Chapter Text
Violet:
“What in Amari are you doing here Mira?” I throw her off me to survey her body. She looks all in one piece. I can see two new scars peaking out from the sleeve of her tunic, but that’s not anything new when it comes to her.
“It's the weirdest thing, I was about to depart from Samara-“
I cut her off as I throw open my door. “I thought you were in Monserat?”
Liam is busily shuffling something into my nightstand before straightening and turning towards us. “If you let me finish dear sister,” she says before eyeing the tall blonde before us. I feel Rhi walk up behind me and I rack my brain on how to get my sister to let me leave for most of the night without following me.
“Who the hell is that, and why are you sharing a room, Vi?” She says pointing at Liam as he dimples at her.
“Liam Mairi, friend, roommate, shadow. Also, a long story that by the question you asked, you haven’t heard rumors of yet.”
She flashes him her perfect teeth, “Why hello Liam Mairi.” I make a noise deep in my throat. “Gross, he’s too young for you.”
I grab her arm to pull her into the room and with the movement she finally catches view of Rhi behind her and they both squeal and hug.
“He’s too blonde for me to, but as I was about to explain. I have been bounced around between five different outposts for the last month. I haven’t spent more than three nights somewhere. It gets lonely.” Mira huffs as she flops down on my bed next to me.
“Well, this deeply attractive young blonde is going to give you guys some space. I’ll probably find somewhere else to sleep tonight.” His deep voice says with amusement, but the true meaning behind his words snaps me back to reality.
“Uh, let me walk you and Rhi out.”
“No! Matthias can stay. We can stay up all night while you tell me all the trouble you’ve gotten into, and I have some trouble to share as well.”
I give her an awkward laugh as I shuffle towards the door behind the other two. Oh, all the trouble I’ve gotten into would take days to unravel. Also if I stay up all night I could possibly die.
“Tempting Mira, but Mairi and I have a date with my bed.”
Rhi says waggling her eyebrows. Oh, my smart best friend. How I love her.
My sister scoffs. “Of course, someone get me Gamlyn. He’s been trying for ages and I feel like he would give me the attention I deserve.”
“Oh, he’s busy too!” I say over my shoulder. “I’ll be back in a second!”
I have to make sure no one tells Ridoc I just ruined his one chance of bedding my sister.
I slam the door behind me and we all quickly walk to Rhis room next to mine.
“So Violet's not going,” Liam states.
“I have to go!” I hiss back.
You don’t, they have done it alone, and so have you.
Tairn tries to say reasonably. But I am feeling anything but reasonable after the last few weeks.
That was before the Venin found us the last time we went out!
The look on Rhis' face tells me she is thinking the entire thing through quickly and making a plan. Bless her.
“Liam’s right, you’re not going. Not only will your sister follow us no matter what, but you need to rest. You are no good to us half dead and walking around confused about what day it is.”
The words strike a truth in me but I gasp in outrage anyway.
“I am not doing any of those things!”
Liam snorts as he sits down in Rhis chair. “You fell asleep in history and then answered a question Professor Pristos didn’t even ask you. I’d say you should sleep.”
They are right. Tairn will still accompany them, and I will stay with you just in case. They won’t need me if the funny walker joins.
Andarna even sounds tired in my mind and I decide to just let them win. Which really does show how done I am.
“Fine.” I bite out. “But you need to talk to Garrick, make sure he and Xaden are still coming tomorrow to get an update.”
Because I have so many already, but I’d really like to know if he has anything new on operation ‘kill the dreamwalker’ and I can’t say anything in front of Xaden. So I’ll have to slip him a coded letter. Ugh, he needs to learn more languages.
“Will do Wingleader.” Rhi says giving me a lazy salute. “And don’t worry about us, it’ll all go by smoothly, and I will not be attending formation or joining anyone in the gym tomorrow, because I’ll have come down with a serious ailment and need to sleep it off.”
I smirk and nod. “Consider your absence officially granted.”
I look at them one last time before I exit the room.
“Be careful, please.” I say pleadingly and they both nod as if I’m being overbearing and I know I am.
