Although he grumbled and acted as if he were forced into it, Xander fought for the branch with the fervor of a dying man and emerged as the dragon allowed to carry me for the rest of our journey.
As usual, he squinted in a taunting way toward Xavier, a glimmer of smug victory flashing in his eyes. Xavier, meanwhile, could only grit his teeth and resign himself to ferrying Cassian and Christine, just as he had yesterday.
It took another half day of flight to reach Alpengard. The wind gradually lost the salt of the sea, replaced by the fresh, cool fragrance of mountain forests.
When the thrill of victory faded, I could sense a faint melancholy in every beat of Xander's wings, as each stroke carried us farther and farther from the endless expanse of ocean behind us.
The Black Leviathan had sunk into the depths. His pirate crew scattered like leaves in a storm.
