11. The Courtship of Dragons
Willow made her way outside through the maze of corridors and open chambers with Varhog walking silently by her side.
When they reached the courtyard, Sunset was waiting for her. Willow went to her dragon and wrapped her arms around her face as Sunset lowered it in greeting. I've missed you, Sunset! I'm sorry I have been so occupied with all that has been happening during this trip. I've missed flying on you!
Sunshine, I hold no hard feelings. Your happiness at the approach of your union with Varhog has sustained me in your absence. Would you now fly?
Yes! Willow exclaimed. Just then she noticed—for how could she miss it?—that Black Thunder was landing, come at Varhog's bidding. Varhog's deep voice reached her once the loudest gusts had subsided.
"Shall we fly together on our own dragons, Eartheyes?" The beloved, reassuring sound of his voice created an unfamiliar fluttering in her stomach, one Willow had experienced on only a number of occasions before now, though it was occurring at increasingly frequent intervals. She quickly walked over to Varhog and took his hands. But that didn't feel like enough, so she slipped her arms around his waist, pulling herself against him and pressing her head into the impression where his powerful muscles met. Her ear was over his heart, and she heard it beat with a slow, steady rhythm.
Somehow she was able to sense Varhog's faint smile at her affectionate gesture, and he returned it by carefully enfolding her in his massive arms. She stayed that way for several minutes, breathing in his familiar, musky smell.
Varhog lowered his head enough to rest his chin on her head. "I love you, Willow," he whispered.
Willow now smiled and lifted her face. "Thank you, sweetheart. I love you too." She gazed into his handsome face, so close to her own, and added, "And I really want to kiss you."
Varhog nodded but placed one finger over her lips. "Not yet, Eartheyes," he warned. "Soon enough."
Willow released her hold on him to help herself resist the temptation and said, "I long to fly with Sunset. I've missed her so much! I never answered your question a second ago but now I will. Yes, I would love to fly together on our own dragons! Maybe they can test their flying abilities against each other as we often test ourselves in our contests."
"Black Thunder likes that idea. He is mighty, but not as small and lithe. Sunset may outfly him yet." The huge black dragon gave his Rider a menacing look, and Varhog chuckled. "Though he doesn't like hearing me say it."
Willow laughed. "Which reminds me. I wondered if we could also practice again, since I will most likely be expected to show your people that I can defeat you. When you warned me you would fight differently, it made me begin to worry that I would be unprepared. I think despite your constant reassurances, you really have gone easy on me all these years."
"No, Eartheyes," Varhog disagreed. "I always spoke honestly. An Urgal ram's pride would not allow him to go easy on anyone in a fight, especially the woman he loves."
Willow laughed again and satisfied the resurgent desire to kiss him by lifting his hand and quickly kissing the back of it.
Willow ran over to Sunset and sprang up her leg to her back. She leaned down, hugging her around the neck. Sorry, she thought. He distracts me too easily. Can you believe I'm in love with an Urgal! It's exhilarating!
Her dragon's thoughts were warm. Sunshine, I wish you all the happiness with him. He is just sincere and honest enough that I think he might be the only one worthy of you. You are no common person. You will change the fates of races. Now shall we show that black monstrosity what it means to fly? Her tone by the end was teasing but determined, just as Willow often was.
Yes! Willow strapped her arms and legs into the loops meant to keep her safe during the acrobatic maneuvers Sunset was about to engage in and saw Varhog doing the same. She gave him an excited smile, and he returned it with a tight grin.
Ready! she shouted, and Sunset leaped for the sky a split second before Black Thunder. Sunset's leap did not take her as high, but she gained altitude more quickly because of her smaller size. She roared her challenge to the black dragon, and his answering roar was so deep and powerful that Willow laughed at how like Varhog it was.
Sunset darted under Black Thunder, twisting evasively as he tried to close his claws around her. She used the momentum of her spin to arch up over him, and he wrenched his head up to snap at her. His neck was long and powerful, and Willow saw one of his black eyes flash dangerously as Sunset used the tip of her tail to smack across his snout in a daring move that almost got her bitten. Almost. But Sunset again whipped to the side, skimming her wing down his back to make her tight turn possible.
