Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2) BOOK 2 PART 3

Gateway to Relax

Watch Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2) BOOK 2 PART 3 - Gateway to Relax on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00:00To General S-O-R-R-E-N-G-I-L

00:00:01Chapter 10

00:00:03I

00:00:04Stare in shock for the length of her heartbeat as the first ear drops Nadine's body to the ground.

00:00:09It falls with a sickling thud, her head twisted at an unnatural angle.

00:00:13She's dead.

00:00:14No, not again.

00:00:15Nadine, Rhiannon yells, rushing to kneel at her side.

00:00:18Nadine, the first ear asks, his thick eyebrows knitting into one.

00:00:21What the hell do you think you were doing?

00:00:23Ometer your butts.

00:00:24No one interferes, I demand, and two of my daddies are in hand before I even realize I've reached for them.

00:00:30The giant jerks his gaze from Nadine's body to my daggers, to my hair.

00:00:33I'm Violet's orangale, my heart pounds, but no one else will die in my name.

00:00:37Using a pinch grip, I don't wait for his response, flinging both daggers.

00:00:41But he asks for summon his size and throws up his arms, where both my blades sink to the hill.

00:00:46Damn it.

00:00:47Violet, and Rana shouts.

00:00:49Sleep, I slam my shields up to block everything, everyone out.

00:00:52Zayden's gone, protecting me is what killed Liam.

00:00:54It doesn't matter why this guy is trying to kill me right now.

00:00:57Either I am strong enough to survive or I'm not.

00:01:00The first year rips the bloody daggers out of his arms in quick succession with an angry grin, letting them platter to the ground.

00:01:05His mistake, he might be almost a foot taller, but he'll need those blades if he wants to kill me.

00:01:10His build, though, that's going to be hard to overcome.

00:01:13Stop going for bigger moves that excurs you.

00:01:15Zayden's words from last year ring in my head as if he is standing right beside me.

00:01:19I have to use what I have, my speed, to my advantage.

00:01:21I charge to a rim at a run, and he swings me to fist at my head, but I drop to my knees before they can make contact.

00:01:27Ignoring the shattering pain in my legs from impact, I use my momentum to slide by, flipping the tendons alongside his knee as I pass.

00:01:33He yells and falls forward like a fucking tree, slamming into the floor.

00:01:38Violet, Dane shouts from somewhere behind me.

00:01:41I slam into my feet and turn back to the giant, who has already flipped himself onto his back as if impervious to pain, but he can't stand with what I've done to him.

00:01:48He can, however, reach for one of the daggers he dropped and throw it at me.

00:01:52Which he does.

00:01:53Shit, I spin sideways to avoid my own blade, and he kicks out with the leg I didn't slice.

00:01:57His boot catches me behind my thigh.

00:02:00The blow cuts my feet out from under me, and all I see is ceiling as I fall back, smashing my hip with the full force of my weight.

00:02:06Pain blinds me if a heartbeat when my head smacks against the floor, white, hot and so sharp my ears ring.

00:02:10But at least I haven't stabbed myself with my blades.

00:02:13One is still in my hand, but my eyes blur and tell me it's really two.

00:02:17The first ear grabs hold of my right thigh and pulls, dragging me with the distinct squeaking sound of leather against the shiny floor.

00:02:22If I put my dagger through his hand, I'll strike my own muscle.

00:02:25So I swipe out at his arm instead, my reach only catching him with the cut across the form.

00:02:30My heart launches into my throat as people around me yell my name, but they can't interfere.

00:02:34I'm a second ear, and this asshole isn't in my squad.

00:02:38His grip secure, he drags me if he first go at him, his pedal blood soaking the back of my neck and biting my hair.

00:02:43If I don't get free, I'm dead.

00:02:45I bring up my left leg and kick as soon as I'm close enough, catching him in the jaw, but he doesn't let go.

00:02:50Tenacious bastard.

00:02:51A crunch sounds with my neck stick, breaking his nose.

00:02:54Blood flies, but he shakes it off, lurching awkward and rolling onto me, pinning me to the floor with his incomprehensible way.

00:03:00Fuck, fuck, fuck.

00:03:02I swing out with my knife, but he catches my right hand, pinning my wrist to the ground.

00:03:06Then he wraps his other hand around my throat and squeezes.

00:03:09Fucking die, already, he sees, his voice blending into the ringing in my ears as he lowers his face to mine.

00:03:15There's no air as his grip tightens on my windpipe.

00:03:18Secrets die with the people who keep them, he whiskers, bringing his nose and inch from mine.

00:03:22His eyes are light brown but rimmed in red as though he's on some kind of drug.

00:03:25Eto's.

00:03:26Fear floods my mind, breaking past my shields, but it's not mine.

00:03:30I can't focus on Ten's fear.

00:03:32That way lies shock and death.

00:03:33And I'm not about to die under some no-name first year.

00:03:36My vision turn is as I grab one of the daggers shield along my ribs with my free left hand,

00:03:40draw quickly, and turns the blade into the giant's back, angling right where Zaden taught me.

00:03:44His kidney, once, twice, thrice, I lose sound as I stab over and over and over,

00:03:48until the grip on my throat releases, until the first year sacks on top of me.

00:03:52He's dead big.

00:03:54My lungs fire to expand as I put the last of my strength into shoving him off of me.

00:03:58He's heavier than an ox, but I manage to push him sideways enough to slide out from under him.

00:04:02Air, beautiful, precious air, fills my chest, and I gasp for it,

00:04:06breathe past the fire in my throat, and stare up at the beams of the ceiling.

00:04:09Pain, my entire body is nothing but pain.

00:04:13Violet, Dane's voice shakes as he crouches beside me.

00:04:16Are you alright?

00:04:17Secrets die with the people who keep them.

00:04:19No, I'm not alright.

00:04:21His father just tried to have me assassinated.

00:04:23I force myself to the familiar headspace beyond the pain and roll to my hands and knees.

00:04:27Nausea sweeps through me in waves, and I breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth

00:04:30until I can push it back down.

00:04:32Say something, Dane begs in a frantic whisper.

00:04:35I walk back on my hands until I'm kneeling, then arch my neck, wincing his actual breath

00:04:39after breath.

00:04:40Weak, he stands and offers me a hand, and the worry in his familiar eyes.

00:04:44Fuck no.

00:04:45I throw all my energy into my shields.

00:04:48Don't, touch, me, I grind out, my voice like sandpaper, and stand slowly, more than aware

00:04:53of the number of eyes on me.

00:04:54My head spins, but I fight the dizziness as I retrieve all five of my daggers.

00:04:58Everyone in the nearby area watches as I bend over and use the dead first-year's uniform

00:05:01to wipe the blood off my blades before sheathing them.

00:05:04The fear of loving my pathway changes to relief.

00:05:07I'm alright, I tell Tane and I'm dinner.

00:05:09Matthias and Henrik, take the bodies, Dane orders.

00:05:11At least I think it's him.

00:05:13The ringing in my ears muffles everything farther than twelve inches away.

00:05:16A meteor appears before me.

00:05:18May I touch you?

00:05:19He asks, clearly.

00:05:20I made the demand of Dane rather loudly.

00:05:22I nod, making sure my shields are in place, and a meteor grasps my face, searching my eyes.

00:05:27He blocks the light, then lifts his hand.

00:05:29A fresh wave of nausea churns in my stomach.

00:05:32You're concussed.

00:05:32Want to skip the rest of the session?

00:05:34He drops his hand from my face and holds me steady by gripping my arms when I sway.

00:05:38No, I'm not leaving assessment day the same way I did last year.

00:05:42I've got her, Inejit says, taking my elbow.

00:05:44A meteor's mouth purses, his dark eyes narrowing.

00:05:47I'm not going to try and kill her this year.

00:05:49Promise, she draws me to her side but doesn't hold on to me, just splits me in a little.

00:05:54Fine, a lot.

00:05:55You will just strangle, the dead sore angle, a meteor reminds me.

00:05:58Not the first time, I respond, the razor blades in my throat making my voice rusty.

00:06:02I'll heal, I'm staying.

00:06:04He sighs but eventually nods and heads back to his place at the head of the mat,

00:06:07hitting a big clipboard he'd apparently drop.

00:06:09Eto sent him, I was the two Imogen.

00:06:11I think we are being targeted.

00:06:13Gods, I hope that's not why Zayden didn't show yesterday.

00:06:16Her green eyes lay a second before the rock appears at my other side,

00:06:19his shoulder brushing mine.

00:06:21Damn, Sorenge, he matters, offering me an arm I don't take.

00:06:25It's always something, isn't it?

00:06:26I try to smile as the two of them walk slowly back to the edge of the mat,

00:06:29giving me enough support that I don't fall to either side.

00:06:32He was probably sent as a message to your mother,

00:06:34Amateryo says, shaking his head.

00:06:35Same thing happened to your older sister during her years.

00:06:39The first year's tear in wide-eyed horror as I glance around the bloody mat,

00:06:42noting that Trianon, Dane, and Sawyer are missing.

00:06:45Right, because they have to take Nadine in the nameless first year's body.

00:06:49Nadine is dead because she said she was me.

00:06:51Heavy, Apicling sort of threatens to take me out at my frobbing knees,

00:06:54but I can't allow myself to feel it.

00:06:56Can't let it in, not with everyone watching,

00:06:58it goes into the box where I keep every other overwhelming emotion.

00:07:01Sloan and Arik stand in the middle of the mat,

00:07:04watching me with varying shades of shock on their face.

00:07:06There's far more concern on Arik's face than Sloan's.

00:07:09Is someone going to clean up that mess and fight, or what?

00:07:12I ask, ignoring the drip of thick liquid down the back of my neck.

00:07:15Standing here covered in his blood is better than lying there soaked in mine.

00:07:19And you wanted to take her on, Mary,

00:07:21one of the first year's corpse from across the mat.

00:07:23He has deep-set brown eyes and her angular brows and a white square Joe,

00:07:26but I don't know his name.

00:07:27I don't fucking want to know his name.

00:07:29I already know Sloan's and Arik's, and that's too much.

00:07:32I knew Nanymes.

00:07:33We stand shoulder to shoulder as the first year's mop up the blood then finish the assessment,

00:07:37and I focus on cataloging every single thing that's wrong with Sloan's fighting style,

00:07:40which is a lot.

00:07:42In fact, she looks like she's spent nearly no time training for the quadrant.

00:07:45That can't be right, Liam was the best fighter in a year,

00:07:48and every Mach 1 knows they have to report to the writer's quadrant when they're phage.

00:07:52Surely she's trained.

00:07:53You sure she's Liam's sister?

00:07:55Redog asks.

00:07:56Yep, Imogen answers with a long sigh,

00:07:58but she sure wasn't fostered with fighters, and it shows.

00:08:01Ara puts her on her ass six times with little to no effort.

00:08:04Well, shit, this complicates some things,

00:08:06like keeping her alive,

00:08:07and an hour later,

00:08:08I make it through physics and the re's watchful gaze,

00:08:10more than aware of the first year's blood drying on my skin

00:08:12and holding my head high when other cut its tear.

00:08:14It's easier once the ringing in my ears lessons,

00:08:16but I'm still nauseated as hell after class.

00:08:19I beg off from dinner and turn down re's offer of health to get to my room,

00:08:22slowly but surely taking the steps up to the second year's flow.

00:08:25Every bone,

00:08:25every muscle,

00:08:26every fab off my bean aches.

00:08:28A heartbeat before I reach for my door handle,

00:08:30I feel it,

00:08:31the familiar midnight tinted shadow wrapping around my mind.

00:08:34Relief courses through me as I push open the door and see Zayden leaning against the wall

00:08:37between my desk and my bed,

00:08:38looking ready to kill someone as usual,

00:08:40his arms folded over his chest.

00:08:41It's been eight days,

00:08:43I croak,

00:08:44convincing.

00:08:45I know,

00:08:46he counters,

00:08:46pushing off the wall and crossing the room in a few steps.

00:08:49And from what I showed S-G-A-E-Y-L,

00:08:51I should have told my commander to fuck off the bottom here sooner.

00:08:53He takes my face in his hands,

00:08:55the way that feels completely different from the way I met Ryo had earlier,

00:08:57and the red shining in his eyes is adored with the gentleness of his touch

00:09:00as he takes talk of my injuries.

00:09:02The blood is his,

00:09:03my throat feels like I swallowed fire.

00:09:05Good,

00:09:06his jaw flexes as his gaze drops to the bruises I know are around my neck.

00:09:10I don't even know what his name was.

00:09:12I know,

00:09:13his hands fall away,

00:09:14and I immediately mourn their loss.

00:09:16Colonel Atoll sent him.

00:09:17He nods,

00:09:18the motion cut.

00:09:19I'm sorry I couldn't kill him first.

00:09:21The first year,

00:09:21or Atoll's.

00:09:23Both,

00:09:23he doesn't smile at my attempted joke.

00:09:25Let's get you clean and wrapped up.

00:09:27You can't go around killing to death.

00:09:29You're an officer now.

00:09:30Watch me.

00:09:31W.

00:09:32Hats it like it's Amara.

00:09:33I asked him hours later as I sit cross-legged on my bed.

00:09:36Wait and choking down the bowl of soup he brought up for me from the mess in the main campus.

00:09:40Every swallow hurts,

00:09:41but he's right,

00:09:41I can't afford to weaken myself by not eating.

00:09:44Look at you,

00:09:45asking questions.

00:09:46A corner of Satan's mouth rises as he leans back,

00:09:48taking over the armchair in the corner of my room,

00:09:50sharpening his daggers on a strap of leather.

00:09:52He ditched the fight leathers while I was in the bath,

00:09:54but he somehow looks even better in his new uniform.

00:09:57I can't help but notice he didn't add patches to this one, either.

00:10:00He'd only ever worn his wing leather insignia and wing designation while he was in the quadrant.

00:10:03I'm not fighting with you about your question game tonight.

00:10:07I shoot a glare his way,

00:10:08spotting the two tomes Jasonia loaned me on the bookshelf next to him.

00:10:11But any thought of telling him about my research disappeared

00:10:13his reminder that I'm not granted the full truth when it comes to him.

00:10:17Wanting you to ask what you want to know isn't a game.

00:10:19You and me,

00:10:20not a game.

00:10:21He drags his blade over the leather again and again.

00:10:23And Samara is,

00:10:24different.

