If nothing else, Xiang noticed the abrupt change in weight immediately, but it took him a split second longer to understand the reason for it, and by then it was too late to do anything.

He pivoted nonetheless, claws reaching out instinctively in a vain attempt to catch the plummeting figure, but he knew with the unerring instinct of any dragon that he would never reach the boy in time. He felt an unexpected pang of regret at that. It never did to lose a soldier, particularly one who had been entrusted to his care. It was irresponsible; more importantly, it was sloppy.

And then--he roared, once, in startled surprise, as blinding light covered the boy, and then was abruptly replaced by massive black armor--

He did not understand what was happening. How could he? But the person in the armor had to be the boy--how could it be anyone else?--and it handled itself with an air of confidence that suggested it had been unharmed by the fall.

Xiang risked one brief, baffled glance back at Amelia before lowering his head and hurriedly joining the fray.