Chapter Fourteen
It was my turn to walk the wall as part of a team of three and keep a watch out to sea.
The air was frigid when I went out already wrapped in my thickest coat, my warmest hat.
We were expecting a new wing of Riders to come in that afternoon, and they would be flying into a headwind.
As I made my rounds, the sky went less grey and more black.
The rain was no surprise. The size of the drops, the ferocity of the pelting, that all suggested that a few more minutes and it would become hail.
I looked seaward, and there I saw the angry stacks of clouds.
There was a hell of a storm coming. My feet were already sloshing in my boots as I caught up with the other man.
Rain was pouring in through every crevice of clothing.
I was already soaked to the skin. My foot slipped, and he had to reach out to steady me.
“Dragon shit storm, you okay?” Gahunia asked.
I nodded. “Where’s Jimny?”
“Gone to the stables to warn Fenwick to raise a red flag!”
We had to shout over the wind. The rain was coming in horizontally now, driving up into clothes instead of down.
“Go ask Flight Captain Shi if there’s any way to stop the Riders incoming,” I shouted. “I’ll stay out here, see if the storm changes direction.”
Gahunia nodded and ran.
Given the wind and rain, staying out here wasn’t the best job ever, but this squall had risen so fast, I wanted to judge how much time we had.
Moving back around the wall-walk was difficult.
I had to lean well into the wind. If it dropped, so would I.
The hail started, landed, bounced and laid like ball bearings under foot.
I should go in, but technically I was on the way anyway.
Reaching the seaward wall, I held onto the granite to avoid being blown back over the inner wall.
Even while shielding my eyes one-handed, there was no way to make out what was coming for us.
But I knew from experience. That was a mature storm cell.
Shit. We were facing a giant thundersnow.
I had to get down off this wall-walk.
No man should be out in this, and no dragon either.
The nearest way down was the external stairway to the landing platform.
It was exposed and dangerous like this, but my best, my only option.
Fighting the winds that would toss me away, the hail that would slip beneath my feet, the cold that stung skin and eyes and lungs, I made it to the top of the steps.
Ice had already begun to form on the safety chain.
I grabbed it with both hands and rattled it.
A lot of the settled hail fell away, but I was going to have to be extra careful.
Another gust and I was nearly over the side.
There was nothing for it. I couldn’t risk going down on foot, I would be too easily blown away.
I sat. The cold and damp of the granite felt like it stuck me in position.
I was going to need a lot of hot water to warm up tonight.
Almost blinded by the storm around me, I headed down.
I wasn’t at the bottom when I felt the hand grip around my arm.
“Can you stand?”
Blinking up, all I could see was a silhouette, but the voice was Ang’s.
Nodding, I pulled myself up on the chain and took the last few steps to the landing platform.
“The Wing must have turned away from this!” I said. The wet ran off my face, and my nose was in danger of frostbite.
Ang shook his head, the water beading off his hair. Instead he half-turned, pointed into the sky. “They’re already here.”
“By the Gods.”
I could see them. Three massive, winged beasts struggling against the ice and the gale. The formation was to pieces, but at that point all any of us cared about was getting them in safe.
“They can’t go to the launching pad.” Shi moved close, also clinging to the safety chain. “The updrafts would smash them into the—”
His words were lost under the first crash of lightning and thunder, the simultaneous effects proving the storm was above us now.
Hail bounced off the landing platform to knee height.
Those poor dragons were going to be landing on the worst possible surface.
I blinked up. They were moving into a linear formation, ready to land one at a time instead of the usual triple landing.
By the Gods, I hoped they hung back or we wouldn’t be able to help one before the other was upon him.
“Fin must have got through to the dragons, to tell them to land individually!” Shi shouted.
Another bolt of lightning crashed into us, hitting the lightning rod at the top of the wall. I heard the crackle as the power shot down into the sea.
“Here they come!”
The first dragon had come in low, wings fully extended to break the force of flight.
But he misjudged, and as the beast’s back paws hit the landing platform, the wind caught his wings, dragged him near off the fortress entire.
