Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Eighty-One: Amatory

"So it is going to take us three days to get to Vroenguard?" Helain asked as she scurried about her guest room in the castle.

"Approximately," I answered her. "we could go faster, but I can guarantee that you will be too sick to your stomach to be a good student for a week afterward."

Helain wrinkled her brown in confusion.

"How exactly?"

"Wind currents, the occasional sea monster, storms, the sea is unpredictable, it's best if we take our time to get to the coast, and then stay the night before heading out to sea in the morning." Helain thought threw my reply before nodding.

"That sounds reasonable." She said.

"Well, don't feel disappointed," I added. "when Iorn gets enough wing strength, you and he will fly around the currents as practice."

"How exactly does a Dragon Rider train?" I smile at Helain, keeping my mouth shut. She let a growl and chucked the cloak in her hands onto her bed. "you aren't going to tell me, are you."

"And take away the experience?" I asked before shaking my head. "no, I won't. Training is such an obligatory word. I believe that it is your job as a student to learn and understand, that means learning that some rules of etiquette no longer apply."

"That sounds frustratingly like something an elf would say." I shrugged at Helain.

"Technically, you and I are the only human Dragon Rider's. We have to adapt to the ways of the elves before even thinking about the ways of a Rider."

"Meaning what, Suri?"

"Your first lesson starts now," I said with a grin. "when training to be a Dragon Rider, you may only speak and write, in the ancient language. Now considering the ancient language is not your native tongue, we'll slowly work our way to that point."

"So I am assuming I have to call you 'master' in the ancient language?" I gave her a devious smirk. "alright then, what's the word?"

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"Ebrithil."

"Hmm?" I sounded as I looked between my arms. I was balancing on my forearms while I held my torso and legs straight in the air. Upside down, Helain had one of the substantial texts on the ancient language in her lap while Iorn rested his violet head on her knee.

"How clear can a fairth be?"

"A fairth can be as clear as crystal, but it really depends on the concentration of the creator and the magic used to create the tablet," I explained as I brought my legs back down to the ground and stood up. "That being said, it takes practice, just like a painter. The first couple of fairth's will not be as of good quality since you've got no experience in the art."

"Can it be considered a craft?" I cocked my head to the side and thought about it.

"I don't see why not," I replied. "a fairth only requires magic and memory."

Farador landed off to our right, carrying a gazelle in his mouth for little Iorn. The purple dragon let out a happy squeak before fluttering over my dragon as he dropped the animal to the ground.

"This should last him through the rest of the trip." Farador chirped in a fatherly tone as Iorn tore into the gazelle. Averting my eyes, I scratched the back of my neck.

"I hope you filled your belly as well," Farador brought his head over to me and nudged my head with his snout.

"I did, my human." He replied as he nuzzled my hair. Reaching up, I stroked the scales that ran along his golden jawline. "Are you prepared for our arrival on Vroenguard?"

"If you mean am I ready to face him, no I believe I am not," I replied as I pressed my forehead against his head. "but I am needed, so therefore I shall go, regardless of my personal feelings."

With the first rays just peeking over the horizon, I got to work putting Farador's saddle back on. My fingers worked quickly, I wasn't exactly eager to get to Vroenguard, but I certainly didn't want to waste any time. The sooner we got there, the sooner I could release some pent-up rage by way of sparring with a fellow Master.

Once the saddle was firmly strapped on Farador's body, Helain and I packed up the rest of our meager supplies and buckled them to the saddle. By now, little Iorn was stuffed on the Gazelle Farador had brought for him.

I looked at him with a smile as he sprawled out on the grass with an engorged stomach. Helain looked down at him with hands on her hips.

"Well, don't complain to me," She retorted in a motherly way. "I'm not the one who ate an entire Gazelle."

"I think we are ready," I announced before I walked over to Iorn and bending down. "Can you still move, little one, or have you completely stuffed yourself?"

Iorn looked up at me before burping slightly. Laughing, I wrapped my arms around the growing dragon and lifted him up against my chest. Usually, I would leave the carrying to Helain, but Iorn had hit a slight growth spurt and had grown far too heavy for her.

Iorn wrapped himself around my body as I walked over to Farador. With an arm pressed against Iorn's violet body, I leaped up to the seat.

Iron withdrew the wings that clutched my chest and fluttered over to Helain. I looked over my shoulder as the two got settled.

"You secure the straps to your legs?" I asked. Helain nodded as Iorn attached himself to her chest.

"Good, Farador won't drop us, but the winds can get pretty nasty, and he might need to make some pretty tight turns."

Helain smiled at me.

"Iorn and I trust him."

"Alright then," I replied before turning back around and looking at the looming sea in front of us. "Ready when you are, Fare."