While Brinn and Regal were learning and growing, winter was starting to give way to spring. Spring rains started melting snow and early spring flowers started to send up little shoots of green. Evenings were still fairly cold but Brinn could get by with just a shawl or light jacket during the day.
Regal was also enjoying the spring weather. He had found his wings and would soar up above the trees and zoom down at Mousy. For the most part, Mousy would ignore the dragon, but, when she had had enough she would hiss and swat at Regal. Then she would stroll off indicating that she had put the dragon in his place.
Brinn came back from a plant-scouting walk to find Talsha in the barn surrounded by ropes tied together in a way that resembled the harness Brinn's father used to hook their horse to the wagon.
"Ummm…. what…?" Brinn faltered.
"It is a riding harness… I hope," responded Talsha. "Regal has been very patient every time I have tried it on him. He fidgets until I promise him a treat. Then he sits quite still until I'm done." She smiled. "Quite the smart little dragon we have here. Well, maybe not so little. I believe he's almost twice the size of the normal dragons his age."
"Are you going to try to ride him?" asked Brinn, surprised. She had sat on Regal's back as he walked around the house now and then, but not very far. It was a lot like riding a horse, one with wings.
"Oh, no! Of course not. These old bones couldn't handle it," Talsha answered as she tied off a knot. "You are."
"I've ridden him before with no harness. Why have one now?"
"Because if you fall off while he's flying, it may hurt a little more than when you're on the ground," Talsha responded calmly.
"Me, fly?" exclaimed Brinn. "But how… why?"
"Well, because he flies. This harness should work like a saddle with a strap to tie you on in case he does a roll." Brinn's stomach did a roll of its own.
Talsha pointed to various straps on her lapful of rope and leather. "There are also places to attach bags of supplies for hauling to and from the villages. I'm planning on putting the two of you to work."
Brinn was quiet for a couple of minutes, so many thoughts were running through her head. Finally, she smiled. "Think of the stir we will cause, a dragon landing on the street ridden by a mere girl."
Talsha nodded. "I think we had better send a message with your family if they come by soon, as I suspect they will. We don't want a scared farmer shooting an arrow into one of you."
That put a slight damper on Brinn's enthusiasm, allowing another question that had been roaming the back of her mind to come forward. "Healer, I have only seen a few people come by for help. Why don't more people come?"
"Another good question that I should have answered earlier." Talsha shook her head and chuckled. "I must be getting forgetful in my old age. Most of the people that come to me are the town healers. They know how to treat sickness but don't want the hassle of gathering ingredients and cooking smelly herbs all day. They come and buy our medicines and then they treat most of the sick. We usually only get the strange or bad cases. Not many of those, thank goodness!"
Brinn nodded. That made sense. She turned back to Talsha, looking the harness over. "Do you really think Regal will let me ride him while he flies? Won't I be in the way of his wings?"
"You seem to understand each other other to some extent. I think that if you tell him you need his help, he won't mind. You fit well behind his wings, so that shouldn't be a problem. Besides, I think he'll enjoy sharing flight with you."
"When shall we try?" Excitement was starting to bubble inside Brinn. Strange how you can be excited and yet still scared to death.
"No time like the present," Talsha replied, shaking out the harness on her lap. "I just finished going over this one last time and I think it's ready. Go call Regal. I'll be right out."
Brinn went outside and saw that Regal was already there watching her. He could sense her excitement and nervousness. As he looked at her, Brinn felt Regal's confusion about what was bothering her. She smiled and put a hand on his shoulder.
"How do you feel about trying to fly with me riding you?"
Regal snorted as if to say, "It's about time."
"You know that thing the healer has been putting on you lately?" Brinn asked the dragon. She could feel his curiosity increase. "I need your help. We have medicines to deliver and, if you would be willing to carry the medicines and let me fly with you, we can get done much faster."
Regal looked at her. She could tell he was thinking about it. Brinn went on. "We would let people know before hand, of course, so that nobody tried to hurt us. Just think of the adventures we could have."
Regal sat back on his back legs and snorted. At first, Brinn thought that was a bad sign. Then a feeling of excitement started flooding through her and she realized that he was thrilled.
About that time the healer came out with the harness. Regal bounded over to her like a giant puppy. He stopped right in front of her and stood perfectly still. She laughed. "I guess his answer is 'yes.'"
Talsha easily put the harness on Regal. It didn't take long, but the dragon snorted impatiently. "I'm going as quickly as these old hands can go," Talsha told him. "Be patient."
As soon as everthing was in place, checked and double checked, and Regal had been given a treat, Talsha called Brinn over. "Your turn."
Brinn's legs almost gave out as she walked the short distance.
"Now Regal," Talsha was saying to the dragon, "Brinn is just learning. Be careful with her." Regal bowed his head slightly and nudged Brinn's hand.
"Ready?" Brinn asked him, trying not to sound too nervous. Regal looked at her and snorted. She rubbed his head. "I should have named you 'Snort'. That seems to be your answer to everything."
Brinn reached for the harness and was overcome with nervous shakes. Regal turned his head and rubbed her arm gently with his nose. Brinn closed her eyes as Regal sent a calm reassurance to her. When she opened her eyes, she realized that she wasn't scared anymore. "Thanks, buddy. All right, let's go."
She put her foot in the stirrup, grabbed the rope up higher and swung up right in front of his wing where she normally sat. Talsha explained how to tie herself on and she was ready to go.
"Okay, boy, be gentle with me. This is a llittle more serious than our other rides." With a nod of his head, Regal spread his wings and leapt off the ground. Brinn closed her eyes.
As long as her eyes were closed, Brinn could pretend that they were just on their way to the water hole. When she opened her eyes, though, her stomach dropped to her feet and she grabbed Regal's back. She could feel him laugh and she relaxed a little.
Even with the spring sun shining, the chilly breeze froze her nose. The view was amazing. She could see the mountains stretched out below them with the stream meandering through the trees. When Regal would turn, Brinn would grab tighter to the straps as she leaned sideways. The harness held her tight, though, and soon she was able to relax.
"Regal, you are amazing!" Brinn called She felt his pride wash through her.
Their flight was fairly short since Regal was not used to the extra weight and Brinn's muscles weren't used to riding. They both had some exercising to do.
As they landed by the healer, she grinned. "I was going to ask how it went, but you are both glowing. Well done, Regal." She patted his shoulder as Brinn climbed off. If dragons could strut, Regal was doing so as he headed off to get a drink.
"That was amazing!" Brinn told Talsha. She shivered. "I think I better wear warmer clothes until it warms up, though."
"Let's go inside," Talsha suggested. "Now that your first flight was successfull, I have a plan I want to discuss with you."