Soldier Of Albion

30 years ago.

The sky stretched in all directions like an infinite canvas of gold and blue, the cold wind of the high altitude biting at the riders. 

A young Maria soared through the open air on the back of her wyvern, her long, raven-black hair trailing behind her like a streamer of ink on the canvas of the sky. 

She laughed joyfully, the sound echoing around her as she rolled and twisted, the creature beneath her responding to her commands, the bond between them strong.

Behind her, another wyvern roared in challenge, wings beating furiously to catch up.

"You'll have to do better than that, Bella!" she called, grinning over her shoulder.

"Don't call me that!" Came the indignant reply from her elder brother, Bellamy, who at twenty, was already the pride of the Tribe of Three.