Dragon Trials (Return of the Darkening Book 1) Read Free Page B

punched Shakasta’s arm. “Horse-riding is hardly the same as dragon-riding, you dolt.”
    The red screeched and landed on the wooden platform, depositing its bundle in a tangle of legs and messy hair. Looking at him, I made to move forward to greet my friend, but then stopped. The figure that had landed and rolled was looking up in wonder at the dragon above him. He looked all elbows and knees. He was thin, messy-haired and grubby.
    “He’s not anyone I remember,” Shakasta said and shifted uncomfortably on his feet.
    “I’m sorry to say it, lads, but he looks a bit poor, don’t you think?” Beris said under his breath. Only those standing near him could hear, but I heard.
    My face heated. This was my other rider? Beris was totally right. The boy sitting with a look of naïve wonder on his mooncalf face looked pretty poor indeed. No finery. No house crest on his tunic. In fact, his tunic was full of holes and slashes of soot and ash streaked his face, his hands and his breeches.
    “By the breath of the first dragon, he hasn’t even got any shoes on.” Beris burst out into laughter, doubling over. Others started to chuckle.
    Ryan stepped forward, his mouth set. “Let’s not be unfair.”
    Face burning, I turned away. I felt so ashamed. How could the red do this to me? What was it thinking? It must have made the wrong choice. It just must have.
    “Well, good luck, Thea.” Beris was grinning like a fool. “He looks as though he hasn’t seen a bar of soap in ages. You may have to wear a scarf over your face to ride with the likes of him.”
    “Thea…” Ryan said. I knew that warning tone of voice. He was about to offer one of his sage bits of advice that I always hated.
    This is going to ruin everything. Everyone will think I won’t be as good a rider because of this…this dirty rag.
    I knew I couldn’t give in to humiliation. There was only one way to deal with this embarrassment. I was a Flamma and it was time I acted like it. Before Ryan could make me look weak in front of the others, I took a step forward to introduce myself to the boy. With my head held high, I gave him my best, most noble stance—the one I had learned from Mother when she addressed the king himself. Let them see a lady in action, someone who deserves to be here.
    “Friend, I am Lady Agathea Flamma. It is a delight to meet you. This red chose us both.” It wasn’t a delight, and my voice wavered slightly at the start of that lie, but I hoped I was sounding confident and that I looked nonchalant when I offered him my hand to help him to his feet.
    The boy, his ridiculous thatch of dark-brown hair sticking out everywhere, grinned widely, and blushed as red as the dragon’s hide. “Wow, hey, hi—uh, it is a pleasure to meet you!” He shuffled his feet, his movements jerky, his excitement as clear as his nervousness. “You’re a Flamma? Wow—I’ve heard all about your family, you’re the best riders of them all.”
    He looked like he was fighting his own nervousness. He was clearly overawed by everything that was happening to him. He kept looking back up at the dragon, which was busy preening its wings elegantly.
    “Uh, I’m Sebastian. Sebastian Smith,” he stuck out his hand to shake my hand, something no noble would do, for we bowed to each other and nodded and never touched each other unless it was in sparring.
    And he had just made me mad. How was he going to make a good Dragon Rider? He couldn’t even greet another person correctly. How could I possibly trust this…this dirty boy in training or when we’re out on patrol. He doesn’t look like he’s ever ridden anything except a chair.
    I could see muscles through the tatters in his tunic. He was tall with long legs and arms, and a gap between his front teeth. He had dark-brown eyes that matched his hair, but all I could think of were the smudges on his skin. He stank, too, smelling of coal fire. I forced myself to smile through my teeth, but my heart sank. This