00:10:25The one word answers aren't going to cut it.

00:10:27He looks up from his work.

00:10:28I have to prove myself all over again at what's arguably the cruelest outpost we have.

00:10:33It's,

00:10:33annoying.

00:10:34I crack a smile.

00:10:34Leave it to Zayden to be annoyed.

00:10:36Do they treat you differently?

00:10:38You mean because of this.

00:10:39He tapped the side of his neck with the flat of his blade,

00:10:41touching the relic.

00:10:43Yes.

00:10:44He sheds.

00:10:44I think the last name does it more than the relic.

00:10:46The older writers are easier on Garak,

00:10:48which I am thankful for.

00:10:49I set the spoon down in the bowl.

00:10:51I'm sorry.

00:10:52It's nothing worse than what I expected.

00:10:53And my signet's enough to give most of them pause.

00:10:55He puts the leather strap into his rick sack,

00:10:57then she is his last blade as he stands.

00:10:59You know what it's like.

00:11:01People judge you by your last name all the time.

00:11:03I think it's safe to say you have it worse.

00:11:06Only within the borders,

00:11:07he flips my armor over where it's drying on the back of my desk chair,

00:11:10then crosses the room to sit on the end of my bed.

00:11:12It's not as big as his was last year,

00:11:14but there's room for both of us if I ask him to stay.

00:11:16Which I won't.

00:11:17It's hard enough to be this close and not kiss him.

00:11:19Sleeping next to him,

00:11:20I'd break for sure.

00:11:21Fair point.

00:11:22I put the bowl on my nightstand and pick up my brush,

00:11:24my gaze drifting to the door when I hear Yanin's voice in the hallway a second before she shuts her door.

00:11:28Which reminds me,

00:11:29did you ward my room from visitors before you left?

00:11:32He nods.

00:11:33It's warded against sound, too.

00:11:34He crosses his ankle over his knee,

00:11:36keeping his boots off my bed.

00:11:37One way, of course.

00:11:39You can hear what's going on out there,

00:11:40but they can't hear what's going on in here.

00:11:42Figured you might like your privacy.

00:11:44For all the people I can't bring in.

00:11:46You can bring in whomever you want,

00:11:48he counters.

00:11:48Really, sarcasm rips from my voice as I drag the brush through my damp hair.

00:11:53Because Yanin tried to walk it and ended up on the other side of the hallway.

00:11:56The corners of his mouth lift into a glimpse of a smile.

00:11:59Tell her to hold your hand next time.

00:12:01The only way in here is by touching you.

00:12:03Wait, I pause,

00:12:04then finish pulling the brush through my snag ends.

00:12:07So you didn't ward it for only you and me.

00:12:09It's your room,

00:12:10Violet.

00:12:11His eyes drive the movement of the brush through my hair,

00:12:13and the way his fingers fell in his lap makes me swallow.

00:12:15Hard, the room is warded to let in whomever you pull through.

00:12:18He clears his throat and shifts his weight as I finish another pass with the brush.

00:12:22And selfishly, me.

00:12:23I fucking love your hair.

00:12:24If you ever want to bring me to my knees or win an argument,

00:12:27just let it down.

00:12:28I'll get the point.

00:12:29My breath catches at the memory.

00:12:31Has it really only been a few months since he said that?

00:12:34It feels simultaneously like forever,

00:12:35and yesterday.

00:12:37You warded my room for complete privacy for me and anyone I want to bring in.

00:12:40I lift my eyebrows at him,

00:12:42in case I feel like

00:12:43doing whatever you want.

00:12:45The heat in his gaze makes my breath catch.

00:12:47No one will hear a thing,

00:12:48even if you reckon I'm a.

00:12:49I fumble the brush and it falls into my lap,

00:12:51but I quickly recover.

00:12:52Kind of.

00:12:53This particular one seems pretty solid.

00:12:55Nothing like the flimsy piece I had in my room last year.

00:12:58The one we accidentally turned into five would the first time we brought in our hands on each other.

00:13:02Is that a challenge?

00:13:03He glances at the furniture.

00:13:05Because I guarantee we can take it down once you're healed.

00:13:07No one's ever fully healed around here.

00:13:10Good point.

00:13:11Just say the words,

00:13:11Violet.

00:13:12The way he looks at me is enough to raise my temperature a few degrees.

00:13:15It only takes three,

00:13:16three words.

00:13:17Oh,

00:13:18like hell am I going to tell him that I want him?

00:13:20He already has too much power over me.

00:13:23Pin and Shudder two different things,

00:13:24I managed to say.

00:13:25My willpower when it comes to Zayden is pure shit.

00:13:27One touch,

00:13:28and I'll be back in his arms,

00:13:29accepting whatever he deems is enough of the truth instead of the full access I deserve,

00:13:33no need.

00:13:33And we definitely shouldn't.

00:13:35Then tell me how your weak was instead.

00:13:37He changes topics rudely,

00:13:38I couldn't watch them all,

00:13:40I admit.

00:13:40At parapet,

00:13:41I tried,

00:13:42but I couldn't.

00:13:43You were on the tower.

00:13:44His breath arose.

00:13:46Yes,

00:13:46I shift,

00:13:47picking my sonies to the side.

00:13:48I promised Liam I'd help zone,

00:13:50and I couldn't do that from the courtyard.

00:13:51A sarcastic laugh escapes my lips,

00:13:53and she fucking hates me.

00:13:55It's impossible to hate you.

00:13:57He stands and walks to where his rucksack is leaned up against the wall.

00:14:00Trust me,

00:14:00I cried.

00:14:01Trust me,

00:14:02she does.

00:14:02She actually wanted to challenge me at assessment.

00:14:04I lean back against my headboard.

00:14:06She blames me for Liam's death.

00:14:08Not that she's wrong.

00:14:09Liam's death wasn't your fault.

00:14:10He interrupts,

00:14:11his body doing rigid.

00:14:13It was mine.

00:14:13If Sloan wants to hate anyone,

00:14:15she can name it all right here.

00:14:16He taps his chest as he turns,

00:14:18setting his rucksack on the desk.

00:14:20It wasn't your fault.

00:14:21It's not the first time we've had the argument,

00:14:23and something tells me it won't be the last.

00:14:25I guess there's enough guilt for two to carry.

00:14:27It was.

00:14:28He opens the top and rifles through the bag.

00:14:30Zayden.

00:14:31How many candidates fell this year?

00:14:33He pulls out a folded paper,

00:14:34then closes the bag.

00:14:36Too many.

00:14:36Even now I can hear some of their screams.

00:14:39It's always too many.

00:14:40He sits on my bed again,

00:14:41this time close enough that my knees brush his thigh.

00:14:43And it's okay that you couldn't watch the younger ones die.

00:14:46It means yours to you.

00:14:47As opposed to turning into someone else,

00:14:49my stomach twisted the flat expression on his face,

00:14:51the wall mentioning Liam's death puts all the day between us.

00:14:54Because I feel like I am.

00:14:56I don't even want to know the first year's names.

00:14:58I don't want to know them.

00:14:59I don't want it to hurt when they die.

00:15:01What does that make me?

00:15:02A second year,

00:15:03he says it matter-of-factly,

00:15:04the same way he declared that he couldn't save every Mark 1 last year,

00:15:07only the ones willing to help themselves.

00:15:10Sometimes I forget how ruthless he is.

00:15:12How ruthless he can be on my behalf.

00:15:14I've seen death before,

00:15:15I respond.

00:15:16I was practically surrounded by it last year.

00:15:18It's not the same.

00:15:19Seeing our friends,

00:15:20our equals,

00:15:21die on the gauntlet,

00:15:22at fishing,

00:15:22in challenges,

00:15:23or even in battle is one thing.

00:15:25Everyone in here is just fighting to survive,

00:15:26and it prepares us for what happens out there.

00:15:29But when it's the younger candidates,

00:15:30he shakes his head and leans forward.

00:15:32I grip my brush to keep from reaching for him.

00:15:34The first year has been some of us lose our lives,

00:15:37he says off-key,

00:15:37tucking my damp hair behind my ear.

00:15:39The second year has been the rest of us lose our humanity.

00:15:42It's all part of the process of turning us into effective weapons,

00:15:45and don't forget for a second that's the mission here.

00:15:48Desensitizing us to death.

00:15:49He nods.

00:15:50A knock sounds at the door,

00:15:51and I start to but can't help but notice it and doesn't.

00:15:53He sighs and stands,

00:15:55heading for the door.

00:15:56Already,

00:15:57he asks after opening it,

00:15:58blocking me from view,

00:15:59or blocking the view from me.

00:16:01Already,

00:16:02I recognize Bodhi's voice.

00:16:03Give me a minute,

00:16:04Zayden shuts the door without waiting for a response.

00:16:07Let me come with you.

00:16:08I swing my feet over the side of the bed.

00:16:10No,

00:16:11he crouches in front of me,

00:16:12putting us at eye level,

00:16:13the parchment from his bag still clutched in his face.

00:16:15Sleep is the fastest way to heal unless you plan on seeking out Nolan,

00:16:18and from what I hear,

00:16:19he's hard to come by these days.

00:16:21You need sleep,

00:16:22too,

00:16:23I protest around the dreadful in my throat.

00:16:25We only have hours,

00:16:26and I'm not ready for him to go.

00:16:27You're through for half a day.

00:16:29I have a lot to get done before morning.

00:16:31Let me help.

00:16:32Shit,

00:16:33now I'm begging.

00:16:34Not yet,

00:16:34he reaches out to cup my face,

00:16:36then drops his hand as if he's thinking the move.

00:16:38But I need you to pay close attention to what happens when you leave in seven days at ten.

00:16:42He presses the paper into my hand.

00:16:44Until then,

00:16:44here.

00:16:45What is this?

00:16:46I stare at glance down with,

00:16:47but it only looks like food and parchment.

00:16:50You told me once that I was scared you might not like me if you got to really know me.

00:16:54I remember.

00:16:55Every time we're together,

00:16:56we're training or fighting.

00:16:57There's not a lot of time for long walks by the river or whatever passes for romance around here.

00:17:01He squeezes my hand gently,

00:17:03but I can feel every galaxy's bit from mastering his weaponry.

00:17:06But I told you I'd find a way to let you in,

00:17:07and right now,

00:17:08this is all I have.

00:17:10My gaze jerks to his and my heart flies into my throat.

00:17:12I'll see you at Samara.

00:17:14He stands and grabs his red sack and the two swords leaned up against the wall next to the door.

00:17:19How do I find you once I'm there?

00:17:20My fingers clenched of folded parchment.

00:17:22I've never even seen Samara.

00:17:24Mom has never been stationed there.

00:17:26He turns at the door and looks back at me,

00:17:28holding my gaze.

00:17:29Third floor,

00:17:30south wing,

00:17:30second door on the right.

00:17:31The wards will let you in.

00:17:33His barracks room.

00:17:34Let me guess,

00:17:35what if the sound and to let in you,

00:17:36me,

00:17:37and anyone you took through?

00:17:38The idea of him using the soundproofing for breaking arm bars with someone else is enough to me.

00:17:41We might not be together,

00:17:43but jealousy is not exactly a rational emotion.

00:17:45No,

00:17:46Violet,

00:17:47he lifts both swords overhead,

00:17:48then slips them into the sheets on the back behind him with practiced expertise and a hint of smirk.

00:17:52Just you and me.

00:17:53He's gone before I can even think of a reply.

00:17:56With trembling hands,

00:17:57I unfold the paper,

00:17:57and smile.

00:17:58Zayden Riasen wrote me a letter.

00:18:00R-R-E-N-G-I-L

00:18:01Chapter 11

00:18:03A

00:18:04Smile curving my lips,

00:18:06I brace my hands on the top of my head and walk off the stitch in my side as Imogen and I finish our post run cool down a few mornings later,

00:18:12entering the courtyard a full half hour before breakfast is set to be served.

00:18:16He wrote me a letter,

00:18:17and I've read it so many times I already have it memorized.

00:18:19There's nothing remotely dangerous in it,

00:18:21no secrets of the revolution or clues on how to help,

00:18:23but it's not like he can risk those by putting them in writing.

00:18:26No,

00:18:26this is even better.

00:18:27It's just about him,

00:18:28it's little details,

00:18:29like the fact that he used to sit on the roof of R-E-S-E-N house during the rebellion in hopes his father would come home and tell him it was all over.

00:18:36You've been grinning like a drunkard for the last three mornings,

00:18:38Imogen complains,

00:18:39begging to check into the days as we pass by.

00:18:41How is anyone bit happy at sunrise?

00:18:43Can't blame her,

00:18:44I've been on Edson's assessment day,

00:18:46too,

00:18:46so are both Yenia.

00:18:48No nightmares the last few days,

00:18:49and no one's up at this hour trying to kill me.

00:18:51My hands fall to my side.

00:18:53I made it a little farther between walking breaks this time.

00:18:56Yeah,

00:18:56because that's the reason.

00:18:58She rolls her neck,

00:18:58why don't you take him back already?

00:19:01He doesn't trust me,

00:19:02I shrug,

00:19:02and I can't really trust him.

00:19:04It's complicated,

00:19:05but damn though I miss catching glimpses of him every day.

00:19:07Saturday can't get here soon enough.

00:19:09Besides,

00:19:09even if two people haven't matched chemistry,

00:19:11that doesn't mean they should be in a relationship beyond anything physical.

00:19:14Oh,

00:19:15no,

00:19:15she shakes her head,

00:19:16then takes a strand of pink hair behind her ear.

00:19:18I was finishing a conversation,

00:19:20not starting one,

00:19:21I'm down for running and weight training with you,

00:19:23but you have friends to talk about your sex life with.

00:19:24Remember,

00:19:26the ones I'm watching you actively avoid at every opportunity.

00:19:29Not going there.

00:19:30And we aren't friends,

00:19:31I question.

00:19:32We're,

00:19:33her face crunches,

00:19:34co-conspirators with a vested interest in keeping each other alive.

00:19:37That only makes me smile bigger.

00:19:39Oh,

00:19:39don't go getting soft on me now.

00:19:40Her gaze narrows as she looks past me,

00:19:43toward the outer wall.

00:19:44What in Dune's name would a scribe be doing in the quadrant of this hour?

00:19:47I stutter at the sight of Jay Senior waiting in one of the shaded alcoves,

00:19:50tucked away like she's trying to hide.

