It turned out that flying in the arms of a dragonspawn was relatively comfortable. Kim was not afraid of heights, and the fact that they were above the grey sand made her feel safer. Fiora's powerful arms held her in place like extra-thick seatbelts. The dragonspawn was certainly strong.

  And she had a comforting smell.

  That too was something Kim wouldn't say out loud. But Fiora did smell like flowers. It was so interesting, considering the exertion they'd been through, added to the fact that Fiora had been inside that rat thing, yet she still came out smelling like… well, like daisies, Kim decided.

  "Why are you sniffing so much?" Fiora asked.

  Kim coughed lightly. "I was just getting fresh air."

  "Well, sniff through your mouth." The dragonspawn's breath smelled sweet, too. Like honeydew. What a gift that would be! Kim thought. "The whistling, nostril-y sound you make is annoying. I'll drop you if I become overly annoyed."

  From that moment on, Kim was careful to breathe through her mouth. They were moving at a good clip, and she hoped they'd soon be out of this grey, ghostly land. "Are there many dragonspawn?" she asked.

  "No," Fiora said. "There are only a few clans and nomads who run wild and free. We once had our own land called Winger, but we were cast out and decimated and destroyed and flayed and… well, all those things conquerors do."

  "There was someone who could actually conquer dragonspawn?"

  "Oh, I do like the worshipful tone in your voice." Fiora hugged Kim slightly tighter, as if it now mattered whether she dropped her.

  "You are powerful."

  "Yes, we are powerful," she said. "But there is always someone with more metal. The war pigs came for us. They were a massive fireproof army with exceptionally strong armor and deadly tusks and composite bows and Icarus Kites. That was many lifetimes ago. Now we wander the domains, picking up work where we can to survive. I kill war pigs whenever possible, but they are mercenaries, so they were only doing their jobs."

  "It must be horrible not to have your own land," Kim said.

  "If you dwell on the past, it crushes you like a rolling stone."

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  Kim reflected on the words before commenting, "That's deep. It's something someone might write on their bedroom wall."

  "I am deep," Fiora said. "Now look ahead." Kim turned her head and saw that there was a shimmer in the sky. "We have come to the end of the Black Metal Realm. Once we traverse the veil, we will be in a land I hate, but do not fear."

  They flew through the veil: there was a wisp of a feeling of slight thickness in the air and another hint of a song that made her think of riding flaming horses in hell with leather clad hounds running alongside her while a gruff voice shouted words to a violent beat. And then, a heartbeat later, she and Fiora were surrounded by bright, bright color and no song other than bird song. The land was green, and it came with a blast of humidity that made Kim's hair stick to her forehead.

  "You hate this land?" Kim said.

  "I loathe it with every strand of hair on my head. Soon you will see why. But it is safer than the last two realms. I see an empty place to land. I'm aiming for it."

  Kim had a splendid view of the land below them. There were several rock escarpments, and flat land with trees and shrubs. It was the exact opposite of the place they'd been in only a few moments ago. First off, it was in colour. Which was a nice improvement. The abundance of plant life, suggested there was also an abundance of animal life. She hoped none of them were rats with tentacles.

  "Will I be safe?" she asked.

  "Nothing is safe in Metaloria. But we are near the town of Poison in a land where everyone wants nothing but a good time but usually wants you to pay for it. And they wear too much eye makeup." She turned a bit in the sky before continuing. "This is a wide clearing, so you will see danger coming." Fiora drew in a breath, and continued on, letting out her flowery scent as she spoke. "You remind me so much of our own younger generation. Always seeking the safest outcome, never poking their noses out of doors to find out the toughness of their scales. Why, when I was a youngling, we would search for the most dangerous places to test our mettle and our metal."

  "How old are you?" Kim asked.

  "Old enough to be your mother," Fiora said. "I know, I know, I don't look it. It's that eternal soft dragon skin."

  Her scales were not soft, but Kim decided it was best not to argue the point. They landed in the center of the open space, and Fiora let her go. Kim was surprised that they weren't separating, though.

  "You can release me," Fiora said. "We have landed."

  "Oh. Oh. Sorry." Kim let go.

  Fiora gave Kim a shove so that she staggered back another few paces. At first, Kim thought she was being rude, but Fiora needed space to spread her wings. "Now draw your sword, Kim of Earth, and keep a lookout. I'll get Damon, if he's still alive, and return as quickly as my wings will allow."

  Kim nodded and drew her sword, and before she could say goodbye, Fiora was already several feet up. She watched until the dragonspawn vanished through the veil.

  Kim looked around the plateau. There were trees on either side of the huge rock, and bushes that were about half her height. It was cooler here than in the Black Metal Realm, and she thought of the hoodie she'd worn to the concert. It would come in handy now.

  Since she was in the middle of the plateau, there was nothing for her to put her back against, so wandered around in a circle, her blade out, her eyes darting left and right.

  "Are you enjoying pedantically moving along my back?" a voice asked.