less rapidly than the top pair. They were broader and stretched to cup more air with every wing-stroke. The top two were faster but bent more with the wind.

He realized that the bottom pair focused on stability and power. The top was for directional control.

Arthurs revelation was rewarded with not one, but two additional levels in his Dragon Riding skill.

The moment the notifications came, Arthur gained the wisdom to shift his seat slightly back toward Brixabys center of gravity.

The dragon grunted something in surprise Arthur couldnt catch the words, but thought they were affirmative. And he didnt think he imagined that Brixaby powered through the air faster than ever.

However, the wind got worse as they rose in altitude and the temperature plunged. If this continued, Arthur worried hed get frostbite on his exposed fingers and nose.

Just when he wondered if he should direct the retinue back into the hive and climb to the top from the inside the glowing beacon that was Sams came in for a landing upon a platform wide enough to hold a Legendary dragon.

Or, in this case, three of them, if Brixaby was right.

Brixaby landed with Joy right behind him. Cressida, on her neck, yelled something that was lost to the winds.

In front of them, something gigantic moved.

It took Arthur too long to understand what his eyes were trying to tell him. He hadnt forgotten the size of Elissa, Valentinas old Legendary dragon, but she was a cloudy blue color and the lines of her shape were obscured by the storm.

He thought it was clouds from the storm moving until a massive dragon head resolved itself out of nowhere and stared down at Arthur and Brixaby with the stern expression of a disappointed grandmother.

You, the massive dragons voice was even louder than Brixabys but still quivered with age. You have arrived, at last.