Chapter 184: Breaking the bond will kill the rider.
"I wish it had smaller stirrups to fit our shoes," Ren grumbled, trying to steady herself.
She couldn’t believe this was the same Gloria who was afraid of horse riding but now enjoyed dragon riding! She is unpredictable.
But as Ren glanced down, her eyes twitched. Gods, this is too high! They hadn’t even begun to soar yet. Below them stretched a vast expanse of mountain range, jagged rocks rising from the earth like the teeth of some great beast. Ren’s stomach churned, and her heart pounded with a rising panic. What if we fall? What if Sunkiath isn’t fast enough to catch us? The thought of plummeting to those rocks filled her with cold dread.
Meanwhile, Gloria, of all people, was laughing. A rich, carefree sound that filled the air. Her eyes sparkled with unbridled joy, shining like a child’s. How could she be so... happy up here?
The King let them get used to the sensation of flying for half an hour, the wind roaring in their ears, before guiding Sunkiath toward the horizon. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the smooth waves of the ocean below, reflecting the last light of the day.
The girls didn’t dismount when they landed, unwilling to face the task of mounting again. Arkilla wasn’t here to aid them and it would be awkward to ask the King.
"It’s so beautiful," Gloria breathed, her voice full of wonder. "This is my first time seeing the ocean."
The golden expanse of water mirrored the warmth of the setting sun, and the sight reflected in Gloria’s brown eyes, making them gleam with awe. Her cheeks flushed with the sting of the wind, the memory of it still fresh, but it only added to her exhilaration.
Ren looked at Gloria, her heart aching with a mixture of longing and regret. If only they hadn’t been torn apart, if only Lord Alekin hadn’t been forced to remarry, maybe none of this would be happening. There would be no Araben, no threat from the Kalia house, and all the lives lost to Araben’s violence would still be alive.