Sky Riders: The Rising Sun
Flight and Fight

Eliana waited anxiously in the courtyard, feeling giddy withexcitement. After a few minutes, Oriens finally landed in front of her. His ownexcitement pulsated in her mind, redoubling her own until she felt on the vergeof giggling.

“Are you ready?”she asked him.

“I have been ready forweeks. It’s you that I’ve beenwaiting on,” he answered.

She laughed. “Let’s gothen.”

The dragon crouched low, and she placed a boot on his bentforeleg, grasping a neck spike with her uninjured hand. She swung her leg overhis back, settling into the groove at the base of his neck, between hisshoulders.

“Hold on tight!”he called to her.

Oriens crouched, then leapt into the air, throwing his wingsout and beating hard. Eliana looked down and saw the ground rapidly fallingaway; it filled her with a feeling of excitement and ecstasy, and she turnedher attention back towards the sky. They had risen above the trees, and Oriensflew low over the canopy. Eliana tilted her head back and threw her arms wide.She let out an unbridled whoop, laughing as the wind made her hair stream outbehind her. In her mind, Oriens was laughing as well.

They reached the river, and the dragon swooped low above thewater, following its winding length. He dipped one front foot into the water,dragging it along as he flew and sending up a spray of chilly droplets. Elianalaughed louder as the mist dampened her face and hair. He looked back at herwith one green eye and smiled toothily at her, their joy mingling together intheir minds.

Ahead of them, they spotted the group of elves, who hadcrossed the river and were starting towards the woods. They all wore brownboots and breeches, and a belted green tunic. They stopped when they saw thegolden figure descending on them again. Oriens tilted his wings and hoveredover the bank. His wings backpedaled twice, then they settled onto the bankwith a quiet thud. All but two of the figures before them dropped to one knee.

Eliana hopped quickly from Oriens’ back, wincing slightly asthe impact jarred her still-healing ribs. The kneeling figures all pressed onefist to their chests and bowed their heads, muttering, “Veholum.” She gave themall a nod of acknowledgment and looked at the two standing figures.

One of them was Raena. Her face looked very much the wayEliana had imagined it. She was scowling, her perfect lips pursed, irritationand jealousy written over every inch of her beautiful face. Unfortunately,however, she had not been knocked on her backside as Eliana had hoped.

The other was Caelum. He beamed at her as she stepped up tohim, and her heart fluttered like a caged bird. Her memories and her dreams hadnot done him justice. His vibrant blue eyes were alive with laughter as helooked at her.

“Eliana!” he called. “You’re flying!”

She beamed back, striding quickly to stand in front of him,resisting the desire to rush into his arms. “For the first time!” she answeredwith a laugh. “Oriens saw you on the bank, and he came back to bring me to meetyou.”

Restraining herself from embracing him turned out to beentirely unnecessary. As she reached him, Caelum pulled her into an embrace,pressing her to his chest. She was startled at first, but then she wrapped herarms around his back and shut her eyes, breathing in his rainy-forest scent.

“I missed you,” she sighed into his tunic.

She had not expected him to hear her. In fact, a part of herhoped that he wouldn’t, but evidently, he did. “No more than I missed you,” heanswered quietly.

His embrace tightened a little, and Eliana gasped in pain,pulling back. Caelum looked down at her in concern.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. His eyes landed on the bandagesaround her wrist. “What happened?”

She smiled dismissively. “Just a training accidentyesterday. It’s only a sprain. Doesn’t even hurt. The ribs are the biggerproblem,” she said with a laugh, pressing her good hand to her side.

Caelum frowned, looking agitated. “What was Mara doing?” he asked incredulously.

“Really, Caelum. I’m fine. Laurus said I should be back tonormal in a few days.”

The elf gave a little laugh and rolled his eyes. “Honestly,I leave your side for a few months and this is what happens? You truly arehopeless, Eliana.”

She smiled back at him, her heart warming at his familiarteasing. “I suppose you just shouldn’t leave any more,” she said.

His smile softened and he touched her cheek. “Yes…” he saidquietly. “I suppose I shouldn’t be leaving your side ever again.”

