*Book 2 of 2*
Every year, hundreds die within the walls of Basgiath War College. It's no surprise that many are those who choose the Riders Quadrant. Dragons do not tolerate much, but neither do the ruthless gryphons on the outside of the war...
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・・・ ・・・ ・・・
The early morning sky is still so dark this hour. It's going to start getting brighter any minute now, which only gives us maybe a quarter-hour to get off our dragons and inside the college. Not much time at all. Thankfully, the flight field is deserted. The idea of a squad of some kind waiting for us was not beyond any of our imaginations and had been one of the things we'd briefed yesterday morning before we set out. I got one final night in Aretia, sleeping more comfortably than I'd like to admit in the king's keep. I didn't know which room would give Xaden a worse impression: sleeping in his childhood bedroom I'd stayed in plenty of times before, but was uniquely his, or sleeping in Fen's old room, on the bed he sleeps in when he's there, which isn't often.
I'm appalled by Tairn's endurance. Eighteen hours straight from Aretia, only stopping once for water for half an hour, and holding up Fior for hours at a time when she struggled to maintain the same. Even though she just slept for an entire day, I'm assuming she's going to be out for another back in the Vale. We need to land soon, which makes it a relief when we break through the clouds and begin to descend. The moon's slivered light can't reach the field, keeping us out of sight for now, but Fior's as pale and glassy as albite. The moment there's any sort of light, she's easily spotted.
"We're approaching. Get ready." I nod carefully, holding the pommel tighter. I look over at Fior as Tairn dips into a steep dive and she almost spins out from his wake. "Watch out!" I call to him. He rolls just slightly to get our turbulence away from her so she can steady herself. "I am fine," she argues.
"I will bring the silver-feather to the Vale and then circle by again," Tairn says. "You need rest," I protest. "There will be no rest if they decide to execute the eight of you on the dais." I tilt my head as we continue to plummet. "Fair point." "Call out if you even suspect it will not go your way." "It will." It's not death I fear, it's the hands and the powers that belong to the Aetos family that has my knuckles growing white. "Please tell Sgaeyl that I need to talk to Xaden on the walk in." "Hold on."
His wings flare instantly, jerking us to a stop with so much force, I'm almost worried he's going to rip a hole right through them. Then he lands on his massive legs multiple times the height of my entire body and skids forward. I'm thrown chest-first into the pommel. My arms hug it to keep me steady as I try to make sure it doesn't plunge into the underside of my chin and kill me right here.
"Get her out of here," I order as I rush toward his shoulder. As much as I missed him, there's a burn in my chest whenever I think about how he hid everything from me all the same. "I can do nothing to remedy the last nine months but answer your worthwhile questions now," he replies, his tone almost soft as I careen down his leg. My knees threaten to give out on land but I duck into the ground and tip forward so the weight lands on my hands as well. "Do not take unnecessary risk."
