RISE: B1 — 4. The Heat Rises

RISE Rewrite Index

Previous Chapter

--------------------

As Ayla, Mera, and Caden moved further into the cavern, Ayla could feel the tension between them begin to ease, though not completely. Caden never seemed to lose his composure, glancing around the smooth, black metal walls, his amber eyes flicking to every minor imperfection with curiosity.

“So,” Caden began, his voice casual, “I’m no engineer, but those plans look like you’ve been working on a winged harness for Nulina. Must be quite the project.”

Mera perked up before Ayla could respond, excitement making her bounce a little. “Oh, it’s done! She’s been working on it for the last six cycles! Ayla practically lives in the workshop when she’s not busy with all the other things she does, like training with swords, working out, or helping the other girls. It’s going to be amazing—ouch!”

Ayla tried not to blush under Mera’s enthusiastic praise, moving over to pinch her cheek. “And something you shouldn’t be talking about.”

“Sorry… I’m j-just…”

“I know,” Ayla sighed, shooting an accusatory glare at the bronze-skinned man; naturally, Mera, coming from a more distant stormland settlement before coming to Windscar, went weak at the knees when spotting a bronze-skinned, handsome man. “Can we stop with the questions?”

Caden’s smile widened, a spark of interest lighting his gaze. “Understood. Just one more question, though, promise… Are compliments okay? Because the more I hear the more I can’t wait to see you at the academy next week. I’m entering this cycle, as well.”

This guy! Ayla snorted to herself, giving him a lifted eyebrow. Wait, he looks slightly older than me, but is he twenty cycles, like me? He obviously knows a lot more about the stormlands than the average highborn. Is he down here looking for a potential partner…or some other reason? I guess I’ll learn more soon enough when Nulina scares his pants off.

“I’m not opposed to compliments,” she stated, trying to keep her cheeks from darkening further. “I just wonder about your intention.”

“Blunt! I like it,” he mused, rubbing his chin and looking down at her in a calculating way she hadn’t seen many people take before. “I’ve heard academics at the Institute of Science talk about methods to help crippled roc fly again but there’s not much progress done on it. So, if this works, it could be your invention project to complete the submission into the Institute after the first required year…but I suspect you don’t have plans to stop at the first year.”

Ayla glanced sideways at him, trying to gauge his tone, her skin prickling at the subjects no one talked about in the stormlands. Information was typically sparse due to how few people, other than cadets themselves, went up there.

Is he genuinely admiring me or is it just another well-played line? His expression is sincere enough…but I can’t get too comfortable. It’s survival of the fittest amongst the highlanders. I can’t be wooed into lowering my guard. No compliment comes for free.

She shrugged again, dodging his remark. “I do what needs to be done. We’ll see how things play out.”

“Fair enough!”

They continued walking until the cavern opened into Nulina’s grand nesting chamber. The sheer size of the space always took people by surprise, and she watched closely upon entering into the expansive, open space for his reaction.

Caden’s curious glance toward the large tunnel to their left didn’t go unnoticed, leading to where she’d been constructing the harness. The ceiling loomed high above them, nearly touched by the towering form of Nulina herself, who stood proudly in the center.

Lightning arced from Nulina’s glossy black feathers, crackling between the rods embedded in the walls. The atmosphere was charged with raw energy, and a single step forward from her massive claws left a tremor quaking through the black metal ground. The sound echoed through the space as she leaned down, her stormy eyes glinting while fixing on Caden, her gaze steady, waiting for him to speak.

Caden, who had seemed so calm moments before, hesitated. Ayla caught the subtle shift in his stance—the tension in his shoulders, the nervous glance as he adjusted his cloak. Everyone reacted like that to Nulina but Amaris and her. He stepped forward, craning his neck to meet the seventy-foot-tall roc’s gaze.

“I, uh…I wanted to ask you a question,” he began, steadying his shaky voice. “Will you hear it, Nulina, Dragon Slayer and Tempest Queen?”