She became suddenly very aware of the dozen pairs of blueand violet eyes, which were all watching them intently. She cleared her throatuncomfortably and took a small step away from his touch. Caelum saw herdiscomfort and dropped his hand.

Raena’s angry blue eyes caught her attention, and Eliana turnedher eyes towards her. The elf’s expression was burning with fury. The momenttheir gazes met, that familiar, hate-filled voice entered her mind.

“How dare you? Youfilthy little—!”

“Will you shut up?”Eliana snapped back silently. She felt gratified by the look of surprise onRaena’s face as she projected her thoughts confidently into her mind. “Stay out of my head and keep your pathetic,jealous thoughts to yourself.” She smirked. “Or I will have Oriens deal with you.”

The dragon lowered his head and bared his teeth, giving aquiet snarl. Raena’s fair face paled further and she stumbled backwards a fewsteps. Caelum looked at the dragon in surprise, then at the Rider. He followedher gaze to the pale-faced Raena, and understanding crossed his expression.Eliana saw him suppress a smile.

“We should get back to Iterum,” he said, touching Eliana’sarm. “I’ll meet you in the courtyard, and you can tell me more about thisapparently violent training that Mara has been giving you.”

Eliana glanced at Oriens, silently asking his permissionbefore extending the offer. Her dragon nodded his head, and she looked back atthe elf. She hesitated briefly, wondering how her words might be received.Quickly, before she could persuade herself not to, she caught his hand. “Comewith me,” she said hurriedly.

He looked confused. “What?”

“Fly back to the palace with me,” she repeated, tighteningher grip on his hand, praying he would say yes.

“Are you sure?” he asked, smiling a little, glancing betweenthe dragon and Rider. They both nodded, and he laughed, allowing Eliana to pullhim to Oriens’ side. “Well, alright then.”

Giddy with excitement, Eliana pulled herself up onto the dragon’sback again, and Caelum mimicked the movement, mounting behind her. Oriens tookto the air again, his great wings beating the remaining soldiers with powerfulgusts of wind. Eliana met Raena’s gaze again, the elf’s expression full ofanger and jealousy; she still did not fall on her backside.

Then Oriens turned upriver, and the elves disappeared fromview. Eliana felt Caelum’s arms tight around her waist, his body warm againsther back. The animal in her chest had vanished, chased out by the joy thatpulsed through her.

“Don’t take us backyet, Oriens,” she silently begged her dragon.

He gave a short laugh in her mind. “As you wish, my Rider.”

He rose up above the height of the trees and took a lazy,meandering course over the rolling green canopy. Behind her, Caelum laughed andgave a whoop of joy. The dream she had shared with Oriens came back to her, andshe smiled. In this moment, everything was perfect.

It wasn’t long before she felt Oriens beginning to tire fromcarrying two passengers. “It’s alright,”she said to him. “We can go back now.”

She felt his silent acknowledgment, and he tilted his wingstowards the palace. They passed over Iterum and descended gently over the whitewalls of the courtyard. Oriens landed and folded his wings wearily as Caelumslid off of his back. He turned and reached up to help Eliana down. Shewelcomed his touch as he took her by the waist and gently lowered her to theground beside him.

His hands lingered on her hips as he smiled down at her, hisface flushed with excitement. “Thank you, Eliana,” he said. “That was…” Helaughed and shook his head. “I can’t even begin to describe how incredible thatwas.”

She smiled back at him, and he looked at the golden dragonbehind her. “And thank you as well. It was wonderful.”

Oriens projected his voice to both of them. “It’s the least I could do after biting youthe night I hatched.”

Caelum’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Ah, you can speak.”

The dragon chuckled. “Quitewell, actually.”

Eliana interjected. “He learned to speak and fly on the sameday. The morning that you left.”

The elf’s smile fell slightly and he dropped his gaze,avoiding her eyes.

A feeling of hurt touched her heart again as she forced thewords out. “You just… left,” she said quietly. “You left, and you didn’t evensay goodbye.”

