"We’ll need to go the long way," said Zebulun. "We’re fugitives in the kingdom, and I don’t think we want anyone seeing you yet. We can go north, through the high plains, until we reach the rose river. We can cross where it’s shallow and follow it all the way east. It passes the eastern wood right before it turns south."
The men ate breakfast as Amalek and his avatar looked on.
"I could fly us there in mere days, even taking the scenic route," said Amalek. "I’m an old serpent, but I’m sure I can carry the three of you."
"Can you carry our beasts?" asked Zebulun. "I won’t leave them behind."
"Animal lover, are you?" asked Amalek. "Very well. You three ride north. I’ll fly above in as casual a pace as I can manage."
They left the mountains and rode north to the desert. Amalek flew above. When the dragon got too far ahead of them, he flew a long, slow loop that left him behind.
Quinn stared at Amalek with wide eyes and a look of longing. He watched the serpent fly for hours.
"What’s wrong?" asked Davion. "What are you staring at?"
Without taking his eyes off the dragon, Quinn said, "Flying…"
They camped in the desert, next to a spring Amalek spotted from above. Amalek slithered up to the fire as Zebulun prepared food. Quinn stared at Amalek with the same look of longing.
Amalek looked down at Quinn, his serpentine face unreadable. Quinn clasped his hands before him in a begging gesture. Davion gave him a quizzical look.
Amalek’s avatar appeared. "You want a dragon ride, don’t you?"
Quinn fell to his knees, his hands still clasped before him. "More. Than. Anything."
Amalek smiled. "I’m afraid I don’t have the harness I once used to carry my pet 'king' around. I fear you would fall to your death."
"I have rope," said Zebulun. "I could rig something up."
"Could you?" said Amalek.
Zebulun nodded. "I’ve been on a couple of maritime campaigns. I made the sailors teach me everything they knew about knot-tying."
Quinn turned towards Zebulun, still in his begging stance. "Would you? Please?"
Mirth entered Zebulun’s eyes. "Sure, Quinn. For you."
"Thank you!" said Quinn, jumping to his feet. He turned back to Amalek. "And you!"
Quinn barely slept that night. He was too excited.
After breakfast, Zebulun brought out hemp rope and wound it around Amalek’s torso and wings in complicated fashion.
"Are you sure this will work?" asked Davion.
"Sure," said Zebulun. "See how these crossed ropes all hold one another in place? It won’t slip off. So long as Quinn stays lashed to it, he won’t fall."
Davion followed the path of the rope with his gaze. "Look at the topology! I never knew knots were such a complicated subject."
"There are hundreds of knots," said Zebulun. "I know a dozen of the most useful. Sailors know more."
"I guess I need to meet some sailors," said Davion.
"I’ll introduce you to some!" said Quinn.
"Go on up," said Zebulun.
Quinn climbed onto Amalek’s back. Zebulun lashed the rope around Quinn’s waist and shoulders and tied it off. Quinn tugged at the ropes in a few directions.
"Feels secure!" he said.
Zebulun nodded.
He and Davion rode north through the desert. Amalek and Quinn took to the sky.