ached with exhaustion and her arm throbbed where the roc’s talons had cut her. Ivria had carefully healed the injury, but pain still lingered deep in the muscle and would take time to fade entirely. She would have loved another soak in those hot springs. She smiled a little to herself, picturing the smooth pool by the gazebo with its breathtaking vista of mountains.
In her mind’s eye, she saw again the strangely shaped peak in the distance at the farthest end of the valley. A sense of vague recognition trickled through her. Maybe because she had just been thinking about Natania and their shared dreams, she recalled the vision Natania had shown her of a colossal dragon carved into a summit in the center of the draconian community. That strangely shaped peak at the end of the valley … could it have been the carved dragon from a different angle? No. No way had that statue survived a war and five centuries of abandonment in the harsh mountain elements.
She squeezed her eyes shut to banish the idea. But she ended up lying awake for far too long, wondering if the ancient settlement had really been that close—or if it was just the wishful thinking of a homesick haemon who didn’t belong in this world.
----
P iper decided she should have a little more faith in Raum.
The mountains were still in the deep embrace of night when they resumed their travels, but building excitement permeated the long hours. The glowing face of Periskios in the dark sky revealed a transforming landscape that grew more inviting with each mile they flew.
The steep, barren peaks of the mountains softened and the valleys grew deeper and wider. Unfamiliar species of trees overtook the slopes, their bizarre, fiery red leaves adding spectacular bursts of color to the landscape even in the silvery light. As they descended into one of the smaller valleys, protected by steep cliff walls, she spotted a narrow waterfall plunging down the nearest mountain, the water disappearing into the forested valley.
Raum led the descent, gliding toward the base of the waterfall. As they neared it, a pool at the bottom was revealed, glittering in Periskios’s light, and she could hear the rush of the falls. Raum drifted across the water and landed on the far side. The others followed, and Piper let out a relieved sigh as Zwi’s feet touched down. She slid off the dragon’s back, landing on oddly cushioned ground. She poked one toe bemusedly at the carpet of low, vine-like plants with tiny green leaves and orange flowers that coated the ground as thickly as any grass on Earth. It was oddly spongy to stand on.
After catching their breaths from the flight, or stretching after dismounting their dragon rides, the others quietly explored the immediate area. Raisa and Netia ran to the edge of the water, peering into the crystalline liquid.
Piper did nothing more than stand in place, shifting her weight from foot to foot as her eyes scoured the dark sky. Periskios’s immense round face was fully lit, reflecting light that, while not as bright or warm as actual sunlight, was more than enough to see by.
Ash swooped into the clearing, landing beside Zwi. She huffed in relief and joined him as he folded his wings, breathing hard. She touched his arm, unable to do anything else for him.
“No more flying for a while, huh?” she asked with a weak smile.
He grunted. “Give me a day or two.”
“Look!” Raisa exclaimed, pointing excitedly at the water. “Fish!”
“Oh thank the Moirai,” Coby proclaimed. “Actual real food.”
With an excited giggle, Yana ran heedlessly toward the water. Raum scooped his daughter into his arms before she could reach the dangerous depths and swirling current.
“We picked this spot,” he told them, “for the access to fresh water and meat, as well as the shelter of the mountain and forest. We should be comfortable here for the next few weeks.”
“But there’s nothing here,” Jezel said flatly, eyeing the trees with distaste.
In her mind’s eye, she saw again the strangely shaped peak in the distance at the farthest end of the valley. A sense of vague recognition trickled through her. Maybe because she had just been thinking about Natania and their shared dreams, she recalled the vision Natania had shown her of a colossal dragon carved into a summit in the center of the draconian community. That strangely shaped peak at the end of the valley … could it have been the carved dragon from a different angle? No. No way had that statue survived a war and five centuries of abandonment in the harsh mountain elements.
She squeezed her eyes shut to banish the idea. But she ended up lying awake for far too long, wondering if the ancient settlement had really been that close—or if it was just the wishful thinking of a homesick haemon who didn’t belong in this world.
----
P iper decided she should have a little more faith in Raum.
The mountains were still in the deep embrace of night when they resumed their travels, but building excitement permeated the long hours. The glowing face of Periskios in the dark sky revealed a transforming landscape that grew more inviting with each mile they flew.
The steep, barren peaks of the mountains softened and the valleys grew deeper and wider. Unfamiliar species of trees overtook the slopes, their bizarre, fiery red leaves adding spectacular bursts of color to the landscape even in the silvery light. As they descended into one of the smaller valleys, protected by steep cliff walls, she spotted a narrow waterfall plunging down the nearest mountain, the water disappearing into the forested valley.
Raum led the descent, gliding toward the base of the waterfall. As they neared it, a pool at the bottom was revealed, glittering in Periskios’s light, and she could hear the rush of the falls. Raum drifted across the water and landed on the far side. The others followed, and Piper let out a relieved sigh as Zwi’s feet touched down. She slid off the dragon’s back, landing on oddly cushioned ground. She poked one toe bemusedly at the carpet of low, vine-like plants with tiny green leaves and orange flowers that coated the ground as thickly as any grass on Earth. It was oddly spongy to stand on.
After catching their breaths from the flight, or stretching after dismounting their dragon rides, the others quietly explored the immediate area. Raisa and Netia ran to the edge of the water, peering into the crystalline liquid.
Piper did nothing more than stand in place, shifting her weight from foot to foot as her eyes scoured the dark sky. Periskios’s immense round face was fully lit, reflecting light that, while not as bright or warm as actual sunlight, was more than enough to see by.
Ash swooped into the clearing, landing beside Zwi. She huffed in relief and joined him as he folded his wings, breathing hard. She touched his arm, unable to do anything else for him.
“No more flying for a while, huh?” she asked with a weak smile.
He grunted. “Give me a day or two.”
“Look!” Raisa exclaimed, pointing excitedly at the water. “Fish!”
“Oh thank the Moirai,” Coby proclaimed. “Actual real food.”
With an excited giggle, Yana ran heedlessly toward the water. Raum scooped his daughter into his arms before she could reach the dangerous depths and swirling current.
“We picked this spot,” he told them, “for the access to fresh water and meat, as well as the shelter of the mountain and forest. We should be comfortable here for the next few weeks.”
“But there’s nothing here,” Jezel said flatly, eyeing the trees with distaste.
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