The Captain has sealed the cell door from the outside and warded it so no one may enter. The memory stealer has been called to the King, and he said he would be back in the morning.
Another weight off my shoulders. Thank the gods. I can forget we have someone chained up underneath us for just a night.
I throw my door back open and find Mira twirling Brennan's dagger in her fingers with her lips pursed.
“I miss him.” She says quietly as she sits it back on its pedestal. “Me too. But enough depressing shit. Tell me everything.” I reply settling back on my pillows.
“Well I’m sorry to say, all of my stuff is also depressing, but I’ll still share.”
————
“So you’ve just been flying nonstop to fix the wards?” I say through a mouth full of food. I had found Liam’s secret snack stash last week, and haven’t gotten around to stealing from it yet. But now Mira and I are lounging on my larger bed eating fruit, because even his secret snacks are healthy which is annoying.
She nods as she finishes her orange. “Yep, it’s exhausting and well..I’ve seen some crazy shit, Violet.”
My eyes immediately snap to her face at the words. “Like what?” I say casually. She just shakes her head. “Like something I’m not sure I should say out loud.” She murmurs and then throws the orange peel onto Liam’s bed and turns onto her stomach to look at me. “Never mind that. Tell me, why did Mom pull me from service so abruptly and grant me the leave I have never gotten in the last three years so I could come here?”
I almost drop the apple slice from my fingers. “Mom did what?” I squeak in a high-pitched tone.
“Exactly! How crazy is that? I reported to her office before I came here, she told me to find you first and then we could all have dinner tomorrow night.” Her mouth is set in mild horror. “I mean what is happening? Is she dying?”
The laugh that rings through my throat is nothing short of manic. “I have no idea. I haven’t talked to her too much, like normal, but the other day she did serve me tea. So maybe she’s just…trying.” I say as I busy my fingers cutting another piece of fruit.
More like she is feeling guilty about how she treats her children and only has limited time to make up for it.
They are all gone, and all is well. Now tell your sister everything.
Andarna interrupts my thoughts.
Just give me a second!
Honestly, it’s going to be a long talk and I’m too tired for it.
“Tea?” Mira snorts. “Gods that sounds awkward, but whatever I don’t care why I’m here only that I am. Now tell me what’s been going on with you.”
I tilt my head while I figure out where to start.
“Well, the Tyrrish visited the school, and funny story-“
I clear my throat and move the knife from between us. Just in case.
“Tairn mated with the crown prince of Tyrrendors' dragon, and now I’m tethered to him for my entire life.”
I refrain from adding ‘his name is Xaden and he makes me feel things that complicate our lives even more.’
Her mouth falls open dramatically, and I just smile. Yeah, that was a good place to start.
————
Mira:
I sit up in the unfamiliar bed and grope around for weapons until I realize I’m in Vi’s room. A piece of parchment flutters into my lap, the little shit must have put it on my forehead.
Mira, we both fell asleep after only five minutes of my story. So I guess that solidifies that you have a more exciting life than me. I have to get to formation, but I’ll meet you after class so we can awkwardly sit across from the General in her private chambers.
You’re favorite sister, Violet.
I snort and run my hands down my face. Honestly, I needed the sleep. My mother couldn’t have picked a better time to pull this weird and slightly off-putting shit of letting me come here.
I close my eyes briefly and I see the red eyes that will haunt my dreams until I die behind them and shudder.
You are safe here.
Teine reminds me for the millionth time since I crossed back over the wards days ago.
I know, but I have to tell Violet. I have to ruin her entire world.
Because my sister is a weapon of mass destruction and I know Navarre will use her. They’d be stupid not to. Also from the very limited part of her story I heard and the fact that the Tyrrish man is staying in her room with her, I know she’ll understand.
I swing my legs off the bed and head to her bathing chamber. Oh, the perks of being a Wingleader. How I’ve missed the luxury of taking a bath and being alone. I tried to act as if all was well with me yesterday for Violet's sake. I know the third year is the hardest. Especially with a signet like hers. I wish dearly I didn’t have to make it worse.
