CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
So, it was a ranch. The fabled estate owned by six-time Volitant champion Bach Lotiere.
The place he vanished to between racing seasons.
Rumoured to be either a castle, fort or hollowed-out mountain.
No one knew, because no one knew where it was.
Yet I was on a train cutting through the dense rainforest of the Crescent on my way there.
Sure, everyone talked about it because Bach had mentioned it one time in an interview fifteen years ago, but the reality of finding it was near impossible.
Until now I hadn’t even known if it was on the southern continent or not.
Turns out, it wasn’t. The Crescent was a set of islands between the north and south continents, laid out in a great arc around the Sky Pillar.
It was where the Ballenir race had been hosted.
It was also home to Theo and his family.
I checked the notes I’d brought with me, flicking the edges of the thin comms-office paper and wondering why I tortured myself with them.
I skipped past the ones from Josie telling me to be on time – as if I’d be late for anything to do with Bach.
Then I reread the messages I’d been ignoring. The ones from Theo.
Part of me was surprised he still remembered my local comms-office code. It had been years since he’d last contacted me at home. Yet there they were, a series of messages.
Come to the race anyway. Fuck them! It had arrived the day after I’d got home.
At least watch the cast, I know you won’t want to miss me win. The day before the race.
I know what you’re thinking, but third is still good. The day after.
The latest one had been sent from his parents’ personal comms terminal and had arrived at the cottage before I’d left for the station. Come visit over the summer.
My stomach twisted, so I stuffed the messages back into my bag.
I had enough going on without involving Theo.
Sure, there had been some progress. I didn’t start evaporating with anger every time I saw him anymore and he’d actually kept up his side of the agreement, but visiting him over summer …
it would be like visiting the grave of our friendship.
Not to mention I’d not fulfilled the promise he’d got out of me to sweeten the deal. He hadn’t pressed me into contacting his parents, but part of me had wanted to. The rest of me agreed that it was better to stay away.
Plus, the deal we’d had was over and any improvements between us didn’t erase his betrayal.
So I ignored his messages.
I watched the vibrant green of the jungle fly by the train window. We’d passed the city where Theo lived an hour ago, instead heading further north into the untouched areas of the islands. Gone were the tall glossy buildings of his home town, replaced by dense, humid forest thick with life.
Then, in a burst of light, the ocean glittered in front of me.
The jungle disappeared as we shot across a long slim bridge that spanned the gap between the southernmost islands.
The view was incredible. I could see the rest of the islands in the distance, curving left in a long arc.
If I squinted against the sun I could see the smudge that was the Sky Pillar – the floating island that was the hallowed land of an age long lost and the final race location for both Volitant Forge and Chroma.
Before I had any chance of racing there, I had to do something about my lack of job. I still wasn’t sure what I was going to do about it, but training with Bach seemed like a step in the right direction.
Another hour later I was off the train and staring open-mouthed at Josie.
‘Come on, or do you not want to go to your hero’s secret dragon ranch?’ She said it with the biggest smile I’d ever seen on her.
Next to her were two magnificent wyverns.
They sat politely on their haunches, their front feet pointed inwards so their attached wings folded neatly to the sides.
They were a deep charcoal-grey, with beautiful snub-nosed snouts and gleaming black eyes.
In the world of wyverns they were top-end long-distance fliers.
Sturdy enough to be comfortable to fly and fast enough to be efficient.
I couldn’t help but grin at how much better they were than Mac and Gordi’s.
I walked over and nodded my head to them. They returned the gesture.
‘Are these Bach’s?’ I asked Josie as I reached up to stroke one on the snout.
After a momentary pause it ducked its head into my hand, enjoying the fuss.
‘They are. So of course they’re the best. Hardly need any direction at all.’
That was good, since I had no idea where we were going. Cam’s wyverns were a different breed, bred for speed and agility. These two muscular wyverns had enough room in their heads for a brain too.
I loaded my bags on to the saddle and swung myself up, following Josie’s lead.
‘By the way,’ I said, pushing on the helmet that had been clipped on to the side. ‘Less of the whole Bach’s my hero stuff at the ranch, please? The last thing I want is to lose this chance because he thinks I’m a stalker.’