00:19:52Relax,

00:19:52she's a friend,

00:19:53Imogen dishes out a heaping dose of side eye.

00:19:55You're pretty much hiding from the second years but befriending scribes.

00:19:59I'm distancing myself so I don't have to lie to them,

00:20:01and I've been friends with Jess,

00:20:02you're no one.

00:20:03I don't owe you an explanation.

00:20:05I'm going to see what my friend needs.

00:20:06I increase my pace,

00:20:08but Imogen matches it.

00:20:09Hi,

00:20:09I sign to Jay Senior as we near the alcove.

00:20:11This particular one has a tunnel that leads straight into the dormitory.

00:20:14Everything alright?

00:20:16I came to find Lea,

00:20:17her brow puckles under her hood as her gaze shifts to Imogen,

00:20:19boo-sizing her up like she would an opponent.

00:20:22I'm fine,

00:20:22I tell Imogen,

00:20:23signing at the same time.

00:20:25Jay Senior isn't going to try to kill me.

00:20:27Imogen tilts her head,

00:20:28her gaze dropping to the cream satchel Jay Senior carries.

00:20:31I'm not going to try to kill her,

00:20:33Jay Senior signs,

00:20:34her brown eyes widening.

00:20:35I wouldn't even know how.

00:20:38Violet knew how to kill just fine on a scribe's education,

00:20:40Imogen replies,

00:20:41her hands moving quickly.

00:20:43Jay Senior blinks.

00:20:43I lift my brows at Imogen.

00:20:46Fine,

00:20:47she replies,

00:20:47signing as she backs away.

00:20:49But if she comes at you with a sharpened quill,

00:20:50don't blame me.

00:20:52Sorry about her,

00:20:53I sign once Imogen turns her back to us.

00:20:55People are trying to kill you,

00:20:56Jay Senior's brown eyes.

00:20:58It's Thursday,

00:20:59I move into the alcove so my back is into the courtyard.

00:21:01I'm always happy to see you,

00:21:03but what can I help you with?

00:21:04Scribes let's almost never enter the writer's quadrant

00:21:06unless they're assisting Captain Fitzgerald's.

00:21:09Two things,

00:21:10she signs as we both sit on the bench,

00:21:11then reaches into her satchel,

00:21:13pulls out a toe,

00:21:13and hands it to me.

00:21:15It's a copy of the gift of the first six

00:21:16and looks to be hundreds of years old.

00:21:18You said you wanted an early accounting of the first writers

00:21:20when you returned the other books,

00:21:21she signs.

00:21:22This is one of the earliest I could find

00:21:24that's allowed to be removed from the archives.

00:21:26Preparing for another debate.

00:21:27I set it on my lap and choose my words carefully.

00:21:30My gut tells me I can trust her,

00:21:32but after Dane,

00:21:33I'm not sure I can depend on my intuition,

00:21:35and knowing isn't safe for her, anyway.

00:21:37Studying,

00:21:37and thank you,

00:21:38but you didn't have to bring it.

00:21:39I would have come to you.

00:21:41I didn't want you to have to wait for me to be on archives duty,

00:21:44and you told me you run every morning.

00:21:45She takes several deep breaths,

00:21:46which usually means she's composing her thoughts.

00:21:49And I hate to admit it,

00:21:50but I need help,

00:21:51she signs before pulling a rabbit dome out of the bag and handing it to me.

00:21:54I take it to free up her hands,

00:21:56noting the worn edges and loose spine.

00:21:58I'm trying to translate this for an assignment,

00:22:00and I am struggling with a couple of sentences.

00:22:02It's an old loserish,

00:22:03and from what I remember,

00:22:04it's one of the dead languages you can read.

00:22:06Her cheeks flush pink is she.

00:22:08Glances back over her shoulder at the major tunnel,

00:22:10as if another scribe might see us.

00:22:12I'll be in trouble if anyone knows I'm asking for help.

00:22:15Adept shouldn't ask.

00:22:16I'm good at keeping secrets.

00:22:18I sign,

00:22:18my face falling as I remember using the language

00:22:20to pass secret messages with Dane when we were kids.

00:22:23Thank you,

00:22:23I know almost every other language.

00:22:25Her motions are sharp,

00:22:26and her mouth tenses.

00:22:28You know far more of them than I do.

00:22:30We share a smile,

00:22:30and I flip open the tome to the bookmark,

00:22:32taking in the swirling strokes of ink

00:22:33that make a blogosyllabic language.

00:22:36J.C. Nia points to a sentence.

00:22:37I am stuck there.

00:22:39I quickly read from the beginning of the paragraph

00:22:40to we show I have a dry,

00:22:42then sign the sentence she's looking for,

00:22:43spelling out the last word,

00:22:44the name of an ancient king

00:22:45who lived a thousand years before never existed.

00:22:48Thank you,

00:22:49she writes the sentence down

00:22:50in the notebook she's brought with her.

00:22:52Ancient king,

00:22:52I flip to the first page of the book,

00:22:54and my shoulders sag.

00:22:55It bears a date from 25 years ago.

00:22:58It's hand-popped from an original,

00:22:59J.C. Nia signs,

00:23:00about five years before the quadrant

00:23:02received the printing press.

00:23:03Right,

00:23:04because nothing in the archives

00:23:05is older than 400 years

00:23:06except the scrolls from the unification.

00:23:08Sweat cools on the back of my neck

00:23:10as I translate a few more sentences

00:23:11for her from various pages,

00:23:12surprised at how much I still remember

00:23:14after not practicing for a year,

00:23:15then hand the tome back

00:23:16when I finish the last sentence

00:23:17she has marked.

00:23:18If I hurry,

00:23:19I can get the sweat off

00:23:20and still catch breakfast.

00:23:22We're working on removing

00:23:23all the dead languages

00:23:24from the public section of the archives

00:23:26and translating them for easier reading,

00:23:27she signs with an excited smile,

00:23:29then puts her things away.

00:23:30You should come by

00:23:31and see how much we've accomplished.

00:23:33Riders aren't allowed

00:23:33past the study table,

00:23:34I remind her.

00:23:35I'd make an exception for you.

00:23:37She grins,

00:23:38the archives are almost always empty

00:23:40on Sundays,

00:23:40especially with most third years

00:23:41cycling home for prey.

00:23:43A scream rent the air

00:23:44and my head shoots up

00:23:45across the courtyard,

00:23:46a second year from third wing

00:23:47is dragged from the academic building

00:23:49between two older riders

00:23:50followed by Professor Markham.

00:23:52What in Omari's name?

00:23:54Jasonia plays and sinks farther

00:23:55into the shadows of the alcove

00:23:56as he's hauled into the dormitory building

00:23:58where the tunnels beneath

00:23:59lay across the canyon

00:23:59and into the main campus of the style.

00:24:01I think,

00:24:02she signs,

00:24:03starting to breathe rapidly.

00:24:04I think that's my fault.

00:24:06What?

00:24:06I tend to face her fully.

00:24:08That rider requested a book yesterday

00:24:09and I recorded the request.

00:24:11She leans toward me

00:24:12and it growing in her eyes.

00:24:13I have to record the requests.

00:24:15It's regulation.

00:24:16We both finish signing at the same time.

00:24:18I nod.

00:24:19You didn't do anything wrong.

00:24:20What was the book?

00:24:21She glances toward the doors

00:24:22where the rider disappeared.

00:24:24I should boo.

00:24:26It's only the fear in her eyes

00:24:27that keeps me from asking her again

00:24:28before she rushes off,

00:24:29leaving me staring at the tome in my lap,

00:24:31realizing how dangerous

00:24:32my research project really is.

00:24:35W.

00:24:368 for me.

00:24:36Rihanna calls out later that day,

00:24:38jogging up through the crowd of riders

00:24:39as we reach the step beside the gauntlet,

00:24:41where most of us are bottlenecked

00:24:42as we wait for our turn

00:24:43to climb up to the fright field.

00:24:45We are still here.

00:24:46I wave before my gaze returns

00:24:47to moving restlessly

00:24:48over the people closest to us,

00:24:49watching their hands,

00:24:50their weapons.

00:24:51I trust my squad may

00:24:52simplicity,

00:24:53but no one else.

00:24:54All it takes is a well-timed stab in a crowd,

00:24:56and I could bleed out

00:24:56without even knowing who'd killed me.

00:24:59This isn't right,

00:25:00so amateurs,

00:25:00refolding a homework map for RSC.

00:25:02I can't get number 4

00:25:03no matter how many times

00:25:05I count the little elevation lines.

00:25:07That's not,

00:25:08I tell him,

00:25:08tapping the bottom of the folded monstrosity.

00:25:10You are looking at the wrong

00:25:11scientific question 4.

00:25:12Trust me,

00:25:13I had to ask Redok for help last night.

00:25:16Odd,

00:25:16this is some infantry bullshit.

00:25:18He shoves the map into his pocket.

00:25:20Why won't you just accept the timer

00:25:21land navigation board

00:25:22and ask for help like everyone else?

00:25:24Redok teases Sawyer

00:25:25as he catches up to us.

00:25:26Finally,

00:25:27you'd think leadership would be on time.

00:25:29Leadership was in a meeting,

00:25:31Rhea replies,

00:25:31holding up a collection of missives.

00:25:33And leadership was given the mail.

00:25:35Hope leaps up,

00:25:36replacing the hypervigilance

00:25:37for a second before I can squash it.

00:25:39Redok,

00:25:40Rhea says,

00:25:41handing over a letter.

00:25:42Sawyer,

00:25:42she turns,

00:25:43giving him the next one.

00:25:44Me,

00:25:45she flips that one to the back.

00:25:46And Violet,

00:25:47he wouldn't,

00:25:47I remind myself before taking the letter from her,

00:25:49yet I can't help but hold my breath

00:25:51as I open the NCL flap of the NCL

00:25:52flap.

00:25:53Violet,

00:25:54sorry it took me so long to write.

00:25:56I only just realized today,

00:25:57you were a second year.

00:25:59My shoulders droop,

00:26:00which is just pathetic.

00:26:01Who's it from?

00:26:02Rihanna asks,

00:26:03you look disappointed.

00:26:05Mira,

00:26:05I answer,

00:26:06and no,

00:26:06not disappointed,

00:26:07my words fail off as we move forward in line.

00:26:10You thought it would be a different left hand,

00:26:12she guesses correctly,

00:26:13her eyes are flinging sympathy.

00:26:15I shrug,

00:26:15but it's hard to keep the frustration out of my voice.

00:26:18I know better.

00:26:19You miss him,

00:26:20don't you?

00:26:20She drops her voice as we shuffle closer to the steps.

00:26:23I nod,

00:26:24I shouldn't,

00:26:25but I do.

00:26:26I hear two together,

00:26:27she whispers,

00:26:27I mean,

00:26:28everyone knows you're sleeping together,

00:26:29but something's off with you.

00:26:31I glance ahead,

00:26:32making sure Soya and Redok are engrossed in their letters.

00:26:35This is the truth I can easily give her,

00:26:37not anymore.

00:26:37Why,

00:26:38she asks,

00:26:39infusion etching her forehead.

00:26:40What happened?

00:26:41I open my mouth,

00:26:42then shut it.

00:26:43Maybe the truth isn't that easy.

00:26:45What the hell am I supposed to tell her?

00:26:47Gods,

00:26:47when did this all become so complicated?

00:26:49You can tell me,

00:26:50you know,

00:26:51she forces a smile,

00:26:52and the hurt I see behind it makes me feel like total incomplete shit.

00:26:55I know,

00:26:56lucky for me,

00:26:56we start up the steps,

00:26:57giving me a chance to think.

00:26:58We reach the top,

00:27:01walking into the box canyon of the fly field,

00:27:03and my heart swells at the sight of the dragons organized in the same formation we stand at in the courtyard.

00:27:07It's a beautiful,

00:27:08terrifying,

00:27:08humbling till I just spoke of power that steals the breath from my lungs.

00:27:12This is never going to get old,

00:27:13is it?

00:27:14Rianon says as we follow Redok and Sawyer across the formation,

00:27:16her smile overtaking her face.

00:27:18I don't think so,

00:27:19we share a look,

00:27:20and I break.

00:27:21Zayton wasn't honest with me,

00:27:22I say quietly,

00:27:23feeling like I owe my best friend something true.

00:27:25I had to end it.

00:27:27Her eyes flare,

00:27:28he lied.

00:27:28No,

00:27:29my grip titans on my newsletter.

00:27:31He didn't tell me the entire truth.

00:27:32He still won't.

00:27:33Another woman,

00:27:34her brows rise,

00:27:35because I will absolutely help you annihilate that shadow-wielding asshole if you guys were exclusive in here.

00:27:40No,

00:27:41no,

00:27:41I laugh,

00:27:42nothing like that.

00:27:43We pass by second winged dragons.

00:27:44It's,

00:27:45there go my words again.

00:27:46It's,

00:27:46complicated.

00:27:47How are you and Tara?

00:27:48I haven't seen her around much.

00:27:50She sighs,

00:27:51neither of us has enough time for the other.

00:27:53It sucks,

00:27:53but maybe it will ease up next year when neither of us are squad leaders anymore.

00:27:57Or maybe you'll be winged leaders.

00:27:59The thought makes me bite back a smile.

00:28:01Lee would be a fantastic winged leader.

00:28:03Maybe,

00:28:03there's a bounce to her step.

00:28:05But in the meantime,

00:28:06we're free to see whoever we want.

00:28:07What about you?

00:28:08Because if you're single,

00:28:09I have to say that a couple of the guys in second wing somehow got hot to after war games.

00:28:13Her eyes sparkle,

00:28:14or we could secretly visit Chandra this weekend and hook up with some infantry cadets.

00:28:18She holds up finger.

00:28:19Healers might be alright,

00:28:20too,

00:28:21but I draw the line inscribes.

00:28:22The robes don't do it for me.

00:28:24Not that I'm judging if that's your thing.

00:28:25I'm just saying that we are second years and our options for blowing off steam are endless.

00:28:30A random stranger might be what I need to flush Raven out of my system,

00:28:33but it isn't what I want.

00:28:34She steadies my face like I'm a puzzle that needs to be solved as we continue down the field.

00:28:39Shit,

00:28:39you're hung up on him.

00:28:41I'm,

00:28:41I sigh,

00:28:42it's complicated.

00:28:43You said that already.

