SummerDanse (22 page)

I sit in a place of honor at Rycina’s formal coronation. Havden, her newly wed consort, stands behind her, glowing with both love and pride. I believe they will rule well together. More importantly, the dragons do, too.

The mood of the people has changed. A sense of hope and excitement fills the city. Every time a dragon flies overhead, folk watch in delight and awe. Eventually, they will grow accustomed to the sight, but for now it is a novel thing.

Rycina has asked the dragons and mages to help her establish her reign. Her first act was to declare the dragons to be free and to co-opt them into their co-equal place in the power structure. Her second act was to abolish the law against maejic.

My family sits nearby. Mama looks more and more like her old self every day, but there is a glimmer of pain behind her eyes that I doubt will ever disappear. Breyard stands tall and proud, looking less like my practical-joking older brother and more like the leader he has become. And Papa is over the worst of his madness now and grows better every day.

Traz stands next to me, larger than life itself, full of energy and power. His hand touches mine tentatively. I take it, interlocking my fingers with his. I look up at him. And I smile.

About the Author

The first thing I remember writing was a poem celebrating my seventh birthday. I still remember the first line, but nothing can induce me to repeat it. My poetry, with few exceptions, has not improved.

I discovered that writing is something I’m good at when I was in fifth grade, and that’s when I decided I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. In seventh grade, I read
The Outsiders
by S. E. Hinton, and that’s when I decided I wanted to write for teenagers.

And now, I really do write for teenagers. Only thing is, I haven’t grown up yet. Nor do I intend to.

Please visit my website www.teriegarrison.com.