Enfri slept like a rock. After missing her rest the night before, she dropped off as soon as she lay her head down on Jin's chest and didn't wake until after sunrise. She'd needed to apologize for the spot of drool she'd left on Jin's nightdress, unfortunately. Once dressed and outside, she found that her tent stood in the middle of an empty field.

The legion marched at last, and the blaggards had left their empress behind.

Deebee and the crew, as well as five of Mistress Hana's maids, had stayed behind to guard her as she got some much-needed sleep. Before long, Deebee flew her a league north to catch up with her soldiers.

Enfri then rode on Spider near the middle of the columns of armsmen and wagons, taking in the sights of an army on the move. She would ride up alongside the officers of each company she passed and ask after the soldiers' health. After giving them words of encouragement and praise, she'd move on to the next.

She checked in on other groups as she went and might have spent a little too much time speaking with the goblin green ones. Her studies with them for Moon's upcoming delivery were progressing well, though both she and they weren't quite sure of what to expect from a feyling baby. As best they could tell, Moon and her white one remained in the best of health. Enfri wanted to make certain things stayed that way.

It still felt strange how easily the green ones accepted Enfri among them. Not a one had raised so much as a peep against teaching her everything they knew of medicine. Enfri now felt confident enough to treat a fey suffering from an iron or salt burn. She also learned exactly what mortal remedies would be ineffective on fey biology and which could be dangerous. In return, Enfri provided the green ones with what meager knowledge she'd learned from her mother and grandmother. They'd written it all down on calfskin scrolls as if they were the words of a revered master, and Enfri offered them the chance to look over her book collection if they ever wished.

She then checked in with Landon's pilgrims, taking extra time to make sure little Vinri and the other Aleesh children were well. It warmed her heart when the whole pack of them ran up to her cheering as if she were their older sister.

There were several points to be discussed with Landon, also. Chief among them, several of the younger Aleesh men and women were showing an interest for receiving armsman training, and even induction into the Arcane Knights.

With reluctance, Enfri gave them leave to petition Ban to join the legion. She'd just found her people, so she was hesitant to give them the opportunity to run off into danger. Still, Deebee did say how wonderful she thought it was that Aleesh would soon start receiving true dragon bonds again.

Before leaving the pilgrims, Enfri caught sight of Kai, the blind guide. She felt that strange sensation of familiarity again. It was something she found herself dwelling on more and more, where she might know him from. Enfri had almost convinced herself she must have treated him once in her cottage in Sandharbor years ago. A trader's guard, perhaps, or a passing peddler.

Don't suppose you remember spotting him while you were watching over me, Papa?

Can't say as I do. Looks like a city man to me. Pale, not good and tanned like our neighbors. Tell me, Sunny, have you ever had strange dreams?

Enfri narrowed her eyes. Dreams? Strange how?

Ever think you're Deebee while you're dreaming?

Enfri nearly gasped. You know, I think you're right. I saw Varn before I ever met him. Winds, Ban too!

Yora chuckled. Happened to me a time or two. Dragon dreams can get weird when they leak through the bond. Visions of what's happening in far off places. Deebee knows how to make sense of it all, but I never could. Must be something you need to get used to over a century or so. Anyways, what I'm trying to say is that maybe you saw this Kai fellow in a 'dream of what is'. He was bringing a bunch of our people straight to you, so it's possible.

Enfri's mouth pulled back into a dubious expression. Not as I remember, but maybe. I didn't remember the Varn and Ban one until just now.

Yora laughed. Keep alert while you're asleep, and maybe it'll clear things up.

Oxymoron, Papa.

What did you call me? No sassing your father.

Enfri started laughing out loud, Yora joined in, and she didn't mind that a few nearby wagon drovers were looking at her with confused expressions. A week more, two at the most, was the time she had left before Yora and the earliest emperors would have to leave her for a time. She resolved to enjoy having them with her for as long as it lasted.

She continued checking in with others in the march. Enfri visited briefly with Princess Nkeoma and her angels. The conversation was civil if cool, and Enfri felt like she was gaining some ground with her. It helped that Enfri agreed to allow Nkeoma to dictate a letter to the scribes for her family.

The only people Enfri avoided were Ji Min and the Espallans. They rode along with the legion, still awaiting an official response to the Glorious Emperor's proposal. Enfri determinedly kept her mind on other matters.

