Tate- Departure (1)

Tate stood next to the gates of the castle, watching as Aliya double-checked her belongings. She made sure she had everything and that they were properly secured to Kilnik. Kilnik stood very still, wings folded so as not to disturb her inspection.

When she wordlessly asked by the raising of her eyebrows, Kilnik spread his wings as wide as possible and lifted them a little above head level. Aliya walked underneath them, inspecting him for any cuts or abrasions that might hinder his flight later on. Seeing nothing she nodded to herself and made eye contact with Kilnik.

Tate knew that they were discussing something in their own little world.

As for himself, he was satisfied watching them. Aliya and Kilnik had learned well, they were methodical and meticulous. They were not leaving out the things in a pre-flight check that many brash young riders did because they thought it was boring or unnecessary.

Tate had drilled into their minds over the years that the boring basics were important. The only time one should disregard routine safety checks was in the event of an emergency take off like during a battle transition from ground to air or if it was a question of safety.

While he waited for them to complete their mental checklists he looked around, taking in this hidden sanctuary once again. He was trying to memorize it in case he never returned here, he wanted to hold onto what he'd had here.

As for the servants they were all lined up outside with him, their chores and other tasks of the early morning completely forgotten or just abandoned. They were watching with sad, mournful expressions and in many cases tears and sobbing as the inevitable goodbye approached.

Aliya looked over at him.

"We are ready." She stated confidently.

Tate grinned at her and just nodded.

She gave him a weird look. "Aren't you going to check us?"

He shrugged. "I trust that you did as you were supposed to, consider this your graduation from my teaching."

Kilnik looked at Aliya. Aliya made eye contact with her dragon for a moment then looked back at Tate. "Kilnik would like me to tell you that he wants you to check anyway, he said he trusts me but your approval always makes him feel more confident and he's feeling nervous about this flight since it will be our longest yet."

Tate shook his head, refusing the dragon's request. "Kilnik, you are a full-grown dragon now and your rider is not a little child. Trust that you have both done this enough and know enough to get this done."

Kilnik growled and it sounded like a little kid complaining, his big head lowered and he gave Tate the side eye.

"No, I trust you both so have some trust in yourself. After all, I won't be there anymore to give you nods of approval or directions. You will have other teachers but they will have a different style from me, you can't look to them for affirmation because they might not give it. You must get used to trusting your own judgments."

Tate sighed inwardly, he felt like he was giving a lecture and that was not how he'd wanted to send them off.

The dragon finally relented with a petulant huff of steam. Aliya gave him a reproachful look then turned her gaze to the waiting crowd.

Her eyes were shiny as she took them all in. "I will miss you all." She cried before running to the throng and throwing her arms around Ms. Marge. She began to sob with them and Tate stood back to let them all have the chance to say their goodbyes and get their tears out.

This took quite a while since Aliya had much to say to them, and they to her. Tate's heart couldn't help but warm as he overheard the kind wishes and hopes for the future from both sides. After they left her to the next person in line the servants all made their way to Kilnik and bowed respectfully to the beast. Kilnik nodded his large head to them in turn making them either beam at him or burst into tears again.

Once Aliya had gone through the mob of people she looked at Tate. He gestured with his head for her to come a little ways off with him. Together they walked away from the gate, the crowd remained as they were and Tate knew they were not going to move until she took off.

Kilnik turned his large body lithely and fell into step beside them. The dragon's footsteps were surprisingly light for such a large creature.

"Remember your training. Do you have the map?"

She patted her front pocket where she had stowed the map Tate had drawn her. "Right here."

He nodded. "Don't lose it. You will both do fine and I will see you in the capitol in a few weeks."

Aliya nodded. They both stopped and she turned her gaze to the edge of the cliffs. Hesitantly she said. "I'm going to come back here one day."

He didn't contradict her, he wasn't sure if this was a declaration or a wish.

"These people here, I'm going to find them again and bring them all back one day. We will be how we were."

It was a nice dream and he didn't have the heart to interject that it may never come to pass. "That would be nice." Was all he said in a wistful tone.

She grinned at him, catching onto his true thoughts. "You don't think I can do it?"

He shook his head with a small smile. "No, I believe you could, but we don't know what the future holds. I truly hope this dream of yours comes true." He paused. "I am included in this fantasy, right? Not just the servants?"

She laughed. "Of course you are, you and Kilnik are at the very heart of my dream. I want us all to come back here one day and live peacefully like we have until now. I wish days like these would never end."

He wanted to admonish her that things were going to change and that she needed to have her guard up. Before he could do that he got a good look at her face.

She knew. She knew all the things he didn't have to say. This was another turning point in her life and things were about to get a lot harder for her and a lot more complicated. It was time for Aliya and Kilnik to leave this "nest" of sorts and begin living in the real world.

Leaving the nest was always painful and always scary but it must be done. As for returning one day, who knew? Maybe she would do the Empire so great a service in her future that she could ask for this castle as her reward. Only time and effort could say.

"It's time," Tate said interrupting their sudden silence.

She turned to him and unlike how she'd thrown herself into the arms of the servants she just reached for him like a little child.

He reached out to her and pulled at her hand until she fell into his embrace. He held her for a long time, his chin resting on the top of her head and her arms wrapped tightly around his middle. They didn't need words, every emotion was evident in their heartbeats beating in sync and the feeling of warm comfort.

Eventually, she pulled away. This time her eyes were full of unshead tears but they didn't escape. One must have fallen from his eye because she smiled gently and wiped at his cheek.

"I'll see you soon." She whispered.

She turned to Kilnik and the dragon looked at him and bowed low in respect. Tate didn't need a bond with Kilnik to know what the dragon was saying.

"Take care of her, I'm trusting her to you completely now." He told the young dragon.

Kilnik nodded and rumbled low in his chest.

When Aliya was seated up on his back she looked down at Tate one last time. "Be careful on the road and come see me straight away when you arrive."

"I will."

She nodded never looking back at him. Kilnik's legs bent, the ropy muscles in them bunched. Then like an arrow, they shot into the sky. He watched until they were a large dot in the distance, and then Kilnik must have activated Cloaking because they vanished.

He turned back to the gates and jumped when he saw the faces looking up into the sky. He'd forgotten they were there and had scared himself when he turned. Just as he had done once he realized they were out of sight one by one the servants looked down and began shuffling off to their various duties.

Today was the start of closing the castle. There was furniture to be covered, fireplaces to be scrubbed, and silverware to be polished, counted, and locked away. Their tasks would take them at least a week before the staff was able to depart too.

As for himself, he walked back through the gate and into the courtyard. Benny was saddled and tied, munching on some hay as he waited patiently. There would be no pack horse this time, no little girl, or wiggly dragonling. It would be just Tate and Benny for weeks on end. He wasn't sure if the silence would be a nice change or a nightmare.

He reached out and patted the horse's neck. "Well, Benny I guess it's time to go home."