Lightning slashed at him, I saw the blood surge from his shoulder, and the rider was thrown.
Thank the Gods for a swirling draft that threw him forward onto the granite.
The dragon scrabbled and adjusted, making his way almost by sheer determination onto the platform.
This way!
Even I heard the scream meant for the dragon.
As I battled the wind to reach the prone rider, I looked down the slope where hail poured, and Fin stood gripping the safety chains there to call the dragon in.
It struggled with the damage to its shoulder, clearly unable to control its wing, but it stumbled into shelter.
The second dragon was coming in, and both the fallen man and I were right in its path.
I reached the man and grabbed his collar, pulled him hurriedly out of the way.
The second dragon made the landing better.
Not smoothly, but there could be nothing smooth when the air was full of ice shards and movement.
I could barely see as this dragon also turned towards the slope away.
Lightning hit the island again, as a new shape appeared from nowhere to help me lift the unconscious man.
We were running for the slope ourselves as the third dragon cried out and reared into the sky.
It couldn’t make the landing, it had to circle.
I looked up for a split second. All I saw was the blinding dagger, time seemed to stop.
That lightning bolt was coming directly at us, then an unseen hand grabbed it, moved it.
It hit the wall of the fortress a mere pace or two from where Ang Shi stood, his arms raised to the heavens, the beautiful face in stark relief as he fought the storm in his own way.
My feet faltered, slipped. The newly arrived rider took the weight of his friend, and they carried on to the ramp, Fin shouting and signalling for them to move. That direction was such temptation, but I couldn’t leave Ang Shi out here alone.
The roar of the third dragon challenged the sky as it came in to touch down. It was a massive black creature, its wingspan covered more than half the landing platform.
His back leg touched down. The unsteady wind hampered the movement of his wings.
Tingles ran up my body, drew my head to the sky as his front legs crashed down.
The light was sharp. I looked at Ang. All his concentration was on the crackling power of the bolt.
The wind was buffeting him. His wide-legged stance should have held him, but it couldn’t.
I grabbed him around the waist, pulled him back as I grabbed the chain.
The tightness in his body reflected the concentration on his face as his power reached out to that electrostatic charge and pulled it away from the black and its rider. Right towards us.
My eyes squeezed shut as the power blasted into him, into me. The charge travelled down my arm into the iron chain and down, away into the ground beneath us.
Every muscle trembled. My dinner threatened to reappear. My hair felt as if it were on fire.
In the distance, I heard Fin’s voice praising the dragon for getting himself and his rider to the platform safe and well, calling them to follow him into the nests.
I kept hold of Ang as he kept a watch on the skies, diverting two more bolts of lightning.
Thankfully away from us as well as the dragon.
Once I saw the tail of the black disappear below the level of the platform, I pulled Ang back.
“You can stop now!” I was close to his ear, but I still had to shout. “We can go inside!”
I pulled him against me, against the wall, and let go of the chain.
The wind pushed us towards the door. I grabbed the handle, not caring that my palm burned.
Ang was leaning on me as I forced the door open and dragged us both inside.
I propped him against the wall and closed the door.
The cessation of the force against me was so different that I nearly stumbled again. But Ang was more important.
I moved to where he was leaning, pushing him around so his back was against the wall. The sheen on his face could have been rain, but I had a feeling a lot of it was sweat too. He looked pale and drawn. Out of energy.
My palm went to his cheek. His cold was balm to the burning in my hand.
“Ang,” I called his name, desperate to connect with him again. To know he was well.
He blinked and finally focused on me. In relief, I pressed my forehead to his, leaning into him until our bodies were together. His arms came up and around my waist, holding me.
“I’m all right,” he whispered.
I pulled my head back. “All right?” I asked. “You were absolutely incredible.” I didn’t think I had ever seen such precision or control. And now I was seeing the cost. The pale skin, the shadowed eyes, the grey lips. I saw his eyes move from mine to my lips. Was he leaning towards me?
“Come on.” I pulled his arm around my shoulder as we headed back to the accommodation area. “We need to get you warmed up again.”
