“No can do,” Rhia said as we ate lunch together. “There’s a lockdown on campus right now. No one gets to come or go without permission from the headmaster himself.”
"Of course there is," I groaned, not at all surprised. I'd have to send a letter to Carina, and she wouldn't be happy about that in the slightest. But after what happened last night, I couldn't blame the academy for being concerned.
Trying not to feel too trapped by the new restrictions, I went for a walk in the garden, trying to sort out my thoughts. I wished Jallis were here so I could talk to him. I wondered how he was doing at the camp. Had they put him on border patrol, so close to the Zallabarians and those nasty cannons? I shuddered at the thought of him and Kadryn being shot down by one, like poor Ragor and Ullion had been yesterday. I was so thankful that they’d merely been injured, and that they’d both make a full recovery. If they had been permanently crippled, or killed…
“Zara!” a fellow dragon rider cadet yelled as she rushed by. “The headmaster’s summoned all rider cadets to the training room.”
Tension dug into my shoulders as I jogged after her. The training room was a smaller, separate building from the academy, where cadets came for combat and physical fitness training. Major Falkieth and the headmaster both waited for us inside, and the other eight cadets were already lined up. I was pleased to see that Ullion was with us, looking relatively healthy—they must have gotten the same mage who healed me to treat him last night, for he didn’t look like he was favoring his injured leg, or in pain at all. I gave him a quick smile as I lined up with the others.
“Cadets,” the headmaster addressed us once we were all standing at attention. “Last night was a trying ordeal for all of us. For the first time in a century, a foreign power crossed into our territory and attacked our capital. If not for the actions of Miss Kenrook and Miss Thomas, we could have lost many lives last night. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their quick thinking and decisive action.”
The headmaster inclined his head toward us, and the other cadets burst into applause, whooping and cheering. But they quickly quieted when the headmaster and Major Falkieth stood in silence, and the mood grew somber again.
"While neither side has officially declared war, last night was the opening salvo, and the ten of you participated in your first battle. As of right now, you have all been put on active duty, and have the rank of Private, First Class.”
No one said a word, but tension and excitement rippled through the ranks. I gritted my teeth. Of course they were going to put us on active duty rather than protect these cadets and their not-yet-grown dragons. I’d known that, and though in my heart I knew I’d do whatever it took to protect my friends and family, I hated that others were putting their lives on the line.
Lessie’s consciousness rubbed up against my mind. “You have to remember they signed up for this, Zara,” she said. “When they enrolled in the academy, when they went to the hatching ceremony and laid their hands upon those dragon eggs, they knew this day might come.”
“Despite these grim circumstances, there is some good news,” the headmaster said, drawing my attention back to him. “Quoronis has decided to sit out the conflict, which means that we will only need to deal with Zallabar and Traggar, whose alliance still holds firm.”
Yes! I crowed mentally, and I could feel Lessie’s elation as well. Lord Tavarian must have successfully convinced Quoronis to back down. Did that mean he was coming home soon? I could hardly wait to see him.
"However, Zallabar alone is a formidable opponent, especially after the demonstration last night, and there is no telling what might happen next," Falkieth butted in. "For all we know, the ship that attacked us last night was Traggaran, and they were using cannons given to them by Zallabar. I would not be surprised in the slightest if Traggar agreed to ally with them simply for a chance to get their hands on that technology."
Right. I’d never been to Traggar myself, but from what I understood, theirs was an isolationist, almost barbaric culture, and largely reliant on their navy. They were also hostile and bloodthirsty, more than happy to get their hands on any new weapons that would help them continue to conquer other countries.
“Clearly, we need more information, and that is where you will come in handy,” the headmaster continued. “The ten of you will be departing for the border in stages—four of you will be sent to patrol the channel, and the other six will be patrolling the Zallabarian border. You will have two days to prepare and say goodbye to your loved ones.”
Two days? I thought, alarmed. Would Tavarian be back in two days? And what did he think of this? Did he know that Lessie and I were being sent to the border, even though we weren't even close to finishing our training? I was almost sure he would object if he were here, since he was not fond of using dragons during wartime to begin with. But he wasn't here, and I would be forced to comply.
Major Falkieth, sensing the unease rippling through the line, addressed us again. "Don't look so grim, riders," she said, her normally rough voice softening a bit with encouragement. "This is a fairly safe mission, or at least as safe as anything can be in wartime. Heroics are not only not required of you, they are actively discouraged. Your duty will be to observe any incursions of airships or troop movements and report them to the regional headquarters where you have been assigned. They will send out regular forces to deal with the enemy. Your smaller dragons are ideal for the task, since you will be able to hide more easily in the clouds, and you will help save countless lives."
The cadets seemed to relax a little at this, and I could feel Lessie’s excitement through the bond. “Finally, a chance to be useful!” she exclaimed. “We are going to be good at this, Zara.”
“I know we will,” I said, smiling inwardly at her. I loved that she always seemed to find the silver lining, the positive outlook, no matter how dire the situation. And in truth, I was happy we were given a task that would keep us out of harm’s way while still allowing us to help with the war effort. We could survive for a week or two, until Lord Tavarian returned. I was certain he’d call us back once he realized what was going on.