There was a good deal of empress work yet to do, and Enfri couldn't let herself be distracted. Bonds needed forging, and not only with the rank and file Arcane Knights. There were Dragon Lords who still hadn't received theirs. The ceremonies were carried out on the roadside while the legion marched by. With every spell echo that swept out from a newly created bond, the armsmen cheered as Shan Alee grew that much stronger.

Enfri spoke the oaths in the Aeldenn Tones over the final bond waiting to be forged. As the ancient language of spirits poured out of her almost on its own, Enfri noted Ban's grin as he looked on. He had his arm around Moon's shoulders.

Deebee was there, as were more than half of the Dragon Lords and their partners. Reyn also bore witness, but Jin, unfortunately, was with Dragon Lord Grellin and Tormaka the Wanderer as they scouted the roads ahead. Enfri would have liked Jin to see this.

The last bond was special, as it was the first of its kind to be made in nearly twenty years. Enfri stood in front of Ascania and Jalla the Historian, holding each of their hands as she spoke the final line.

"—I ask you to become my Opal Knight and my Historian.—"

"Again and forever," they replied.

The elder magic locked, and a golden echo of lingering magic swept out and was felt by every nearby arcanist. Ascania Karst and Jalla the Historian were bound as one.

Applause and cheers came at them from all around. Several of the mighty had been circling high overhead, and they breathed out plumes of celebratory dragon fire. The bonding of an Imperial appeared to be something of a big event for them, because they were treating it with all the pomp of a royal wedding.

Ban came up to embrace his mother and give Jalla a friendly clap on the shoulder. Now that the ceremonies were over, Dragon Lords began excusing themselves to Enfri before going back to their duties.

"By your leave, Your Majesty," Reyn said.

"Where to for you?" Enfri asked her.

Reyn gave her a flat stare. "To the scribes, if you believe it."

"Trouble with the ledgers?"

"It is as if these squinting dough-brains were never taught mathematics at their universities." Her expression soured. "Additionally, it has become prudent for me to make myself scarce."

"Why's that?"

"Lord Darian," Reyn said. "He has decided he must do all in his power to make me like him again. I am avoiding the messengers he sends looking for me."

Enfri sympathized. There was no way that could be anything but awkward, particularly if Reyn's suspicions of Darian being a thrall were accurate. "Until I give the executor an answer, he's still part of their delegation, so at least he doesn't have free reign to wander about and look for you himself."

Reyn sighed. "Eventually, I will have to end his overtures. Can I at least assume you will turn down the Jade Empire's offer?"

"I should blustering say so," Enfri said. "The emperor was just too late. I'm already betrothed." She chewed her lip anxiously. "Though, if we can negotiate some kind of alliance between us and them, I'd be foolish not to. Maybe there's a way to do it that won't involve anyone getting married."

"I will put myself on the issue," Reyn promised. "Farewell, Majesty. I will report to you again at the end of the day."

After Reyn left, Deebee touched Enfri on the arm. "How's it feel to no longer be the only Opal Knight in the world?"

"A blustering relief," she replied. "I don't suppose there's any way I can pass off the Lady of Opals title is there?"

Deebee clucked her tongue. "Afraid not. It's in the constitution, love. The imperial sovereign is required by law to receive training as an Arcane Knight to better defend the empire and will represent their order on the Imperial Council."

"Drat," Enfri huffed. "It wasn't so hard when the Opal Knights were just you, me, and our crew. There's going to be actual work involved now."

"Minimal work," Deebee assured her. "I don't believe Lady Ascania will require much oversight. Simply give her and Jalla a project and trust it to be done. Winds, just let them choose their own."

"I suppose I shouldn't dump too much on them. You're going to need Jalla's help in egg matters."

"Oh, not for a little while yet, and not for long. Once he fertilizes the eggs, Kimpo will take on the nesting duties. That, and she'll have her own clutch to lay."

"You're nesting together? Who'll sire Kimpo's clutch?"

"Grimdar the Gladiator," Deebee said. "As fine a specimen of a red dragon male as you can find in this era." She narrowed her eyes in an overly serious manner that bordered on parody. "There's a small concern with nesting eggs from different chromas together. A risk of swapping temperaments, specifically. You may soon have a flight of studious brutes on your hands."

"I can't tell if you're joking," Enfri said. "Do dragon girls go funny when they ovulate, or is that just mortals?"

"Cheeky."

"And how long does it take for an egg to hatch?"