Caelum sighed and took a step back, his hands sliding awayfrom her waist, leaving her skin feeling unnaturally cold. He rubbed at theback of his neck, still not looking at her. “It just… It seemed easier thatway…” he muttered.

She frowned at him. “Easier? How? That… that wasn’t easy forme at all, Caelum.”

He finally met her eyes, his lips pressed in a tight line.She could see pain and regret in his blue eyes. “I know…” he said. “It waseasier for me.”

There was a pause, and she met his gaze flatly, trying totake in his words.

Caelum sighed heavily and stepped up to her again, takingher face softly between his hands. She wanted to be angry with him, to pullaway, but his touch seemed to imprison her. His forehead rested against hers,and he closed his eyes. “I was selfish,” he admitted quietly. “I thought that,if I said goodbye… I wouldn’t be able to leave you. I was afraid that I wouldlet myself stay if I had to face you. I was self-centered, and for that, I amtruly sorry.”

Eliana sighed, giving up on being angry with him. “It’sokay,” she breathed, closing her eyes as well. “I’m just glad you’re home.”

There was a pause in which they stood together, eyes closed,foreheads touching, and Eliana was aware of nothing but Caelum’s presence—the warmthof his hands on her cheeks, the sound of his breathing. Then he pulled back,looking at the dragon again.

“So am I correct in assuming you named him, then?” Caelumasked.

She nodded, looking at the dragon, who had been watchingthem patiently and with a sense of fascinated curiosity. “His name is Oriens,”she answered.

The elf gazed up at the bright, golden form that looked backdown at him. “Oriens…” he repeated. “The rising sun. It’s perfect.”

Oriens flashed his white teeth in a dragonish smile. “I like to think so.”

Caelum laughed and turned back to the girl beside him. “Ishould go into the palace,” he said, softly touching her elbow, seeminglywithout thought. “My mother will want to know I’ve returned.”

She nodded, and he started to walk away. She paused, thencalled after him, “Caelum?” He stopped and looked back at her. “Did you meanwhat you said the night before you left? Are you really taking me with you thenext time you leave?”

He grinned at her crookedly. “Of course. Didn’t I tell you Iwasn’t letting you out of my sight again? You get into too much trouble whenI’m gone.”

She smiled and he walked away, entering the palace doors.Once he disappeared, Oriens spoke to her mind. “I haven’t felt you this happy since he left.”

Eliana sighed contentedly. “I know. I… I don’t think I’ve been this happy in… well, in a longtime.”

She wrapped her arms around her chest, but this time, it wasnot to quiet the animal inside her, the empty loneliness that had tried toconsume her. That was gone, as if it had never been there. Now, she felt as ifshe were trying to hold her heart inside of her chest. It was beating wildly,as if it were struggling to escape from her.

Oriens’ head jerked suddenly skyward, his green eyes staringup at the endless expanse of blue above them, as if searching for something.

Eliana felt him tense, becomingly wary and alert. “What is it?” she asked.

“Something’s coming,”he answered slowly. “Something… Dark…”

And then she felt it too, like a cold fog descending aroundher, causing her to shiver. She looked to the sky, trying to follow Oriens’gaze.

“Is it flying?”

He paused for a moment, then answered tensely, “Yes.”

“Another dragonRider?”

“Perhaps… But if itis, the dragon’s presence is hidden by the Dark magic.”

They stood rigidly and silently, staring up towards the sky.A sudden realization struck her. “Oriens,”she said sharply in his mind, “We have tostop it. If whatever it is passes over Iterum, they’ll see it. They could sendan army. The elves would be defenseless.”

Oriens rumbled in his throat and nodded once. “You’re right. Let’s go.”

He crouched and she mounted him once again, fear gripping atboth of them. They didn’t know what they were about to face, but they had nochoice but to face it. Oriens lifted his already tired wings and lifted them intothe air again. They stopped and hovered over Domus, their eyes searching theskies.

“Do you know where itwas coming from?” she asked the dragon.

“Can’t you see it?”

“No.”

“Then use my eyes.”

