*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...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
・・・ ・・・ ・・・
"Garrick Tavis," Fitzgibbons, the scribe in charge of reading our death roll, calls out over the Formation in the courtyard. "Xaden Riorson." Rhiannon turns over her shoulder to look at me. No doubt questioning how I'm alive if Xaden isn't. My eyes swim in hers, dark brown and pooling with concern, and I flick my head toward the dais that's suddenly fallen silent. "Well, this is awkward." Xaden's voice booms louder and even from my height, I can see the desperation in people's feet as they scramble to clear a path for him.
Just like planned, I bow out of line, marching up with all of the anger that's been swelling within me. The six of us who aren't leadership have broken our positions and begin to stomp toward the dais at once. Fitzgibbons' eyes are wide and darting around at each of us. My own are focused on Colonel Aetos', and I hope desperately that the strength of my shields is as powerful as Xaden preached to me.
"You're... not dead," Fitzgibbons stutters. His hands grow limp and the death roll begins to fall from it, making him scramble to try to catch it. He can't seem to take his gaze off of us. I suppose this is how Brennan felt when I'd stalked up to him like a mountain cat. "Apparently not," Xaden spits, the reply dripping with venom. Panchek's mouth dangles open but his ugly face is soon blocked by General Sorrengail and Colonel Aetos rising from their seats.
Jesinia steps forward, her eyes wider than they should be. "I'm happy you're alive," she signs, her fingers quick and nimble before scooping up the scroll and backing away. I offer her a small smile so she knows my glare isn't for her and one small nod. Colonel Aetos takes a step forward, his puffy cheeks growing red as his eyes dart across the courtyard. We're closing in on him fast and he knows it. Lilith's hazel eyes blaze over me for one moment and then two before sweeping across the rest of the squad as we plant ourselves just before the stone dais. But in her eyes, in that moment, I saw it. Not surprise, not even betrayal, but the understanding that she should be feeling both. Good to know I won't have to kill Violet's mom.
"I don't understand," Fitzgibbons stutters. He turns over his shoulder to face the other two scribes before his head reels toward Panchek, the general in charge of the Rider's Quadrant. "They aren't dead. Why would they have been reported for the death roll?" "Yes," Lilith hums as her gaze stains Colonel Aeto's temple. "Why were they reported for the death roll?" Her eyes narrow and a breeze tumbles down the mountainside into us. It's never good to feel such a chilling breeze in the middle of summer when a weather-wielder is glaring you down.
"They've been missing for six days!" Aetos argues, almost seething, each word raising his volume. He's gotten better at lying in these past few years. "Naturally, we reported them dead, but obviously we should've them for desertion and dereliction of duty." "You want to report us for desertion?" Xaden announces with righteous fury in his tone as he takes the first step onto the dais. A sneer pulls his lip taut as he glances over Aetos, no doubt looking for his audacity. "You sent us into combat, and you're going to report us for desertion?"