"Not as long as you might think. Less than a human from fertilization to popping out. I'll wager that if my egg's viable, it'll hatch before Moon's child arrives." She sighed. "I do wish there was more of a guarantee. Imperial pedigree left silvers and golds woefully infertile. I'll lay one egg every ten years, but Kimpo might put out as many as six every five. Even with my one egg, there's only a fifty percent chance it'll be able to produce a hatchling."

"Winds. Whether or not you get a baby is up to a coin toss. That's hardly fair."

"The price one pays for metallic gleaming scales," Deebee said lightly, though there was a hint of a tone Enfri didn't want to hear in her voice.

"Deebee," she whispered.

"I did the math, love," Deebee said. "I've been able to give eggs for the last four and a half centuries. Had I been more diligent, there could've been more than twenty additional silvers in the world today. Even more once my daughters began laying their own eggs. With so few of my chroma remaining, I can't help but fear my distraction may lead to the extinction of my race."

"That won't happen. You're not the only female silver, and the others have their own dragonets."

"As you say, love," Deebee said, but it didn't feel like an agreement. "I'm afraid I need to leave you for the moment. I'm taking Jalla to get fitted for a harness and select his crew from the aviators."

Enfri wished she could pull her mother of the heart out of this maudlin state she'd fallen into. She recognized when her comfort was wanted or not, so she let her be for the moment. All she could do was wish her Storyteller well and watch her walk with Jalla to the Emeralds.

She was practically alone on the roadside now. Only a handful of Mistress Hana's maids and a few bodyguards from her crew remained. Ascania and Moon, also. It looked like Ban had been called away to the duties of the knight-marshal.

Drat. Wanted to ask him what he thought about the Jade Empire. Better move quicker next time.

In any case, Enfri was pleased to get a chance to see Moon again and went towards her. It looked like she and Ascania were getting along, and Enfri was pleased to see that for Ban's sake. She knew from personal experience that discord between a bride and future in-laws brought nothing but trouble.

Enfri was a little disappointed Moon wasn't still wearing the gown she'd heard so much about. By all accounts, she'd looked lovely in it. Today, Moon was wearing human clothes rather than kith garments. She had loose trousers over her legs, and she wore the cropped green blouse Reyn had given her. The blouse let Enfri see how Moon was starting to show. Her abdomen was losing definition, and there were the first signs of the most adorable little baby bump Enfri had ever seen.

Ascania curtseyed as Enfri approached. "Your Majesty."

"My lady. Or should I address you as Paladin?"

She chuckled and shook her head. "Waves, no, please. Paladin suggests a martial aspect I doubt I'll ever qualify for. But, I guess I'll be expected to take up arms in an emergency."

"You can leave the fighting to your crew, and Jalla's as formidable a warrior as a silver dragon can be. All you'll need to do is get used to your armor and learn how to lean into the banks."

Ascania blinked. "Banks, Majesty?"

Moon started giggling. "The bank is best part. Err... I mean to say, I'm sure you'll find aerial maneuvers to be exhilarating."

Enfri startled and gaped at Moon as if her antlers had just fallen off.

"There's no need to force yourself on my account," Ascania said. "Please, Moon, speak as you will."

"It's alright. I wish to practice." She caught sight of Enfri's expression and snorted. "Or... I not do this where Enfri can hear. Her eyes sight clouded."

Odd changes in accent aside, Enfri was delighted to hear Moon call her by name instead of green one. It put a smile on her face as she took Moon's hands. "I hope everything's going well with the baby."

"Is thing that is, but white one is ashen."

"Why's that?"

Moon wrinkled her nose. "She makes me cry too much. Hungry for always. Ashen baby."

It was difficult, but Enfri managed to stop herself from laughing. What with fey being spirit-born and wearing their hearts on their sleeves, she couldn't even imagine what it was like throwing the cocktail of hormones that accompanied pregnancy into the mix.

A curious look came onto Moon's face as she craned her neck to look behind Enfri. "Is Jin. Her eyes sight black."

Enfri turned. As Moon said, Jin was coming their way, and she had her hand gripping the hilt of her sword tight enough to turn her knuckles white. Enfri knew that frown. She'd seen it only a handful of times, but each occasion was burned into her memory as if with a branding iron. Whenever Enfri saw that look, something awful had been happening.

Jin was furious.

She wasn't by herself. Rav and Elloo the Constable flanked her on either side, and two more Onyx Knights with their dragons and crews. Winds, but it was the entire Onyx order following on Jin's heels.

"My light, what is it?"