I fill the tub with scalding hot water as if it could burn the images from my mind as it washes the flight from my body. I sink in with a sigh and let my eyes close once again.
I'm just so confused. Well, that’s not true, I am angry, because what I saw in Samara makes sense. Too much sense.
I clench my hands under the water and try to stop my mind from picturing my latest nightmare. How they drip with the blood of the gryphon riders.
Without meaning to, I slip back to the night that rocked the foundation of my world.
’ I think I saw Sanders fall near the cliffs!’ I shout to Teine.
She’s been weird ever since I patched up the hole in the wards and asked to join the riot beyond them to push back the gryphons.
I had to argue with her that I wasn’t going to leave these people to fight alone, and also I would be damned if I had to redo the wards again right after finishing.
‘Two other dragons are circling for him now, we should head back and give the commander a report.’ She retorts uncertainly, which is very much unlike her.
We are the same, unyielding and unafraid, so what the fuck is going on?
‘You will go as low as you can and let me check myself before I jump from your back.’ I growl.
I can’t see anything in this storm. The rain and wind are pelting me from the right side and making visibility almost zero.
I throw my flight goggles around my neck with a huff as I finally feel her start to descend.
I squint down at the rocks below and whip my head back and forth. I have no idea how a gryphon grounded him at the altitude we are at. Maybe they somehow adapted to the height to have better leverage against us.
Too bad once I see one of the fuckers I won’t even need a signet or a dragon to take them out. After being dragged across the continent for the last month I’m ready to take some of my anger out on the assholes who keep bringing the wards down. The emotion helps squash the uneasiness I feel because I can’t figure out how they are doing it, one minute it’s strong, and the next it’s like the power has been sucked dry in a certain quadrant of the ley lines. It’s got to be some kind of gryphon magic shit we don’t know about.
I see a flash of movement underneath me. I can’t make out what the hell it is, but it looked like someone on foot, so it has to be the missing lieutenant.
‘There! Take me down’ I focus my eyes on the spot, and know she can see it but I still feel her hesitation.
‘I will not.’ She says defiantly and I’m almost at a loss for words as she starts to climb higher in the air.
‘What the hell-‘ before I can finish we are hit by something from the left and no matter how hard I clench my thighs the rain-slicked green scales I call home can’t hold me and I start to tumble toward the ground.
I hear Teines' screams in my mind and send a silent prayer to Amari and Malek. I can’t believe I’m going to make Violet an only child.
I can’t believe I’m about to meet my end without a sword in my hand.
Falling from my dragon?
Pitiful.
I hear a loud screech I’m familiar with by now having fought the huge birds for years, but I still can’t see shit as I plummet down. How in the gods did it get up so high in the clouds?
All of the thoughts and fears tumble from my mind when I come to an abrupt stop as I land on a very feathery hard back.
I groan involuntarily as I grasp for any of the twelve daggers I have sheathed at my ribs.
I'm on a gryphon. How fucking ironic after one of them almost killed me.
‘Do not harm it! You must stay seated!’
My head whirls at Teine's orders. I’ve never even thought about not following them before, but her words make me rebel against her for the first time.
What in the actual fuck is happening? I feel a hand tighten around my waist and I’m inches from stabbing into the tanned muscular arm I can see when the tip of his blade meets mine halting it.
“No stabbing, Sova will make you get off if you start stabbing.” His deep voice rumbles loudly over the storm and the wind whipping around us.
His other hand tightens around me to steady me as the gryphon underneath us flies toward the ground.
I stay silent as I breathe in and out raggedly from my rough landing and also whatever the hell is happening right now. I flick my eyes to his rain-slicked face. He looks rugged with dark stubble smattering across his chiseled jaw. Dark hair that might be black but it’s hard to tell in the rain, and darker brown eyes that are alight with amusement, as if he and his gryphon do this every fucking day.
‘What the fuck are you doing?’ I finally growl out at him in a strong and steady voice.
‘He is bringing you to me. Do not worry. I am close’
Her words mean nothing to me right now as I start to spiral at these turn of events.