00:28:44She tries to school her expression,

00:28:46but I catch a flash of disappointment when I don't elaborate.

00:28:48Mira have anything to say about the front?

00:28:51Not sure.

00:28:51I glance through the letter,

00:28:52reading it quickly.

00:28:53She's been reassigned to Atiyabine.

00:28:55She says the food is only a step above our mother's cooking.

00:28:58That gets a laugh out of me as I flip the page over,

00:29:00but it dies for key when I see the thick black lines that eliminate entire paragraphs.

00:29:03What day?

00:29:04I flip to the next page,

00:29:05finding more of the same before she signs off,

00:29:07hoping to fly over to Samara during one of my upcoming trips.

00:29:10What's wrong?

00:29:11Riannon looks up from her own letter as we continue walking,

00:29:14passing by third wing's dragons.

00:29:16I think it's been redacted.

00:29:17I flash it at her so she can see the black lines,

00:29:19then look around to make sure no one else notices.

00:29:22Someone censored your letter.

00:29:23She looks surprised.

00:29:24Someone read your letter.

00:29:26It was unsealed.

00:29:27I stuff it back into the envelope.

00:29:29Who would do that?

00:29:30Melgrin,

00:29:31Varish,

00:29:31Markham,

00:29:32anyone on Atis's orders.

00:29:33My mother,

00:29:34the options are endless.

00:29:35I'm not sure.

00:29:36It's not a lie.

00:29:37Not really.

00:29:37I slip the envelope into the internal pocket of my flight letters and then cringes I button up the jacket.

00:29:42It's too fucking hot for these things down here,

00:29:44but I know I'll be grateful for the extra layer in a few minutes once we're airborne.

00:29:48A red in the second row has a blast of steam inboring at a cadet from third wing who gets too close,

00:29:51and we all hurry along.

00:29:54Tan is the largest dragon on the field by far,

00:29:56and he looks completely and utterly bored as he waits for me,

00:29:58the metal of my saddle gristling against his scales in the sun.

00:30:00I can't help but sigh in disappointment that Andana isn't with him as his fall eggs come into view.

00:30:05Hey,

00:30:06has Tan said anything about another black dragon in the veil?

00:30:08The dog asks me over his shoulder as we make it past cross section,

00:30:12coming to Tan first,

00:30:13who's standing in the lead position despite the Anan and so I outranking me.

00:30:17It's all I can do to not trip over my feet.

00:30:19I'm sorry.

00:30:20I know,

00:30:21it sounds ludicrous,

00:30:22but when we walk by Kari back there,

00:30:23I swear I heard him say something about another black dragon being scotting.

00:30:26The guy was practically jumping with excitement.

00:30:29Tan,

00:30:29if the professor of Dribbonkind knows about Andana,

00:30:32we're screwed.

00:30:33Only a few dragons saw her before she entered the caves for the dreamless leave.

00:30:36You try keeping her hidden and see how it boosts,

00:30:38to you.

00:30:39Awesome.

00:30:40Maybe it's Tan they're seeing,

00:30:41I say to the dog.

00:30:42Not a lie,

00:30:43or an elder.

00:30:44Kari thinks it's a new one.

00:30:46His eyebrows rise,

00:30:47you should ask him.

00:30:48Ha,

00:30:48I swallow,

00:30:49yeah,

00:30:50I can do that.

00:30:50Still not lying.

00:30:52The three continue on,

00:30:53mounting dead dragons.

00:30:55Tan dips his left shoulder for me but then straightens.

00:30:57On your left,

00:31:02the shape approaches from behind.

00:31:05I whip around quickly to face the threat and secure my shields in place.

00:31:08Varish saunteres toward me,

00:31:09his arms walk behind his back,

00:31:11and the major must be inhuman because there is not a dot of sweat on his high forehead.

00:31:14Ah,

00:31:15Sorenge,

00:31:15there you are.

00:31:16As if 10 is hard to miss.

00:31:18Major Varish,

00:31:19I leave my hands at my thighs,

00:31:20where I can grab hold of my daggers easily,

00:31:22wondering what his signet might be.

00:31:24I've never seen a signet patch on him.

00:31:26Either he's cocky like Zayden and thinks his reputation precedes him or he's part of the classified signet club.

00:31:31Quite the necklace you have there.

00:31:32He points to the greenish cruisers on my throat.

00:31:35Thank you,

00:31:35it was expensive.

00:31:36I lift my chin,

00:31:37cost someone their life.

00:31:39Ah,

00:31:39that's right,

00:31:40I recall hearing you were nearly done in my first year.

00:31:43Good to see that the embarrassment didn't finish the job he started.

00:31:46But I guess you're probably used to barely speaking by life,

00:31:48seeing how frail you're rumored to be.

00:31:50I officially love this man,

00:31:52but at least I know 10 will eat him whole if he tries to attack me on the field.

00:31:56He leans left,

00:31:56making a show of looking around me.

00:31:58I thought you were bonded to two dragons.

00:32:00I am,

00:32:01sweat side down my spine.

00:32:03And yet,

00:32:03I only see one.

00:32:04He looks up at 10.

00:32:05Where's the little good one?

00:32:06The fair detail I've heard so much about.

00:32:08I was hoping to see her for myself.

00:32:10A growl rumbles up 10's throat,

00:32:12and he angles his head over me.

00:32:14Saliva drips in giant globs.

00:32:15Hitting the ground in front of Farish.

00:32:17The major tenses but maintains a perfect mask of amusement as he steps back.

00:32:21Always has had a temper,

00:32:22this one.

00:32:23He likes his face.

00:32:25I've noticed he likes it to have yours,

00:32:27too,

00:32:27he commends.

00:32:28Tell me,

00:32:29Sorengale,

00:32:29how do you feel about the way he gives you,

00:32:31oh,

00:32:31shall we say,

00:32:32an easier path to take than your fellow cadets?

00:32:35If you mean to ask how I feel about how he stopped the needless execution of bonded riders

00:32:38by a dragon after parapet,

00:32:40then I'd have to say that I feel pretty good about it.

00:32:42I guess it takes one bad-tempered dragon to keep another civil.

00:32:45Remind him that I threatened to digest him alive.

00:32:48I don't think that would go well for me,

00:32:50I reply.

00:32:51It would be fun to watch him eat the pompous one.

00:32:53Andona's voice is groggy.

00:32:55Go back to sleep,

00:32:56I lecture.

00:32:56She's not due to wake for another month,

00:32:58Tain said.

00:32:59Varish's eyes narrow momentarily on mine,

00:33:01and then he smiles,

00:33:02but there's nothing kind but happy about it.

00:33:04About your little fidgetail.

00:33:06She can't bear a rider.

00:33:07Not lying,

00:33:08since she hasn't flown since waking in Aritya.

00:33:10I fly with Tain,

00:33:11but she'll go through maneuvers on the easier days.

00:33:13Well,

00:33:14see to it that she flies with the next thing,

00:33:16and you can consider that an order.

00:33:18Another growl sounds from Tain.

00:33:20Dragons don't take orders from humans.

00:33:22Power rises within me,

00:33:23humming beneath my skin and making my fingers buzz.

00:33:25Of course not,

00:33:26his grin wide and it's like I've said something funny.

00:33:28But you do,

00:33:29don't you?

00:33:30Includent human,

00:33:31Tain seeds.

00:33:32I lift my chin,

00:33:33knowing there's nothing more I can say about this without disciplinary action.

00:33:37It's ironic,

00:33:37don't you think?

00:33:38Varish asks,

00:33:39retreating one step at a time.

00:33:41From what Quenolatos told me,

00:33:42your father was writing a book on Ferdotiers,

00:33:44dragons which hadn't been seen in hundreds of years,

00:33:46and then you ended up bonded to one.

00:33:48Coincidental,

00:33:49I correct him.

00:33:50The word you meant to say is coincidental.

00:33:52Is it?

00:33:53He seems to ponder,

00:33:54backing away and passing by both.

00:33:55My stomach turns,

00:33:56is it?

00:33:57I know nothing of your father's research,

00:33:59Ten promises.

00:34:00But Andrana has gone silent.

00:34:02Right is,

00:34:02Karik projects his voice across the field as Bodhi reaches my side.

00:34:06Third years have joined us today for a very special reason.

00:34:08They'll be demonstrating a running landing.

00:34:10He gestures to the sky.

00:34:12Cat is on approach from the west,

00:34:13the red saw tail blocking out the sun for a second as he dives to the field.

00:34:17He's not slowing down,

00:34:18I'm mama.

00:34:19Part of me hopes Tain falls off.

00:34:21He will,

00:34:21Bodhi promises.

00:34:22Just thought by much.

00:34:24My jaw slackens.

00:34:25Dane rides crossed on Cat's shoulder,

00:34:26his arms out for balance as Cat drops to fly level with the field.

00:34:29The beats of Cat's wings slow only slightly the closer he gets,

00:34:32and I hold my breath when Dane slides down Cat's leg to perch on his floor while his dragon is still flying.

00:34:37Holy,

00:34:37shit.

00:34:37This is unadvisable for you,

00:34:39Tain says.

00:34:40For anyone with a heartbeat,

00:34:41I counter.

00:34:43Cat flares his wings subtly,

00:34:44enough to drop speed,

00:34:45and Dane jumps as he passes by the professors.

00:34:47He hits the sunburned grass at a run,

00:34:49dispelling the momentum from Cat's light within a few yards,

00:34:51and comes to a stalk.

00:34:52The third year is chair,

00:34:53but Bodhi remains silent at my side.

00:34:56And that is why it was a wing leader,

00:34:58Kauri calls out.

00:34:59Perfect execution,

00:35:00this approach is the most efficient landing for when we need to engage in ground combat.

00:35:03By the time this year is over,

00:35:05you'll be able to land like this on any outpost wall.

00:35:08Pay close attention,

00:35:08and you'll be able to compete this safely.

00:35:10Try your own method,

00:35:11and you'll be dead before you hit the ground.

00:35:14The fuck I will.

00:35:15Adaptation will be necessary,

00:35:1610 degrees.

00:35:18For today,

00:35:19we are going to practice the basics of moving from the seat to the shoulder,

00:35:21Kauri instructs.

00:35:23How are we adapting to that?

00:35:24I asked 10.

00:35:26I didn't say we would.

00:35:27He chucks,

00:35:27the dragon watcher will adapt his request,

00:35:29or I'll have an early lunch.

00:35:31This maneuver is totally,

00:35:32completely pointless in the kind of war we need to fight.

00:35:35Kauri doesn't know what's out there,

00:35:37I say softly to Bodhi.

00:35:38What makes you so sure?

00:35:39He glances my way.

00:35:41If he did,

00:35:42he'd be teaching us faster ways to get off the damn ground,

00:35:44not land on it.

00:35:46T.

00:35:47L him that we are still working on the next shipment,

00:35:49Bodhi tells me as we walk through the moonlit white field a little before midnight a few nights later.

00:35:53Shipment off what?

00:35:54I ask,

00:35:55adjusting my pack on my shoulders.

00:35:57He'll know what I am talking about,

00:35:58he promises,

00:35:59wincing as his fingers graze the dark bruise on his jaw.

00:36:01And tell him it's raw.

00:36:02They've had the fog burning night and day,

00:36:04so we haven't been able to,

00:36:05he flinches.

00:36:07Just tell him it's raw.

00:36:08I'm starting to feel a lot like a letter.

00:36:10I shoot a glare at him for a second.

00:36:12That's all I'm willing to look away from the uneven terrain for.

00:36:14There's no chance I'm risking a strained ankle before a 12 hour flight.

00:36:18You're the best way of getting information to him,

00:36:20he admits.

00:36:22Without actually knowing anything.

00:36:24Precisely,

00:36:24he nods,

00:36:25it's safer this way until you're capable of shielding from ratos at all times.

00:36:28Zeran was supposed to continue teaching your last visit,

00:36:31but then,

00:36:32I got strangled,

00:36:33at least I've only been attacked once so far this year,

00:36:35but challenges open back up in a week.

00:36:37Yeah,

00:36:38it kinda fucked with his head.

00:36:40I imagine that dropping dead randomly would have been inconvenient to him,

00:36:43I mutter,

00:36:43half listening.

00:36:44Shit,

00:36:45challenges open up in a week.

00:36:46It's time to start checking the list the card recedes so I can go about my poisoning ways again.

00:36:51You know it's not like that for him,

00:36:53he says in a lecturing tone that reminds me of Zeran.

00:36:55I've never seen him.

00:36:56Let's not do this.

00:36:58Care like this.

00:36:59No really,

00:37:00stop.

00:37:00And that includes the trainer.

00:37:02My gaze whips toward him.

00:37:03Who the hell is the trainer?

00:37:05He winces and presses his lips in a thin line.

00:37:07What are the chances that you'll forget I said that between here and Samara?

00:37:11None.

00:37:11I stumble on a rock,

00:37:12or my feelings,

00:37:13but manage to catch my balance.

00:37:15Physically,

00:37:15at least,

00:37:16my thoughts,

00:37:17those are tripping over themselves down the path of wondering who Katrina is.

00:37:20An older rider,

00:37:21someone from Maratia.

00:37:22Right,

00:37:23he rubbed the back of his neck in size.

00:37:25Not even the tiniest bit of a chance.

00:37:27Because the thing about the deal you two have with the dragons is that he'll be back here next week,

00:37:30and I am not remotely in the mood to have my eyes kicked after fending off another assassination attempt.

00:37:35I grab his arm and stop walking.

00:37:37Another assassination attempt.

00:37:38He sighs.

00:37:39Yeah,

00:37:39second time someone tried to jump me in the barking chamber this week.

00:37:43My eyes widen as my heart hammers in my chest.

00:37:45Are you okay?

00:37:46He has the goal to grin.

00:37:47I completely eviscerated some asshole out of second wing while naked and only got a bruise.

00:37:51I'm fine,

00:37:52but back to why I shouldn't mention the comment to my rather moody cousin you were sleeping with.

00:37:56You know what?

00:37:57I start walking to the middle of the field again.

00:37:59If he doesn't want to process assassination attempts,

00:38:01then we have nothing else to...

00:38:03Say,

00:38:04I don't know you nearly well enough to discuss who I am or I'm not sleeping with.

00:38:07Bodhi,

00:38:07I throw over my shoulder.

00:38:09He shoves his hands in his pockets and leans back on his heels.

