Can't Cheat Death - Brennan Sorrengail

IV: Challenges

"Oranges tend to be the most volatile of all dragon species, regardless of their tails." Professor Arinel lectures. "If you manage to encounter one on threshing, execute the highest level of caution, although no dragon is to be taken lightly, most of all, you should be wary of oranges."

I scribble into my notes a large 'CAUTION' beside the heading. 

"Are there any questions before we move on?" 

A hand from someone in Second Wing raises. "I've heard that Oranges only bond with unstable riders."

Arinel's eyes narrow, and the cadet cowers under his glare. "And where did you hear that from?"

"One of the older cadets..." She mutters.

Professor Arinel draws a deep, calculated breath. "Although it's not uncommon for oranges to bond more... ruthless riders," the way he says ruthless makes my skin prickle, like it's some kind of improvement from unstable, "the color alone does not dictate the temperament of the dragon or rider. Even Greens can be devastatingly cruel despite being the most agreeable of their species."

"What about the Blue's? I thought you said they were the worst?" It's Brennan whose spoken out now, his brow furrowed. 

"Blue's tend to live by their own means," Arinel rubs his brow. "They're more unpredictable and deadly than oranges, but are also a rarer sight, even in the vale. None have expressed interest in bonding this year, but that's far from uncommon."

I raise my hand, taking note of the species we'd already covered in class and the few we'd yet to discuss, like red and blacks. 

"Yes, cadet?"

"How many dragons are interested in bonding?"

Arinel pauses for a moment, and steps behind his desk to shuffle through some papers, when he finds what he's looking for, he returns his attention to us. "So far," he begins, placing his wiry readers back onto his nose, "203 dragons have agreed to preside at presentation, although it is more than likely fewer will attend threshing and bond. From those there are 52 Greens, 57 Browns, 41 Oranges, 52 Reds, and one Black Dragon."

The class fills with mutterings as everyone turns. "A Black?" my hand tightens around my quill at the revelation. 

"The only other Black is General Melgren's!" Abel's jaw is left hanging.

"They probably won't bound," I mutter. My chest filled with some hope that maybe, by Amari's grace, it would find me worthy, but then that hope was quickly diminished. Though the thought had been appealing at first, the more I considered such a powerful dragon, the more my hesitation grows. If the death roll had anything to say about it, the stronger the dragon, the larger the target seemed to be painted on their flying leathers. Just last week a third year, bonded to the only Blue in the quadrant was killed in some sort of training exercise. She'd been a part of Alill's squad, and he'd taken her sudden death harder than I had expected.

"Yeah, you're probably right..." There was a dreamy look in Abel's eyes, and I pinched the skin of his hand.

"Thats enough!" Professor Arinel said, silencing the mutterings with a wave of his hand. "Since you lot seem so interested, why don't we discuss Black dragons next?"

...

"Hold on, I need you to say that again." 

I sighed, shoveling another spoonful of mashed potatoes into my mouth, glaring halfheartedly at Alill.

"You didn't hear me the first four times?" 

"I just- it's kind of hard to believe!"