The Onyxes stopped well away from Enfri, Ascania, and Moon, but they spread out to surround the small group. The gathering drew the attention of the passing legion, and several companies slowed to a crawl. Jin continued forward and came right up to Enfri.

"Jin?"

Wordlessly, Jin grabbed Enfri's wrist in an iron grip and held it up between them. She drew her sword.

"Alright, but this better be good."

The sword cut into Enfri's palm. She hissed at the stinging pain and watched as a line of red blood dripped from her hand to the ground. Ascania and Moon cried out, and Ascania's eyes had gone wide with horror as she called for Jin to stop. Enfri's crew readied weapons, and the Onyxes followed suit.

Out of nowhere, the Onyxes and Opals were ready to rip into each other.

Jin threw her arms around Enfri and hugged her so tightly she had trouble breathing. "Thank the winds," Jin whispered. "My heart, I was afraid I'd lost you."

Enfri rubbed Jin's back to calm her. Winds, but she was trembling. "My light, what's wrong?"

Her crew and the Onyx Knights lowered their weapons, every one of them looking relieved things hadn't spiraled out of control. It'd been a near thing.

Ascania held a hand to her breast. "Waves and tides, I thought..."

"Oh!" Enfri shouted, still trapped in Jin's embrace. "Winds, she's right. It looked like you were about to shatter my bones!"

"I would have," Jin said.

"Winds and storms, mind telling me what I did to piss you off?"

Moon hadn't yet calmed down. Her nostrils were flaring rapidly as she sniffed the air. "Fear-scent," she said. "What is black?"

Jin let go of Enfri and stepped away. She had a tear falling from her eye, and she hadn't yet regained control of her breathing. "Rav received a sending from Krayson. A skindancer could be among us."

Enfri ran a thumb over the cut on her palm, smearing the blood. "You thought it might have taken me. Oh, my light, you do care."

Jin snorted and wiped at her eyes. "Blustering sky woman."

The full impact of what Jin said finally arrived. "But a skindancer here? How?"

"Krayson believes it might have left Ecclesia with Sasha's retinue." She turned to Ascania. "If you would indulge us, my lady."

Ascania stepped forward at once and offered forward her hand. "Of course."

Jin held up a hand to forestall her. "If you might manifest a spell, that would suffice."

"I beg your pardon," Enfri exclaimed, scandalized. She held up her bleeding palm. "What's all this then, please?"

Jin looked over her shoulder with a contrite look. "I... err... perhaps let my imagination get away from me. I convinced myself into thinking it took you."

"Blustering assassin." She drew a little healing from Deebee and hoped she wouldn't get an earful about it later.

Ascania produced a few tendrils of astramantic lightning that arced between her fingers, and that was enough to prove she was still her. Moon, however, wasn't an arcanist and so offered forward her hand to Jin.

"Apologies, Moon," Jin said as she gave her a tiny cut on the back of her hand.

"Nay, must be unclouded. But I not scent venom-blooded slayer. Is this stone it walks our path?"

"A strong possibility," Jin said as she produced a handkerchief for Moon to bandage her hand with. "Ban has been worried we might see infiltration from the old masters, and this might have been their best chance to do it." She turned to Rav and gave him a nod. "The Onyx Knights will now begin screenings beginning with the Dragon Lords and their partners, working our way down the ranks."

Enfri winced. "With seven thousand people to check, that's a tall order. Can it be done?"

Rav came forward with Elloo.

The Constable's human form was a whip-thin man with an effeminate face, and his white hair reached past his shoulders. That hair like snow against his charcoal skin was striking. His House Yora tabard and chainmail were no different from the uniform worn by a common armsman. "It'll take some doing, Majesty, but your Onyxes will see it done."

Rav nodded along with his dragon. "The Onyx crews will split into squads. With your permission, I'd like to have an imperial writ giving them the authorization to start cutting on the soldiers."

Enfri raised an eyebrow. "I'll word it differently, but yes. Consider yourself authorized."

"Thank you, Majesty. If we start now and work fast, we may have it sorted by the time we make camp tonight."

"But all this started at the Salt Stone Palace," Enfri said with concern. "Have you gotten word from Veronika?"

Rav smiled. "I had Brother Joshuan check on her special for me and Hugin. My girl would give that fiend a swift kick in the crotch if it came for her, Majesty, but thank you for asking."

Elloo chuckled. "Skindancers don't have genitals, love."

"Would still hurt."