The headmaster dismissed the rest of the cadets but ordered me to stay behind. “I wanted to let you know I received word from Lord Tavarian,” he said. “He should be returning to Dragon’s Table in a week’s time to report to the council.”
"Good." I figured he would be, but hearing it out loud still filled me with relief. "Is there any way that I can wait until he comes back? I'd like to speak to him in person before I go."
Major Falkieth shook her head. “Unless you can give a compelling reason as to why you have to stay back, there's nothing we can do. The general will be very unhappy if you don't arrive with the others, especially since you have firsthand experience with the guns."
“That’s why we’re sending you out there,” the headmaster admitted, looking rather guilty. “Normally we would have had you and Miss Thomas stay behind, but you are the only two riders who’ve dealt with these cannons up close and personal, so you are needed. Miss Thomas will be going to the Zallabarian border, and you’ll be headed to the channel.”
“We’re being separated?” I asked, my stomach plummeting. “We can’t both go to the border?”
“I’m sorry,” the headmaster said. “But that’s where you’re needed.”
I clenched my jaw, my insides a mess of roiling emotions. First Tavarian, then Jallis, and now Rhia. My friends were being stripped from me, one by one. But there was nothing I could say, so I forced my protests back and beat a retreat to the stables so I could cuddle with Lessie for a bit and feel sorry for myself.
Every girl needs a good sulk now and again.
“I’m not even going to be able to see Jallis,” I grumbled to her as I leaned against her side, the two of us curled up in the hay together. “He’s in a camp by the border, not at the channel.” I hadn’t heard from him at all since he’d left, and by the time he got around to sending me a letter, I’d be long gon
e. "I'll be surrounded by strangers."
“You’ll have me,” Lessie reminded me, nudging me with her snout. “Besides, it’s not as if you don’t know how to make friends. You didn’t know anyone when you came to Dragon’s Table, either.”
“Yeah, but we’re going to a military camp,” I said. “We’re going to be with a bunch of stuffy riders and stubborn soldiers who think they’re invincible. That general may have asked for me, but that doesn’t mean the others are going to take me seriously. Most of them will probably think I’m just some stupid ground-dweller.”
“Not when they see you riding in on my back,” Lessie growled. She lifted her head so she could toss it. “It will be impossible for them to look upon me without basking in my magnificence.”
I snorted with laughter, and she grinned, flashing her dragon teeth at me. “I knew that would make you laugh,” she said, nuzzling me. “Cheer up, Zara. At least we’ll be flying together, and the more time we spend in the air, the harder it will be for Salcombe to get us if he ever gets free of the Zallabarians. And even if he does come to find us, we’ll be surrounded by soldiers most of the time.”
“True,” I said, though I was dubious. While Salcombe wasn't stupid enough to attack a military camp, he was desperate and very clever— a dangerous combination. If anyone could figure out how to snatch me out from under the army’s nose, it would be Salcombe. I’d have to let them know that he was still hunting me so proper precautions could be taken.
“They must really want me,” I said to Lessie as I stretched my legs out in the sand, “because as far as I can tell, you and I are two walking, talking liabilities.”
14
On the eve of our departure, I reported to the meeting room with Kade, Ullion, and a girl called Daria to be briefed on our destination. Headmaster Caparro and Major Falkieth were there, but the briefing was led by a new face—Lieutenant Bellmont, an officer from the war department.
“While Zallabar has still not declared open war despite that underhanded attack on our capital,” Bellmont was saying, “all indications are that Traggar’s alliance with them still holds, and they will be joining in the impending war.” He gestured to a map on the wall, pointing to a cluster of islands north of Elantia. “Traggar is made up of these six main islands here, plus the dozens of smaller islands that run all the way up the coast here.” He traced a path farther north with his white-gloved finger, then brought it back down to the stretch of ocean separating the islands from the mainland. “You will be monitoring the channel, here, for any signs of unusual activity.”
Bellmont then took a few minutes to describe the terrain, and I did my best not to tune him out. I’d already spent the last two days refreshing my knowledge of Traggar. The channel was of variable width and took three to five hours to cross, depending on which point you started at from the mainland or which island you were trying to get to. It was extremely dangerous to attempt the crossing during storms due to the rocks and cliffs, and dragons could be battered badly by the treacherous winds or even struck by lightning.
Unfortunately, the northern border near the channel was never considered a likely front in the last century. Elantia had only ever had a few skirmishes with them, when Traggar attempted to grab pieces of the continent and were driven back. As a result of being out of touch with them for decades, we were not well-prepared as a country to deal with them. I only knew a few phrases of Traggaran since I’d never traveled there. The country’s perpetual rainy season and boggy lands didn’t make it an ideal vacation destination, and it wasn’t a promising location for digging up relics, either.
"Traggar is currently ruled by Zolar the Third," the lieutenant said, tapping at a sketch posted to the wall. The man in question looked like a thug, with beady eyes, close-cropped hair, and a harsh, forbidding face. "Like the rest of his people, he is not at all friendly to Elantians, and should you be captured, he will have your dragons tortured until you give up every bit of intel you have. Traggarans are also extremely untrustworthy, and any contract or promise he might offer you will not be honored. I would highly advise doing anything possible to avoid capture should you run across them for any reason."
