Ash and Bones

Chapter 2

       We finally hear the Basgiath bells ring indicating that the last of the cadets finally walk into the courtyard, followed by three riders from the other turret. My big brother among them. He's changed more than I thought possible within the last year. He's gotten stronger, taller, but most of all, he looks like he's been through hell and back, and I know he has. He's hurting mentally, and I want nothing more than to run to him, and wrap my arms around him, but I can't yet. He looks up at me, and I see a mix of relief, and then pure anger, once he's sees the hand prints on my neck. I nod at him, telling him that I'm okay. He doesn't look too convinced, but for right now, he has to take it. I look to the right of him, and I see Commandment Panchek, standing with a look of pure boredom.

 "Three hundred and five of you have survived the parapet, to become cadets today. Good job, seventy five of you however did not." I swallow the lump in my throat, realizing that it could've been seventy six, if not for Liam helping me train, before I left.

I stare ahead of me, looking towards him as he continues speaking. I look around me, and notice everyone that's standing around me, I feel a hand grab ahold of mine, I look to my left, and I see Bodhi. He looks down at me, and smiles.

"I've missed you Em" He whispers.

"I've missed you too, I just wish it didn't take us both getting sent to a death college, to be able to see each other again." I say back.

He holds back a laugh and nods. We turn our focus back to the front, but keep each other's hold.

"As the Codex says, now you begin the true crucible!" Panchek yells. He must say this every year, and I can't understand how he doesn't get tired of it.

"You will be tested by your superiors, hunted by your peers, and guided by your instincts. If you survive Threshing, and if you are chosen, you will be riders. Then we'll see how many of you make it to graduation."

Statistics say about a quarter of of us will live to graduate, give or take a few on any year, and yet the Riders Quadrant is never short volunteers. Every cadet in this courtyard thinks they have what it takes to be one of the elite, the very best Navarre has to offer...a dragon rider. I don't want to be here. It's the last place I expected to be. I've missed my brother more than anything, and if there's anything good that comes out of me being here, it's being with Xaden, and maybe even Imogen.

"Your instructors will teach you," Panchek says, as he points to the instructors beside him. "It's up to you how you'll learn. Discipline falls to your units and your wingleader is the last word. If I have to get involved, well, you don't want me involved." he says, with a sinister smile. "With that said, I'll leave you to your wingleaders. My best advice? Don't die." He walks off the dais with the executive commandment, leaving only the riders on the stone stage.

A woman walks to where they were just standing on the dais.

"I'm Nyra, the senior wingleader of the quadrant and the head of the First Wing. Section leaders and squad leaders, take your positions now." She says.

People start scrambling around us, and I move over to give them room. I look up towards the dais, and notice about fifty to sixty people standing in formation. I didn't know there was that many here, but Conscription day tends to make your mind focus on too many things at one time.

"Cadets, when your name is called, take up formation behind your squad leader." Nyla instructs.

There's a blonde haired boy that walks up and starts calling out names, and one by one different people walk up and meet their squad leaders. I notice that Josh gets called into the Tail Section of First Wing. I'm relieved that he's not in the same wing as me, otherwise I wouldn't be able to keep myself back after what he did not once but twice.