Enfri hid her smile. "I won't keep you. Thank you, Rav, and good luck."

"For the Dragon Empress." Rav saluted. Elloo and the assembled Onyx crews followed suit. "Again and forever," they all said in unison.

Enfri took Jin's hand as Rav led the Onyx Knights away. "My light."

"Forgive me, Enfri. I..."

"Winds, don't you dare. I'm grateful. I can't imagine how awful that must've been for you. Not knowing. Afraid of what you might learn. But you still came for me first thing to make sure I was alright."

Jin shifted her feet. "First thing I did after Rav told me was test him and his people. Then I came looking for you."

"Smart. See? I'm glad you can keep your head when this nonsense blindsides us." She didn't let Jin get out another self-recrimination. Enfri grabbed her and pulled her into a kiss.

There remained a desperation to how Jin held her and kissed her back, as if she were reminding herself they were both still alive. Jin pulled away, and she kept her eyes lowered. "You didn't fight me. You let me cut you without a word of argument."

"Because I trust you. I know you'd never hurt me." She shook out the lingering pain in her hand. "Not seriously, at least."

"I love you, Enfri."

"And I love you, Jin."

Off to their side, Enfri became aware of Ascania sighing wistfully and Moon losing all composure.

"Ashen baby," Moon muttered through her tears.

Enfri felt her face heating up. She let go of Jin and turned to Ascania. "Well, what would you say to learning how to fly?"

oOo

Deebee rose higher into the sky, and Enfri leaned back in the saddle to breathe deep of the thinning air. She felt at home up here, but only after drinking a potion that kept her body temperature from dropping too low. It got blustering cold up in the sky.

It hadn't taken much convincing for Ban to authorize a training flight. He preferred to keep the Arcane Knights practicing aerial tactics while the legion marched below. It was the work of a few minutes to get Deebee's gear unloaded and secured to her body. Her harness was an elaborate affair that went down the length of her like a net, and it allowed for the crew to clamber around her by latching and unlatching the snap-locks attached to their own harnesses.

In addition to the harness, Deebee had cargo nets underneath her belly, though those were currently empty. In combat, they'd be filled with ceramic pots filled with alchemical explosives for bombing runs. It was also a relatively safe place for the aviators to catch a little rest during long flights. Deebee also had large armored plates covering her more vulnerable areas, including a fitted skullcap. Her shoulder guards had mountings for a pair of clockwork ballistae, like enormous crossbows, and the leading edges of her wingspan were lined with sharpened metal.

In Enfri's unbiased opinion, Deebee looked absolutely resplendent in her full battle regalia. It went without question that Deebee agreed, no matter how often she complained about how heavy it all was.

Enfri's saddle was molded into the armor plate guarding the nape of Deebee's neck. It had manta-skin wrapped grips for her to hold onto and a length of woven-silk cord to attach her harness. Since the Battle of Moran Valley, Hugin had been kind enough to add a little cushioning at Enfri's request. Her backside didn't ache near as much anymore after a sharp turn.

All of Enfri's crewmen were at their posts. Archers with readied crossbows knelt along Deebee's spine, engineers working the ballistae at the shoulders; lookouts at each wing, belly, and tail; Kora Mensc, the first officer, was at Enfri's side; and Lord Dahvid Corwyn, the second officer, hung in the nets below. The crew used a combination of hand signals and shrill whistles to communicate with each other over the howling wind, and the whistles were loud enough to be heard by the crews of other dragons flying in proximity.

She'd tried to get Jin to tag along, but her betrothed was being stubborn. Jin gave some excuse or another, but Enfri was starting to wonder if she just didn't like heights. Enfri felt she could count on one hand the number of times Jin willingly went into the sky.

"Are you keeping watch on the Historian, love?" Enfri shouted up to Deebee.

"My neck can't turn that way with this blustering gorget," she groused. "I have a few more notes for Hugin and Nooka."

"Be polite about it. Considering they've only been working on dragon armor for a month, be grateful it works as well as it does. They'll work out all the kinks soon."

"I don't recall agreeing to be their lab rat."

"Jalla, love. Is he still with us?"

Deebee initiated a gentle starboard-side turn. Responding with practiced precision, the crew leaned against their harnesses to assist in the bank. The added balance of the crew made it so that Deebee could turn better like this than when she was unarmored.

"I see him," Deebee said. "Still gaining altitude. Jalla doesn't quite have my wingspan for the power climbs."