She flapped quickly to put some distance between them, but Black Thunder was on her again with a few mighty beats of his wings. He sought to smash into her from the side, but just at the last moment, Sunset dropped right under him and snaked her head down to snap at his foreleg as he lost his bearings, making contact and drawing blood. Black Thunder snarled his rage, darkening the sky with a jet of black flames.
Sunset's own stream of brilliant pink-orange fire was triumphant, and it lit up the night sky. Willow caught a brief glimpse of Varhog's face and thought she recognized the expression of exhilaration as the one she must be wearing. Nothing compared to flying on a dragon like this.
Black Thunder didn't give Sunset long to enjoy her brief victory. He lunged toward her again, and Sunset commenced a dizzying series of spirals and loops. Willow kept her head pressed tightly to the side.
He cannot catch me, sunshine! her dragon exulted.
You're showing off now, aren't you? Willow realized with a laugh. You must find him striking as I do his Rider. Take care that your theatrics do not make you reckless. Black Thunder is not a force to be reckoned with. If he catches you with those jaws or claws, you won't appreciate it.
At that moment, Sunset darted quickly to the left, ending her evasion with a swirling flourish, complete with what Willow would have sworn was a flirtatious flick of her tail. She laughed again.
You would not begrudge me for wishing to appear my best before a magnificent male of my own species, would you, sunshine?
Not at all, Sunset! You are magnificent in your own right. I'm sure if he never realized before now, Black Thunder will never doubt it again.
Black Thunder bellowed again as Sunset twisted away from him, using her tail to hook around his own and yank him slightly off kilter. The black fire that roared from his maw streaked in their direction, and Willow quickly cast several wards to keep them from being incinerated.
He loses patience, doesn't he? she said in amusement.
So it seems, sunshine, Sunset mildly replied, though the tone of her mind betrayed her fierce pleasure at the contest. I have had to fly so carefully all these weeks with Angela and Solembum. This is what it feels like to really fly. She swerved sharply toward the ground as Black Thunder snapped at her flank. Her swerve evolved into a steep dive to increase the distance between them. Willow knew Sunset could sense the black dragon bearing down on her, gaining speed with his massive bulk, so she suddenly jerked to one side and rolled away from him. She ended up pointing back toward the sky, flapping swiftly to regain altitude as Black Thunder struggled to counter the momentum of his downward plummet.
Sunset released a playful plume of sparks in a gesture that reminded Willow strikingly of a giggle, if a dragon could do such a thing. Her dragon was teasing her opponent. She flapped higher and higher, but Willow could see back over her shoulder that Black Thunder had not given up. He was closing the gap between them with strong strokes of his wings.
What do you intend to do now, oh mighty dragoness? Willow playfully thought.
Whatever seems natural, small two-legs-round-ears, her dragon returned with equal teasing.
Not as round as they once were, are they? Willow rejoined. Sunset rumbled her amusement.
Black Thunder surged up with his most powerful stroke yet and lunged for Sunset's tail. Willow watched over her shoulder as Sunset waited until the moment before his jaws snapped shut. Then she flicked her tail just out of reach, using it to smack the tip of his closed snout before arching into a graceful dive that took her directly in front of Black Thunder's belly, just out of reach of his deadly claws. Sunset folded her wings and plummeted toward the earth at breakneck speed, twirling in a dizzying spiral that left Willow feeling sick. When the dragon was only several hundred yards from the ground, she spread her wings and swooped around in a loose loop.
Do you submit yet, oh mighty king of the sky? Willow felt Sunset communicate to Black Thunder.
Your size and build allow you to outmaneuver me, came the ominous reply. Let us see how you do in a contest of speed.
Very well, Sunset returned, quickly flying away in a straight line at her current altitude.
Are the acrobatics over for now? Willow asked.
Yes, sunshine.
Willow loosened the straps that held her arms in place and sat upright, searching around for Black Thunder and Varhog. They were above and slightly behind her and Sunset, but gaining quickly. Sunset was flapping swiftly and determinedly, but she only maintained her lead for a matter of moments. Black Thunder soon swept past her and only continued to put distance between them with every beat of his huge wings.
When it was clear that Sunset had no hope of catching him, the black dragon slowed his pace until she fell in next to him.
We appear to be equally matched. You are the superior in close combat, but I have the advantage of speed and strength, Black Thunder admiringly rumbled.
