Dawn painted Dragon’s Fang Island in shades of blood and ash as Pryce guided Stormwing toward the landing area. The dragon’s wings caught turbulent air currents rising from the volcanic peaks, making their descent tricky. Below them, the training grounds had been carved directly into the black rock, creating a series of terraced platforms where other dragons and their riders practiced aerial maneuvers.

“Easy, girl,” Pryce said, patting Stormwing’s neck as her wings trembled against another violent updraft. She let out a worried chirp as they passed a pair of fire drakes breathing streams of flame at moving targets.

 They landed hard on the main platform, Stormwing’s claws scraping against volcanic stone. Ash poked his head out from the carrying pouch, fur ruffled from the flight. Above them, Skye circled once before landing on a nearby rocky outcrop.

Master Kestrel stood waiting, his eyes narrowed at the sight of Pryce’s companions.

“Welcome to Dragon’s Fang Island,” Kestrel said. “I trust your journey was uneventful?”

Before Pryce could answer, a shadow drake screamed overhead, its rider executing a perfect combat roll. The maneuver ended with the dragon’s claws extended, ready to strike.

“Your pets will need to stay in the lower quarters,” Kestrel said. “We can’t have them disrupting training.”

“They won’t cause trouble,” Pryce said, scratching behind Ash’s ears. “They’re part of my team.”

“This isn’t some village farm. This is a military training facility. Impressive, isn’t it?” He gestured at the aerial display. “That’s what you’ll learn here. Real dragon riding, not just gentle flights over a lake.”

A group of young riders approached, their dragons following behind. Pryce noticed their leather armor, so different from his simple fishing clothes.

“These are your fellow trainees,” Kestrel said. “Though they’ve had somewhat more . . . extensive preparation than you.”

A girl with short dark hair stepped forward. “I’m Raven,” she said, offering a slight bow. “Don’t worry about the fancy moves yet. Took me weeks just to stay on during basic maneuvers.”

“I’m Pryce, and this is Storm—”

“Stormwing,” a familiar voice cut in. “The dragon that can’t even land properly.”

Thane Zharan emerged from the group. His shadow drake curled around him protectively, yellow eyes fixed on Stormwing. Ash bristled in his carrier, and Skye let out a warning screech from her perch.

“Time for your first lesson,” Kestrel announced. “Basic combat positioning. Raven, demonstrate the standard attack stance.”

Raven swung onto her copper-scaled drake. With ease, she shifted her weight forward, one hand gripping the saddle’s front ridge while the other held an imaginary weapon. Her dragon’s neck arched, wings half-spread for balance.

“Your turn,” Kestrel said to Pryce.

After securing Ash’s carrier to a nearby post, Pryce mounted Stormwing. He tried to mirror Raven’s position, but Stormwing fidgeted beneath him. The dragon’s muscles tensed as another fire drake roared nearby.

“She’s fighting you,” Thane said, circling them on his shadow drake. “Dragons sense weakness. If you can’t control her in basic stances, how do you expect to handle real combat?”

“I’m not weak. Storm’s just not used to—”

“Not used to what? Being a proper dragon?” Thane laughed. “Face it, Harper-Green. You’ve made her soft, like everything else in that fishing village of yours.”

The other trainees murmured, some nodding in agreement. Pryce felt his face grow hot. Below, Ash paced around his post while Skye swooped low over their heads.

“Perhaps,” Kestrel said, “a demonstration is in order.” He looked at Pryce and Thane. “Nothing teaches quite like experience.”

“Master Kestrel.” Raven stepped forward. “Pryce just arrived. Maybe we should—”

“He’s had time to bond with his dragon,” Kestrel said. “Now we’ll see what that bond is worth.” He turned to Pryce. “Unless you’d prefer to return home?”

The word ‘home’ carried a weight of shame. He remembered Seren’s kiss, her words about protecting Crystal Shores. How could he face her if he couldn’t even handle basic training?

“No,” Pryce said, sitting straighter in the saddle. “I’ll do it.”

“Simple rules,” Kestrel said. “First to force their opponent to yield or lose position wins. No direct attacks on the dragons.” He stepped back, raising his arm. “Begin!”

Thane’s shadow drake launched into the air with explosive force. Stormwing followed more hesitantly, her powerful wings carrying them skyward in wide spirals. Skye followed the battle from a safe distance.

Thane struck first, his drake diving from above. Pryce yanked on the reins, and Stormwing barrel-rolled away from the attack. The sudden maneuver nearly unseated him.

“Sloppy,” Thane called out, banking for another pass. “Your drake has potential, but you’re holding her back.”

Stormwing growled, electricity crackling along her scales. Pryce felt her muscles bunch beneath him. Above them, Skye kept pace, her warning calls marking Thane’s position whenever the shadow drake tried to use its natural camouflage.