For a moment, the only sound was the crackling of energy that danced across Nulina’s feathers. Ayla could see the look in the crippled roc’s shifting posture that she was considering something important as her gaze flicked to her for a time before returning to the noble. The massive roc tilted her head slightly, her storm-dark eyes locked on Caden, her beak still. Ayla could practically feel Caden's nerves unraveling beside her.

In a slow, deliberate motion, Nulina inserted her beak into the large tube hanging from the ceiling. A sudden surge of electricity shot through the room, crackling across her feathers as she spoke, the wind picking up. Her voice, low and resonant, filled the chamber, “I will allow it, human, but only if you do something for me.”

Caden flinched, eyes widening as his gaze darted to the tube, clearly trying to make sense of how a roc was speaking so clearly.

Ayla’s lips quirked into a teasing smirk as she looked between the two, having seen this same reaction from some of the raven lord bound cavalrymen who brought her fruit each day. “She’s got a pretty voice, doesn’t she? What, never heard a roc speak before?”

Caden swallowed hard, nodding as his eyes flicked to her. “Sure, I have, but…not like this,” he muttered, his focus returning to the device. “If rocs speak our tongue in the highlands, it’s like rolling thunder. Most of the rocs I’ve seen have their Skybound do the talking for them.”

Nulina’s gaze remained fixed on the noble, her eyes gleaming with amusement, no doubt enjoying his squirming. Her massive frame didn’t move, but the storm energy in the chamber swirled with her mood.

Caden glanced back at the device, clearly intrigued. “How…does this work?” he asked, sounding more curious now than nervous.

Ayla felt the heat of embarrassment flush across her face as Caden’s question turned toward her and Nulina gave her a stare that said, ‘Go ahead, brag!’ She absently tugged at her white braided hair, twirling the end between her fingers.

“As shocking as it sounds, it’s not that complicated, really. My brother…he brought back a bunch of engineering books from the academy for me to read…when he was alive. I used some of the designs and theories—well, I should preface that with the frustration a lot of the academics had hundreds of cycles ago—most of their designs were never put into practice because the scale was too big for the Solaraeth blacksmiths at the time.

“But…since I know all of them, I had them help when they had the time.” She shrugged, glancing up at Nulina, who had a look of pride on her face that made her want to kick her talon. “Regular metal doesn’t hold up well to the vibrations from the roc’s voice. It distorts the sound. So, that’s how we made that.”

Caden blinked, clearly impressed and making her want to swap the subject. His eyes grew thoughtful as he processed her explanation.

“That…actually makes a lot of sense and answers some questions I had growing up. Most highborn, unless from the most distinguished families, don’t have that kind of access to the blacksmiths of your people, directly, that is, especially with black metal.” He gave her a sidelong glance, his amber eyes filled with real respect that made her stifle a shiver; few people gave her that kind of look, and no one her age. “You’ve got quite the advantage we highborn don’t.”

Ayla’s heart lifted at his words, a rare, warm feeling settling in her chest. The mention of her brother also softened her expression. “Yeah, well…I do what I can.”

Caden looked back at Nulina, and a faint smile tugged at his lips. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting, Tempest Queen,” he said, bowing his head slightly. “You do have a beautiful voice, and of course…I’ll do whatever you demand.”

The soft rumble of Nulina’s laughter echoed through the chamber, her feathers sparking with the increased energy. She reinserted her beak from the tube, and her voice, tinged with a mix of entertainment and authority.

“Good,” she intoned, her voice resonating like the distant roll of thunder. “Then I demand that you assess Ayla’s capability to overcome the first six weeks of the Tempalis Military Academy…to reach the bonding trial.”

Ayla’s expression immediately hardened. Her turquoise eyes flashed as she glared up at the colossal bird, her voice sharpening. “Are you seriously doubting me, Nulina? I’ve already got enough pushback from Eldric, and now you? If you think I’m going to die, you can slip and fall off a cliff!”

