Redemption - Fourth Wing

56. Catch me if you can

Aifos' pov
The night was cold on my cheeks, and curls of hair kept falling on my eyes.
Basgiath loomed darkly around us, and the parapet was narrow and uneven, as if every crack of stone was a mockery for the first year cadets on Conscription Day.
The stars were as bright as Chex's silver scales, and my gaze swept over the farthest constellation which could be seen from up here.
Was he trying to remember how light fell in my eyes through the curves of the moon, just as I was admiring the exact glint of his silver scales through the sheen of the nightsky?
"Hello, Aifos."
Xaden's voice was rough, as if it'd remained unused for too long an hour.
His shoulders were broad and stark against the stars, and his legs dangled past the edge of the parapet.
I stopped behind him, "Sgaeyl told me where to find you."
"I was in the Senarium today."
Silence pulsed between us, and I remembered the tightness of his shadows around my wrists, his fear when I took control of his power.
Had we been raised together, we would've placed ourselves back to back, and not protected our chest against each other's attacks.
My eyes followed his slightly curling hair.
We had already fought together during the Battle of Basgiath; but we were younger, stronger. His eyes hadn't streaked crimson yet, and my life was as endless as the horizon.
We weren't brothers.
Had we ever been such?
"They say Aretia's wards are failing," his words were clipped, "That it won't take long before wyverns would shred them apart as fucking parchment."
"It shouldn't come as a surprise," I said, slowly, "We weren't aware of the truth yet."
Shadows flicked on his boots, and he pulled his legs back and rose on his feet to face me, "You don't understand! Aretia is my home. Everything I have left of dad!"
My breath was slow, and my voice was soft, "Finally you see it."
He remained quiet, but his shadows' curls were lazier between our feet.
I kept an even tone, "I can't possibly rule over Aretia because I hold no love for her. Should it fall, I'd deem it only as a strategical annoyance and a war defeat. One shouldn't lead without affection, whether it be political or intimate."
"You're my sibling, Aifos. You're a Riorson."
"Names aren't titles," my smile was soft, "And provinces aren't home."
His hand twitched forward, caught between falling back and touching my shoulder. He was taller than me, and his eyes had amber stars in their onyx.
"So... Do you have a home, Aifos?"
Tears stung my eyes, and I saw Ronny's jagged scar and Chex's gleaming scales, and my smile quivered, "I don't know. Maybe."
"She could've been your home, had you let her."
"I know," I whispered, "But it has failed. I came here too late."
I turned my eyes on the moon, and Xaden said he'd send Ronny and I to man Aretia's words, "Command would never let an asset straggle behind"
I recognised my words I'd uttered this morning, and I twisted my wrist on my chest, "Alfr ach thornessa."
(He does this)

