Book 5: Wing Captain

    The bells clanged at full force as Arthur ran into the crater beside the hive complex.

    He spared a moment to wonder if he should change out of his civilian clothes and into something more rider-like and professional. Certainly, the other wing captains had close-fit uniforms on with Blood Moon insignia sewn on. Plus what looked like panels of armor to protect vital organs.

    After a moment, he decided to forgo the uniform. He wasn’t sure where he would find one, and he was short on time.

    Besides, Wing Purple was always the last to arrive at the eruption, and now he had reason to believe he had a target on his back. The last thing he should do was stand out in the crowd.

    Brixaby was flying about fifty feet up, buzzing back and forth in a basic search pattern to find him. Upon spotting Arthur, he dived and landed with his usual pinpoint accuracy right at Arthur’s side. His bloodred eyes were bright and excited for the eruption to come.

    Wordlessly, Arthur vaulted up and took his seat. The moment he was secure on his neck, Brixaby took to the sky again.

    The crater itself was a hive of activity—Arthur winced at the pun—with dragons in all colors, shapes, and sizes flying back and forth to and from the assembling wings, some doing last-second chores. He heard orders being shouted, people speaking over each other, and even some minor hisses and growls as dragons from other wings vied for preferred places.

    He touched Brixaby’s neck. “Tell Joy and Cressida that we wish them good luck.”

    Brixaby swung his head around in the direction he was pointing, then stilled in concentration as he mentally sent the message.

    This far away, Arthur could not see Cressida’s reaction. But Joy raised both of her wings almost straight up in the air in the equivalent of a dragon wave.

    Grinning, Arthur turned away and made himself concentrate on his own wing.

    Wing Purple was assembling in the same spot in the crater as before. Off to the side and easily forgotten.

    It looked like almost everybody had arrived. As usual, the larger Uncommons were the center of attention with their groups—or fan clubs—of riderless Commons clustered around them.

    The new additions had shown up as well. Thackeray and Steve stood a little off to the side with their dragons, both looking nervous and proud. Amanda stood there, too, her little green dragon looking around with wide eyes and a mat of tiny pink and white flowers growing up beneath her feet. It must be a nervous tick.

    The new riders seemed to have gathered their own mini flock of admirers. Some of the Common greens were looking at Candy Floss and Bolt with open jealousy. Arthur wondered if even more would show up next time he offered them prospective riders.

    However, all eyes turned to Arthur and Brixaby as they flew in.

    He felt Brixaby swell up with pride, his head and neck lifting higher, his neck arching up. He loved being the center of attention.

    “Brixaby,” Arthur said, and pointed upward to where a few Common greens were hovering to chat with one another.

    Brixaby understood right away and belted out a sharp, “Settle down and land!”

    He must have added a touch of his Stunning Shout because conversations between dragons of nearby wings stopped, and even more eyes turned their way.

    However, it was more than effective at getting the flighty purples to settle themselves.

    Brixaby continued hovering few body lengths above the ground. Arthur didn’t have access to the Stunning Shout as it was an aspect of Brixaby’s Call of the Void, but he accessed his Leadership skill and projected his own voice.

    Steve straightened up and nodded, reaching out to lead his slightly bewildered-looking dragon over to Griff. Then again, that just might be the permanent expression on Bolt’s face.

    Finally, Arthur turned to Amanda. “Let Thackeray know what kind of seed stock would be best,” he said, “and in the meantime . . .” He trailed off, not sure what she should do.

    “The hatchling wing will be running back and forth delivering messages and doing chores,” she said. “That’s what Marion and Soledad are up to right now. I thought I could report in on everybody’s behalf.”

    Arthur nodded. He liked the fact that the three of them were getting to know each other. “Thank you. Tell them they know what to do. Just keep yourself safe and keep your eyes open for anything interesting.”

    “Interesting?”

    He lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “I’m always looking for ways to get shards.”

    She smiled. “I can’t wait until my dragon is old enough to join the wing for real.”

    Then she saluted, Blood Moon style, and ran off. Her tiny dragon was quick on her heels.

    Above, horns sounded along with the bells. Arthur glanced up. He didn’t remember horns last time. Then again, it had been night, and the leadership had not been able to put on much of a show.

    The horns had a deep thrum to them. He wasn’t sure if they were card enhanced or just some bass type of instrument, but they seem to be a signal for the green portal dragons to take off.

    The greens flew in a tight diamond formation, so close together that they were practically wingtip to wingtip. They circled once while the horns still blew.

    Arthur had to admit it made for a stunning sight. Below, dragons roared their enthusiasm, and riders yelled and whooped.

    They’re getting everybody excited for the eruption to come.

    That hadn’t happened last time, either. Maybe everyone was too tired from being caught in the middle of the night.

    The shimmer green wing angled upward and then split off in four neat directions, coming to a stop at a signal. Then they began to cast their magic.

    Unfortunately, Arthur and Brixaby were too far away to catch it with their Counterfeit Siphon.

    The large portal opened, and the first of the wings, one that was very heavy in reds and oranges, lifted into the air to go through.

    Arthur returned to Brixaby and took his seat, forcefully maintaining a stoic expression. Neither excited nor anxious, even though his heart was pounding.

    He felt Brixaby shift back and forth under him. He was raring to go.

    Finally, after the crater was emptied, the purples were allowed to ascend.

    Arthur and Brixaby led their wing into the air.