00:38:12You make a fair point.

00:38:14I made the only point.

00:38:15Ten silhouette blocks the moon for a heartbeat before he lands ahead of us.

00:38:19Bodhi grins.

00:38:20Poshy pishy,

00:38:20your dragon has arrived in time to save us from the awkwardness of this conversation.

00:38:24Let's get going.

00:38:25Ten orbit snaps.

00:38:26I try not to take it personally.

00:38:28He's been insufferable for days now,

00:38:29but I can't blame him.

00:38:31I can feel his physical pain like a knife to my own chest when he overpauses my emotions.

00:38:35He's in a rush.

00:38:36I tell Bodhi,

00:38:37thanks for walking me out.

00:38:39Humans.

00:38:40Well,

00:38:40fuck,

00:38:40Bodhi swears under his breath his mage lights flicker on behind us,

00:38:43lighting up the field the same way they had the night we flew for war games.

00:38:47To dead Sorangir,

00:38:48you will delay your launch.

00:38:49Varash amplifies his voice across the field.

00:38:51We turn and see him flanked by two other riders,

00:38:53walking our way.

00:38:55Ten growls in answer.

00:38:56Bodhi and I exchange a glance,

00:38:58but we both remain silent as the trio approaches.

00:39:01What do we do if they try to stop us?

00:39:02I ask ten.

00:39:04Feast.

00:39:05Gross.

00:39:05I didn't expect you till you went till morning,

00:39:07Varash says,

00:39:08flashing an oily smile as the two other riders flank us.

00:39:11The stripes on their uniforms declare them as first reftenance,

00:39:13the same as Neera,

00:39:14one rank above Zayden.

00:39:16It's been a fortnight.

00:39:17I'm on leave.

00:39:18So you are,

00:39:19Varash blinks at me,

00:39:20then looks at the female lieutenant on my left.

00:39:22Nora,

00:39:23search her bag.

00:39:24I'm sorry,

00:39:25I put a step between me and the woman.

00:39:27You're bad,

00:39:28Varash repeats.

00:39:29Article 4,

00:39:29section 1 of the codex states,

00:39:31that all to that belongings are subject to search the discretion of command.

00:39:34I finish for him.

00:39:36Ah,

00:39:36you know your codex.

00:39:38Good,

00:39:38you're bad.

00:39:39I swallow,

00:39:40then roll my shoulders,

00:39:41letting the pack slip off my bag before holding it out to the left,

00:39:43never taking my eyes from Varash.

00:39:45The first left hand takes the rug sack from my hand.

00:39:48You may leave,

00:39:49correct,

00:39:49Darren,

00:39:49Varash says.

00:39:51Bodhi moves closer to my side,

00:39:52and the male left hand hand takes a step closer as well,

00:39:54the mage likes catching the signet patch,

00:39:56fire wielding,

00:39:57on his uniform.

00:39:58As the Red Sorenge is section leader,

00:40:00I'm the next in her chain of command.

00:40:01Andres article 4,

00:40:02section 2 of the codex states,

00:40:04her discipline falls to her chain of command before being brought to Kadra.

00:40:07I would be negligent in my duty,

00:40:08why to leave her in potential possession of,

00:40:10whatever it is you're looking for.

00:40:12Varash narrows his eyes as Nora empties my bag onto the ground.

00:40:15So much for a keen change of clothing.

00:40:18Ten lowers his head behind me,

00:40:19angling slightly to the side and growling deeply in his throat.

00:40:22At this angle,

00:40:22he can scotch two of them without touching both you or me,

00:40:25which would only leave one for us to dispatch if we have to.

00:40:28Anger prickles along my spine,

00:40:29and I fist my hands like that's going to actually help me contain the burst of power

00:40:32crawling through my veins.

00:40:34Was that really necessary?

00:40:36The other lieutenant asks.

00:40:37He said search,

00:40:38Nora replies before looking up at Varash.

00:40:40Clothing,

00:40:41she says,

00:40:41flipping the pieces over.

00:40:42Her hands fremmel when she glances and turns direction.

00:40:45Second year of physics text,

00:40:46land navigation manual,

00:40:47and a hairbrush.

00:40:49Give me the book and the manual.

00:40:50Varash holds his hand out to Nora.

00:40:52Need a refresher?

00:40:53I ask.

00:40:54Suddenly grateful I left.

00:40:55my copy of the gift of the first six in my room,

00:40:57not that it's taught me anything besides the fact

00:40:58that the first six weren't the first writers.

00:41:02They were simply the first to survive.

00:41:04Varash doesn't respond as he flips through the pages,

00:41:06no doubt looking for scroll secrets in the margins.

00:41:09His jaw flexes when he doesn't find any.

00:41:11Satisfied,

00:41:12I drum my fingers along the sheets at my thighs.

00:41:14We are done here.

00:41:15He tosses the book onto the pile of clothing.

00:41:17See you in 48 hours,

00:41:18good at Soaringdale.

00:41:19And don't forget,

00:41:20since your fifth year decided not to join your formation again,

00:41:22I will be pondering your punishment for dereliction of duty while you are born.

00:41:26And with that threat,

00:41:27the trio walks away,

00:41:28the mage lights blinking off one by one as they pass,

00:41:30leaving us in the dark again except for the circle of light directly above us.

00:41:34You knew that was going to happen.

00:41:35I glared both of you before crouching in front of my discarded things,

00:41:38packing them back into the bag.

00:41:40That's why you insisted on walking me out.

00:41:43In addition to the very real attempts on all of our lives,

00:41:45Imogen and Yaw were attacked today,

00:41:47too,

00:41:47coming out of a briefing for third years,

00:41:49we suspected they'd search you but wanted to confirm,

00:41:51he admits,

00:41:51dropping down to hell.

00:41:53They could have died,

00:41:54my heart stutters in my chest,

00:41:55and I quickly fold the fear into the box where I've decided to hide all my feelings this year.

00:41:59Well,

00:42:00all emotions except one,

00:42:01anger.

00:42:02You used me as a test.

00:42:03I jerk the faster on the pack roast and shove my arms through the straps,

00:42:06hoisting it to my shoulders.

00:42:08Without even telling me,

00:42:09let me guess,

00:42:09it was Zedan's idea.

00:42:11It was an experiment,

00:42:12he demises,

00:42:13you with the control.

00:42:14Then what the fuck was the variable?

00:42:16The bells ring out,

00:42:17the sound faint from here.

00:42:19Check 10,

00:42:19it's midnight,

00:42:20you should get going,

00:42:21Bodhi says.

00:42:22Every minute you stare is one fewer the 10 gets with SGA EYL.

00:42:26Agreed.

00:42:27Stop using me like I'm some kind of game piece,

00:42:29Bodhi.

00:42:30Each word is sharper than the last.

00:42:31You too want my help.

00:42:32Ask for it,

00:42:33and don't fucking start on me about my shielding abilities.

00:42:36That's no excuse to send me into something unprepared.

00:42:38He looks abashed.

00:42:39Fair point.

00:42:40I

00:42:40nod,

00:42:42then my head gets by dropping a shoulder.

00:42:44Moonlight in what little mage light reaches this height is more than sufficient for me to find the saddle.

00:42:48I could navigate the spikes of 10s back in the darkest night.

00:42:51I proved that in Resson.

00:42:53There are already two packs twice the size of mine secured behind the saddle.

00:42:56Good thing they didn't search me,

00:42:5810 says.

00:42:59Are we caring?

00:42:59Abling twice.

00:43:01We are,

00:43:01he confirms.

00:43:02Now get in the saddle before they change their minds and I am forced to incinerate your leadership.

00:43:06Later I'll have more than a few words for the wing lady about God preparing you,

00:43:09trust me.

00:43:10This,

00:43:10but I think I just reminded her of my grandfather.

00:43:12Recovered correspondence of Lieutenant X.A.D.E. and R.I.O.R.S.O.N.T.E. while at S.O.R.R.E.N.G.I.L.

00:43:20Chapter 12

00:43:21T

00:43:22He lands up around the Samara outpost as as severe as the commander runs it.

00:43:27We are high in the Espin mountains,

00:43:29a mile or two from the eastern border with Poromil,

00:43:31and surrounded by peaks thrusted dipped with snow in the height of summer.

00:43:34The nearest village is a half-hour flight.

00:43:36There is not even a trading post within walking distance.

00:43:38This is as cut off from society as it gets.

00:43:40Be careful,

00:43:42T.A.D.E. and R.I.O.R.S.O.N.E. waiting behind me in the field where he landed.

00:43:45It's known to be brutal as a first assignment.

00:43:47So naturally,

00:43:48they'd send Zayton here.

00:43:49I'll be alright,

00:43:50I promise.

00:43:51And my shields are up.

00:43:54To be sure,

00:43:54I check the walls of my mental archives,

00:43:56where I ground in my paw,

00:43:57and can't help the little bounce in my step when I see only a hint of light from my bones coming from the doorways.

00:44:02I am definitely getting better at this.

00:44:04I head for the entrance to the mammoth fortress that rises before me,

00:44:07it's dark red stone cutting into the crisp blue sky.

00:44:09It's probably laid out like a turbine in Montserrat,

00:44:12but it's easily twice as big as either.

00:44:14Two companies of infantry and 18 dragons and their idols are stationed here.

00:44:18Something slays up high on the wall,

00:44:20and I look to see a man in infantry color sitting in a cage about four stories above me.

00:44:24Well,

00:44:25alright then,

00:44:26it's a little after 8 in the morning,

00:44:27so I can't help but wonder if he's been up there all night.

00:44:29There's a hum in my veins that only grows stronger as I walk up the ramp that leads to the corpulis,

00:44:35where two guards are stationed.

00:44:36A platoon passes by,

00:44:37headed out for a morning run.

00:44:39It's the wards,

00:44:40Dan says.

00:44:41They didn't feel like this at Montserrat,

00:44:43I tell him.

00:44:44They're stronger here,

00:44:45and since his signet has manifested,

00:44:47you're more sensitive to them now.

00:44:48His tone is tight,

00:44:49and when I glance back over my shoulder,

00:44:51I know that all the soldiers give him a wide berth,

00:44:53taking a path off to the side of the field.

00:44:55You don't have to watch my back,

00:44:57I say,

00:44:58reaching the top of the ramp.

00:45:00This is an outpost,

00:45:01I am safe here.

00:45:02There's a drift on the other side of the mountains,

00:45:04a mile beyond the border.

00:45:06S-G-A-E-Y-L just told me,

00:45:07you're not safe until you're behind the walls over the wing leader.

00:45:11I don't bother reminding him that Zayden isn't a wing leader anymore as my stomach jumps into my throat.

00:45:15A friendly drift.

00:45:17Define friendly.

00:45:18Great,

00:45:18we are not on the front,

00:45:19we are the front.

00:45:21The guards at the gate stand taller when they take in my flight leaders,

00:45:24but remain silent as I pass by.

00:45:26They're not acting like there's a drift across the ridge line.

00:45:28Apparently it's commonplace.

00:45:30Even better.

00:45:32There,

00:45:32I'm all safe behind the walls,

00:45:34I tell Tairn,

00:45:34walking into the valley of the fortress.

00:45:36At least it's cooler here than it was Kyle,

00:45:38but I'm not sure I'd like to experience winter at this altitude.

00:45:41Or a rushes,

00:45:42come to think of it.

00:45:44Call if you need me,

00:45:45I'll be nearby,

00:45:45a second later,

00:45:46wing leads filthy.

00:45:48Air.

00:45:49Like hell am I going to call him for anything.

00:45:51In fact,

00:45:51I'll consider these next 24 hours a success if I can block him out altogether.

00:45:55I've been on the wrong mental side of the bond during one of his thrice with SGA YL,

00:45:59and no thank you.

00:46:01I pass by several platoons of infantry standing in formation and note the infirmary off to the right,

00:46:06in the same location as Montserrat,

00:46:07but I'm the only person in black.

00:46:09Where the hell are all the riders?

00:46:11I stifle a yawn,

00:46:12there wasn't much sleep to be had in saddle,

00:46:14and locate the entrance to the barracks that make up the southern side of the fortress.

00:46:16The corridor is dimly lit as I walk through,

00:46:19passing the office of the scribe,

00:46:20but I find the stairs at the end.

00:46:22A sensation of unwelcome familiarity crawls along my skin as I climb.

00:46:26Breathe.

00:46:27This outpost isn't deserted,

00:46:28there isn't a horde of women in Y1 waiting to be escorted from the highest point, either.

00:46:32It's only the same layout because almost all outposts are built from the same plans.

00:46:36I push open the door to the third floor without encountering anyone.

00:46:40Odd,

00:46:40one side of the hallway is lined with windows that open to the bailey,

00:46:43and the other with equidistant wooden doors.

00:46:45My pulse picks up as I reach for the handle of the second door.

00:46:48It swings open with a squeak,

00:46:49and I recognize the tingle of energy that rushes over my skin,

00:46:52leaving chills in its wake as I step through the wards into Zayden's room.

00:46:55Zayden's empty room,

00:46:56shit.

00:46:57I sigh into a disappointment as I drop my pack near his desk.

00:47:02His room is austere,

00:47:03with serviceable furniture and a door that probably leads to a neighboring room,

00:47:05with there are touches of him here and there.

00:47:08He's in the books that sits stacked along the shelves of the bookcase by the window,

00:47:10the rack of weapons I recognize from his room at bestial,

00:47:13and the two swords that sit near the door,

00:47:15like he'll be back any second to retrieve them.

00:47:18The only softest to be found is in the heavy black drapes,

00:47:21standard issue in the room of a rider who might have to fly night patrols,

00:47:24and T.

00:47:26Tush,

00:47:26dark grey blanket covering his bed.

00:47:28His very large bed.

00:47:29No,

00:47:29not thinking about that.

00:47:31What the hell am I supposed to do if he's not here?

00:47:34The swords say he's not out flying,

00:47:35so I close my eyes and open up my senses,

00:47:37finding the shadow that's only present when he's near.

00:47:39If I found him that night on the parapet,

00:47:41surely I can do it here.

00:47:44He's close,

00:47:44but he must have his shades off,

00:47:46because he doesn't reach out like he usually would when I'm close.

00:47:49The bond feels like he's tugging me down with,

00:47:50like he's actually,

00:47:51under me.

00:47:53I cross it and stall on the way out and follow the tugging sensation,

00:47:56making my way to the staircase and then descending.