Once again, he pulled her into his mind and she saw what hesaw. In the distance, barely visible, was a small, dark shape. It was headedstraight for Iterum, flying from Vereor, the human capitol. It was moving fast,and the cold darkness grew stronger as the shape grew closer.

“We have to fly outand meet him,” she said. “If he getsnear Iterum, he may see it. Let’s go, Oriens!”

For the first time, Oriens let out an earthshaking roar,which reverberated through Eliana’s body. She pressed herself low on his neck,and he threw them forward in the air, his golden wings beating the air fasterand faster, propelling them forward to their unknown enemy. The wind whipped atEliana’s hair, stinging her eyes and cheeks. Soon, she was able to see the darkshape with her own eyes.

She drew slow breaths, trying to calm herself and repressher fear; she needed to have total control of her magic. The feeling of Darkmagic was heavy now. It felt as if it clung to Eliana’s skin, making it harderto breathe. As they drew closer to the dark form, she was able to recognize itfor what it was—a man, flying effortlessly on his own.

He wore a black cloak, which fluttered out behind him. Hisface was paler than any elf’s and was framed by chin-length hair that wasequally pale. He looked like a spirit, clothed in black, and Eliana wonderedfor a brief moment if she was about to encounter some undead creature.

But then the man drew back, spotting their approach, and shesaw surprise cross his face. Oriens took advantage of the stranger’s fallenguard and dove towards him, roaring again. The dragon’s glistening teeth barelymissed the man as he darted sideways. However, he did not move quickly enoughto avoid receiving a long scratch across his chest by Oriens’ outstretchedclaws.

Oriens circled tightly so that they faced their enemy again.The man was staring down at the slash through his black cloak, and the red lineacross his white chest. Then he looked up at them. Eliana realized in aninstant that he was breathtakingly beautiful. He had the perfect, pale featuresof some heavenly creature—but his eyes were black pits.

He looked at the dragon and Rider, and she thought she saw aflash of red in those black eyes. The man gave a dangerous grin, then flewforward, a sword flashing in his hand.

“Move!” sheshouted in her mind.

Oriens swerved quickly to the left and upwards, missing theshining blade by inches. Eliana lited her left hand from the spike she clung toand directed her palm towards their attacker. A jet of fire flew at him. Sheexpected him to shout some kind of spell, as human sorcerers did, but the mansimply swirled his black cloak around the flames, and they vanished into itsfolds.

Eliana stared at him for a moment, realizing with a tremorof terror that she had no idea what she was facing. Then she steeled herselfand gathered the energy for another attack. She threw a roaring tornado of windat him. He calmly raised his hand, and the wind passed around him like wateraround a stone. She drew on Oriens’ magic and sent a blast of water towardshim. It scattered like raindrops with a flick of his wrist. With a shout, shesent half a dozen vines lashing towards him, prepared to seize him and drag himto the ground. The man made a swiping movement with his arm, and the vines fellback to the earth in pieces.

She was panting now, weary from the effort. She couldn’t useher marked hand, and the magic was difficult to control. Beneath her, she feltthe weariness in Oriens’ mind and body as well. He had already been weakened bytheir silly, meandering flight with Caelum, and now he was struggling to keepthem in the air. All because I didn’twant to go home, she thought to herself bitterly.

“My magic isn’tworking against him, Oriens,” she panted in their minds. “It’s up to you.”

“No,” he answeredtiredly. “You are still my Rider. It isstill up to us.”

She gathered what energy she could and shouted silently, “Again, Oriens! Attack!”

At her command, the golden dragon folded his wings and doveback down upon the black cloak. With another swish of the folds, the sorcererdisappeared right from underneath them. Oriens braked abruptly, throwing Elianaforward on his neck, driving her shoulder into the sharp spikes of his neck.She gave a shout of pain and jerked herself upright, gritting her teeth againstthe pain. Blood began to stain the shoulder of her tunic.

Frantic anxiety pressed against her mind. “Eliana! Are you alright?”

“Don’t worry aboutme,” she answered quickly, trying to regain the seat she’d nearly lost. “The sorcerer. Is he gone?”

