Princess Willowyn's Arc

Chapter 53 of 70

Willowyn worked in the field at first light. The dragon lay in the grass, wings folded, his white scales catching the pale sun. She lifted the silver saddle onto his back and cinched the straps beneath his belly. Her hands shook. He had flown her over hills before, but never across the sea. Two days over open water, maybe three. She did not know if he was strong enough. She checked each buckle twice. Then she gathered the reins. "Ready, my friends," she whispered. The minx sat on her shoulder, small and white, watching the dragon with bright eyes. She stroked the animal's fur and looked up at the great beast. If she never tried, she would never know. She would wait forever in the golden castle, wondering. Kai came across the grass with the tiger cub in his arms. He set the cub down near the dragon's foreleg. The cub batted at a loose strap, unafraid. Kai reached up and gripped the saddle. "This thing is huge," he said. His voice caught. He had followed her across kingdoms, faced guards and kings, but the dragon made him pause. Willowyn held out her hand. "It is okay. I won't let you fall, my love." Kai took her hand. She pulled, and he swung his leg over and settled behind her. The cub scrambled up his cloak and clung to his shoulder. The minx pressed against Willowyn's neck. She leaned close to the dragon's neck. "Take us home," she said. "Across the sea." She pressed her heels to his sides. The dragon rose on his legs. His wings spread wide, and the field went dark beneath them. He beat once, twice. The ground fell away. They climbed. The golden castle shrank below. Kai's arms tightened around her waist. The wind pulled at her hair and her silver gown. The dragon leveled out above the pine forests, and his wingbeats found a slow, steady rhythm. Willowyn felt his strength through the reins. He was not tired. He carried them like they weighed nothing. The forests ended. The sea opened ahead, gray and endless, with no shore on the far side. This was the test. On the griffin she had needed her magic to cross this water. The dragon needed nothing but his wings. He flew out over the waves without slowing. Willowyn let out a breath she had held for hours. He could do it. He could carry them the whole way. She would reach her mother. She would meet her brother. "He's strong," Kai said behind her. "You did it." "We did it," she said. She watched the water slide past below. Home lay two days ahead, across the open sea. And with the dragon under her, she knew now that she could reach any kingdom that needed her. The distance no longer stopped her. Only the crossing remained.