I had to wait for the Aretia rotation to come to Violet's squad, and Xaden's eyes were sharp, "Better fly in group these days."
I looked up, and briefly wondered if three beings added up to a group; but it was just two, for the moment, so I could only nod and walk back in my room shared with Bodhi.
In the chilly morning of the journey to Aretia, the flight field was already occupied by Tairn and Sliseag when we made our way in. Andarna lurked in the corner, her scales pitch black, and I could feel the golden of her eyes burning into my back.
Her brother had left her for me.
-Do not shoulder a decision which has never been yours,- said Ronny, -And tell Gamlyn to teach his dragon about personal air space.-
I huffed a laugh, and Ridoc ran forward, his arms up in victory, "Sawyer! Look at you!"
I squinted, and saw Sawyer perched on his red dragon, his mental leg shiny in the rays of early morning.
Sliseag swung his head and snapped at Ridoc, who bumped into Maren and swept her up in a hug.
I put the saddle down, and Rhiannon quietly asked Violet if she had failed him. Violet linked her arm with her friend's, "No. You were exactly who he needed you to be. You're our friend, but you're also our squad leader. He doesn't want to fall in front of you."
The two sacks with my three armours clanged when I put them down, and Tairn narrowed his eyes at me, so I promptly lowered mine. His chuff was sharp, and Ronny grumbled in my mind, -He acts like a hatchling. Remind him of his actual age.-
-His son's absence stings.-
-He's flown for 110 years. Eight years lesser than me.-
I blinked, and flicked my eyes up to Tairn's claw, -Really?-
-Yes. I checked.-
Tairn rumbled deep in his throat, and I gingerly looked at Ridoc lunging for Cat, then for Neve.
"But?" Asked Rhiannon, as Violet walked towards the rest of the squad, "But you couldn't have made this happen any faster. Not you, or me, or Ridoc, or Jesinia. It was always down to the two of them. It was only ever going to be their timeline."
Wingbeats shook the sky, and my eyes immediately found Ronny up top. His spikes were sharp, and he purposefully landed so close to Tairn their wings bumped against each other and Ronny ignored the other's pointed snap of teeth.
He rolled his eyes, -Like I said, nothing but a hathcling.-
Violet frowned at me, but I simply shrugged, "Male dragons."
Bodhi reached up to Rhiannon, on Violet's left, and nodded at her, "Good job, Matthias. Got your cadet back in the seat."
"I didn't-" she started, but Violet slipped in, "He did it himself, but we're proud of him. Thank you, section leader."
I looked at Sawyer, and faint sickness curled in my at the thought of not taking up to the skies anymore.
When Fate would do its course, I hoped it'd be with me high up in the sky.
Ronny's nudge was gentle on my hair, -Saddle me up, kid. The day in which we won't fly isn't today.-
The spell was quick and efficient, and while the laces tied up around his broad chest my eyes fell on the sacks, and my shoulders rolled inwards.
-Should we bring all of them?- I asked, slowly, -What if it's unnecessary weight? The journey's long.-
-You always get entangled in wonders which have no place to be,- sighed Ronny, and told me to lace the sacks on the saddle, -And be done with it. I'll have to show someone manners, and I'd loathe having to strain to catch up with him.-
I snorted a laugh, and when my tights were tied up in the saddle, he spread his wings and off he went, the sacks clancking against his scales.
His wingbeats were almost defeaning, and Tairn lashed his morningstar tail at his approach. Ronny chuffed, and dipped down only to pick up his pace and place himself in front of the black dragon.
He chuffed at Tairn's roar, and twisted his head to wink at me. My neck warmed, and I slapped his neck, -Look forward.-
-Why should I? You are so much prettier than the sky.-
My cheeks blazed, and he laughed, but snarled when Tairn tried to circle around him. Tairn's throat glowed with fire, and I had to yell a rough "Skolir nosu fra brisingr!"
Flames branched in two, and Ronny coughed at the smoke, -He's simply envious that my mate is riding me, while he has to suffer the absence of his own.-
I remembered Chex, and Ronny's eyes were instantly guilty when he realised, but my smile was quiet, -Yeah. Guess he is.-
Then I caught sight of Tairn changing the trajectory, and leaned left -Trying to swoop past you, Ro. Pitch left.-
The two of them went on all flight long, and when we landed in the valley above Aretia, Ronny's breathing was laboured but his grin was smug.
I freed him of the saddle and the sacks, and Andarna flashed her teeth at professor Kaori. He apologised, and then brought his gaze up to Ronny, who lowered his snout and ticked my neck with his breath, -Older than Tairn.-
I blushed and shoved him away, and he laughed, then snapped at me before running off.
"Wh- You fucker!"
I took off after him, despite the squad's confusion. Feirge flicked her dagger tail at me, but I jumped above it and kept up my chase, "You have fucking four legs! Wait!"
-Catch me if you can!-
We ran, and ultimately he slid in a halt so sudden I tripped and he flung me straight in the lake. It was biting cold, and I swam back up breathless, and he laughed, his eyes sparkly with amusement.
I thought he was beautiful, and instictively I looked up, and the sky was bright.
I'd tell Chex of Ronny's beauty when he'd come back.