Emilian didn’t have. If he could fly, he would be back in time for the execution. He’d burn the whole city down before he would let any of them harm his old friend.
A voice in the back of his mind reminded him he was very much able to fly. He was simply too much of a coward to do it. Groaning, Tauran hid his face in his hands.
A hand on his shoulder made him look up. When he met Kalai’s eyes, they were full of empathy.
Tauran held his gaze for a long moment. Kalai had been the key to his bravery from the start. If there was ever a time to tap into that bravery, it was now.
“Give me until tonight,” Tauran said. “I’ll think of something.”
* * *
“I have to return to Valreus.” Tauran urged his horse into a canter. They had left Catria in the clearing, just in case Falka had her followed.
“Returning to the city is a huge risk,” Kalai said, nudging his mare to keep up with Tauran. “We could end up hanging just like General Landa.”
“That’s why I’m going alone.”
“You dying alone isn’t exactly an improvement,” Kalai said, tone sharp.
“I won’t die.” Tauran steered his horse into the shadow the dragons cast from above. “You stay here. Work with Jinhai to find a different way to communicate with Ibi-shao. There has to be something in those temple books. I’ll return with Catria, break Emilian out and bring him back here. Then we’ll be four people working on a way to save the dragons instead of just two. Everybody wins.”
“And how are you going to get back to Valreus in time? The execution is in three days. That’s an 18 day ride.”
“Not for a dragon.”
“A dragon?”
Tauran slowed his horse at the point where the dirt road turned into pavement. “I’m going to fly.” His breath caught.
Kalai halted his horse, staring at him in disbelief. “You’re going to fly?”
Tauran clenched the reins tighter to stop his hands from shaking. “Leyra is more than large enough to carry a rider,” he said, speaking too loud to keep his voice from shaking, too. “If we take plenty of breaks along the way, we should still be able to make it in time.”
Kalai moved closer. His eyes were wide. “That wasn’t exactly my main concern regarding that statement.”
Tauran’s vision spun like he was back on the boat. Clearing his throat, he dismounted, his legs nearly failing him. He ran both hands over his hair and turned away. A moment later, the sound of Kalai’s boots on gravel preceded his hand against Tauran’s back.
Tauran swallowed hard. “Please, I…” He turned to Kalai, seeking the familiar shelter in his dark eyes. “I can’t do this if you don’t believe in me.”
“Tauran.” His name on Kalai’s lips sounded like a declaration of love. “I always believe in you. Always.” He stepped in front, pulling Tauran’s head down onto his shoulder with a hand at the back of his head.
Tauran melted into the embrace, curling in against him. “If I wait, I’ll lose my courage,” he whispered.
“So don’t wait.” Kalai’s grip on him tightened. “Do it now. Fly.”
“You really think I can do it?”
“I know you can do it.” He pulled back enough that he could cup Tauran’s cheeks and look him in the eyes. “You and I are the same. We were born to fly.”
Tauran heart swelled. Despite the fear writhing inside him, he knew it was true. When he thought about the happiest moments of his life, two things stood out above all others: every quiet moment he’d shared with Kalai, and soaring above the clouds with Itana.
He’d confined himself long enough.
They continued through the town of Kel Visal to the base of the mountain. There, Tauran left his horse and wandered to the bottom of the stairs. He tilted his head back.
“What’s on your mind?” Kalai asked, coming up behind him.
“I’m going up,” Tauran said.
“All the way?”
Tauran met his gaze and nodded. He saw the question in Kalai’s eyes. Are you sure this is how you want to do it?
It had to be. He couldn’t take the easy route.
“I’ll ride the elevator with you.”
Tauran took Kalai’s hand.
They ascended the stairs to the elevator. For a moment, Tauran feared it might have been broken during the earthquake, but an assistant sweeping the stairs told them it was still in working order, and that they could take it all the way to the top unassisted if they stayed out of the temples themselves.