Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 126358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 505(@250wpm)___ 421(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 505(@250wpm)___ 421(@300wpm)
“It is because they are that I am able to come to you,” she said. Her grey eyes were suddenly serious. “I am speaking to you by the power of our dragons’ ancestral bloodlines—through the sacred memories of the Golden Queens.”
I stared at her in awe.
“I didn’t know that was possible.”
“There is much you do not know—much I wish I had time to teach you. But alas, there is no time,” she told me. “My child, the Madlings are coming. Tomorrow’s battle will be fierce.”
“I know.” I suddenly wanted to cry but I pushed back the tears that threatened. “I’m afraid…afraid we’re not ready.”
“You’re not,” Elleena said bluntly. “But you can still turn the tide. The Madlings have a weakness—something that the people in your time have forgotten.”
“What? What is it?” I asked anxiously.
“They are blinded by the sunlight,” she told me.
I frowned.
“That’s their weakness? But they fly by night and day —we’re expecting them tomorrow morning.”
“That’s because they don’t hunt by sight,” Elleena told me. “They hunt by fear—they can feel the negative emotions of others—the same way you can feel the emotions of dragons, my child. And they can send emotions too—the way your L’eesha can send feelings and emotions.”
I shook my head.
“But…how does that help us? I’m sure everyone will be afraid tomorrow.”
“They will—fear in battle is natural and the Madlings will make it worse. But let me tell you what you must do to defeat them.”
She leaned close to me and spoke in my ear…
69
AURORA
“And then I woke up,” I told Ryse as he strapped on his flight leathers. “And now I can’t remember what she said!”
He frowned.
“It sounds like you just had an anxiety dream, little one. You’re so worried your mind is making things up as you sleep.”
“No, I’m sure it was real!” I said stubbornly. “I remember seeing Elleena and I remember her saying that L’eesha is F’reya’s daughter and that the battle with the Madlings would be fierce and then…nothing.” I shook my head in despair. “Just…nothing.”
“If it’s important, it will come to you.” He stooped to kiss my forehead. Then he pulled back and held my eyes with his own golden gaze. “If you remember something, tell L’eesha to tell M’alex.”
But I could tell he didn’t think that would happen. How could I explain to him how real the dream had been? That I could smell the burnt cinnamon scent of the dragons and the way L’eesha’s rainbow eyes had lit up when she got to meet her mother…
Why couldn’t I remember what Elleena had told me? She had reached through time by the power of our dragons’ bloodlines to warn me about the Madlings, but I couldn’t remember her words! It was so frustrating.
“All right,” I said to Ryse, since I couldn’t bring the dream back.
“Good. Now come with me to breakfast. Let’s eat before I have to get in the saddle.”
“I want to fly with you,” I said. “L’eesha wants to, too.”
He frowned.
“No—as your Wing Leader, I forbid it! Neither one of you is experienced enough. You’d get flamed in midair by another cadet.”
“No, I wouldn’t. And L’eesha could help direct the Wings—if only Humbolt would let her,” I added, frowning.
“You know he won’t and the Head Master is backing him up.” Ryse sighed. “You have to see their point of view—L’eesha isn’t even a year old yet and she’s never been in any kind of battle.”
“Neither have any of the other riders and dragons,” I pointed out. “None of them have done anything but fancy aerial maneuvers! No one in our lifetime has ever fought the Madlings.”
“At least they’re used to flying together in formation,” Ryse said. He kissed me again, on the mouth this time. “Listen, I want you to stay safe inside. You can use L’eesha to communicate with me if you need to.”
“I don’t want you to go.” My eyes were suddenly filled with tears. I knew it was a selfish wish. Ryse was one of the best Wing Leaders in the Academy—he would probably be instrumental in keeping his whole Wing alive. Without him, they wouldn’t have a leader.
But I didn’t want to risk him—not when we’d had each other such a short time.
His eyes softened.
“I don’t want to go, either, little one,” he said softly. “But this is what I was born to do—it’s in my blood. I have to defend the Academy and the villages that rely on us. I have to go.”
“I know.” I swiped at my tears. “I know you have to.”
He cupped my face in his hands.
“Don’t ever forget how much I love you,” he murmured. “Now, come on—let’s go before all the food goes cold.”
But he never got a chance for breakfast. Because just at that moment, the high-pitched alarm horns began to blow—the horns that hadn’t blown in over a hundred years. At the same time, the Great Bell began to ring wildly.