Planet Zar: Nexus

The air was still but bitter cold. It didn't mask the sound of footsteps coming nearer or the heavy beat of wings somewhere high above her head.

"I guess I'll have to be quick then, won't I?" The man's voice was rich and resonant.

Siabri turned to face him. He was a stranger and she felt she ought to be afraid - after all, dealing with strangers is what brought her to captivity in the first place. But she wasn't. He was beyond handsome and carried himself with ease and confidence. Siabri found herself… intrigued. She should call for The Architect and let her know an intruder was in the house, that he might mean Siabri harm. It wouldn't do for The Architect to lose her precious muse, after all.

Siabri found herself unwilling to raise her voice.

"Who are you?" She took a step toward him.

The man smiled, a handsome curve of his lips and a glimmer in his eyes. "S'yl, and my companion watching us overhead is Aviath. He tells me you're something special."

Siabri bristled. "I'm someone, not something."

"Woah, hey, I didn't mean it like that." S'yl held up his hands, placating. "We're search riders."

Siabri frowned. "Search riders? What does this mean?"

"We look for people who have potential to be good bonds for dragons." S'yl pointed skyward. "Dragons like my friend there."

Siabri followed his finger and watched a massive amber shape drift against the moonlight, it's wings stretching impossibly far. It could make it across continents with a wingspan like that. Maybe entire worlds. Siabri longed for that kind of freedom. To just step off the balcony and soar miles and miles from here. A feeling of rightness settled into her bones. A warm leathery hide rose and fell with exhalation beneath her fingertips. Wind tousled her hair. A flash of clairsentience that might have been for her... or it might have been for someone else entirely.

"What does it mean for you to come here?" Siabri turned her shrewd gaze back to S'yl. "To 'search' for me?"

"If you'll accept us, we'll take you to Lantessama where you can stand at a clutch. Any dragon that sets eyes on you is sure to bond." S'yl winked.

Siabri flushed but shoved the feeling down. "And will I... be forced to stay there? Am I bound to this dragon like a servant?"

"Shards no," S'yl laughed. "You might want to stay for a few months to get the hang of raising a young dragon, but you're free to go. Even if your bond isn't able to teleport, I promise Aviath and I will bring you anywhere you want to go, gorgeous."

Freedom. The chance for it. She reached out...

"You won't return me here?"

"Only if that's what you want."

She stepped forward and took S'yl's hand. "No. I want to be far, far from here. I'll go with you. I agree."