Boundless Limits {B.Durran}

24

I have a question for you. Whoever that is that is reading my writing, living through this tale, no more interesting than anyone's life is.
Who are you? It is a question that bounces around in my head often. And with that, I say, I'm Tierney Valkorin. And as a Valkorin, I'm told who to be. Honourable, fearless, cold-hearted, practical. What I'm told becomes a part of me, but if I had to choose, would I choose to be Tierney Valkorin, Daughter of Aodh, Tierney Valkorin, Daughter of Orlaith or Tierney Valkorin, sister of Daithi and Naoise? Perhaps Tiereny Valkorin, something of my own valour?

T.Valkorin Journal entry

"So all we do is wait for something to happen?" Ridoc asks the next afternoon, leaning back in his chair and putting his boots on the end of the wooden table that runs the length of the briefing room.

"Yes," Mira says from the head of the table, then flicks her wrist and sends Ridoc flying backwards. "And keep your feet off the table."

One of the Montserrat riders laughs, changing the markers on the large map that consumes the only stone wall in the curved, windowed room. This is the highest turret in the outpost, offering unmatched views of the Esben mountain range around them.

The squad has been split into two groups for the day. Rhiannon, Sawyer, Cianna, Nadine and Heaton spent the morning with Devera in this room, studying previous battles at the outpost, and are on patrol.

Dain, Ridoc, Liam, Emery, Quinn, Tierney and Violet spent the morning on a two-hour flight around the surrounding area, with one extra tagalong— Xaden. Who arrived last night, much to the squad's surprise, apparently, Sgaeyl couldn't stand being separated from Tairn for more than three days.

Dain won't stop glaring at Xaden and making inside remarks, keeping Tierney and the squad entertained but annoying Violet. Mira keeps one eye on him at all times as well.

Tierney looks at Ridoc, where he was staggering to his feet. "Manners." She reminds with a teasing grin as she offers a hand to help the boy up.

"Manners my ass. Where are yours?" He asks, taking her hand. Tierney helps him up, and he offers her a smile in kind.

"Buried somewhere deep within my soul where I doubt they'll ever return to the surface," Tierney responds with a sly smile, making Ridoc laugh.

"As I'd expect of a Valkorin." He jokes as the two return to their seats next to each other, ignoring the glare their squad leader shot their way.

"Consider this your Battle Brief," Mira continues, side-eyeing the two cadets. "This morning was about a quarter of the patrol we'd regularly fly, so normally we'd just be getting back about now and reporting our findings to the commander. But for the sake of killing time, since we're in this room as the reaction flight for this afternoon, let's pretend we'd come across a newly fortified enemy outpost crossing our border."

Mira turns to the map and sticks a pin with a small crimson flag near one of the peaks about two miles from the Cygnisen borderline.

"Right, here." Mira finishes and turns back.

"We're supposed to pretend it just popped up overnight?" Emery asks, openly sceptical.

"For the sake of argument, third-year." Mira narrows her eyes on him, and he sits up a little straighter. 

"I like this game," another one of the Montserrat riders says from the end of the table, lacing his fingers behind his neck.

"What would our objective be?" Mira glances around the table, noticeably skipping Xaden. "Aetos?"