“No,” Oriensanswered tersely. “I can still sense himclose by.”

Eliana looked back over her left shoulder. In a swirling ofdark fabric, the man reappeared, diving forward to thrust his blade intoOriens’ soft underside.

“Move, Oriens!” she screamed aloud.

He didn’t hesitate or question her. Oriens folded his wingsand immediately dropped into a dive, nose extended towards the ground, thenleveled out, racing away from the elven city. The cloaked figure followed closebehind them, somehow keeping pace with them. Oriens bared his teeth andsnarled, putting on a burst of speed and pulling away from the figure thatfollowed him.

She could hear her dragon panting heavily as he calledsilently to her, “Hold on, Eliana!”

She seized the neck spike in front of her with both hands,her bandaged wrist throbbing in protest, and tightened her legs around him. Therough scales bit into her skin through the thin breeches she wore, tearing atthe flesh inside her knees. She lay low on his neck, knowing from his thoughtsexactly what he was going to do.

Oriens abruptly threw his head back, bending himselfbackwards in the air. They looped over the top of their enemy, the dragon’s pale-goldbelly exposed to the sky. For a brief moment, she saw the sorcerer look up atthem in surprise. Then, Oriens descended on him.

The man rolled in the air, frantically trying to escape,once again managing to avoid the dragon’s teeth. But as he dodged away from thesnapping fangs, he came within reach of Oriens’ claws. The dragon seized theman in his left forepaw, gripping him tightly. The sorcerer howled in pain asthe dragon’s claws dug into his sword arm. Eliana saw him quickly pass the bladeto his free hand, and he sliced upwards.

“Sword!” Elianashouted to her dragon’s mind.

Oriens released the man from his claws and pulled upwards.She felt the sting of the blade as it scratched across her dragon’s soft chestscales. They hovered, watching as the man tumbled towards the earth. She feltOriens begin to pull his wings into his sides, prepared to dive and catch thestranger. Then the man swirled his cloak around him and vanished into the air.

Eliana glanced around nervously, waiting for the man toreappear and attack them again. Nothing happened.

“He’s gone,”Oriens sighed. “I can’t feel the Darknessanymore.”

She could feel the difference in the air as well. It waslighter, clearer, warmer. She gave a groan of relief and exhaustion, pressingher hand to her bleeding shoulder. Her sprained wrist throbbed from the effortof clinging to Oriens’ neck, and she could feel warm blood seeping into herbreeches from where the dragon’s scales had torn at her flesh. Her entire bodyfelt drained from the effort of her useless magic, and her back ached with sympathyfor Oriens’ weary wings.

“Let’s go home,”she moaned silently.

He turned back towards Iterum, his wings beating slowly andheavily. “Are you badly injured?” heasked.

“Nothing that can’t beeasily Healed,” she answered. “Whatabout you?”

“Only a scratch,”he replied dismissively. She could sense that he was doing his best to keep herfrom worrying, but she could still feel the sting in her own chest. “You did very well, Eliana,” he toldher.

“We both did,” sheanswered with a weak smile.

After what seemed like an eternity of slow, laboriousflight, the white stone walls of the palace courtyard were below them. Elianacould see Caelum, pacing anxiously in front of the palace doors. As they landedin front of Oriens’ cave, the elf jogged up to them, his face drawn with worry.

With a small moan of pain, Eliana slid off Oriens’ back,immediately lying down on the soft grass. Oriens sighed and laid down besideher, breathing heavily, his tired wings resting on the ground at his sides.Suddenly, Caelum was kneeling beside her, his cool hand on her hot, flushedface.

“Eliana, what happened?” he asked frantically. “Are youokay?”

She swallowed and tried to nod, but that made the earthstart spinning, so she forced herself to speak. “I’m alright. There was… someone…a man… He was coming towards Iterum… He was… Dark, so we…”

She was so tired. So very, very tired. Beside her, Oriens’eyes closed with a sigh, and she felt his weariness drag her with him. Hereyelids slid over her eyes, unbidden, and the world around her disappeared intopeaceful blackness.