Moon Shimmers(81)

Venus and Bran situated themselves behind me, and Smoky pushed off, leaping into the air as his wings caught an updraft. He soared over the pond, followed by Shade, and as we gained altitude I was able to tell just how lucky we were to be riding on dragonback.

The foothills were a good climb, but they were dimples compared to the Tygerian Mountains. Within minutes, we were soaring over a vast array of peaks and crags. The mountain range below us stretched out farther than we could see, the mountains growing in height to the north. The range widened as well, and the snow-covered array looked terrifyingly jagged, although memories of the Northlands flashed through my head. These mountains would kill you if you ventured into the wrong areas. The Northlands, on the other hand, would hunt you down and eat you on toast for breakfast.

I shivered. At this height, even my cloak didn’t do much to keep me warm. I leaned back to find myself snuggling against Venus. He was shivering too, and he wrapped one arm around my waist, pressing against me to keep warm. The shaman was burly, and I rather wished he could turn into his puma self here so I could cuddle with the big kitty. But that wouldn’t be practical, and so I settled for the warmth that our bodies could manage. I didn’t know how Bran was faring, and I decided to refrain from asking.

The miles passed by quickly. Dragons were fast and they were big, and in this area, they weren’t unexpected. We swooped past the tree level but still close enough to the ground that there was plenty of air to breathe, although I kept my head down, not wanting to get any bugs or birds in the face. I tried to stare at Smoky’s neck. Watching the dragon scales of my husband was a lot better than looking over the side at a drop that could easily kill me.

We had left at the first blush of dawn, and by noon, we were flying around some of the taller peaks rather than over them. The temperatures had dropped dramatically, and I was shivering, even with Venus’s added warmth. I tried to position myself so the sunlight could fall on me, and even though it was nearing the Summer Solstice, at altitudes like this, the chill was daunting.

I was about ready to thump on Smoky’s neck to get his attention when we began to descend toward one of the taller peaks. Breaking my firm don’t-look-down rule, I saw the shape of a structure on the side of the mountain, which meant we were circling Mount Tyger and the monastery.

As we spiraled down, the monastery got larger. It was simple, but beautiful in its minimalism. Built out of stone, the temple was gray, with windows around the outside that contained no glass, but a translucent, flickering energy. I wondered if it was a form of force field that kept people out as well. The temple was two stories, about as large as a typical Denny’s restaurant, and it was surrounded by a stone fence that matched the walls. The temple was on the edge of a cliff, with a large clearing to the side, which was where we were headed.

We were high enough that the only trees here were scrub, bent sideways from the constant wind. Grasses and wildflowers dotted the high tundra, along with lichens and moss. There was little here to eat for animals, but somehow, wildlife managed. We were probably about ten thousand feet up, but the peak of the mountain was much higher than we were.

As we landed, a wave of dizziness hit me, doubling me over as I climbed off of Smoky’s back. I slipped and hit the ground with a thud. Thankfully, I didn’t have very far to fall. Venus knelt beside me, as did Bran, and a moment later, Smoky pushed through the pair and lifted me up.

“The air is thin here. You are used to living near sea level,” he said.

Shade, Chase, and Delilah joined us, Shade helping Chase walk. “It seems we forgot what an abrupt rise in elevation can do.”

Delilah was rubbing her head. “I’ve got the headache from hell.”

I tapped Smoky on the arm. “Put me down, please. The monks are coming.”

And sure enough, they were. Three monks from the temple were walking our way. They were dressed in silver gowns, with blue sashes and blue hats that reminded me of fezzes. Silver tassels hung off the side of the hats, and each monk wore an exquisitely embossed leather sheath by their side, holding a long dagger. I knew immediately what kind of daggers they were carrying—the famed crystal blades that gave the order their name. I felt myself jonesing to get a look at them. I wasn’t necessarily a blade aficionado, but they were heavily steeped with magical energy and I’d probably never get another chance to see one up close. It seemed rude to ask, though.

Smoky set me down and I straightened my skirt. Then, a little woozily, I stepped forward and inclined my head, holding up my hands in the universal sign used throughout most of the northern cities and lands in Otherworld to symbolize respect. Palm forward, bent up at the wrist, with the other palm crossing it. Open hands, open heart. The others followed suit, even Chase, once he saw the rest of us doing it. He was good at picking up things quickly, I’d give him that.