Caden’s face paled at the outburst as he instinctively took a step back. Mera, already fidgeting nervously, let out a soft whimper and mumbled under her breath, “You’re going to give me a heart attack…”

However, instead of the atmosphere thickening, Nulina’s chuckle radiated through the chamber. The electric surges grew stronger, causing several light-giving diamonds embedded in the walls to crack and shatter with a sharp, echoing sound. The room darkened slightly as the broken jewels left behind small, glowing remnants.

“You have your brother’s mouth,” Nulina mused with a rumble, her voice thick with nostalgia. “Defiant and fiery to the end.”

Ayla didn’t let up, her glare. Her heart pounded, frustration boiling under her skin. “Why do you want him to test me if you don’t have faith in me?” she demanded, turning her fiery gaze toward Caden, who raised his hands as if saying he had no part in this conversation while backing up even further.

Mera’s voice cracked as she clutched at her chest, her breathing coming in quick gasps. “Ayla, please don’t antagonize her… My heart’s beating out of my chest. This is even worse than usual!”

Extracting her beak from the tube, Nulina leaned forward, causing the other two to retreat to the wall. Ayla didn’t budge, the gales increasing and blowing back her braid and hood, maintaining eye contact. Nulina extended one of her massive feathers toward her and had the nerve to nudge her slightly off balance with surprising gentleness.

Ayla growled under her breath as she stumbled and caught her balance. “Answer me, Nulina! Why don’t you believe I’ll make it like Kael? I get I’m a woman, but one of the Skybound generals is a woman!”

The Tempest Queen’s mood shifted again, her voice taking on a more somber tone as she reinserted her beak into the energy tube. “Your brother…he told you many stories about the academy, didn’t he? But did he ever mention that he failed the bonding process during the six-week trial? That he didn’t even receive a reaction from any eggs or bondless?”

A shiver ran down Ayla’s spine as she recalled Eldric’s haunting words—that she couldn’t bond with a roc. Her brow furrowed, disbelief flashing across her face. “He didn’t fail. That’s impossible! He went after you instead of a new hatchling and earned your favor!”

Nulina’s eyes flicked downward, lost in memory. “No, Ayla. He had no reaction… He was the only one in the academy’s history, at least in my four hundred cycles, to complete the bonding ceremony without bonding. He stubbornly chose to trek up the Frozen Peak alone to spill blood upon the Skybound altar.”

Ayla’s blood ran cold as she processed Nulina’s words. Her mind turned, attempting to connect what that meant. “No, but…but he did bond…with you.”

Caden spoke up in the ensuing silence. “To me, that fact made him even more of a legend, and it is why he became such a hallmark.” She glanced at him, trying to reconcile with what that might mean for her. “He spent six months with a target on his back without a roc. I have no idea how he managed to compete.”

Nulina’s voice resonated around them, gentle yet firm. “I made a covenant not to speak about how he bonded with me, Ayla, which is why I haven’t told you. However,” she paused, her damaged wing sweeping out to brush against her head in a motherly way, “do not jump to conclusions thinking I do not have faith in you. You cannot take the path your brother did…and you needn’t have to. You have a different journey to walk than your brother.”

Fists balling into fists, and more confused than any other point in her life, she looked up at the titanic black eagle who had been a pillar in her life since Kael’s death. She knew Nulina loved her brother as much as her, having been literally bound to his soul and had it ripped away.

Why am I wrong? Aggravation bubbled up within her while going through every roadblock she’d faced, the fire within her rebounding. Kael believed in me and trained me when he could. So why does Eldric only believe in Amaris? I’m better than her in almost every way… I need to be to protect her, like Kael told me to. So, why am I the one Eldric thinks is holding her back?

“What does that mean, though? Eldric won’t tell me why he doesn’t want me to go to the academy. Why he believes that’s Amaris’ path and not mine. You know why. I know you do… I love Amaris with all my heart, but it’s…so frustrating!” she shouted, fighting the fire in her throat and face as her emotions boiled up.

“He thinks I should settle down here and take care of you for the rest of my life, and I love you, but…I need to do something more. I need to protect Amaris!” she growled. “Who is going to be there for her when she doubts herself? If not that, then what path do I have that all of you are talking about?”