00:47:58I pass the arch tentings to the second floor,

00:48:00catching a glimpse of a wide stone hallway with more barracks doors,

00:48:03then the entrance to the first,

00:48:04and finally reaching the sublevel of the fortress where natural light ends with the staircase on a stone floor.

00:48:08Mage lights illuminate two possible paths along the foundation of the fortress,

00:48:12both dimly lit and as welcoming as a dungeon.

00:48:14The scent of damp earth and metal commutes the air.

00:48:17Shouts and cheers come from down a corridor to the right,

00:48:19echoing off the walls and floor.

00:48:21I follow the cool of the bonded direction and find a pair of infantry guards about 20 yards from the stairs

00:48:25who take one look at my uniform and step aside,

00:48:27allowing me access to a room carved out of the very foundation.

00:48:29Noise overwhelms every other sense when I enter the chamber,

00:48:33and shock hauls my feet inside the doorway.

00:48:36What in the gods' names is going on?

00:48:39More than a dozen riders, all in black,

00:48:41stand along the sides of the square-shaped,

00:48:42windowless room that looks better suited for storage than occupation.

00:48:45They're all leaning over thick wooden railing,

00:48:47intently watching something in the excavated pit below.

00:48:51I take the empty space on the rail directly ahead of me,

00:48:53finding myself between a veteran rider with a grizzled beard on my left

00:48:56and a woman who looks a few years older than me on the right.

00:48:59Then I see who's below and my heart stops.

00:49:01Zayden, and he is shirtless.

00:49:04So as the other riders, they circle each other,

00:49:06their fistfares like they sparring.

00:49:07But there's no mat beneath them,

00:49:09only a packed beard floor decorated with suspicious patches of crimson,

00:49:11both old and fresh.

00:49:14They're equally matched in high,

00:49:15but the other rider is bulky,

00:49:17built like Garak,

00:49:18and looks to have about 20 pounds on Zayden,

00:49:19who's set in deep, muscular lines.

00:49:23The rider swings for Zayden's face,

00:49:24and I wipe nettle the rough railing,

00:49:26holding my breath as Zayden easily awaits the punch,

00:49:28delivering one of his own to his opponent's ribs.

00:49:30The rider's around me chair,

00:49:31and I am pretty sure I see many change hands across the pit.

00:49:34This isn't sparring,

00:49:36this is straight up fighting,

00:49:37and the way Zayden hit him,

00:49:38he's holding back.

00:49:40Why are they?

00:49:41I ask the silver bar left hand next to me,

00:49:43my word dying as Zayden dips and spins,

00:49:44avoiding another attempt and hit.

00:49:46There's a definite sparkle in those dark eyes

00:49:48as he deftly jumps back again,

00:49:49denying his opponent's strike.

00:49:51My pulse jumps,

00:49:52damn,

00:49:52he's fast.

00:49:54Fighting,

00:49:54the woman finishes my question.

00:49:56Yes,

00:49:57I keep my gaze centered on Zayden,

00:49:58cool and quick,

00:49:59consecutive punches to the other rider's kidneys.

00:50:02There's only one pass for leftenance this weekend,

00:50:04she says,

00:50:05moving a little closer.

00:50:06Jared has it,

00:50:07and reason wants it.

00:50:09So they're fighting for it.

00:50:10I peel my eyes from Zayden long enough to glance sideways at the rider beside me.

00:50:14She has short brown hair,

00:50:15sharp,

00:50:15bird-like features,

00:50:16and a thumping size claw on her jawline.

00:50:19Leave in pride,

00:50:19Lieutenant Colonel D. Quincy's rules,

00:50:21you want it,

00:50:22you'll fight for it,

00:50:23you want to keep it,

00:50:24you'd better be good enough to defend it.

00:50:26They have to fight for passes.

00:50:27Isn't that brutal,

00:50:28and wrong,

00:50:29extreme,

00:50:30horrible,

00:50:30and detrimental tubing morale.

00:50:32He's fighting so S.J.

00:50:33Y.L. will have time off to spend with Tern,

00:50:35so he'll have time with me.

00:50:36Brutal,

00:50:37hardly,

00:50:38she scoffs,

00:50:38no blades,

00:50:39no sigmids,

00:50:40it's just a fist fight,

00:50:41you want to see Brutal,

00:50:42go and visit one of the coastal outposts with nothing.

00:50:45To do but turn on one another,

00:50:47she leans forward and shouts as Zayden reflects the next punch,

00:50:49then grabbed Jared by the biceps and throws him to his back.

00:50:52Damn,

00:50:53I really thought Jared was going to take him in less time.

00:50:55A slow,

00:50:57broad smile spreads across my face.

00:50:59He won't take him at all,

00:51:00I shake my head,

00:51:01staring at Zayden with more than a little delight as he waits for Jared to gain his seat.

00:51:05Zayden is staying with him.

00:51:07The writer turns toward me,

00:51:08her gaze telling me in peer assessment,

00:51:10but I'm too busy watching Zayden land head after carefully placed it to bother with both the left and then thinks about me.

00:51:15You're her,

00:51:16aren't you?

00:51:16The writer asks,

00:51:17her appraisal causing on my hair.

00:51:19Her who,

00:51:20here we go.

00:51:21Left and and Soren Gale's sister.

00:51:23Not General Soren Gale's daughter.

00:51:25Not the kid that Zayden is stuck with because of 10.

00:51:27You know my sister,

00:51:28that earns her glance.

00:51:30She has a hell of a right hook.

00:51:32She nods,

00:51:32her neck is grazing the scar on her Joe.

00:51:35She does,

00:51:35I agree,

00:51:36my smile widening.

00:51:37Looks like Mira left her mark.

00:51:38Zayden lands a solid hit to Jared's Joe with a crack.

00:51:41It appears you're cinders,

00:51:42too.

00:51:43He does.

00:51:44You sound pretty confident.

00:51:46She turns her attention back to the fight.

00:51:48I am,

00:51:48my confidence in Zayden is almost,

00:51:50arrogance.

00:51:50Gods,

00:51:51he's beautiful.

00:51:52The mage lights illuminating the chamber highlight every curved line of rope muscle on

00:51:55his chest and absently off the angles of his face.

00:51:57And when he turns,

00:51:58the 107 scars that mark his back cat's light and the S.E.L.S.

00:52:01really.

00:52:02I

00:52:03stare,

00:52:04I can't help it.

00:52:05His body is a work of art,

00:52:06honed to lethal perfection.

00:52:07I know every inch of it,

00:52:09and yet I'm still walking,

00:52:10perfect like it's the first time I've seen him half dressed.

00:52:12This should absolutely not be.

00:52:15Turning me on,

00:52:16but the way he moves,

00:52:17the lethal grace in each and every calculated strike.

00:52:19Yep,

00:52:20turned on.

00:52:21Maybe it's toxic as hell,

00:52:23but it's pointless to deny that every single part of me is attracted to every facet of Zayden.

00:52:27And it's not just his body,

00:52:28it's everything,

00:52:29even the darkest parts of him,

00:52:31the parts for Noah merciless,

00:52:32willing to annihilate anyone and everyone who stands between him and a boat,

00:52:35remain like a maud to a fucking flame.

00:52:38My heart pounds like a drumbeat and my stupid chest aches just watching him maneuver around the

00:52:42floor of the pit,

00:52:42toying with his opponent.

00:52:44I miss watching him in the gym,

00:52:45sparring with Garak.

00:52:46I miss being with him on the mat,

00:52:47feeling his body over mine as he puts me on my back over and over again.

00:52:51I've missed the tiny moments in my day when our eyes would meet in a crowded hallway,

00:52:54the bigger moments when I've had him all to myself.

00:52:57I'm so damn in love with him that it hurts,

00:52:59and for the moment,

00:53:00I can't remember why I'm denying myself.

00:53:03The rider on my left shouts,

00:53:04and Zayden's gaze jerks upward,

00:53:05colliding with mine.

00:53:08Surprise registers on his features for all of the heartbeat before his opponent swings,

00:53:11his fist slamming into Zayden's jaw with a sound that breaks my stomach twist.

00:53:14I gasp as Zayden's head snaps sideways with the force of the blow.

00:53:18He staggers backward to the cheers of the riders around me.

00:53:22Stop playing around and end it,

00:53:23I say true or bond,

00:53:24using it for the first time since lesson.

00:53:27Always so violent,

00:53:28he turns a drop of blood off the split in his lower lip,

00:53:30his gaze flashing to mine,

00:53:31and I swear I see a hint of a smile before he turns on Jared.

00:53:35Jared swings once,

00:53:36then twice,

00:53:37missing Zayden both times.

00:53:39Then Zayden strikes with two quick punches,

00:53:41putting his full weight behind them unlike before,

00:53:42and sending Jared to his hands and knees in thick.

00:53:46Dirt,

00:53:46Jared's head hangs as he shakes it slowly,

00:53:48blood dripping from his mouth.

00:53:50Damn,

00:53:51the rider next to me says.

00:53:53Exactly,

00:53:53is it wrong this work?

00:53:54Because I can't seem to control my facial muscles.

00:53:58Zayden stands back as the riders fall silent in the chamber,

00:54:00and then he extends his hand.

00:54:03Jared's chest heaves for a tense minute

00:54:04before he looks up at Zayden and shoves away the offered hand.

00:54:07He tapped the floor twice,

00:54:08and while some riders around me groan,

00:54:10and yes,

00:54:10that's Mully changing hands in the form of board coins,

00:54:13others slap a couple of times.

00:54:14Jared spits blood onto the floor,

00:54:16then stands upright,

00:54:17nodding at Zayden respectfully.

00:54:19The match,

00:54:20if that's what this can be called,

00:54:21is apparently over.

00:54:22The riders head my way,

00:54:23filtering past me through the door.

00:54:26Zayden says something to Jared that I can't hear,

00:54:28then uses the metal rings embedded into the stone's masonry

00:54:30at the far end of the pit to climb out.

00:54:32He reaches the top,

00:54:34then takes his shirt from where it's draped across the railing

00:54:37and comes in my direction,

00:54:38watching me with enough heat in his gaze

00:54:39to set my already humming body on fire.

00:54:41Yeah,

00:54:42definitely can't remember why I'm denying myself any part of this man.

00:54:46Looks like he won the pass,

00:54:47the woman next to me says.

00:54:48I'm Cornelia Sahali,

00:54:49by the way.

00:54:51While it's Orangail,

00:54:52I know it's rude,

00:54:52but I can't make myself look away from Zayden

00:54:54as he turns the corner,

00:54:55approaching from the left.

00:54:58He runs his tongue over the small cut at the side of his lower lip

00:55:00as if testing it,

00:55:01then tugs his shirt on.

00:55:02Taking away the show should cool my blood,

00:55:04but it doesn't.

00:55:05Pretty sure dumping a bucket of snowy slush

00:55:07from the nearby peaks over my head

00:55:08couldn't lessen the heat,

00:55:09either.

00:55:10I'd probably just steam.

00:55:11Gods,

00:55:12I'm rude when it comes to this man.

00:55:14It doesn't matter that he hurt me,

00:55:15didn't trust me.

00:55:16I don't even know if I trust him.

00:55:18But I want him.

00:55:20Good job,

00:55:20Reherson,

00:55:21left hand in Sahalysia's to Zayden.

00:55:22I'll tell the major to take you off the patrol roster

00:55:24for 48 hours.

00:55:2624,

00:55:27he corrects her,

00:55:28his eyes on me.

00:55:29I only need 24 hours.

00:55:30Jared can have the other 24,

00:55:32because I'll be gone.

00:55:34Soothe yourself,

00:55:34she clamps Jared on the shoulder in consolation

00:55:36as he walks by,

00:55:37then follows him out.

00:55:39We're alone.

00:55:40You are early,

00:55:41Zayden says,

00:55:42but the look in his eyes is anything but condemnation.

00:55:45I lift a brow and try to ignore the way my palms

00:55:47edge to touch him.

00:55:48Is that a complaint?

00:55:49No,

00:55:50he shakes his head slowly.

00:55:51I just wasn't expecting you until noon.

00:55:54Turns out Ten flies pretty damn fast

00:55:56when he's not being held back by a ride.

00:55:58Gods,

00:55:58why is it so hard to breathe suddenly?

00:56:00The air between us is tick,

00:56:01and my heart trumps as my gaze bones just to his mouth.

00:56:05He's killed people for me before,

00:56:06so why is him fighting for a weekend past

00:56:08stripping every ounce of self-control

00:56:09straight out of my bloodstream?

00:56:11Violet,

00:56:12Zayden's voice drops to that low,

00:56:13quiet tone he only ever uses when we are alone,

00:56:15and usually naked.

00:56:16Very naked.

00:56:17Hum,

00:56:18gods,

00:56:18I miss the feel of all his skin against all of mine.

00:56:21Tell me what's spinning around that beautiful head of yours.

00:56:23He moves closer,

00:56:24invading my space without touching me.

00:56:27Fuck,

00:56:27I want him to touch me,

00:56:28even if it's a bad idea.

00:56:30A really,

00:56:30really bad idea.

00:56:32Does it hurt?

00:56:32I lift my fingertip to the corner of my lip where his is split.

00:56:36He shakes his head,

00:56:37I've had worse,

00:56:38it's what I get for blocking with my shoes to concentrate on the fight.

00:56:41Otherwise,

00:56:41I would have felt you.

00:56:42Look at me,

00:56:43he takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger

00:56:45and gently tilts my head back before searching my eyes.

00:56:47What are you?

00:56:49Thinking,

00:56:49because I can read a lot into the way you are looking at me,

00:56:52but I'm going to need the words.

00:56:54I want him,

00:56:54how hard is it to say?

00:56:56My tanked eyes,

00:56:56what would giving in to this insatiable need for him mean?

00:56:59That you're human?

00:57:01I'm about three seconds away from carrying you up to my bedroom to continue this conversation.

00:57:05His hand slides along my jaw,

00:57:06his thumb caressing my lower lip.

00:57:08Not your room,

00:57:09I shake my head,

00:57:10you,

00:57:11me,

00:57:11bed,

00:57:11not a good idea at the moment.

00:57:13Too tempting.

00:57:13As I remember,

00:57:15which I do,

00:57:16often,

00:57:16we don't always need a bed.

00:57:18His other hand palms my waist.

