Page 62 of Where Broken Wings Fly

“Being immature fools,” Urram scoffed before winding his head up and over his back, looking to where Gliocas and Raegan emerged.

“Oh, you grumpy old man. Live a little,” Raegan beamed at Urram as he passed him.

Gliocas, whose stitches were somehow still intact, bowed his head to the ground in front of me. “Thank you, little human.”

I grumbled beneath my breath, something about Raegan having given his favourite nickname for me to Gliocas.

But both of the dragons were awaiting an answer from me. So was Raegan, who turned to face me with both arms folded over his chest.

“Olivia?” he finally asked. My name on his lips was enough to make the other three listen in closer, Killian going so far as to actually step closer.

“What?”

“He’s talking to you.”

Niamh, Shea, and Killian’s jaws all dropped low enough to catch both birds and beetles.

“Oh, sorry,” I coughed, looking at Gliocas at last. “You’re welcome, Gliocas.”

Shea and Killian both stammered out, at the same time, “There’s no way.”

Niamh frowned at me, looking like she had received the ultimate hurt in not being told sooner.

“What?” I scowled at them all. “I thought you could all hear them.”

Raegan was far too thrilled with himself as he winked at Gliocas, then turned back to Rìoghail and stroked at the long lengths of his golden mane.

“We best be getting back,” Killian started, accepting a hand up from Shea onto Milis. “We have to attend that breakfast that you demanded all to be a part of, Raegan.”

The Prince stiffened his jaw as he nodded to Gliocas and Urram, leaping up onto Rìoghail with ease.

Turning back to Urram, whose head lingered just behind me, I pressed a hand to his cold hide. “I hope I get to see you again soon, Urram.”

The giant reptile let out a deep purr, the vibrations transferring into my hands and trickling down my bones.

“Hopefully on better terms, Little.”

With a nervous laughter I finished a stroke of his scales and moved backwards towards Niamh, who helped me up onto Sonus. She jumped up and behind me, wrapping her hands around my waist after offering a hearty wave to the two dragons, who lingered on the cliff-edge long enough to watch us depart into the sky above.

~

We were only several minutes into our flight when balls of ice the size of the very creatures we rode on began to fall from the heavens.

“Hail!” Shea screeched from where she flew just ahead of us, spinning around to look at Raegan. “We haven’t had hail in years!”

Niamh groaned behind me before letting out a small laugh.

“Why is the sudden change in weather worth commenting on?” I whispered to Niamh.

“Just wait,” she sighed.

“What do you say, Raegan?” Killian roared from in front of Shea.

“We’re going to be late,” he called back.

“I see,” Killian chuckled. “You’re afraid I’ll beat you again.”

Raegan whirled around from his position on Rìoghail, his eyes alive with a challenge as water began to seep into his hair. “I won last time.”