“You’re not to leave me,” he muttered. Possibly. He muttered something. Maybe I just hoped it was that.
* * *
By the time we reached the accommodation level, I was joined by four other Riders, all keen to help. They helped us to the shared bathroom and got Ang, who was nearly unresponsive by then, undressed. Someone moved me to one side, helping me out of my soaked clothing too.
“A red scarf?” Surprise rang in whoever’s voice that was.
“It’s a lucky colour,” I said, since Ang was too far gone to talk.
Each of us was lowered into a hot bath. I was so numb that at first I didn’t realise how cold I was. Then the heat of that water started to flow through me.
“One of the new guys is a healer,” someone said.
I sat up. “Who needs healing?” That was usually my job.
“You do.” Cold hands pushed me back. “Go get him.” I don’t think that was said to me. “Sullivan? Focus on me a moment.”
Reluctantly, I did what the voice told me. Blinking to clear my vision.
“Do you recognise me?”
I rolled my eyes at that worried face. “Of course I do, you prat. You’re Wingmate Gahunia.”
He chuckled. “Glad we got that sorted. You did brilliantly out there. And Fin was fantastic too. He’ll be here soon. Can you lift your hands and move your fingers for me?”
I knew what he was doing so I wanted to tell him where to go, but he was right to check so I obeyed. My right hand was fine. My left, the burned one, not so much.
The door opened with a rush of cold air.
“Dad, you all right?” Fin was at my side, looking worried, and somewhat tired himself.
“I’ll be fine, son.”
“He will be if you let me see to him.” This came from one of the new guys, the second Rider who came in. He moved closer and Gahunia shifted to let him near me. “I am Wingmate Selim Boutros. I will heal you.” He looked down at me.
“Flight Captain Ang Shi is in worse condition,” I said. “See to him first.”
“He’s exhausted and cold,” Boutros told me. “He’s already receiving the care he needs.” The tall man knelt beside me. “These appear to be electrical burns. I may not be able to remove them entirely, but I can stop the burning in your skin, which should help.”
I nodded. “Do what you can.”
His hand moved to my shoulder. I winced from the cold of it, then I felt his magic activating in my skin. The relief started to flow.
“They kind of look like ferns,” Fin said.
“This is why they are called Ferning,” Boutros said as his magic worked through me. It felt odd. I was used to giving healing, not receiving it, so I wasn’t ready for the tickling sensation of builders shifting through my veins and flesh and hammering out the damage.
“They are the marks of the electrical power passing through the body,” Boutros went on.
“This is why you see some on the torso and some down the arm. Given the burn on his palm, I would suggest that that was the discharge point. Some of these marks will fade, others may not. Like all wounds. Are you interested in healing, boy?”
“That’s not my magic,” Fin said. “I’m just interested in my dad getting better.”
Boutros worked in silence for a few more minutes, and I did feel better for it. All the boiling under my skin was gone, and the water was warming me through. The cold that had frozen my core was starting to thaw.
Finally Boutros moved away and checked Ang in the tub next to me. Ang’s head rested back on the rounded metal lip, his skin looked more its usual golden hue. The grey was gone from his lips, but the shadows remained under his eyes.
“You will both be fine, but you need to warm up and rest.” Boutros turned to Fin.
“This man is your father, yes?” Fin confirmed it.
“Do you share accommodation?” Again Fin confirmed it.
“Then go to your accommodation and ensure a blazing fire. He will need that once we have his core temperature up.” Fin nodded and rushed away.
Boutros looked around. “Perhaps one of you gentlemen can do the same for your captain?” Someone promised to do so.
“Next they will need to be fed. Soup would be best. Can someone—”
“I’ll get on that now.” I couldn’t tell who said that as I was drifting into a comfortable miasma of warmth without pain.
When next I opened my eyes, I saw the room was empty but for Ang and me.
His arm was out of the tub, which wouldn’t help him, so I reached out and took his hand.
The touch instantly startled him. Then I felt his fingers curl around mine.
His head went back to resting on the tub, his eyes closed.
I did the same, and somehow the connection between the two of us was as warming as the hot water.