‘Saving you woman!’ He shouts as his gryphon flaps its wings into itself and we start to drop.
‘Saving me from your own people!’ I shout back as I whip my head to look above me and my eyes can’t understand what I’m seeing.
Because I swear to Amari that has to be a dragon, but it’s as if something has drained it of all its color. My eyes stare in wide horror at the beast above us until his arm starts to drag me closer to him.
I bat at it with my fists but he is unmoving and anger boils at the small smirk on his mouth.
‘You flew into a very dangerous situation, rider. Luckily I was here to rescue you.’ He shouts.
I'm about to ask what the fuck the thing is that was flying above us when we finally break through a part of the storm and I can make out my green dragon hovering over the cliff's edge. But my eyes are instantly drawn to the black clad man, who has to be Sanders, I knew he fell this way, and then to the other woman standing in front of him.
Her completely silver hair sits eerily still atop her head as if the wind and rain can’t touch her. I see the cruel smile on her face as she stalks toward him.
‘Is she one of yours?’ I yell as my hand flies out to point at the people in front of us.
His eyes travel to where my hand is directing and I see his mouth finally tighten out of its annoying smile.
‘Not in the slightest sweetheart.’
I make a noise in the back of my throat and finally wrench my body from his grip as his attention seems to focus on the woman who is now putting her hands on Sanders. I sit up and cock my fist back to give him a blow to the face, but falter when I see the rider we are encroaching on fall to his knees. His body seems to fold in on itself as if he were a puppet and no longer has someone pulling his strings.
‘What the fuck was that?’ I almost whisper but he hears me since my new sitting position puts me close to his face.
‘A monster.’ He whispers back.
‘I am right underneath you, jump now!’ Teine roars in my mind.
I start to push off the man’s chest to get my feet underneath me when he grabs my bicep. I refrain from hissing in pain at the injuries that were hastily mended in Chakir yesterday.
‘Tell no one what you saw sweetheart. When you get back to your commander, tell him you only saw rain and gryphons.’
I take my arm from his grip and finally deliver a blow to his side for the audacity to tell me what the fuck to do, as if I even know what I’m seeing! He barely even grunts as his eyes bore into mine.
‘They will kill you. Listen to my words.’
I don’t even respond as I stand up and launch myself from the feathery back onto my dragon.
As she flaps her wings and starts to fly I lock eyes with the ‘monster’ standing over what used to be Sanders and my heart beats erratically at her blood red eyes and ominous red veins on her face. The tattoo on her forehead looks stark against her pallid and grey skin, and I swear to all the Gods she smiles and waves at me as we turn to head back into the wards.
I barely register the fact that the water has grown cold. I sit there and stew in my new reality. Teine finally came clean after we got back to Samara, but only to make me heed the warning of that gryphon rider.
Or should I say flier.
The Tyrrish have to know, they are out there with those fucking things.
I have killed dozens of fliers. Without hesitation, without remorse.
I have killed people who were trying to survive the Venin, gods the name sounds vile in my mind.
I am nothing more than a tool that I let Navarre use and abuse.
I will not let my sister suffer the same fate.
——————
Violet:
Sitting in the loud mess hall for lunch is about as much privacy as me and me friends are going to get to have a vague chat about the drop, and me talking to my sister.
Honestly, with the volume level in here, no one will be able to overhear us unless they lean in quite close, and with our reputations, no one would dare.
Sawyer slams his tray down across from me and Ridoc winces at the food in the seat next to him. “You’re not eating?” I say shoveling chicken in my mouth like my life depends on it. It's worrisome because I think Ridoc is the only one who loves food more than I do.
“Can’t. Not after what I’ve seen.” He grumbles.
I make a face and Rhi sits down with a huff next to me.
“I thought you guys said everything went well last night?”
I mean we only got about five seconds to talk about it after formation, and then I had to go and pretend to be a contributing member of leadership. Which is annoying because we are already starting to talk about gauntlet prep, and then threshing. I'm unsure why we make plans as if most of these poor souls live to see it. Tairn also had to endure my endless questions that were only met with the barest of details because apparently, his life with me is boring.