Breathing heavily in the ensuing silence that stretched between them, Nulina’s soft eyes and ruffled feathers made her want to kick her tail feathers! Yet, her response popped the super-charged bubble that had expanded in her chest.

“Ayla… Do you think I share the same fears as Eldric?”

She bit her bottom lip, unable to help a few tears from falling from her eyes as the electricity sparking off of Nulina’s feathers calmed. The Tempest Queen left the tube to settle down in front of her, bending her head low to give her the sad look of a mother trying to get her complex feelings across to a stubborn child. Bending forward, she pressed her fluffy head feathers against her, making Ayla clear her throat and rub her cheeks.

“I’m fine. I’m just…angry…confused. I don’t know what everyone expects of me because no one will tell me… And it’s like they don’t trust me. No one thought I could forge black metal or make these inventions work…but I did it, and still no one believes me. I try, so hard… Is it these episodes I’ve been having since my twentieth cycle? What?!”

After a few silent seconds between just the two of them, Nulina rose back to the ceiling, inserting her beak into the tube again to speak.

“That is a concern… Eldric’s fears are real, Ayla,” the roc confirmed, her tone strengthening. “That being said, I’ve seen you grow into a strong young human woman who has answered any challenge placed against her. I have faith in you, as I know you have faith in yourself…but that does not mean I won’t do what I can to give you the best possible outcome,” she concluded with a wink.

Fighting back her emotions and heart rekindling, Ayla internalized that statement, glancing at the amber-eyed noble far back beside the wall.

Nulina finished her statement while following her gaze to the young man. “Highborn train their whole lives to their twentieth cycle to complete the first year at Tempalis Military Academy. If Caden wants me to answer his question, one I am bound to be agitated at, then he must do something I cannot do…and give you a realistic understanding of where you stand, and where you can improve.”

The giant bird’s eyes narrowed. “Those first six weeks will be the toughest for you… After that, it will become a different challenge altogether. Will you trust me? At the very least, it will help you understand what you need to do to support Amaris.”

Her cheeks colored a little now that her emotions had run their course and seeing her fifteen cycle trainee and a noble observing her outburst.

Well, nothing more I can do about it now… Why am I so different from my brother and cousin? It’s like I’m held to a different standard. No. I just need to learn and show them I’m better than they think.

“Alright… I’m sorry you had to see that,” she mumbled to the pair as she pulled back slightly to join them. “What kind of evaluation are we talking about? Do you want to see how many pushups I can do or how far I can run against the storm?” she asked, half mockingly with a smirk. “What’s first?”

The wind outside howled, but inside the cavern, it felt muted. He stepped forward with a calm, measured look, his voice a low murmur as he quoted something that struck deeper than she expected.

“No man alive on this planet can illuminate your path,” he began, his voice soft but sure. “No guide before you can show the way beyond the pass. No footprints will show you the trail; you’ll have to walk that path without a map.”

Ayla narrowed her eyes at him, her guard up but curiosity sparked. “Interesting words of wisdom? I’ll have to repeat that back to Eldric. Where did you learn those maxims?”

He held her gaze for a moment longer, then added, “My father. When I began my first trek through the stormlands and through the lowlands, he told me:

“You can trek across the plains without much weight on your back, but if your mind is burdened by doubt, it’s that which will make you crumble.”

The words felt like an echo from her own dreams, the ones that haunted her at night. She did have questions that weighed heavily on her about her life:

Why her mother’s decision to leave them to look for answers amongst the elusive elves in the icy boreal forest? Why didn't one roc come to Nulina and her brother’s aid when their community was under attack? Why she was coughing up blood at random times and felt so physically drained at times, even outside of the Redlight cycle? And so many more about her brother now after what Nulina had revealed.

She glanced toward Mera, who watched from the sidelines, wide-eyed and hanging on every word as if a bedtime story. Nulina’s feathers ruffled softly in the background, electricity flickering in the chamber like the quiet hum of anticipation.