Jalla was two hundred years younger than Deebee. It was only natural he was little more than half Deebee's size.

Enfri pulled a collapsing spyglass from her armor's bandolier and raised it to her eye. Once a few wisps of cloud moved aside, Enfri could see Jalla clearly. He flew with a crew of fifteen, all of which were flying for the first time. Ascania rode in the knight's position and wore girded leather armor just like Enfri. The only member of the Historian's crew who wasn't a novice was the goblin perched on his left shoulder.

"Ban's going to kill me when he catches wind of this," Enfri said.

Kora spoke up from behind Enfri. "You tried to dissuade her, Majesty."

"Should've tried harder. At least it's not a combat sortie, and I'm sure Moon knows not to... Winds and storms, that blustering goblin isn't wearing a harness!"

Kora groaned. "Maybe he will kill you. Shan Alee's first coup attempt."

"Winds, but I think I have it coming after this. If Moon really does mean to be Ascania's first officer, we're going to have to sit her down and explain how important it is to wear the stupid harness. I think the baby must've snitched her brain to use as a pillow."

Enfri frowned in disapproval, but eventually, Ascania's pleas must've persuaded Moon to come back from the edge. Moon went to the first officer's post and latched a snap-lock to Jalla's harness.

Thank the winds. She does have a harness. It just takes divine intervention to get her to use it.

After another minute, Jalla reached the same altitude. Lookouts on both dragons blew long and low notes on their whistles to signal a friendly dragon coming into formation. Enfri could see even without the spyglass that many in the other crew were breathing heavily in the thin air. Best that they get acclimated now than during a battle. Enfri had learned the hard way how important it could be to work at increasing one's vertical limit.

"Alright, love," Enfri called up to Deebee. "Bring us in ahead of the Historian and assume formation point. We'll lead Ascania through the basics to get her used to turns, then we can move on to inverted action if there's time."

Kora barked a laugh. "You'll flip her upside-down on her first time up? You're worse than Grellin."

"Too far?"

"She does have her grandchild up here with her. Safe as inverting is, the first few times can be disconcerting, and she might have a stroke from the worry."

"As you say. Belay the inversion, love. Stick to the basics and maybe see about doing a hairpin or two."

Deebee chuckled. "I would love to see how those greenshoots handle an Immelmann turn."

"We're trying to train them. Not kill them."

Enfri crouched low in her saddle, leaning into the first few easy turns. She looked towards the stern at the end of each maneuver to check on Jalla. He was falling a little behind with each bank, but that was to be expected with an inexperienced crew. Their repositioning wasn't as fast or as coordinated, and it hindered Jalla's flight more often than not. Still, they were getting better with each attempt. Before long, they'd be fit for more advanced lessons.

After the first of Deebee's hairpin turns, Enfri checked again to find that Jalla was right on their tail. Enfri used her spyglass. She found Ascania grinning like a lunatic while Moon shouted instructions to the crew.

"Well, I'll be. Moon's whipping them into shape in a hurry."

Through the spyglass, Enfri spotted something else that made her frown. A plume of black smoke rose from the south, the direction they'd left the legion. It wasn't particularly big, perhaps enough to signal a large bonfire, but it was enough to get Enfri worried.

Just as she was preparing to tell Kora, the tail lookout blew her whistle at a high-pitch. Dragons inbound.

"Ninety degrees starboard," Enfri called and leaned into Deebee's turn. She used her spyglass to scan south for who was coming. It was most likely someone to tell her what was going on with that fire.

The starboard wing lookout shouted at the top of his lungs. "Oh-four-two low! Four inbound!"

Enfri adjusted where she was looking to match. She found them easily enough, four dragons climbing directly for her and Ascania as fast as their wings could carry them. They were still a good ways off, but Enfri could identify their chromas if not the dragons themselves.

Two russets, a slate, and a yellow.

Enfri's brow knit together in confusion. Now that the knighthoods were growing beyond one or two dragons each, they didn't often mix chromas outside of battle maneuvers. That meant it could be an emergency. But why then a yellow? The Amber Knights didn't take part in military actions anymore.

She felt her heart drop into her stomach, and it had nothing to do with the last hairpin turn. Two russets, a slate, and a yellow.

Snatching her whistle from around her neck, Enfri blew sharp and staccato blasts. Her crew snapped alert before her whistle stopped blowing, because they'd had that signal seared into their souls in Moran Valley.

Battle stations. Hostile dragons inbound.

The captured renegades were free and flew to overtake her.