"Your tongue is sharp, Little Dragon. But my blade is sharper."
Vesta Melgren x Xaden Riorson
A/N Just a disclaimer, I don't own or take any credit to anything having to do with Fourth Wing. That all belongs to the Original Author Rebecca Yarros. Al...
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There's a misconception that it's kill or be killed in the Rider's Quadrant. Riders, as a whole, aren't out to assassinate other cadets...unless there's a shortage of dragons that year or a cadet is a liability to their wing. Then things may get...interesting.
-Major Afendra's Guide To The Rider's Quadrant
(Unauthorized Edition)
Despite the intensity of a gold-flecked onyx stare burning into her, Vesta was more focused on the conversation happening behind her. "Let me see your boots." Vesta knew that voice. "Excuse me a moment Riorson. It seems my charge has wandered."Rolling her eyes and sighing, she turned on her heel to confront Violet, despite the scoff of incredulity leaving the Wingleader's lips.
"What size are your feet?" The cadet merely stared at Violet in confusion, questioning her. Though Violet remained insistant on her question. "Your feet. What size are they?" Why the fuck would she want to know that? The girl only became more odd. Vesta only heard the last part of her sentence, "Trade with me." Oh hell no.
"Violet darling." Vesta drawled. "What in the seven hells are you doing?" Violet made sure to sigh exaggeratedly before turning to face her. "Her boots have no grip, I'm trying to save her life." Vesta merely scowled at her kindness. She was an idiot, intelligent, but an idiot nonetheless.
"You can't afford to give up any advantage you may have. Don't be daft Violet, you'll get yourself killed." Vesta crossed her arms in finality, Violet didn't seem to get the hint.
"I don't care what you say. She'll die without it!"
Gods this girl was exasperating. Vesta's thumb and forefinger moved to massage the bridge of her nose to ease the ache already forming behind her eyes, "You are my charge Violet. You don't get to make decisions when it comes to your life's well-being. But since you keep insisting on this ones life, I'll switch with her."
The surprise was evident in her hazel iris'."You'd do that?"
Vesta's molten orbs rolled in annoyance before crossing her arms, "Despite what you think little One, I do want to keep you alive. And if this does just that, then'll i'll do it."
She turned to the brown eyed cadet, moving to unlace her left boot. "Only to the end of the Parapet, understood Cadet?" Her fingers swift and precise, the warm leather leaving her foot to the frigid air before being engulfed by a slightly too-small replacement.
"Understood Melgren. The name's Rhiannon by the way." Vesta merely nodded her head, before fixing her stare on Violet, gripping her left arm and dragging her through the line.
"No more rash decisions Little One. Stick close to me and you just might live to see tomorrow." Violet just stared at the General's daughter in contemplation, wondering if perhaps her whole view of the woman was wrong.
Vesta was aware that Riorson watched the entire interaction, it made her uneasy. She worried that her forced kindness would be seen as a weakness for the Sorrengail girl, though anyone that tested that theory would be met with a swift end.
"You ready for this Sorrengail?" The dark skinned rider questioned. Vesta winced at her question, sensing the dark-haired Rider's head snapping to examine the new threat.
"Ah shit." Vesta breathed.
"A Melgren and a Sorrengail?" The male was a mountain, she barely reached his shoulders. Though Violet barely reached his collarbones. The girl was wide-eyed and trembling. Vesta calmy placed her palm upon the small of her back, soothing the girls nerves. Violet grew still at the touch, her shoulders straightening.
"What's it to you Riorson?" Vesta questioned, her golden eyes narrowing in suspicion. The Wingleader's gaze snapped to hers after examining Violet.
"You're General Melgren's Heir. And you, you're General Sorrengail's youngest." His tone deep and accusatory.
Violet shuddered at his attention, "And you're Fen Riorson's son."
Vesta had to admit that the little Sorrengail's attempt was admirable, her chin lifting, her body still and taught. She smiled at the girls will, oh she'd be just fine against the likes of him.
Riorson sucked in a breath, "Your mother captured and oversaw my father's execution. And your father executed him." The full brunt of his undivided attention made Vesta uneasy. The hatred and loathing simmering in the onyx depths of his eyes.
Vesta knew the little Sorrengail's temper was rising, she stepped in before Violet got herself killed. "And your father murdered Sorrengail's brother, seems like we're all even."
"Hardly." His glaring gaze strokes over Vesta like he's memorizing every detail or looking for any weakness.
"What's with the leathers? Daddy get them for you? Or is Sorrengail's sister your bitch too, considering she has her own."
Vesta's teeth bared in a snarl, fingers darting for her daggers. Violet snatched Vesta's hand, clenching her fingers tightly making Vesta hiss in annoyance.
Vesta managed to utter between clenched teeth "Guess so."
Her simmering golden gaze burning into him, daring him to look away. His hands clenched into fists, and he tenses. Vesta let her fingers drift to her hilts once again, preparing for his strike. She was just begging him to make a move, to just give her a reason to rain down hell.
Rhiannon managed to break the tension, "You all right?" She questions Violet, her gaze jumping between her, Vesta and Riorson.
His eyes glanced to her."You're friends?"
"We met on the stairs." She says, squaring her shoulders, eyes narrowing.
Riorson looks down, noting Vesta and Rhiannon's mismatched shoes, and arches a brow. His hands relax."Interesting."
Violet tenses as his gaze flits between us. She shakily inhales a breath, "Are you going to kill us?"
His hardened gaze clashes with Vesta's, the sky thundering and rain pelting; soaking Vesta's hair through her cloak. The stones beneath their feet growing slick beneath the sky's outrage. It seemed even the Gods weren't on their side today.
A scream rippled through the storm, Violet and Rhiannon both jerk their attention to the Parapet just in time to see Dylan slip. Violet gasps in surprise, her hand rising to her mouth as she watched him fall to the depths below.
Vesta's challenging stare never left the Wingleader's, tension rippling between them.
His eyes roved over Violet's trembling form as she turned to grip Vesta's arm, making Vesta take a protective stance in front of her. Her eyes held horror within their depths, her body trembled in trepidation.
"Why would I waste my energy killing you when the Parapet will do it for me?" A wicked smile curves his lips. His eyes locking with Vesta's, "Your turn Melgren."
