Page 105 of Tailwind

‘Put on the first race of the Decennial? Yeah, already on it.’ He thumbed the augment controls one-handed while drinking from the wine bottle with the other.

It wasn’t surprising that he’d guessed. I’d talked about that race over and over during our ten years of friendship. Even Josie knew it was my favourite and I’d known her for barely two months. Yet the warmth in my cheeks had turned into a full flush.

Knowing my favourite Volitant race was nothing to blush over.

I repeated that to myself as I sank into the ageing deckchair, bringing my knees up to my chest for protection against my own traitorous thoughts. There was something deeply wrong with me, but it got easier to ignore as the race commentary began.

‘Strap yourselves in, folks. This is the beginning of the rest of your life! After this season we will be forever changed, having witnessed a clash between riders like no other!’

My eyes fixated on the twenty dragons flashing across the projection, chromatic and metallic mixing together, as the announcer’s voice washed over me.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

I scrubbed at my hair with the towel provided by the ranch. It was decent, but ever since using the ones on the Volitant train I’d become bratty about anything less than luxurious. I tossed it into the laundry pile and brushed out my hair, flopping on to the double bed. Standing was overrated, especially at the end of my evening shift of tending to the dragons.

My lodgings were nice, though not at all the style of home I’d expected of a legendary Volitant rider. The bedroom, with attached bathroom, was connected to a long porch that wrapped around the building. The room itself was square, the pale green walls with a dark wooden floor made it feel cosy, while the big bed, storage and armchair provided plenty of efficiency and comfort. Not so much like the sprawling Vaspre home, but oddly that had a similar homey feeling too.

Training hadn’t felt so difficult since my visit. I still hadn’t managed to tag Bach, but expending the effort wasn’t so demoralizing when there was hope for the future. It was, however, still tiring. My eyes began to close as I stared at the ceiling with my limbs spread out on the bed.

Josie’s laugh bounced through the window from the porch. I’d left it open hoping to get some fresh air in to cool the room, but the humidity of the island was nearly as bad as the bathroom during a hot shower.

I rolled off the edge of the bed, landing on my feet and groaning as I stretched back up. It was tempting to just go to sleep, but Josie was finally back. I hadn’t seen her for a couple of days while I’d been with Theo and she was back on shift at the Kiestral aviary. She’d have stopped in to see Gottyk for me.

My mood boosted at the thought of my friend and my dragon, I headed out to the porch. My bare feet slapped against the polished wood, enjoying the freedom. My shorts and t-shirt were perfect for the dry summer at home, but in the jungle even they felt thick and heavy. Still, I couldn’t not pack them, they were my oldest, most worn and comfiest set. The illustrated print of the dragon Damina, Vepari’s daughter, on the shirt was still visible, as were the wing patterns on the shorts. They didn’t make quality team merchandise like this anymore.

Out on the dark porch Josie was pulling a chair up to the small table that lived out there. Bottles clinked as she set several down. She saw me and waved.

‘Lena, come join us.’

I slumped into the free chair. ‘Sure, who are you—?’

Bach stepped out from a room further along the porch. I shrank into my seat, pulling my knees up to my chest. I’d been expecting one of the other keepers, or Laurent the manager.

‘Josie, cover me. I’m going back in.’ I ducked, trying to escape before he saw me.

‘Don’t be stupid.’ She grabbed hold of my shoulder, holding me on the chair.

‘I’m in my old Prevere pyjamas, Josie,’ I hissed at her through the smile I’d plastered on my face. My time was up, Bach was joining us with another chair.

She looked at me, seeing the smiling dragon that had faded from years of washing and wearing. Her lips clamped together as her eyes widened. Thankfully she took a drink to cover the smile spreading across her face.

‘Hey,’ was all Bach said as he sat down opposite me. His broad frame completely obscured the wooden chair; the only clue it was still there was the groaning sound it made as he leaned in for one of the bottles. I could have sworn he made a similar sound, looking more tired when out of his flight suit.

I’d been in training with him for most of the day and had been for a few weeks, but that was work. We said hello, talked about dragons, Volitant and then we went our separate ways. Yes, sometimes I complained and he gave advice, but then I went back to avoiding him around the ranch like any sane person would do.

All so he wouldn’t catch me in my pyjamas that had his old team and dragon on them.

I hoped that the same strategy would work here too. I stayed quiet as he and Josie chatted. The light beer Josie had brought was a good distraction. It was blissfully cold and it was fun to watch the water droplets drip down the glass bottle and merge together.

In a way, it reminded me of home. Any time it was more than me and Cam in the house it was easier to just stay quiet. Everyone was nice, but they were Cam’s crew, not mine. I was definitely Josie’s friend, but she and Bach had known each other for years. The longer I sat there with them, scrunching my toes on the lip of my seat, the more I missed us keeping my secret together. It had kept everyone else out of our business.

‘I saw Gottyk today,’ she said, very much directing it at me.

I perked up.

‘Rosinder is well enough to have company now, so he’s been fussing over her.’

‘Classic Gottyk.’ I smiled thinking of him pacing around his sister, cooing and kicking up the pellets to make her comfortable. ‘Last time I had a cough he nearly buried me alive.’