Caden’s gaze softened, and he stepped closer, nodding toward the Tempest Queen. “If that’s what you want, then I’m more than happy to offer what insight I can…but it may be a little uncomfortable at the start. Mind…if I feel your grip?” he asked, his tone still respectful, yet tinged with that playful warmth that made Ayla uneasy—yet intrigued.

Ayla arched a brow. “Uncomfortable? Is that a challenge?” She flexed her fingers without hesitation, her hand wrapping around his. “Why? Do you need reassurance that I’m strong enough to wield a hammer as a blacksmith?”

He chuckled softly, shaking his head and meeting her tight squeeze with equal strength that surprised her. “Not at all. It’s not like I can look past your full leather gear to see what you’re working with. Just testing… Hmm. May I?” he asked, releasing his grip to point at her arm.

She could feel her cheeks warm at the compliment, even though she told herself it didn’t mean anything. “I’ve been working metal since I could lift a hammer. Forging in general being physically demanding isn’t exactly a secret… Sure.”

Caden’s hands traced along her arm, his rough fingers moving down it slowly, squeezing her bicep lightly in places. His smile grew. “Your strength shows. Impressive,” he commented, his tone now more measured, assessing. “Your physical fortitude, especially for a woman, is rare. Endurance like this means you’ve trained not just for strength but for longevity.”

Ayla swallowed, caught between annoyance at being scrutinized like a project and the fluttering sense of pride that rose up at his words. She wasn’t shy about her abilities, but the attention Caden was giving her—a highborn noble, no less—was unexpected and new.

He bent down slightly before sweeping back his bangs and giving her a strained smile. “May I? I’m just trying to understand where you’re coming from when going into the opening ceremony since it’s only a few days away.”

“I’m not shy,” she muttered with a shrug, wanting to strangle Mera as the teen’s eyes sparkled, breath held, and face cherry red.

This isn’t one of the spicy stories Jaden tells you at night! Get your head out of the trench… Woah, where are you touching?!

Despite her protests, there was something different about the way his hands moved between her muscles, making them tighten and her heartbeat quicken as he tested the firmness of her thighs with measured pressure. The heat of his body made her gulp.

“Your balance in those gales was exceptional,” he noted, and she could feel his eyes scanning her as if seeing her in a new light. “You’ve got more than enough power to call on when you need it for the climbs, but your light weight will help keep you going for the long run.”

“Maybe you’re right.” Ayla shrugged, trying not to let the fire rise up her throat and into her face. “I’ve always had to be stronger than others expected. No one hands you anything in Windscar without working for it.”

Caden’s hand brushed up, near her stomach, and she allowed it, though she felt her cheeks darken just a little.

“I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable,” he said, his voice lowering as his gaze met hers once again, which somehow made it worse. “I need to see where you’ve developed—the level of physical strength you have will be vital in surviving the initial six weeks in the academy before gaining the magical support of a roc or raven lord…should you bond to one.”

“You can stop overexplaining it,” Ayla quickly replied, giving a small smile to undercut her earlier defensiveness. “Like I said, I’m not shy about my body. I’ve got plenty of scars on my hands and arms, so it’s not like I’m looking to spark anything from any noble boys.”

Dammit! Did I just really say that?

She could tell he was being careful not to push boundaries, his gaze constantly flicking up to see her reactions. Yet there was something about the way he commented on her build that made her feel…seen. And not in a way that made her feel like less, like so many others did. She caught a glimpse of Mera’s wide-eyed and even brighter face, filled with the apprehension of an angsty teen, watching this exchange unfold, and despite herself, Ayla felt a flicker of begrudging amusement.

This isn’t anything, kid. He’s just doing what Nulina asked…

Caden straightened, his appraisal complete, and offered her a sly grin that caught her off-guard. “You’re well-defined, Ayla. No lie. Stronger than many highborn women I’ve known. Even my older sister wouldn’t match your physique.”

