fact. Get up. I’ll show you the basics right now.”
“Of riding?” Kalai asked, genuine surprise flitting over his face as he stood. He reached down both hands and helped pull Tauran to his feet.
“Why not?” Tauran grinned at Kalai and angled his chin at Arrow. “Get him upright.”
Kalai did as he was told, tapping Arrow on the shoulder to make him stand.
“It’s not like he can take off with you in here, and Arrow has already shown a desire to keep you safe.” Tauran approached Arrow, who watched him curiously, letting Tauran guide his wing out of the way to give Kalai a view of the dragon’s shoulder and neck. “This is where you’ll want to sit.” He patted Arrow between the shoulder blades, a couple feet above his own head. “With a saddle, you can mount a swiftwing from a standing position, but without a saddle, he’s a little too tall, so you’ll want to make him crouch for you.”
Arrow complied easily, clearly satisfied to finally have something to do.
“Ever been on his back before?” Tauran asked.
Kalai shook his head. “Only when he was sleeping. Aunt Iako didn’t want me riding him like a horse in case he decided to take flight.”
“All right. I’ll show you.” Tauran instructed Kalai how to get on. Where to put weight and how to swing his leg over to avoid kicking the sensitive wing membranes. “Keep your head back,” he said, holding a hand between Kalai’s face and the dangerously sharp row of spikes running from the back of Arrow’s skull to the base of his neck. “You always mount a swiftwing with your back straight or risk losing an eye.”
“Got it,” Kalai said. He settled on Arrow’s back, hands running along the sides of his neck.
Tauran adjusted Kalai’s seat with a few nudges, making sure his legs were bent at the right angle to not get in the way of the wings. Then he stepped back.
“Well, look at you,” Tauran said and smiled. It struck him that he’d been smiling more since meeting Kalai than he had in the past four years since his fall.
Kalai was beaming, sitting astride Arrow like he’d waited all his life for that moment. Arrow curled his neck back and sniffed Kalai’s legs curiously.
Kalai patted him on the head. “This is different, huh?” Joy radiated from his voice. He looked to Tauran, eyes sparkling. “What’s next?”
Tauran approached again. “This is important.” He reached out and tapped one of the spiked scales in front of Kalai. “These bad boys are every swiftwing rider’s first priority. One slip of attention and you could end up with a spike embedded in your face or throat. Swiftwings are fast and flexible, and the space between you and this row of deadly weapons is far narrower than on the other dragon breeds.” He stepped around to Arrow’s head and nudged it down to make him extend his neck. “In the air, it’s less of a problem, because his body will be straight. But on the ground, and during landing, takeoff and advanced maneuvers, you have to pay attention to his neck.”
Kalai stared at him as he spoke, and Tauran sensed him soaking up his words like a sponge. It filled Tauran with pride.
He’d been so good at this, once. The best.
“Let’s make him stand,” Tauran said, and returned to Kalai’s side. “So pay close attention to his movements. He will rock forward. That’s your cue. When he pulls his head up to stand, you lean back. And better to lean too far than not far enough. You with me?”
Kalai nodded. “I’m with you.”
Tauran pushed Arrow firmly below the shoulder and said, “Arrow, up!”
Arrow rocked forward and Kalai leaned back, nearly far enough to lose his balance as Arrow pushed to his feet. Tauran laughed and placed a hand against Kalai’s thigh to keep him in place.
“That was way too far,” Kalai said, that pretty blush Tauran was starting to really adore visible on his face despite the half-darkness.
“It’s fine. You’ll get the hang of it,” Tauran assured, slow to take his hand off Kalai’s thigh. “Let’s take him for a walk.”
He spent the next two hours guiding Arrow and Kalai around the chamber. At first, both dragon and rider were uncertain. Arrow started off spinning in circles, trying to properly inspect Kalai seated on his back. Kalai, in turn, was unused to Arrow’s movements and cautious of the neck spikes, prompting Tauran to remind him a handful of times to stop leaning