Page 101 of To Fight and To Fold

She closed her fist tightly, until she could feel the bite of her nails into her palm.

Aaryn returned to the Playground, and found Starspark watching intently as Lucille and her dragon flew through the course.

She offered a wave before continuing on, and Aaryn joined Starspark. She leaned against the fence and studied as a dragon rider prepared her dragon, movements quick, efficient, and… loving. The way she stroked her dragon's scales, scratching him until his leg kicked before she latched the harness in place.

"We'll get you one of those one day," she said. Starspark huffed in what she thought might be impatience.

Aaryn stared, maybe a little too intensely, searching for any kind of marking on the Awakened. A pin. A sash. A scar. A piece of jewelry.

What if this was Evergale all over again? What if the druids were hiding something huge from her, like Evergale had? Was she so easy to fool that it could happen twice? Was she blinded by the excitement at the lack of rules and her… stubbornly growing affection for Thea?

The sun was hot as it moved across the sky, and Aaryn began to sweat just from standing beneath its warmth as she squinted through the rays to watch the Awakened rise into the sky and practice different maneuvers.

Handlers or trainers were on the ground, ready to activate at a moment's notice, their gazes locked on the dragon and his rider for any sign that they should step in.

Not that they had to.

It was organized. Practiced. The bond between the dragon and the Awakened was obvious. The dragon would no sooner let her fall than she would let go.

The fence next to her creaked as a figure joined her in her observation. "Thought I'd find you here," Vaelen said coolly.

Aaryn swallowed down the urge to greet her formally, and settled for a simple nod.

"Thea is going to be at the Hatchery for a while. So I wanted to check in."

"Is there a dragon hatching?" Aaryn gasped. It was so rare—almost unheard of.

Vaelen nodded, prideful. "Yes. Our first in a while."

"Wow. Thea just does… like, everything, hm?" Aaryn mused.

Vaelen hummed. "She gets bored easily." The words made something in Aaryn's stomach sink. "So she bounces around from place to place, helping where she can."

"She's been here a long time," Aaryn said.

"That she has."

Aaryn watched the rider attempt another maneuver, one where she slid down his back before running up it, bow drawn. She gaped as his wings flared to accommodate her weight, to balance her.

"So that's… a pattern, then? Thea growing bored of something?"

Vaelen chuckled softly. "You were so adamant for so long—Thea returned alone again and again. The thought crossed my mind that you might be a lost cause."

"I like to think I'm hardheaded, not heartless," Aaryn mumbled. "I want to do the right thing. I want to be on the right side."

"I think Thea knew that. It's why she didn't give up on you."

"Oh," Aaryn offered intelligently.

"If Thea was going to grow bored of you, Aaryn, I think it would have happened while the two of you were separated by miles and an ongoing feud."

"That's…" Aaryn cleared her throat, and moved on. "Is ‘feud’ really the right word?" That made it sound like a simple misunderstanding, something petty and familial, rather than a kingdom lying and taking advantage of its people, and those standing up to it.

A hum sounded from Vaelen. "You're right. The crown will go to great lengths to protect its legacy."

Her statement gave Aaryn pause. "Do you mean a family legacy, or the legacy of Evergale?"

"I think by now, the two are indistinguishable."