She smirked, enjoying the compliment and unable to stop her hand from rising to rub her neck hot. “I’ll take that as a win. So, I’m above the cut is—”

Suddenly, Nulina’s voice broke the moment, a low rumble vibrating through the chamber as sparks danced across her massive wings. “That was…more thorough than I expected, human.” Her eyes gleamed with suspicion, feathers bristling.

Caden smiled without missing a beat, stepping back slightly and raising his hands in mock surrender. “Just making sure Ayla knows how stunning she is. And she truly is. Can’t help myself.”

Wait, what?! I’m stunning? He’s just talking about…my physique. Where is my mind going?!

Nulina’s feathers flared, the electrical charge snapping in warning. “Mind your words, boy,” she warned, her voice like the brewing storm outside.

Ayla chuckled, shaking her head. “That means you’re on thin ice,” she whispered to Caden, though part of her found it strangely endearing how he danced on that line in the face of the huffy roc, acting more like a mother hen than a colossal black eagle.

The massive roc, still connected to her energy tube, flicked her wing with a sharp gust of wind. “Your assessment is incomplete, Caden Valen. This won’t be answered in a single day’s exercise or…physical assessment. You’ll join Ayla and me on our flight to the lowlands.”

Both Ayla and Caden exchanged a look of shock, though Ayla’s pulse quickened with the topic. She’s ready to test out the harness? Finally! If this works, Nulina can glide again. That means he’ll be able to tell me more about the highlands as we climb the mountain and guide the doomers and those from the lowlands trying to enter the academy up the slopes.

She glanced up at the leery-eyed bird, feathers puffier than she’d seen them in a long time. What are you plotting, bird brain? I know you’ve sensed something that has you going this angle. What’s waiting for us in the lowlands that you can feel in the storm?

Caden’s smirk faded as the reality of the situation sank in. “A flight down?” he asked, his tone suddenly more cautious. “You’re serious? I’ve never flown! If any other highborn found out I rode on the back of a Tempest Queen…”

Nulina ruffled her feathers with a sharp crack of electricity, making her thoughts perfectly clear: deadly serious. “You’re coming.”

Ayla put a hand on her hip, wearing a half-smile upon seeing the lump drop down the nobleman’s throat and the color drain from his face. “What was it you said? A Tempest Queen gets what she wants?”

Voice scratchy, a quake ran down his frame. “Yeah…”

As if to add insult to injury, Mera hopped forward to pat him on the back for comfort, likely just wanting to get a touch in, knowing the teen. “Good luck! Last year when they tried it, it broke. Luckily they were only testing strength. It’s much stronger now!”

Caden’s lips became a line. “That’s…comforting. Thanks.”

“Mhm! Oh, it’s this way,” the girl grabbed him by the hand and led him toward the only other hallway large enough for Nulina to fit through. “Follow me! You’ll be taking Amaris’ seat. It’s smaller, so we’ll have to see how the strap fits you. Hopefully, uh, it’s properly grounded to the black rods.”

“Properly grounded?! Wait, tell me you’ve done this before?”

“Nope! I’d never,” Mera flatly denied. “I’m too chicken. Only Amiras and Ayla do the scary stuff. You’re brave, though, right?” she asked, giving him a teen’s face full of confidence that he didn’t quite reflect.

Ayla snickered as she followed behind them. You little vixen. You know they’re grounded. I guess you’re trying to insert yourself to retell the story to the other girls tonight…with embellishment, I’m sure… Teenagers.

Nulina seemed to approve of the fear tactics, her low rumbling laughter shaking the stone walls as she gracefully walked after them. Her powerful legs sent shockwaves through the floor, the sound of her talons tapping against the black metal creating a far lesser resonance than it should have due to her controlled movements.

Ayla wasn’t buying the innocence and evasive tactics, trying to distract her with Caden’s warm fuzzy words. Sure, he wasn’t like any of the other nobles she’d met, but he still came from a culture where weakness meant death.

Whatever you’re planning, old bird… Thank you for worrying about me.Now, let’s get you in the air again.

-------------

Next Chapter