Dragonia: Rise of the Wyverns: An Epic Fantasy Dragon Novel (Dragonia Empire Book 1)
Dragonia: Rise of the Wyverns – Chapter 33

Devarius watched with admiration as wyverns took to the sky with riders on their backs. It looked terrifying, yet exhilarating at the same time. A grin was plastered across his face as he watched. With wyverns, man could fly. It was incredible.

He glanced over to Ayla. She was the size of a small dog now. Devarius stroked his hand along the neck of the wyvern as they both watched the wyvernriders practice aerial combat.

“I can’t wait to ride you like that,” Devarius whispered.

Ayla nuzzled against his leg.

Paedyn stepped beside Devarius. He glanced at the sky as well.

“How are we supposed to defeat an army of dragonriders? These wyverns are small compared to the dragon we saw,” Paedyn said.

“We will not win by strength,” Devarius said.

“How will we win?” Paedyn asked.

“By cunning. We must outsmart and outmaneuver them.”

“They’ve been riding dragons for seventy years. How are we supposed to outmaneuver them when they have so much more experience?”

Devarius turned away from the sight of wyvernriders in the sky to study his friend.

“Yes, they have a lot of experience riding dragons. But, they have no experience fighting in the sky. They have no experience fighting other dragonriders or wyvernriders. They use their dragons as transportation and as a fierce combatant on the ground. By the time we actually fight, we’ll be well matched.”

“Even so,” Paedyn said, “dragons are so much larger and stronger than these wyverns.”

“A wolverine is small, but even they can best a bear sometimes. Size doesn’t matter here. It’s skill. My wyvern isn’t ready to let me ride her yet. Instead, I’ve been studying the others. Wyverns have swift movements. Their flying is precise. They can fly backward with a rider on top of them. The angles they can cut in the air are impressive. I don’t think the dragons have nearly as much skill in maneuverability as these wyverns. It’s not going to be easy, but if we train hard enough, I think we can take the empire by surprise.”

“I hope you’re right,” Paedyn said.

“Why aren’t you up there with your wyvern?”

“I was. All morning. Now I need to heal.” Paedyn gestured to his legs.

Devarius glanced down and gasped. Paedyn’s breeches between his legs were torn to shreds and his legs were bleeding.

“All that is from riding your wyvern?” Devarius asked.

“Yes. Apparently scales are sharp and cut deep if rubbed against. I don’t know when I’ll be able to ride again.”

Devarius looked back up at the sky. “They are going to be hurting and bloody as well.”

“Most likely,” Paedyn admitted.

“We need saddles,” Devarius said.

“How? We don’t have saddles big enough. Horse saddles will be too small, and we don’t have any leather here.”

“I need to find Tynaer,” Devarius said.

Paedyn nodded and glanced back to the wyvernriders in the sky.

Devarius turned around and strode away. He barely made it fifteen feet before nearly stumbling into a limping Tynaer. Devarius stepped away, mouth agape and eyes wide as he regarded the captain. Like Paedyn, his legs were torn and bloody.

“Captain.” Devarius bowed his head.

“Good afternoon, Devarius. I’m afraid everyone’s first day flying will be their last. I don’t imagine anyone is going to be walking easy tomorrow.”

“I don’t know why I didn’t think about saddles,” Devarius admitted.

Tynaer grinned. “Scales are a bit tougher than a horse’s hide.”

“We need leather,” Devarius said.

“Yes.”

“There are no animals here—at least, none that I have found.”

“Me either,” Tynaer said. “Nor are there leatherworkers.”

“What do we do?” Devarius asked.

Tynaer shrugged. “We leave.”

“Leave?”

“We came here for one purpose: to see if the wyverns would help us. They will. Now, we need more people, more warriors. Unless we can convince all these wyverns to leave their home and join us in the mountains, we need to create a second home here. And to do that, we need more men and women. We need chefs, blacksmiths, and most importantly, leatherworkers and livestock.”

“I agree,” Devarius said. He shifted.

“We will head back to Saefron.”

Devarius’s eyebrows rose. “All of us?”

Tynaer smiled. “No. You will stay here with the wyverns. You seem to have a special bond with them. Also, we’ll need more room on the ship to bring people here. We may even need to build a few more ships. I’m only going to take who I need to man the ship. Everyone else will stay here.”

“It will be a long journey,” Devarius said.

“It will be a couple of moon-cycles before we return, yes. I have faith putting you in charge, Devarius.”

“Thank you.”

“I hope everyone who stays likes fish.”

Devarius laughed. “When do you leave?”

“In the morning. I dare not delay.”

“I understand.”

“Keep everyone in shape while I’m gone,” Tynaer said.

“I will.”

Tynaer nodded before striding away.

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