Chapter 103

Pepper

I'm flying.

The wind slides across my skin and leaves goose bumps behind. I'm not cold, just excited. Tahr turns sharply and a heavy gust pries my headpiece up a bit. I pull it back down and keep a tight hold on the saddle with one hand. Tahr can't see my smile or my tears of happiness. I'm flying and this is miraculous.

As Tahr flies me through the clouds, a heavy ache settles between my shoulder blades and reminds me of the discomfort from the last time I jumped from the tower. It's not enough to ruin the moment, though. I bend over and press my finger against one of Tahr's scales. Very slowly, I spell out, in very large letters, a word.

HAPPY

Tahr sighs inside my head and I think he understands. I've never been so happy in my entire life. I hug his neck before writing again.

FREE

This time his response is a low groan. He understands the word, but he can't possibly understand all that it means to me. I've been trapped my whole life. Trapped with no voice, in a land with