So it seems, Sunset replied. But I am only superior at close range by staying just out of range. If you had caught me in your claws or jaw, I would have had no hope.
Willow laughed and said, That is much the same as Varhog and myself! I would never be able to outdistance him, but I can duck and dodge away from him in close fighting. But if he ever caught me, it would be over in a heartbeat.
You flew spectacularly, Sunset, Varhog complimented. I have never seen such techniques. I was worried Willow might be hurt on that last dive you performed. And your flames are breathtaking. It was like the sunset was once again gracing the sky. I'm sorry Black Thunder almost fried you to ash. He heard quite an earful from me for that.
Sunset proudly arched her neck at his praise. Thank you, Varhog. My opinion of you as one worthy to match my Rider is only increasing with words such as those.
Shall we find somewhere to land so I can practice my skills against Varhog? Willow suggested. Preferably somewhere with trees.
Why trees? Varhog asked.
I need to prepare for that eventuality, Willow replied.
I won't smash you into a tree, Varhog objected.
But what if I had to fight another Urgal? Willow insisted. What if you actually did feel to do that while fighting me? I should be prepared! Don't you agree?
I suppose so, Varhog reluctantly allowed. For some reason the thought of you having to fight another Urgal fills me with dread. I know you could beat them, especially since they would not have my abilities as a Rider. But still, if I were unconscious, I wouldn't be able to ensure your safety. He shuddered, something Willow felt through his mind.
The dragons found a copse of trees on the far outskirts of the countryside surrounding Ilirea. They landed away from the trees, then Varhog and Willow dismounted and made their way into them. Willow glanced back at Sunset as she heard a deep whining yowl burst from her maw. She and Black Thunder were circling one another, their tails slapping the ground and their heads snaking toward and away from the other. Black Thunder lunged at her, but Sunset skirted away before leaping on his neck and snapping at the base of his skull. Black Thunder threw her off, arching his neck around to bite her flank.
"That's interesting," Willow commented. "It appears our dragons have decided to mate. Sunset never has before."
"Nor Black Thunder," Varhog said. "I always thought it strange with all the dragons on the Isle."
"Yes, so did I. Perhaps they have just now found someone they deem worthy."
"He is insufferably proud," Varhog revealed. "You have no idea how it wounded his pride that he couldn't catch her."
"But it seemed to do more than that," Willow laughed. "She was flirting most shamelessly. At least that's how it appeared to me. I don't know if dragons really flirt or not."
"He has admired her before," Varhog said.
"They seem to be like their Riders in more ways than one," Willow teased, taking Varhog's hand. She laughed at the tone of Sunset's thoughts, not embarrassed in the slightest. "They appear to be enjoying themselves. I suppose our union will be of a somewhat less tender nature, like theirs, though I might not take kindly to you biting me." She looked slyly toward Varhog, who, in spite of how familiar he was with Willow's bluntness, still appeared to feel awkward by her casual reference to their impending physical intimacy.
She laughed again at his self-conscious manner. "Come, Varhog. Are all Urgal rams this shy about mating? That awkwardness must be something you learned from your time among humans and elves, though we Riders discuss it openly enough on occasion."
Varhog grinned slightly. "No, I suppose not. Especially when only rams are about, from what I have heard, though I never stayed to participate before becoming a Dragon Rider. That conversation might give even you cause for embarrassment. But then again, maybe not. I can see you joining right in and bringing them all to shame." He laughed at the thought. "I never know what to expect from you, Willow. The one predictable thing about you is that whatever you say will be just what you think without reserve or hesitation. I wonder if I will ever encounter a situation where you wouldn't feel comfortable simply speaking your mind."
"If it was something unkind or inappropriate, I wouldn't," Willow insisted.
"True, but when have you ever thought something unkind or inappropriate? Never in the time I have known you. I suppose the only explanation is that you have a different definition of what is or isn't appropriate to be open about. Many people feel that speaking openly about physical intimacy is inappropriate or shameful, and therefore they don't. But you regard it as a perfectly normal, healthy part of life and so speak about it with ease. That's another thing I love about you. You don't let the widely held views of things determine your own opinion."
Willow smiled and pressed her arm into his as they walked. "Thank you, Yelloweyes."
Before long they arrived in a clearing in the trees, and Willow released his hand.