00:57:20My thighs flinch.

00:57:22Violet.

00:57:23I cannot kiss this man.

00:57:24I can't,

00:57:25but would it really be the end of the world if I did?

00:57:27It's not like it would be the first time.

00:57:29Shit,

00:57:29I'm going to break,

00:57:30even if it's only for this moment.

00:57:33Hypothetically,

00:57:33if I wanted to kiss me but only kiss me,

00:57:35I start.

00:57:36His mouth is on mine before I finish.

00:57:38Yes,

00:57:39this is exactly what I need.

00:57:40My lips part for him,

00:57:41and there's no hesitation in the glide of his tongue again,

00:57:43and smile.

00:57:44He groans,

00:57:45and the sound reverberates through my very bones as I wrap my arms around his neck.

00:57:49Home,

00:57:49gods,

00:57:49he tastes like home.

00:57:51I have the door shut a second before my back is pressed against the rough wall of the chamber.

00:57:55Zayden slides his hands beneath my thighs,

00:57:57then lifts Nace over a level as he lays expert game to every line in recess of my mouth like this is the only time he'll get.

00:58:03Like kissing me is more vital than his next breath.

00:58:05Or maybe that's the way I'm kissing him back.

00:58:07Whatever,

00:58:07I don't care who's kissing whom as long as we don't stop.

00:58:11I lock my ankles at the small of his back,

00:58:13bringing our bodies flush,

00:58:15and my blood catches at the heat of his skin radiating through the fabric of his uniform and my leathers,

00:58:19and suddenly it's too much and not enough.

00:58:20This was a bad idea,

00:58:23a teasing taste of everything I want,

00:58:24and yet I can't bring myself to stop.

00:58:26There's nothing outside this kiss.

00:58:28No war,

00:58:28no lies,

00:58:29no secrets,

00:58:30there's only his mouth,

00:58:31his hands sleeting up my sides,

00:58:32his desire matching the fire of mine.

00:58:34This is where I want to live,

00:58:36where nothing else matters but the way he makes me feel.

00:58:38Like a mortal damn flame,

00:58:40the lemon slips from my mind into our mental pathway.

00:58:42His gravity,

00:58:43pulling me back to him by the force of his existence.

00:58:46I'm more than willing to let you burn me.

00:58:48Wait,

00:58:49that's not what I meant.

00:58:51He carries the back of my head,

00:58:52protecting me from the core stone,

00:58:54and angles for a deeper kiss.

00:58:55Gods,

00:58:56yes,

00:58:56deeper,

00:58:57more,

00:58:57I can't get enough,

00:58:58I'll never get enough.

00:59:00Energy arcs between us,

00:59:01hotter with every kiss,

00:59:02every flick of his tongue.

00:59:03Flames of,

00:59:04knee dance across my skin,

00:59:05leaving chills in their wake before settling deep within me,

00:59:07burning dangerously,

00:59:08reminding me that Zayden knows exactly how to save this unquenchable desire.

00:59:12He has the maddening ability to addict and satisfy all in the same breath.

00:59:15My hands slide into his hair as his lips slip down my throat,

00:59:19and my purse sleeps when he finds that sweet spot right above the collar of my flight jacket,

00:59:22then mercilessly worships it with his mouth.

00:59:25I'm instantly liquid,

00:59:26melting into him.

00:59:28Gods,

00:59:28I've missed the taste of you.

00:59:30Even his mental voice comes across as a groan,

00:59:32the feel of you in my arms.

00:59:34I bring my hands to his face and pull him back to my lips.

00:59:37He sucks my tongue into his mouth,

00:59:38and I whimper because I can say the exact same thing about him,

00:59:41I've missed everything about his taste,

00:59:42his kiss,

00:59:43him.

00:59:43If any of those buttons on my flight jacket come undone,

00:59:46they're all coming undone.

00:59:48The slant of his mouth over mine again and again makes me feel alive for the first time since,

00:59:52gods,

00:59:52I can't even remember.

00:59:54Since the last time he kissed me.

00:59:56His hand squeezes my waist gently,

00:59:58then switches up,

00:59:59the tip of his fingers reaching just beneath my breasts.

01:00:01Fuck it,

01:00:02the jacket can come off.

01:00:03Soak in the top,

01:00:04the armor,

01:00:04everything that separates me from him.

01:00:06I reach for the buttons.

01:00:08But he eases his kiss,

01:00:09taking it from urgent and deep to thorough and deliciously slow.

01:00:11We should stop.

01:00:13But if I don't want to,

01:00:14the physical sound that leaves me is good and I'll,

01:00:17I'm not ready for this to end,

01:00:18not ready to return to the reality where we are not together,

01:00:20even if I'm the one standing in our way.

01:00:23We have to,

01:00:24or I won't be able to keep to the only kiss limitation of a hypothetical question.

01:00:27His hand rips to my ass as his mouth softens,

01:00:29drawing on my lower lip with one last, lingering kiss.

01:00:32Fuck,

01:00:33I won't you.

01:00:34Then don't stop,

01:00:35I look him in the eye so he knows I mean it.

01:00:37We can keep into nothing but sex.

01:00:38We did last year,

01:00:39not that it worked well.

01:00:41Violet,

01:00:41it's part plea,

01:00:42part moan,

01:00:43and the war in his eyes makes my chest tighten.

01:00:45You have no idea how badly I want to peel these pants off your amazing ass and fuck you

01:00:49until your horse from screaming my name,

01:00:51so limb from orgasms that you can't fathom leaving my bed ever again,

01:00:53and every tree around here goes up in flames from lightning strikes.

01:00:56His hand slides from behind my head to the nape of my neck.

01:00:59Until you remember exactly how good we are together.

01:01:02I never forgot.

01:01:03It's a whimper.

01:01:04My body is still humming.

01:01:05I'm not talking about physically.

01:01:07He leans in and kisses me softly.

01:01:08It's sweet,

01:01:09tender,

01:01:09everything I don't want to feel.

01:01:11Not when it comes to him.

01:01:12Heat and lust.

01:01:13I can cope with.

01:01:14With the rest,

01:01:15Zed in,

01:01:15I whisper,

01:01:16shaking my head slowly.

01:01:18He studies my face for a heartbeat and masks the flash of disappointment with a half smile.

01:01:22Exactly.

01:01:22He gently lowers me back to my feet,

01:01:24then studies me,

01:01:25holding on to my waist when my knees wobble.

01:01:27I want you more than my next breath.

01:01:29But I can't fuck you into looking at me like you used to.

01:01:31I refuse to use sex as a tool to get your back.

01:01:34He takes my hand and presses it to my chest.

01:01:36Not when I want to be here.

01:01:38My eyes widen,

01:01:39and apprehension knots my stomach.

01:01:41That's what I thought.

01:01:42He sighs,

01:01:43but it's not if he tightening his mouth.

01:01:44It's frustration.

01:01:45You still don't trust me,

01:01:46and that's alright.

01:01:47I told you I'm not in this war battle.

01:01:49I'm winning the damn war.

01:01:50I'm a fucking fool for saying this,

01:01:52but when haven't I been a fool when it comes to you?

01:01:54Excuse me,

01:01:55I bristle.

01:01:56His memory must be faulty,

01:01:57because I'm the one who's been fool for him.

01:01:59Let me get this out.

01:02:01He glances at my mouth.

01:02:02I'll kiss you whenever you want

01:02:03because my self-control is shit where you are involved.

01:02:06Whenever I want,

01:02:07my bra shooter,

01:02:08what the hell is happening right now?

01:02:11Yes,

01:02:11whenever you want,

01:02:12because I'll live with my mouth attached to yours

01:02:14if I do it whenever I want.

01:02:15He retrieves a couple of steps,

01:02:17and I immediately miss the feel of his hands,

01:02:19the warmth of his skin.

01:02:20But I'm begging you,

01:02:21Violet,

01:02:21don't offer me your body

01:02:22unless you are offering me everything.

01:02:24I want you more than I want to fuck you.

01:02:26I want those three little words back.

01:02:28I stare at him,

01:02:29my mouth dropping open slightly.

01:02:31He's not asking to hear that I want him.

01:02:32He wants to hear that I love him.

01:02:35It's new territory for me,

01:02:36too.

01:02:36He rakes his hands through his hair.

01:02:38No one is more surprised than I am,

01:02:39trust me.

01:02:41I'm sorry,

01:02:42but weren't you the one last year

01:02:43who said we could have all the sex we wanted

01:02:44as long as we kept feelings out of it?

01:02:46I fold my arms across my chest.

01:02:49See,

01:02:49fucking fool,

01:02:50he looks up at the rough beam

01:02:51ceiling like it has the answers.

01:02:53Last year,

01:02:54I would have used any method it took to win your back,

01:02:56but for those three days you weren't conscious,

01:02:57all I did was sit there and watch you sleep,

01:02:59thinking of everything I would have done differently.

01:03:01Determination is etched on every line of his face

01:03:03when he brings his gaze back to mine.

01:03:05This is me doing things differently.

01:03:07Somehow in the last month,

01:03:08we've managed to switch roles.

01:03:10This is me proving myself to you.

01:03:11He steps back and pulls the door open,

01:03:13gesturing for me to walk out first,

01:03:14then rests his hand on the small off.

01:03:18My back is we walk down the hall.

01:03:19We are not there yet,

01:03:20but you'll trust me again at some point.

01:03:23Sure,

01:03:23as soon as you agree to stop keeping secrets from me.

01:03:26How the hell is this my fault?

01:03:28His sigh sounds like it's ripped out of his very soul.

01:03:30You need to trust me even with secrets for this to work.

01:03:34I grab onto the stair railing

01:03:35and take the stairs two at a time.

01:03:37That's not going to happen.

01:03:39It will,

01:03:39he sees as we near the ground floor,

01:03:41then changes the subject.

01:03:43Are you hungry?

01:03:43I need to wash up first.

01:03:45My nose wrinkles.

01:03:46Pretty sure I smell like I've been flying eight hours.

01:03:49Why don't you head on into my room,

01:03:51and I'll bring food.

01:03:52His hand slips from my lower back

01:03:53as we make our way into his barracks room.

01:03:56He points to the left and says,

01:03:57that door leads to a private bathing chamber.

01:04:00There's no way you've got a private bathing chamber

01:04:02as a brand new lieutenant,

01:04:03I spit up.

01:04:04Mira doesn't even have one.

01:04:06You'd be amazed what you can get

01:04:07when no one wants to share space with Fenris and Sun,

01:04:09he answers quietly.

01:04:10My stomach sinks,

01:04:12I can't think of a single thing to say to that.

01:04:15Don't look so sad,

01:04:16Garak has to share with four other riders.

01:04:18Go,

01:04:18he motions to the door again.

01:04:20I'll be right back.

01:04:22An hour later,

01:04:23I'm keen and fed,

01:04:24and Zayden is sitting at his desk,

01:04:25fiddling with something that looks like a crossbow,

01:04:27but smaller,

01:04:27and I sit on his bed

01:04:28and run a brush through my damp hair.

01:04:30I can't help but smile at the steady feeling

01:04:32of what's becoming routine,

01:04:33Zayden preparing a weapon while I sit on a bed.

01:04:35But they didn't search 10,

01:04:37he asks without looking up.

01:04:39Nope,

01:04:39just dump my stuff on the ground.

01:04:41My gaze catches momentarily on a palm-sized grey stone

01:04:44with a decorative black rune on his nightstand

01:04:45before I spot a piece of grass

01:04:47that made the journey here from the fly field

01:04:48and flick it off my arm.

01:04:50There they search S-G-A-E-Y-L.

01:04:52He shakes his head,

01:04:53only me,

01:04:53and Garak,

01:04:54and every other new lieutenant

01:04:55leaving this guy up to the rebellion relic.

01:04:58They know you've been smuggling something else.

01:04:59I lean over the edge of the high bed

01:05:01and drop my brush into my bag.

01:05:03Toss me a sharpening stone.

01:05:04They suspect.

01:05:05He reaches into the top right drawer of his desk,

01:05:07taking out the heavy,

01:05:08grey sharpening stone.

01:05:09He leans over to hand it to me,

01:05:11careful not to brush his fingers along mine,

01:05:13and then goes back to tinkering with his weapon.

01:05:15Thank you,

01:05:16I grip the stone,

01:05:17then take the first knife from my thigh sheet

01:05:18and begin sharpening.

01:05:20They're only as good as they're honed,

01:05:21but no amount of busying my hands

01:05:23is going to make the next question

01:05:24any easier to ask

01:05:25without feeling like I'm now the one

01:05:26keeping things from Zayden.

01:05:28I choose my words carefully.

01:05:30When we were at the lake,

01:05:30before us in,

01:05:31he said the only thing that can kill a vorn

01:05:32and is what powers the wards.

01:05:34Yes,

01:05:35he leans back in his chair,

01:05:36one eyebrow raised,

01:05:37his bow for button.

01:05:38The daggers are made of the material

01:05:40that powers the wards,

01:05:41I guess.

01:05:42The ally Brennan mentioned.

01:05:44Zayden opens the bottom drawer

01:05:46and moves some things around

01:05:47before pulling out a replica of the dagger

01:05:48I used to kill the vorn and on Tern's back.

01:05:50He walks over to me and holds it out,

01:05:52hit first.

01:05:52I take it from his hand

01:05:55and the weight and hum of power

01:05:57coming from the blade

01:05:57are instantly nauseating,

01:05:58whether from the energy

01:05:59or the memory of the last time

01:06:00I held one,

01:06:01I'm unsure.

01:06:02Either way,

01:06:03I breathe deeply and remind myself

01:06:04I'm not on Tern's back.

01:06:05There's no one trying to kill me or him.

01:06:07I'm in Zayden's bedroom,

01:06:08Zayden's very wadded bedroom,

01:06:10safe,

01:06:10no safer place on the continent,

01:06:12really.

01:06:12The blade itself is silver,

01:06:15sharpened on both edges,

01:06:16and the hilt is the same matte black

01:06:17of the one I used in Resson,

01:06:18the same it had been in my mother's desk last year.

01:06:21I rend my finger along the medallion in the hilt

01:06:22that's a duller grey and decorated with a rune.

01:06:25That piece is the alloy.

01:06:26He sits next to me on the bed.

01:06:28The metal in the hilt.

01:06:29It's a specific blend of materials

01:06:30melted into what you see there.

