Flying Lessons Revisited
I dragged Dani up the stairs behind me. “Do we really need to do this?” she asked.
“It will be fun,” I argued.
“Or funny,” supplied Tessa.
“The two of you have a sick and twisted sense of fun, you know that?” Dani retorted.
Tessa and I exchanged grins. “We know,” we answered in unison.
“Does Hue know you are throwing your best friend and editor off the top of a tower?” Dani said as she struggled against my grip.
“Of course, this was his idea. He reminded me that I wasn’t that good a flyer and neither were you. I think we should practice.” I turned to meet her gaze and offered my best reassuring smile.
“But Vallen and Geren aren’t here to keep us from splattering on the ground,” she argued desperately, hoping to dissuade me.
“Hue is down on the ground below and will catch us if something goes wrong,” I told her
“That’s not reassuring,” she cried.
Tessa pushed the door at the top of the tower open. “We’re here,” she announced She looked at Dani, patting her on the hand for reassurance. “Dani, I fly and I’ll be right here.”
Dani seemed to relax a little at her words as I led her over towards the ledge. I let go of her hand and pulled off my shirt, exposing my back. With a little concentration I felt my body shift and my wings extend out behind me. Dani rolled her eyes and tugged her shirt off and with a cloud of sparkling Pixie Dust her wings spread. They were a beautiful mix of pink and blue iridescent swirls that matched perfectly in size. “They’re gorgeous,” I said in amazement, aching to just touch them.
“Thank you,” she said. “I’m just thankful they finally grew in correctly.” She stepped up on the ledge and rested her hands on her hips. Looking down she smiled. “Oh good, I can see Hue,” she announced.
“Great,” I agreed.
Dani turned around again to face us. “I feel way better knowing you’re here Tessa. I’m glad there is someone who can fly that can catch me.”
Tessa laughed. “Oh, I can’t catch you. I turn into a crow when I fly during the day,” she said, right before giving Dani a push that knocked her backwards off the ledge. A look of shock and betrayal was plastered across her face. I raced to the ledge and breathed easier when I saw her collide with Hue, who protectively held her to his chest. “Your turn,” said Tessa, just before she shoved me over the ledge too.
I plummeted head first towards the ground. I tried to keep calm and extend my wings. The closer I got to the ground the more panic built up. Then an air current grabbed hold of me and carried me over a group of trees. I landed less than gracefully by crashing into a trunk about fifty feet above the ground. My wings and back stung. I looked behind me to notice two branches had pierced my right wing. Painfully I pulled it free. There was a squawk beside me as I lowered myself to sit on a branch. I watched as Tessa transformed back into a Human form. “Gosh Princess, are you all right?” Her voice filled with concern.
“Why did you push us?” I asked.
“Lord Hudraer said it was the best way to get you two to learn,” she offered.
I growled. “We could have been hurt,” I muttered.
“Lord Hue was there to catch you. I didn’t realize the wind would try to help you so much,” she explained, looking almost sick to her stomach. “Neither of us would do anything we thought would hurt you.” Her eyes went to the tears in my wing. “I’m sorry,” she said lowering her eyes.
I rolled mine and let out a sigh. “I can fly and glide from a standstill. Maybe I’m just not meant to jump off high things.”
Tessa thought about it for a moment. “Maybe not.”
There was movement below us. I looked down to see Dani and Hue staring up with concern. Are you all right? Hue asked.
Did you tell her to push me off the tower? I asked.
WHAT!? Ian’s voice piped in.
I felt Hue sigh. I merely said she may need to help them take the first step.
Hue, she’s half Dragon. Do you not remember what happened to you in Everbloom? You died from blood loss because your wound couldn’t be healed.
Hue became uncomfortably quiet. I could still sense he and Ian there. Kat are you injured? he asked.
I looked at my wing and then at Tessa. “Can you do stitches?” I asked. She nodded confidently. Nothing a few stitches can’t fix.
An almost unbearable sense of guilt washed over me. I couldn’t tell if it was from Hue for putting me in the situation or Ian because he felt guilty for not being there. Finally Hue spoke. I am so sorry. Is the pain bad?
It hurts, but nothing I can’t handle, I said. I concentrated on trying to ignore the pain and allowed my body to fully shift back into my Elven form. The shift caused my head to swim and only Tessa’s quick reaction kept me seated on the tree branch. Following her lead I climbed down the tree. Dani threw her arms around me and let me lean on her while we walked back to the entrance to the great hall.
“Still think it was a good idea?” she asked.
I sighed. “Yeah, right up until they pushed me,” I muttered.
Tessa cleaned up the gashes that remained on my back where my wings had been damaged. It took nine stitches to close one and nearly twenty to close the other. “Let’s hope your Elven side is responsible for your healing,” she commented.
How are you feeling? Ian asked.
As well as can be expected, I told him. I leave tomorrow for Vesaria and as far as I know Dragons and Elves both heal well there so I should be OK. I reassured him and Hue, who I knew was listening in.
Good. Take it easy, get some rest, and heal, he said.
There was a knock on the door and without looking up I knew it was Hue. He came and sat on the bed beside me, his eyes filled with worry. “I’m so sorry Alizeyah.”
“I know. You and Tessa were just trying to help and playing around. It’s no big deal,” I told him.
He leaned over and pressed a kiss to my bare shoulder. “Do you think you’ll be all right to travel tomorrow?”
I nodded. “I’ll be fine,” I said, trying to sound reassuring.
Hue stood and scooped me up into his arms. “I think Ian is right. Rest, you need rest.” With that he carried me away to our chambers for the rest of the day.