“Technically everything did go well,” Rhi says staring down at her tray.
I drop my fork and stare at my three friends. “What does technically mean?”
Aaric breezes up beside me and sits with an excited smile on his face. “Please don’t tell me I missed it.”
Sawyer snorts as he digs into his food. Okay, whatever happened couldn’t be that bad.
“It means we successfully rehomed 22 people.” Rhi mutters quietly.
I narrow my eyes on the woman.
“There were only 21 people in that camp.”
“Not after Ridoc delivered a baby.” Aaric says with a huge smile.
I choke on literally nothing as I whip my eyes to Ridoc. His face looks pale.
“It’s true. I saw things…did things.” He shakes his head as if shaking away the memory. “I might have to stay away from women for a while. They are terrifying.”
“Holy shit, Lisande had her baby?” I spit out finally.
Sawyer nods enthusiastically “A boy, our dear executive officer rushed into her tent when we landed, ready to take the lead and deliver the babe.”
I glance to my right and Rhis jaw is clenched as she looks to the side.
“And then she almost passed out whenever she saw what was happening underneath her skirt,” Aaric says in between chuckles.
“Rhi, no!” I gasp and try to hold in a laugh.
“I have no idea what happened.” She moans quietly putting her head on the table. “I researched stuff for weeks with Jesenia, just in case!”
She lifts her head and then looks at me with wide eyes. “But when I saw an entire head…just looking at me from somewhere it shouldn’t fit. It felt like I could feel it happening to me and I almost blacked out.”
I cover my mouth with my hand so she can’t see the smile I’m wearing.
This is the same woman I have seen slit the throat of a cadet without hesitation, and kill countless attackers. I guess it's all about the situation.
“That sounds so..graphic.” I turn to Ridoc.
“And you just randomly know how to deliver a baby?” He makes a pained face.
“I lived on a farm for the first twenty years of my life. I thought since I’d delivered horses and cows, it couldn’t be that different.”
He looks at me with haunted eyes. “I was wrong, so very wrong.”
Sawyer chuckles. “You guys are being dramatic. It was a beautiful experience. New life, and now new homes.”
“Says the man who stayed outside the tent!” Ridoc almost shouts.
Aaric shrugs. “Someone had to maintain order in the camp and do what we were supposed to be doing.”
Rhi swats at the back of his head behind me. “Liam was the only one packing when I came out there.”
I lean into him a little to mutter in his ear. “So the weird feeling you got was just the whole baby thing?”
I see his eyes get more serious and he slightly shakes his head. “No, I still feel off.”
I lean back in front of my food which looks a bit less appetizing now. Not that Basgiath's cooking was anything luxurious.
I can’t wait for classes to be done and to see Mira again before she has to leave. Dain is going to give me a full report tonight on whatever he has uncovered in the Venin's mind before he departs with the King.
I have to say for the first time in a year, I’m sad he won’t be here. Not only because we are starting to rebuild a friendship, but without his extremely useful signet, I’m going to have to resort to less civilized ways to make our life sucking friend talk.
Liam finally joins the table after we have all tried to move the topic into something that won’t make Ridoc sick, and I realize this has been the longest time in weeks that I haven’t had him at my back at this school. I felt almost more anxiety than normal during the couple of classes he skipped. How odd that something so new has become so normal.
“Finished them.” He huffs and immediately starts shoving food in his mouth like an animal. “I stayed behind in Kaori’s class all morning pretending as if the curriculum here is so hard, that I needed tutoring,” he says after swallowing an entire potato.
He taps his clenched left hand on the table in front of Rhi and she nods. I put my hands under the table and wait just a few seconds before feeling the smooth metal in the palm of my hand. They are tiny because I wanted to be able to hide them in my pocket easily, even though that’s the least of my worries.
What in Dunnes' name am I even going to talk to Nora about? It’s not like we are friendly by any means.
“Thanks. I guess we will see how they work.” I run my finger over a rune and then shift my grip and realize there is only one. “Where’s the other one?” I murmur and he quirks his eyebrow at me.