01:06:32It's not power in itself,

01:06:33but it's capable of holding power.

01:06:35The wards themselves originate from the veil,

01:06:37near Byshire,

01:06:38but they only reach so far.

01:06:39These,

01:06:40he taps the medallion,

01:06:41hold extra power to boost the wards and extend them.

01:06:43The more material,

01:06:44the stronger the wards.

01:06:45There's an entire armory of them downstairs,

01:06:47boosting the wards.

01:06:48The details are classified,

01:06:49but that's why outposts are placed strategically,

01:06:51to keep our borders from developing weak points.

01:06:54But how could the wards ever falter

01:06:56if these power them constantly?

01:06:57I brush my thumb over the alloy,

01:06:59and my own power rises,

01:07:00touching the air.

01:07:02Because they only hold so much power,

01:07:04once it's used,

01:07:04it has to be imbued again.

01:07:06Hold on,

01:07:07imbued with power?

01:07:08Yes,

01:07:09imbuing is a process of leaving power in stasis,

01:07:11in an object.

01:07:12A rider has to pour their own power into it,

01:07:14which is a skill not a lot of us have.

01:07:15He glances meaningfully at me,

01:07:17and don't ask,

01:07:18we are not getting into how that works tonight.

01:07:21Have they always been placed in daggers?

01:07:23He shakes his head,

01:07:24no,

01:07:24that started right before the rebellion.

01:07:26My guess is,

01:07:27Melvin had a vision of how an upcoming battle is going to go,

01:07:29and these were central to his victory.

01:07:31Once STA via chose me at Treshing,

01:07:33we started to work to smuggle out a few daggers at a time

01:07:35to supply what rifts we could make friendly contact with.

01:07:37Aratya needs a forge to smell the alloy,

01:07:40to make more weapons.

01:07:41Yes,

01:07:42it takes a dragon to fire a crucible,

01:07:44which we have,

01:07:45an illuminary to intensify dragon fire hot enough to smell,

01:07:47he says.

01:07:49I nod,

01:07:49staring at the thumb-sized medallion,

01:07:51how can something so small be the key to our entire...

01:07:53So you just put the alloy into a dagger and get an instant winning killer?

01:07:56A smile tugs at his mouth.

01:07:57It's a little more complicated than that.

01:07:59What do you think came first?

01:08:01I ask,

01:08:01studying the dagger,

01:08:02the warps,

01:08:03or the ability to boost them,

01:08:04or are they intertwined?

01:08:06That's all classified.

01:08:07He takes the dagger back and returns it to the desk drawer.

01:08:10So how about we work on your shields instead of worrying about no walls?

01:08:14Eye on,

01:08:14I'm tired.

01:08:15Etoz won't care,

01:08:16he slides into my mind easily.

01:08:18Fine,

01:08:19I lean back,

01:08:20bracing my weight on my palms,

01:08:21and build my mental shield quickly,

01:08:22block by block.

01:08:24Do your worst,

01:08:24his smile makes me regret the challenge.

01:08:27Oceanoftdf.com

01:08:28Though the chain of command may be consulted,

01:08:32I asked N as we approached this guy from the southeast the next day,

01:08:35squinting into the afternoon sun.

01:08:37The headwind laddered an extra couple of hours onto the flight,

01:08:39making my hips protest and almost outright rebel.

01:08:42Despite which you may assume,

01:08:43I'm not 600 years old.

01:08:46Figured I'd ask,

01:08:47just in case you were holding back secret dragon knowledge.

01:08:50I'm always holding back secret dragon knowledge,

01:08:53but what's an auto-magnet?

01:08:54His shoulder is tense,

01:08:55rising slightly,

01:08:56and the beats of his wings slow.

01:08:57We are being ordered to the practice rounds.

01:08:59Ka and Barish are waiting.

01:09:01My stomach permits even though our attitude hasn't changed.

01:09:04He threatened he'd be pondering my punishment for not forcing Anderna to participate in maneuvers.

01:09:08I should have taken his warning more seriously.

01:09:10Ten slow growl vibrates through his entire body.

01:09:13What are your wishes?

01:09:14Not sure I get a choice.

01:09:15A deep sense of foreboding crawls into my throat.

01:09:18There is always a choice.

01:09:20He maintains direction even though he'll have to bang soon to change course to the practice grounds.

01:09:25I can handle whatever he wants to punish me with if it means keeping Anderna safe.

01:09:29We go.

01:09:29An hour later,

01:09:31I'm not so sure I'm handling anything as much as I am enduring.

01:09:35Again,

01:09:35Professor Ka orders,

01:09:36his tin white hair flopping with every gust of wind as we stand on the mountain peak we use when planning my segment.

01:09:42And to think,

01:09:42this is only a warning.

01:09:44Fatigue washes over me again,

01:09:45but I know better than to complain.

01:09:48I'd made that mistake somewhere around strike 25,

01:09:50and it had only added another mark to the tab Professor Ka was keeping in his notebook while Major Varish supervises from his side.

01:09:56Again,

01:09:56Cadet Sorangil,

01:09:57Varish repeats the command,

01:09:58smiling at me like he's simply exchanging pleasantries.

01:10:01Their dragons,

01:10:02Grubin and Solas,

01:10:03stand as far back as possible without falling off the mountain.

01:10:06Ten head lunge for their necks,

01:10:07snap,

01:10:07and pull back with inches to spare around strike 13.

01:10:10It was the first time I'd ever seen Dragon's Fury.

01:10:13Unless you'd rather spend the foreseeable future in the brig.

01:10:16Ten's chest rumbles in a low growl as he stands behind me,

01:10:19his claws digging into the bare rock of the mountain top.

01:10:21There's only so much he can do,

01:10:23though.

01:10:23While he's bound by the Empyrean,

01:10:25I have to follow the rules of the quadrant or risk the brig,

01:10:27and I'd rather bring down a thousand lightning strikes than spend one night locked in a cage at Varish's mercy.

01:10:32When I don't move,

01:10:33Ka sends near Piedi Lu,

01:10:34his gaze darting to Varish.

01:10:37I sigh but lift my hands,

01:10:38my arms trembling as I reach the 10th tower.

01:10:40Then,

01:10:41I ground my feet into the mental construct of the archives in my mind

01:10:43so I don't slip away into the fire that threatens to consume me.

01:10:46Swift and fast,

01:10:47the power rises again,

01:10:48and so it bathes on my face and drips down my spine as I struggle to control it.

01:10:52Anger,

01:10:53lust,

01:10:53fear,

01:10:53it's always the most extreme of my emotions that bring on the strikes.

01:10:57It's rage that fuses me now as I summon the tzitzing.

01:11:00Hot energy and release it,

01:11:02packing open the sky with another lightning strike that hits the nearby P.

01:11:0532,

01:11:06Ka jots it down.

01:11:07There's no care for effect and aim,

01:11:09not a single consideration for mastery or strength.

01:11:12Their only goal here is to wear me down,

01:11:13while mine is to hold on to whatever scraps of self-control I can muster so I don't wake Anduna.

01:11:18Again,

01:11:19Varish orders.

01:11:20Gods,

01:11:21my body feels like it's cooking itself alive.

01:11:23I reach for the buttons on my flight jacket and yank them open,

01:11:25letting some of the infernal heat escape.

01:11:28Violet,

01:11:28Anduna asks sweetly.

01:11:30Gil slams into me harder than a lightning strike.

01:11:32I'm fine,

01:11:33I promise her.

01:11:35Waiting is dangerous to the growth process.

01:11:3610 lectures.

01:11:37Sleep.

01:11:38What's happening?

01:11:39She's alarmingly alert now.

01:11:40Nothing I can't handle.

01:11:42Not quite a lie,

01:11:43right?

01:11:44I've never seen her produce more than 26 strikes in an hour,

01:11:47major.

01:11:47She's at risk of overheating and burning out if you continue to push like this,

01:11:50passe is too varish.

01:11:52She can take it just fine.

01:11:54He looks at me like he knows.

01:11:55Like he was there at Reson,

01:11:56watching me hurl boat after bolted the wagon.

01:11:58If he's the picture of control,

01:11:59then maybe I should be glad I don't seem to have any.

01:12:03All it takes is her slipping in her grounding,

01:12:05or exhausting her physically,

01:12:06and she will burn out.

01:12:07Ka warns,

01:12:08his gaze shifting nervously.

01:12:10Punishing her for insubordination is one thing,

01:12:11but killing her is quite another.

01:12:13Again,

01:12:14Varash lifts his brows at me.

01:12:15Unless you're bored and one would like to fly up and say hello,

01:12:18since she failed to appear as ordered.

01:12:20If she joins us,

01:12:21we'll only task you with three more.

01:12:23This is about me.

01:12:24My shoulders drop and my stomach hits the ground.

01:12:26This is an example of what happens when dragons choose poorly,

01:12:3010 counters.

01:12:31Sola should never have given this barbarian mo.

01:12:34Pa!

01:12:35I don't want to submit her for tests or anything barbaric,

01:12:37Varash cajoles,

01:12:38as though he'd heard 10's words.

01:12:40I just want her to understand that she is not above the structure of command.

01:12:44I fucking hate him,

01:12:45I tell 10.

01:12:46I can feel this draining you.

01:12:47I'll come,

01:12:48and dinner starts.

01:12:50You'll do no such thing,

01:12:51or you'll risk every fair tale in the veil,

01:12:52I remind her.

01:12:53Do you want someone who takes joy in the pain of others like Varash bonding or hatching?

01:12:57And dinner growls in pure frustration.

01:13:0010 angles his wing,

01:13:01directing the cooling wind over my scoring skin.

01:13:03Well,

01:13:04Varash asks,

01:13:05putting his cloak around him as steam rises from my body.

01:13:0810 snails.

01:13:09Humans do not command dragons,

01:13:11and that includes you.

01:13:12I lift my impossibly heavy arms and reach for power again.

01:13:15Around strike 40,

01:13:16my knees buckle and I crumple to the hard rock.

01:13:18The ground rushes up at me,

01:13:19and I throw out my hands,

01:13:21sending pain shooting through my left shoulder

01:13:22as the joint partially suffocates from the impact.

01:13:25My mouth waters from the instant nausea,

01:13:27but I cradle my left arm and force myself to my knees

01:13:29just to take the weight off the joint.

01:13:32Extending his neck,

01:13:3210 roar so loudly at Varash and Carter

01:13:34the notebook blows out of Kar's hands

01:13:36and tumbles down the mountain,

01:13:37vanishing from Sigh.

01:13:39Silver one is done,

01:13:40he shouts.

01:13:41They can't hear you,

01:13:42I remind him,

01:13:43breathing through the pain.

01:13:44Dead dragons can.

01:13:46If she dies,

01:13:47you will summon the wrath of not only General Sorenge

01:13:49but General Melvin.

01:13:50Her signet is the weapon general's dream of in this war.

01:13:53Kar glances between Varash and me.

01:13:55And if that's certain,

01:13:56if to encourage a degree of caution,

01:13:57why Sormundan,

01:13:58then remember her death will cause

01:13:59the two of the most powerful dragons on the continent

01:14:01and left in entry

01:14:01since the replaceable ability to wield shadows.

01:14:05Ah yes,

01:14:05that pesky meeting bond.

01:14:07Varash clicks his tongue and cocks his head to the side,

01:14:09stunning me like I'm nothing but an experiment

01:14:10for him to play with.

01:14:11One more,

01:14:12just to prove that you can listen to orders

01:14:14if your dragon will not.

01:14:15Silver one.

01:14:16I can do it.

01:14:17I stumble to my feet and pray my shoulder will hold

01:14:19if I take my elbow in tight to my body.

01:14:21For Andorna,

01:14:22for the other hatchlings protected in the veil,

01:14:24I can do it.

01:14:26My muscles shake and cram,

01:14:27and my shoulder screams as though there's a dagger in the joint,

01:14:30but I raise my palms and reach for 10th power anyway.

01:14:32I make the connection and let the energy flood through me one more time.

01:14:35I wield,

01:14:36and lightning crashes.

01:14:38But my arms ramp as the strike hits the nearest thing,

01:14:41the muscles twisting and bunching in in a natural way,

01:14:43causing me to physically hold the power I usually release right away.

01:14:46Fuck,

01:14:47I can't let it go.

01:14:48Silver one.

01:14:49Ten shouts.

01:14:51Power lashes through me,

01:14:52extending the strike,

01:14:53which tears a section from the northernmost red line ahead of me.

01:14:55The rock crashes down the mountain slope,

01:14:57and still the lightning flows like an incandescent blade,

01:14:59cutting away the terrain.

01:15:01I can't move,

01:15:02can't drop my hands,

01:15:03can't even twitch my fingers.

01:15:04This is going to kill me.

01:15:06Ten,

01:15:06S-G-A-E-Y-L,

01:15:08Zedin,

01:15:08it's going to kill us all.

01:15:10Fear and pain roll into one,

01:15:11seizing my mind with the one emotion I can't afford panic.

01:15:14Cut it off mentally,

01:15:15ten bellows as the strike goes on and on,

01:15:17and in the distance I hear Andorna cry.

01:15:20My very bones catch fire,

01:15:21and a scream rips from my throat as I shove mentally at the doors to my archives.

01:15:24The strike ends,

01:15:26and I stagger backward,

01:15:27falling against Ten's folly and crumpling between his talons.

01:15:30Every breath is a struggle.

01:15:32Kass follows,

01:15:33hard,

01:15:33we are done for the day.

01:15:35I couldn't stand if I wanted to.

01:15:37Varash examines the destruction I caused and turns toward me.

01:15:40Fascinating,

01:15:41you'll both be indispensable once you come to heal.

01:15:43He turns then,

01:15:44his cloak bellowing in the wind as he walks to Solas.

01:15:46This is the only warning you'll get,

01:15:48good at Sorengeal.

01:15:49The threat hits like a punch to the stomach,

01:15:51but I can't think around the best thing here.

01:15:53Car hikes over,

01:15:55then puts the back of his hand against my forehead and hisses.

01:15:57You are burning up,

01:15:58he glances at Ten,

01:15:59tell your dragon to carry you directly to the courtyard.

01:16:02You won't make it from the flight field.

01:16:03Get food and a cold bath.

01:16:05There's something suspiciously close to sympathy in his eyes as he looks me over.

01:16:08And while I agree,

01:16:09I'll be okay.

Category

Transcript

Recommended