Bei

Bei wasn’t the type to simply rush in without a plan.

Years of diplomacy with the clans outside the Island had honed her skills, and by now, she’d learned enough to not simply charge in, take the dragons on exaltation row, and sprint back out. She knew some of the dragons were proud to be exalted, and in a way, she supposed she could understand the patriotism of it all.

Still, there was a difference between sending willing adults, and sending unwilling barely-grown dragons.

She knew the clan could afford the loss in numbers. She’d heard rumours, after all, about how they were getting rid of some dragons by sending them to be exalted for a project. While she didn’t know what sort of project, she knew enough to be confident to add an extra to the contract she was discussing with the clan’s leaders.

An hour later, and she was strolling out of the hall, smugness rolling off of her in waves. Her brothers, Nexe and Sayn, sighed as they walked beside her.

Eventually, they stopped at the place where the dragons on the exaltation row were held. One by one, on the orders of one of the clan’s dragons, the exaltation row’s dragons all came out. Bei scanned them over, one by one; they all seemed to have varying degrees of anxiety and terror.

She’d seen this scene before, many times. Still, it always left a sharp pain in her heart.

Dismissing those emotions temporarily, she offered a kind smile, and extended a hand to the dragons.

“My name is Bei,” she introduced. “I’m the Leader of the Island, and I’m here to bring you back with me.”

Yes, they would fit in just fine.