Boundless Limits {B.Durran}

04

Tierney doesn't pay attention when Captain Fitzgibbons reads from the death roll, but her eyes are glued to him, watching the way his lips move to form each word that doesn't reach her ears.

She doesn't want to know the names of the dead, doesn't want to acknowledge the pain and grief that it's going to bring families and loved ones, not when she knows the feeling and experience all too well.

Daithi's name was read out just like this, with people who would have stiffened at the mention of it, and people like her— who seemed as if they couldn't care less.

Tierney doesn't miss the way Ridoc shuffles at her side, agitated for standing so long, for listening to so many names called. She doesn't care for his discomfort, not after the immense teasing and questions she received from him when she arrived at formation with Ciaran.

The early morning sun promises a scorching day at the quadrant and the woman isn't looking forward to it. Standing in formation, surrounded by bodies, is already making her uncomfortably warm, and assessment in the gym in the afternoon is going to be far worse.

Tierney's dressed in her new rider black uniform, with one four-pointed star of a first-year on her collar and a flame section patch stitched to her shoulder. Much like those around her, she wears the summer uniform light tunic and tight-fitting pants, although not without modifications.

Her weapon belt slants loosely on her hip, her broadsword is strapped to her left side, and a pairing dagger is on her thigh. Two daggers are awarded sheaths at her belt, and a total of five throwing knives. Plus a dagger hidden in one boot, and a few extra throwing knives in her other.

She's stocked with weapons, never quite knowing when she'll need them, after all, she expects to be attacked with the intent to kill at least twice before threshing. 

Her hair is in a braided bun style, covering the nape of her neck in its usual fashion. Tierney has two metallic plates covering her forearms, she uses them in combat but sees no harm in putting them on now.

"We commend their souls to Malek." Captain Fitzgibbon finishes and he closes the scroll, just as the two scribes at his side finish recording the last name. Malek, the god of death, is always mentioned at the end of the death roll, commending the dead's souls in hopes he would accept them.

Tierney supposes that when Valkorins are taught and told not to fear death, they're being taught not to fear Malek. To her, it's far easier to be unafraid of a god than to be afraid of leaving this life behind, not knowing what will come after.

The names on the scroll leave the dias with the scribes and the quiet is broken by the squad leaders turning to address their squads. There is no formal ending to the formation, no moment of silence for the dead before it's over.

"Hopefully you all had breakfast because you're not going to get another chance before lunch," Dain says, his eyes scrapping over the first years and locking with Violet's for a moment before breaking away. "Second and third years, I'm assuming you know where to go. First years, I'm assuming at least one of you has memorised the academic schedule when it was handed out to you yesterday."

Tierney purses her lips, carefully raising a brow at Dain's actions. He's not subtle at all when it comes to Violet, he means something to him and whoever is pissed at the squad leader, may come after Violet to get back at him.

The woman frowns, annoyed, that her 'mission' or perhaps threat of protecting Violet is not going to be as easy as she hoped. 

Tierney doesn't like the Aetos family. Having only met Colonel Aetos once, there's something about him that screams that he's an asshole who shouldn't be given a speck of trust. She gets this same feeling for his son, the man standing before her.