Page 91 of Under Restless Skies

“Yes. I had to check. It might seem silly⁠—”

“Love is never silly. You’re right to care for your family.”

“Did you have anyone?”

He looks down. “My mother only. She died when I was young.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Perhaps it was fate.” He looks up and points at Auranius, flying over the bay. “Do you think he took a nap or something?”

Sensing he wants to change the subject, I keep the same light tone. “Sleeping during the day is always a nap, so yes.”

The gigantic dragon flies in low circles around the city, as we keep walking back to the academy. When we reach the central plaza, I hear the distinctive beating of his wings. Too close.

A bang shakes the street—and I turn. Auranius has just landed, his eyes dark and dangerous, his wings so broad that they’re wider than the plaza.

Some people scream and run. Of course we consider him our guardian, but when he’s flying in the sky. From up close, the enormous dragon is terrifying, each leg taller than a tree, jaws so large that he could easily eat a bull in one bite. I tell myself there’s no reason to fear him, and yet his behavior, landing like that, eyes full of hatred settled on me, is strange.

He advances toward me and Alayel and the only reason I don’t turn around and run is because I fear it will make him chase me. Cold prickles across my skin, and my body starts to tremble, even as I try to take deep breaths and remember this dragon saved me once.

He’s an ally.

And yet it doesn’t feel like it.

15

Iknow Auranius is friendly—or should be—but I’m about to pass out in terror.

The huge dragon lowers his head and opens his gigantic jaw displaying his sharp teeth, each bigger than my head, and roars. The sound is terrifying, but it’s nothing compared to the horrific stench coming from his breath, something putrid and foul, worse than piles of rotten fish. Worse than anything I’ve ever smelled.

I flinch backward, but Alayel holds me in place, then steps in front of me.

“Easy, there,” he says, the voice soothing as if he was trying to calm down a sad child. For some reason, it manages to calm me.

Auranius roars again.

“Easy,” Alayel repeats in that same lulling tone. “We’re your friends. You know that, don’t you?”

Auranius sniffs Alayel, as if trying to find something, then roars again and stomps his feet, breaking some of the stones paving the street.

Alayel continues, “You want to go to your lair now, don’t you?”

The dragon shakes his head, as if confused or angry, then opens his jaw again.

“Easy, now,” Alayel coos.

A man in a red robe—an acolyte—comes running, holding a golden thurible burning some herb I don’t recognize. Auranius turns to him and growls, but after a few seconds, the dragon blinks, his eyes softening. I suppose the scent is soothing him, and I take the opportunity to step back even more. To my relief, Auranius takes flight and disappears in the sky.

My body still trembling, I turn to the acolyte. “Thank you.”

The man nods and walks away.

“Let’s get you inside.” Alayel’s tone is harsh, urgent, already walking back to the academy. “It’s the hatchlings. He must have smelled them on you.”

“But he was… aggressive.”

“Maybe he thinks you hurt them or something. I don’t know. You’ll need to change clothes and clean up next time you leave the academy after you touch the little dragons.”