Page 148 of Tailwind

I hoped she would say something soon. I could see Cam twitching in my peripheral vision. Josie’s observation of me learning everything I knew from Cam was correct, particularly the fighting and flying instincts.

‘You don’t read much, do you, Miss Paldon?’

I bristled, not needing to see Josie to know she was nodding behind me.

‘I suggest you spend some time familiarizing yourself with the contract you signed. Just because the races have stopped doesn’t mean you won’t be busy before the next season starts.’ She reminded me of a teacher I’d had in school. She’d made me feel like an idiot too.

‘What?’ I glanced at Bach for help. He’d entered with her. Maybe he knew what the fuck she was talking about.

‘Apparently,’ he answered, smiling, ‘the wording was specific. You had to finish first, not win. I would have been here to see you sooner, but Miss Hough asked me to attend a meeting with her.’

I started to sway on the spot. Gottyk’s warm nose bumped into my back. Finish first, not win. There was no way that was a loophole. The contract had been thick – I hadn’t even read the first page – but I hadn’t expected that level of exactness. Maybe I should have.

‘Mister Lotiere was helpful in negotiations.’ The corners of her thin mouth twitched. She was enjoying dragging this out. ‘I had a few of the team bosses ready to speak to, but one seemed particularly keen, as he’s losing one of his riders to Victrolia. I was in agreement, given that we have overlapping motivation. You and their remaining rider did well over the summer.’

‘Kiestral want to keep me?’ I looked between Hough and Bach, stunned. He was the only person I’d flown with during the break. But Thorne? To Victrolia? That didn’t make sense. Yet the cloud that had been hanging over me since waking up began to clear. It would mean I could still see Gottyk.

‘No, Miss Paldon …’ She watched me, waiting for me to catch up.

‘Oh.’ She meant Omar. I’d finally understood her point. ‘Oh.’

Theo and I were going to be teammates again.

‘Ballenir will send you their formal offer by the end of the day, but the agreements have already been made. Mister Lotiere vouched for your skills while I made sure to emphasize your other values. My team will be in touch over the break to schedule your promotions. If you need to get in touch in the meantime, this is my personal comms code.’ She opened her bag, which was really more of an envelope, and handed me a card. She softened ever so slightly.

‘Miss Paldon, I expected someone would try to undermine you today. The mountain you are trying to scale, it is one I now stand at the top of. Being the first to do anything is difficult, but being the first woman is gruelling. I word all of my contracts so I get what I want. It didn’t matter if you got the trophy or had been the first to crash – as long as you, in some way, finished first, you would be mine next year.’

She snapped her tiny bag shut.

‘Enjoy your victory,’ she said primly. ‘The autumn collection is launching in a week. You’ll be needed there. Don’t be late.’

She clipped away in her heeled shoes, not wobbling once on the stray copper pellets that had escaped Gottyk’s stall. The aviary door thudded shut behind her.

‘I don’t trust her.’ Cam was quick to begin the debrief.

‘Oh please – you don’t trust anyone.’ I could hear the excitement in Josie’s voice as she jabbed at Cam. We both had jobs. The ones we wanted.

Bach came over. I stared past him, leaning back on Gottyk who still hadn’t moved away.

‘You could do with trusting a few less people,’ Cam argued back.

I ignored them. Instead I reached behind me to scratch under Gottyk’s chin. I couldn’t look at him.

‘It’s okay.’ Bach’s voice was gentle, like when he’d talked about Damina.

That made everything worse. I let out a sob that shook my whole body.

Bach pulled me in for a hug. Gottyk didn’t let us be apart for long, he shoved his head into Bach’s arms with me.

The tears wouldn’t stop. I didn’t care about the job. I didn’t even care about racing. I only cared about my dragon.

‘You’ll see each other again.’ Of course Bach knew. Those stupid all-seeing eyes weren’t just a PR bit – he knew the idea of leaving Gottyk behind for good was breaking me.

‘Lena?’ I’d only heard fear in Cam’s voice a few times in my life. This was one of them.

I was released from Bach’s arms and left to hold Gottyk myself. I clung on to my dragon, unable to see his big brown eyes through my teary ones.

‘Let’s give them their time.’