Josie smiled. ‘But you are.’
The wyverns broke out into a loping run, using their hind legs to propel them as they flapped their wings with their front limbs. It was an odd feeling compared to taking off on a dragon. The difference in balance and gait forced me to put my weight further back.
My muscle memory kicked in instantly thanks to the six years I’d spent racing them. Once we were in the sky it was smooth soaring. From up there I could see the lie of the land. It was far less populated than the islands to the south, mostly dense forest and with undulating hills for miles on end.
The wyvern tilted, taking us down towards a valley. It wasn’t until we were right on top of our destination that I saw where we were going.
A few long low buildings were nestled around a clearing.
It looked natural at the bottom of a hill, with the vegetation almost completely covering the human-made structures.
We circled downwards and landed in the centre of the clearing.
The buildings were arranged in a large circle around us, their fronts all pointing inwards.
I pulled off my helmet and slid out of the saddle, scanning the buildings for dragons. I saw none.
I did, however, see Bach walking towards us, accompanied by an older man. He was taller than Bach, with greying hair and tanned skin. His nose and chin were both pointed, which would have given him a severe look if his smile hadn’t been so contagious.
‘Try to act normal, Lena. Wouldn’t want him to think you’re a stalker, would you.’ Josie spoke far too loudly for my liking, given that Bach was closing in on us.
I shot her a glare before schooling my face into something polite. Inside, my heart was racing. All of the talk of where Bach disappeared to between races and during the off-season … I was there.
‘Welcome,’ said Bach as he reached us. He gestured to his companion. ‘This is Laurent. He’s Head of Estate. If you need anything or have any questions, he’s the man with the answers.’ Then, he pointed to me. ‘Laurent, this is Lena, our new trainee.’
Trainee. To be trained by my mentor Bach Lotiere. I clenched my hands in place of pinching myself.
Laurent, still smiling, shook my hand. ‘A pleasure to meet you, Lena. Your bags will be taken to your accommodation while you get to work.’
We were really going to start right away. No wonder Bach was as good as he was. He wasted no time at all. ‘Thanks, Laurent. Nice to meet you too.’
Josie drifted towards the longest building. ‘Have a good afternoon, Lena. I’ll see you at dinner.’
My spine went rigid. ‘You’re not coming too?’
She shook her head. ‘It’s all yours!’
I wasn’t sure what she meant, but she turned and set off to the long house before I could ask. Laurent went to the smaller one next door, lined with a wrap-around porch. My accommodation.
In no time at all I was alone with Bach Lotiere.
‘Come with me,’ he said, and set off towards a gap between the buildings and into the dense jungle that surrounded us.
I followed in awed silence and tried not to think about how much Josie planned to make fun of me later. Working one on one with Bach Lotiere might be normal for her, she’d been his keeper for five years already, but this was still a big deal for me.
So I paid attention to the path, stepping over the loose stones and jumbled roots so I didn’t go flying without wings.
I picked my way through, noting the odd copper pellet pressed into the soft earth.
With my attention so fixed on the ground I didn’t see what we were walking towards until Bach stopped, forcing me to look up.
A huge building had been constructed on to the side of the valley. Treetops leaned over it from every angle, disguising it from above. The stone giant had a suitably sized entrance for dragons, a gaping archway two storeys high. No doors.
I entered behind Bach and had to catch my jaw before it hit the floor. The Volitant aviaries were nothing compared to this place.
It was double the height, but not for more stalls, because there were none.
The whole aviary was one open space. Balconies jutted out from the walls at intervals where, in some cases, dragons dozed on them.
Tails hung over and dangled into the open space.
Heavy dragon snores echoed around the huge building.
Others prowled the floor, their feet making sloshing noises as they sifted through the layer of copper pellets.
I had assumed incorrectly that this place was built up against the valley slope, but the darkening tunnel that beckoned at the far side of the aviary suggested that the stone building was only the beginning.
No doors, walls or bars in sight. Also, a wide open entry. It was as free as dragons could be. It was no wonder they had chosen to stay.