I lift my chin, knowing there’s nothing more I can say about this without disciplinary action.
“It’s ironic, don’t you think?” Varrish asks, retreating one step at a time. “From what Colonel Aetos told me, your father was writing a book on feathertails— dragons which hadn’t been seen in hundreds of years—and then you ended up bonded to one.”
“Coincidental,” I correct him. “The word you meant to say is ‘coincidental.’”
“Is it?” He seems to ponder, backing away and passing by Bodhi.
My stomach turns. “Is it?”
“I know nothing of your father’s research,” Tairn promises.
But Andarna has gone silent.
“Riders!” Kaori projects his voice across the field as Bodhi reaches my side. “Third-years have joined us today for a very special reason. They’ll be demonstrating a running landing.” He gestures to the sky.
Cath is on approach from the west, the Red Swordtail blocking out the sun for a second as he dives for the field.
“He’s not slowing down,” I murmur. Part of me hopes Dain falls off.
“He will,” Bodhi promises. “Just not by much.”
My jaw slackens. Dain rides crouched on Cath’s shoulder, his arms out for balance as Cath drops to fly level with the field. The beats of Cath’s wings slow only slightly the closer he gets, and I hold my breath when Dain slides down Cath’s leg to perch on his claw while his dragon is still flying.
Holy. Shit.
“This is unadvisable for you,” Tairn says.
“For anyone with a heartbeat,” I counter.
Cath flares his wings subtly, enough to drop speed, and Dain jumps as he passes by the professors. He hits the sunburned grass at a run, dispelling the momentum from Cath’s flight within a few yards, and comes to a stop.
The third-years cheer, but Bodhi remains silent at my side.
“And that is why Aetos is a wingleader,” Kaori calls out. “Perfect execution. This approach is the most efficient landing for when we need to engage in ground combat. By the time this year is over, you’ll be able to land like this on any outpost wall. Pay close attention, and you’ll be able to complete this safely. Try your own method, and you’ll be dead before you hit the ground.”
The fuck I will.
“Adaptation will be necessary,” Tairn decrees.
“For today, we’re going to practice the basics of moving from the seat to the shoulder,” Kaori instructs.
“How are we adapting to that?” I ask Tairn.
“I didn’t say we would.” He chuffs. “The dragon-watcher will adapt his request, or I’ll have an early lunch.”
This maneuver is totally, completely pointless in the kind of war we need to fight.
“Kaori doesn’t know what’s out there,” I say softly to Bodhi.
“What makes you so sure?” He glances my way.
“If he did, he’d be teaching us faster ways to get off the damned ground, not land on it.”
“Tell him that we’re still working on the next shipment,” Bodhi tells me as we walk through the moonlit flight field a little before midnight a few nights later.
“Shipment of what?” I ask, adjusting my pack on my shoulders.
“He’ll know what I’m talking about,” he promises, wincing as his fingers graze the dark bruise on his jaw. “And tell him it’s raw. They’ve had the forge burning night and day, so we haven’t been able to—” He flinches. “Just tell him it’s raw.”
“I’m starting to feel a lot like a letter.” I shoot a glare at him for a second. That’s all I’m willing to look away from the uneven terrain for. There’s no chance I’m risking a sprained ankle before a twelve-hour flight.
“You’re the best way of getting information to him,” he admits.
“Without actually knowing anything.”
“Precisely.” He nods. “It’s safer this way until you’re capable of shielding from Aetos at all times. Xaden was supposed to continue teaching you last visit, but then…”
“I got strangled.” At least I’ve only been attacked once so far this year, but challenges open back up in a week.
“Yeah. It kind of fucked with his head.”
“I imagine that dropping dead randomly would have been inconvenient to him,” I mutter, half listening. Shit. Challenges open up in a week. It’s time to start checking the list the cadre keeps so I can go about my poisoning ways again.
“You know it’s not like that for him,” he says in a lecturing tone that reminds me of Xaden. “I’ve never seen him—”
“Let’s not do this.”
“—care like this—”
“No really. Stop.”
“—and that includes Catriona.”
My gaze whips toward him. “Who the hell is Catriona?”
He winces and presses his lips in a thin line. “What are the chances that you’ll forget I said that between here and Samara?”
“None.” I stumble on a rock, or my feelings, but manage to catch my balance. Physically, at least. My thoughts? Those are tripping over themselves down the path of wondering who Catriona is. An older rider? Someone from Aretia?
“Right.” He rubs the back of his neck and sighs. “Not even the tiniest bit of a chance? Because the thing about the deal you two have with your dragons is that he’ll be back here next week, and I’m not remotely in the mood to have my ass kicked after fending off another assassination attempt.”
I grab his arm and stop walking. “Another assassination attempt?”
He sighs. “Yeah. Second time someone tried to jump me in the bathing chamber this week.”
My eyes widen as my heart hammers in my chest. “Are you okay?”
He has the gall to grin. “I completely eviscerated some asshole out of Second Wing while naked and only got a bruise. I’m fine. But back to why you shouldn’t mention that comment to my rather moody cousin you’re sleeping with—”
“You know what?” I start walking to the middle of the field again. If he doesn’t want to process assassination attempts, then we have nothing else to say. “I don’t know you nearly well enough to discuss who I am or am not sleeping with, Bodhi,” I throw over my shoulder.
He shoves his hands in his pockets and leans back on his heels. “You make a fair point.”
“I made the only point.” Tairn’s silhouette blocks the moon for a heartbeat before he lands ahead of us.
Bodhi grins sheepishly. “Your dragon has arrived in time to save us from the awkwardness of this conversation.”
“Let’s get going,” Tairn all but snaps. I try not to take it personally. He’s been insufferable for days now, but I can’t blame him. I can feel his physical pain like a knife to my own chest when he overpowers my emotions.
“He’s in a rush,” I tell Bodhi. “Thanks for walking me out—”
“Humans!”
“Well, fuck.” Bodhi swears under his breath as mage lights flicker on behind us, lighting up the field the same way they had the night we flew for War Games.
“Cadet Sorrengail, you will delay your launch.” Varrish amplifies his voice across the field.
We turn and see him flanked by two other riders, walking our way.
Tairn growls in answer.
Bodhi and I exchange a glance, but we both remain silent as the trio approaches.
“What do we do if they try to stop us?” I ask Tairn.
“Feast.”
Gross.
“I didn’t expect you to leave until morning,” Varrish says, flashing an oily smile as the two other riders flank us. The stripes on their uniforms declare them as first lieutenants, the same as Mira, one rank above Xaden.
“It’s been a fortnight. I’m on leave.”
“So you are.” Varrish blinks at me, then looks at the female lieutenant on my left. “Nora, search her bag.”
“I’m sorry?” I put a step between me and the woman.
“Your bag,” Varrish repeats. “Article Four, Section One of the Codex states—”
“That all cadet belongings are subject to search at the discretion of command,” I finish for him.
“Ah, you know your Codex. Good. Your bag.”
I swallow, then roll my shoulders, letting the pack slip off my back before holding it out to the left, never taking my eyes from Varrish. The first lieutenant takes the rucksack from my hand.