“Now,” Pryce said, “Show them what you can do!”

Stormwing shot upward, surprising both Thane and his drake. They climbed until the training grounds below looked like a child’s toy, Ash a mere speck beside the training post. Then, without warning, Stormwing tucked her wings and plunged.

Wind screamed in Pryce’s ears as they dove past Thane, close enough to see his startled expression. Stormwing’s natural storm magic left a trail of crackling energy in their wake, disrupting the shadow drake’s flight.

“Better!” Kestrel’s voice carried from below. “But a real enemy won’t be so easily rattled!”

As if proving the point, Thane’s drake recovered quickly. It vanished into its own shadow—a trick Pryce hadn’t known was possible—only to reappear directly above them.

“Too predictable,” Thane said as his drake’s talons nearly scraped Pryce’s back.

Stormwing jerked away, her movements dissolving into chaos. She bucked and twisted, fighting against Pryce’s commands as terror overtook her. Above them, Skye screeched.

“Storm, please!” Pryce fought to regain control. “I know you’re scared, but—”

The shadow drake struck again, this time catching Stormwing’s wing with its tail. They began to fall, spinning toward the rocky ground below.

At the last possible moment, Stormwing snapped her wings open. The sudden deceleration slammed Pryce against the saddle. They pulled up mere feet from the volcanic rock, sending loose pebbles scattering.

“Yield!” Kestrel shouted. “Before someone gets killed.”

Pryce raised his hand in surrender. Thane’s drake landed nearby. Skye descended to perch on Stormwing’s saddle.

“Not bad for a fisherman’s son,” Thane said. “At least you didn’t fall off.”

The other trainees gathered around as Pryce dismounted on shaky legs. Raven approached, offering a water skin.

“You lasted longer than I did my first time,” she said.

“Enough rest,” Kestrel called out. “Formation training. Everyone in the air—including you, Pryce. Your real work begins now.”

The afternoon dissolved into a blur of drills. From his perch on a high rock, Ash watched the aerial training. Skye had taken to following their maneuvers, occasionally letting out warning squawks when other dragons flew too close to Stormwing.

They practiced attack formations, defensive patterns, and coordinated strikes. With each passing hour, Stormwing grew more agitated. Her usually smooth movements became jerky.

“Higher!” Kestrel shouted from below. “Dragons are weapons of war! They must learn to strike without hesitation!”

Pryce felt Stormwing’s muscles trembling beneath him. When she tried to execute a diving attack, her wing clipped another trainee’s dragon.

“Control your beast, Harper-Green!” Thane’s voice cut through the chaos. “Or do you need another demonstration?”

By evening, Stormwing was refusing commands entirely. She landed hard on a lower terrace, away from the other dragons, and wouldn’t budge. Ash padded over from his watching spot, rubbing against her leg while Skye landed on her back, preening the dragon’s scales in a gesture of solidarity.

“Storm?” Pryce slid from the saddle, noticing how she flinched at his touch. “What’s wrong, girl?”

A pained screech echoed from somewhere below. Stormwing’s head snapped up, her eyes fixed on a cave entrance partially hidden by volcanic steam. Ash’s ears flattened at the sound, and Skye took flight.

“It’s nothing,” Pryce said, but Stormwing was already moving. “Storm, wait!”

She led him down a narrow path, past the official training grounds. The cave opening belched hot air and the sounds of suffering dragons. Ash slunk beside them into the cave.

Inside, rows of injured dragons lay chained to the walls. Some bore fresh wounds from training accidents. Others showed signs of older abuse—scars, badly-healed wings, broken spirits. Skye fluttered from injured dragon to injured dragon, as if trying to offer comfort.

“What have they done to you?” Pryce said, reaching for a young fire drake with a crudely splinted leg. The dragon whimpered.

Stormwing pressed closer to Pryce, her wings drooping as she gazed at the injured drake sympathetically.

Then the hair on Pryce’s neck prickled. An unnerving sound vibrated through the cavern—a throaty growl that seemed to shake the rock walls. It was a noise of raw might.

Pryce gulped. He willed his legs to move, each step a monumental effort. The deeper he advanced, the more the air pulsed with the dragon’s threatening sound. Ash remained glued to his heel.

Emerging into a sprawling grotto at the cavern’s heart, where torches on the walls cast jittery shadows. Pryce froze. The source of the sound was a titan, unlike anything in the legends he had read. The dragon was gargantuan, its scales the hue of polished night. Massive chains, as thick as a ship’s mast, shackled the creature to the cave’s rear wall.

The beast’s eyes locked onto Pryce. They were eyes that spoke of a spirit unbroken by its captivity. A furious roar tore from its throat, the chains clanged as the dragon surged forward. Drool dripped from its fangs, sizzling when it touched the cold stone of the cave floor.

“By the Ancients,” Pryce said with dread as he backed up hastily.