CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Summary

• The character reflects on Xaden, her relationship with him, and his role as a wingleader, expressing simultaneous hope and dissatisfaction.
• The character's enemies advance, and a violent confrontation ensues, including the character using her knowledge and skills to successfully wound her attackers.
• Xaden shouts a warning during the fight, indicating that he's observing the events, but rules prevent him from intervening.
• The character's dragon ally, the golden dragon, demonstrates its fierceness by intimidating one of her attackers into submission.
• Xaden and his dragon Sgaeyl decide to leave the scene, leaving the character to deal with the enormous black dragon.
• The black dragon shows awareness and concern for the character's injuries, and commands her to stop bleeding. He also reveals that he knows her name, indicating a deeper knowledge or connection.
• The black dragon demands the character climb onto his back, indicating he has chosen her as his rider. Despite their size difference and her injuries, she manages to climb aboard.
• Once she's aboard, the dragon reveals his impressive lineage and name, but simplifies it to "Tairn" for the character's benefit.
• Upon taking flight, the intensity causes the character to fall from Tairn's back, ending the chapter with her entering free fall.