Two

Are we there yet?”

Noelle wasn’t a whiner, or a complainer, or a girl of many words, for that matter, but she had already taken two naps, went to the bathroom five times, skimmed through half a dozen magazines, and had been threatened by Ellie four times “to sit down or I’m dropping you from this darn plane”—or some variation of that—already.

Ellie glared at her. “Noelle, sit down or I’m tossing you out the window.” Correction: five times. Noelle had been threatened by Ellie five times.

Noelle sighed, but she walked back from the window of the plane and plopped back down in her seat. She grabbed one of the nearby throw pillows and began tossing it up and down as she gazed out the window behind her. All she could see were cotton-candy clouds and a baby blue sky.

“We’ll be there in a few minutes, but,” Ellie said, fixing Noelle with a look that said, Don’t you dare move, “I need to review my plan with you first.”

Noelle fought the urge to roll her eyes while Ellie leaned forward, clicked a button on the table. A drawer popped out from the wall. How that was possible, Noelle wasn’t sure, since they were on a plane, but she guessed enough money could get you a drawer from a wall on a plane. Ellie reached in and retrieved a stack of papers.

“First, let’s talk about your teammates. Benjamin Mowe and his salamander, Rillet. They were born in eastern Gravemarch. Olivia Hind and her lung dragon, Alphi. She was born in western Gravemarch. Skyler Hay and Sponge—”

“I’m sorry, Sponge?” One of the best teenage dragon trainers in Gravemarch named his dragon…Sponge?

Ellie gave Noelle a stern look. “Let me finish. Sponge is a sea serpent found on the coast of Coatway. You’re going to be staying in a house in unclaimed territory with them.”

“Wait—does that mean we’re going to see the castle?” Noelle didn’t want to be near the castle ever again. Even though they rebuilt it. Even though it happened eight years ago.

Ellie’s eyes softened. “The royal family won’t come visit often. And even if they do, they probably won’t recognize you—especially if you keep wearing that bandana.”

Still, dread coiled in Noelle’s stomach. She wouldn’t look forward to seeing the royal family, even if their visits were scarce. Yes, the king may have passed away in that tragic fire, but the queen, the prince, and the princess were still away.

To prevent further dread, Noelle pushed all thoughts of them away and tucked the pillow underneath her chin. She could think of them another day.

∙ ∙ ∙

We’re here,” Ellie said as the plane skidded to a stop. Noelle peered out the window. All she could see was a field of green on either side of the gravel runway where the plane landed. There were no other planes, so she guessed this wasn’t an official place to stop a plane.

“Where are we?” Noelle asked as Ellie unbuckled her seatbelt, stood up, and stretched.

“We’re about five miles away from the house where the rest of your team is,” she said matter-of-factly.

Noelle gave Ellie a look. “Why is the house in the middle of nowhere—and why are we five miles from it?”

Ellie replied as the door unlatched and they walked out of the plane. “The house is in the middle of a field, so they can train in peace without anyone disturbing them. And we’re five miles away,” she smiled, and clicked a hidden button on her sleeve—“because this is your first test.”

“My what—”

A snarl interrupted Noelle’s sentence. She narrowed her eyes as a large, black wolf with yellow eyes stalked towards them. She took a careful step back.

“That’s D.B., short for Dapper Bee,” Ellie explained, studying Noelle carefully. “He’s the guard dog, and every time someone new joins the team, they have to outrun him to the house.”

“I’m sorry, Dapper Bee?” Noelle gave Ellie a glance, trying to discern if she was joking or not. “And where’s the house?”

“D.B. knows,” Ellie said unhelpfully with a shrug.

“Yeah, well, I can’t read a freaking dog’s mind,” Noelle snapped. The dog in question snarled again. “Okay, fine, I can’t read a freaking wolf’s mind.”

“Not my problem.” Ellie climbed back into the plane again. “Tame him, and he’ll bring you back to the house.” She gave a little wave and a smile as the door shut. A few moments later, the plane took off.

Noelle looked after it, her eyes following the plane until it was out of sight. And then she turned back to D.B., who was baring his teeth in her direction. In a flash of silver, Noelle unsheathed a dagger strapped to her leg. In another heartbeat, she had the thing pointed at the wolf’s nose.

He gave a little whimper and drew back.

Smart dog.

Noelle cocked her head to the side. “Did it work? Did I tame you yet?”

After a second, he gave a little bow of his head.

“Good.” Noelle surveyed their surroundings. There were green fields, little clusters of trees among them, and that was it. She gave a sigh. “Well, if Ellie wasn’t lying, then we have five miles to walk.” She looked back at D.B. “Let’s go.”