The four of us shuddered. I wasn't surprised to hear this about the Traggarans—from what I understood, King Zolar was a despot who had a penchant for divorcing and exiling his wives when he tired of them, and he didn't trust foreigners. Of course, he wasn't the kind of man who kept his promises or was interested in making peace with other nations.
“Since your primary objective is reconnaissance, it is doubtful that you will have to deal with the Traggarans directly," Lieutenant Bellmont said, as if to placate us. He then continued to give us the highlights on Traggar, and the more I heard, the less I liked. Apparently, Traggar was heavily involved in the slave trade—since they'd concentrated on shipbuilding, they had a strong navy, which they'd used to conquer various islands and areas in the southern climates that they cruelly exploited for natural resources. While slave trading was illegal in Traggar itself, it was not illegal in the southern islands, and thus it had become a booming industry for them.
“I don’t think I’d feel guilty at all if we ended up having to kill some of them,” Lessie informed me in a haughty tone.
I hid my smile. “Neither do I. Although Lieutenant Bellmont’s briefing seems a bit biased. After all, a population of over three million has to have a few good eggs, don’t you think?”
“I don’t care about good eggs,” Lessie informed me, and I could just see her tossing her head in my mind’s eye. “I just care about keeping you safe.”
“Something funny, Private Kenrook?”
The lieutenant’s sharp voice brought me back to the present, and I blinked. “No, sir,” I said. I guess I hadn’t managed to hide my smile after all.
The lieutenant held my gaze for a long moment. “While scouting and defense will be your priority, you should all make an effort to learn the language and history in your spare time,” he finally said, his gaze sweeping away from me to take in the others. “Learning as much as you can about the enemy is crucial to winning, no matter how small or large your part in the war is.”
With that, he dismissed us.
The four of us went to our respective rooms to finish packing. In just a few hours, we’d be heading out, and who knew when we’d be coming back to the academy? Hell, would we come back at all? I knew from studying military history that wars often went on for years. Being out there, living and working on a military base, would teach us far more than we could ever learn at the academy. There might not be anything left for the professors to teach us.
It was a sobering thought, and one that made my stomach twist with dread. In my heart, I was still a reluctant cadet. I was still coming to terms with the fact that I was now officially conscripted.
I pressed my new uniform, checked and rechecked my bags, then tucked Lessie in. I would have stayed with her in the stables all night, but the stable master kicked me out, and I trudged back to my room, miserable. Changing into my pajamas, I slid beneath the sheets and closed my eyes, trying to sleep. But all I could see was Ragor’s ruined wing, the sound of cannon fire echoing in my ears. And we were only going to see more of that…
A knock on my door pulled me from my grim thoughts, and I jumped out of bed, my blood pumping. “Yes?” I cried, peering through the peephole. I wasn’t stupid enough to throw the door open, not after Salcombe had successfully kidnapped me once from campus. It took a minute for my eyes to adjust, but soon, Mrs. Browning, the residence hall mistress, came into view and I opened the door.
“Sorry to wake you, Miss Kenrook,” she said, “but you have a visitor.”
“A visitor?” I frowned. “Who?”
“Lord Tavarian.” She gave a slight smile at my stunned look. “Normally I would not allow visitors past curfew, but in this case, I will make an exception. He is waiting for you in the lounge.”
“I’ll be right there,” I blurted, then slammed the door
in her face. I shucked off my pajamas and hurriedly threw on my clothes, then checked my wild hair in the mirror and smoothed it down a bit. Not that I was trying to impress him, but I did have some dignity.
"Miss Kenrook." Lord Tavarian rose from his chair by the fire as I entered the room. He looked well put together, as always, in one of those dark suits he always wore, his long, black hair pulled neatly back at the nape of his neck. But there were shadows beneath his eyes, tension in his angular face that spoke of exhaustion. And something flickered in his silver eyes, an odd look I couldn't quite place my finger on…
“Lord Tavarian.” I crossed the room in quick strides, then stopped short just before him. That familiar tension hummed in the air between us, and I paused, unsure how to greet him. “How did you get back here so fast?” I asked, trying to cover up my awkwardness.
“I had a bit of help from Muza.” A brief smile flickered across his features, but it died as those silver eyes flicked up and down my body, taking me in. “You are unharmed? I heard about what happened with Salcombe.”
I sucked in a breath as I recognized the odd look in his eyes as guilt. “He didn’t hurt me. Just threatened me.”
His mouth tightened in a grim line. “I dropped by the estate to check on you on my way back to Dragon’s Table, and was horrified to find you and Lessie gone. If Mr. and Mrs. Barton hadn’t received a letter from the headmaster explaining where you were and what had happened, I would have torn apart the countryside looking for you.”
His heated words made my skin prickle with warmth. Salcombe would have never said something like that to me. Even when we’d been on good terms, he’d always kept me at arm’s distance—ours was a relationship of mutual convenience, not affection. When I’d first met Tavarian, I’d painted him with the same cold, calculated strokes that Salcombe presented to the world.
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