Anger wasn't far behind the guilt. Tressa stood up, stomping her feet on the floor and threw the door open. "We're going to fight," she told Avital.
He cracked a smile, the same she'd seen the day she met him. "Finally. I was beginning to think my brother had chosen a meek woman."
"Then you don't know me," Tressa said.
Together they stalked through the halls and out the castle gate where the people were gathering. Dragons filled streets. Men and women dressed in thick armor holding swords kissed loved ones goodbye. They joked with each other, grand smiles on their faces. Chests were pounded, swords clanged, and eager battle whoops carried on the still underground air.
"How will they all get out of here?" Avital asked. "The dragons cannot fit in the tunnels we took down here."
"I don't know." Tressa searched the crowd for any faces she recognized, quickly finding Fi's. Tressa called out her friend's name and waved her hands in the air.
Fi came over, a grimace on her face. "What are you doing here? You need to stay safe in your chambers."
"Don't tell me I can't fight just because of everything else I've gone through."
"Only hours ago, you were so sick you couldn't stand. It's not in your best interest to be flying off to battle now."
"Flying? If only I knew how to change, I would fly out with the rest of you." She gazed out at the soldiers. "I want to ride. Find me a dragon."
"I will do no such thing," Fi said. Her eyebrows drew together. "If you want to fly a dragon, you will be flying on me."
"What about me?" Avital asked. "I have ridden dragons into battle before. I am well-prepared to fight with you."
Fi crossed her arms over her chest. "We were not happy when we discovered you’d snuck into the Charred Barrens, Avital. It's your people out there. We cannot trust you in battle. You must remain here. You’re lucky we tolerate your presence at all." Fi nodded to a couple of nearby soldiers. "Keep an eye on him until we get back."
They flanked Avital, who shook his fist at Fi. "I am here to protect Tressa. I follow my brother's orders, not anyone else's."
"And if this comes to battle," Fi asked, "are you prepared to kill men you may know?"
"My only orders are to protect Tressa,” Avital said. “I will not fight anyone unless they directly threaten her."
"I'm sorry. We cannot allow you aboveground." Fi nodded and the two guard grabbed Avital's arms. They dragged him away, struggling against their tight grip. She turned back to Tressa. "I hope this doesn't upset you."
Tressa laughed. "It doesn't. I appreciate Avital’s loyalty to Jarrett, but I don't trust the man. The day I met him he promised to kill me if I ever hurt his brother. He is all smiles and jokes when they are together, but when they are apart, I don't have a good grasp on what he will do."
"Then it's settled. Do you want to ride out on me?" Fi bounced from one foot to the other. “My last assigned soldier felt I was too wild."
"Too wild?" Tressa smirked. "The first time I rode a dragon was to kill Stacia. The next time, a dragon plucked me off a camel and flew me across the desert, clutched in its talons. The couple of times I've ridden with you have been unremarkable."
"I'll have someone set you up with armor."
Tressa followed a running Fi though the crowd. Already dragons were lifting into the air.
"There isn't time," Tressa said, pointing up. “We need to go now.”
"Fine, but if there is a true battle, I’m bringing you back."
"Deal." Excitement pulsed in Tressa’s veins. Not only did she feel better than she had when they arrived, she felt like she could conquer the world.
Fi vaulted over the balcony, and before she could land on the ground, she morphed into her dragon form, a little pouch dangling around her ankle holding her clothes. Tressa ran to the railing. She wasn't quite ready to repeat Fi's stunt. Instead, she waited for her friend to fly closer. Then she pulled herself onto Fi's back. Wrapping her legs around the dragon's neck, Tressa gave a little tap to let Fi know she was ready.
They ascended higher into the cave. Tressa watched the other dragons, one by one, escape through a hole in the ceiling. She hadn't noticed it before. From the ground, the entire ceiling looked like a jumble of rock. When it was Fi's turn, she spiraled up toward the hole. Tressa clung to Fi’s scales, her hands throbbing.
Fi darted into the hole, and Tressa's world went dark, except for a tiny speck of light above them that grew wider with every passing second. Within only a few breaths they emerged aboveground, the sunlight stinging Tressa's eyes. She blinked repeatedly.