“In my pocket. I’ll try mine at the same time you try yours.” I shrug.
“Fine, then you can figure out how to start a conversation with her without making her think we are up to something.”
Sawyer snorts. “You’re always up to something.”
I point my fork at Liam. “Exactly, good luck Mairi.”
————
We all leave the mess hall together to head for flight lessons. But a familiar bird call I haven’t heard in years echoes through the rotunda. No one else seems to pay it any mind my my head immediately tilts in recognition. Looks like Dain needs me now, and I see Rhi give me a small nod. My friends converge around me, their taller frames seem to engulf me as I slow my stride and start to veer off to the left where I heard it come from.
I hear Liam exclaim his confusion once, but Sawyer throws his arm around him and swings him away from me as I stalk to the less-traveled area where the statues of regal dragons sit. I make my way past the red and feel the air shift beside me. I catch Dain's wrist as he shoots it out to pull me behind it.
I look up to see his smile, ‘I thought it would remind you of old times.’
I snort and let him go as he rubs his wrist dramatically, ‘except this time you are a bit more violent.’
My lips twitch up when his words remind me of Xaden. I keep pushing down a feeling of emptiness that I tell myself is Tairn, but I’m really not so sure.
He is just as bad as you.. Andarna says with a laugh.
“What’s up, Dain? I thought we had a meeting tonight in our ‘special room’”
In our torture chamber, but whatever. His eyes instantly look annoyed.
“The King has need of me before we leave and..”
He pauses as if he is trying to choose his wording and I smile.
“Just say it, he’s annoying and needy.”
He covers my mouth with his hand and looks around dramatically as if we wouldn’t have heard someone. “Don’t say that.”
I roll my eyes and pull away from him to walk across the floor and go into a small unused room. When he closes the door I call on my lesser magic and throw up a sound shield.
“Fine, now tell me how much you hate him.” I joke and he blanches.
I chuckle “I’m just joking, tell me about vile and stupid please.”
He snorts and runs his hand over his jaw.
“He has been getting someone to give him those little disc things. I’ve seen him draw power from it, so that must be how he has any powers in the wards, we should figure out what they are.”
I nod but don’t elaborate about runes just yet, “Who?” His jaw ticks.
“I’m not sure, it’s like it’s shrouded even in his mind.”
Damn, I’m going to have to dream walk into this thing. The last time I did that with a Venin I thought I was going to die, but this Venin is way less experienced and doesn’t share my gift, so here’s hoping it goes better.
It’s as if Dain read my mind. “Don’t use your power on him, I’m telling you it feels wrong, what if something happens?”
I give him a fake sweet smile. “Remember how well it worked out for you the last time we did this and you tried to be overprotective?”
He gives me a flat look and I take that as a yes.
“I’ll do what needs to be done, and you need to be wary of certain people in the King's castle.”
He gives me a confused look and I make a noise in my throat. “Did you really not look into the other riders stationed there? All of the signets he surrounds himself with border on intinsic, keep your shields up or the only thing that will be getting me killed is your knowledge of my power.”
His face instantly looks stricken. “I will, and I’ll start to pay better attention.”
That would be nice, he is too trusting of our royalty and his closest people, and now he will be with his father, a lot.
“Stay away from the advisor as much as you can Dain.” I level a look at him and his eyes flash in anger.
“I will also do what I have to Violet.”
I sigh at his words and try not to feel anxiety about all the shit that could go wrong if his will doesn’t stay strong enough in that man’s presence.
“Are you going to tell leadership about the Venin? They need to know the school could be compromised.”
I try not to react to his words at all, by Dunne he still thinks leadership gives a flying fuck. I’m pretty sure most of them are compromised.
I give him innocent eyes that he has always wanted to believe.
“I’m going to have a very long talk with Panchek.”
Which is not a lie, but it sure as hell won’t be to tell him about the Venin I just found. Because my money is on him, Aetos, or Varrish being the ones to give them the runed medallions.
By the way he absolutely avoids me now, I’m quite sure he knows that I know he is the one who dismantled the wards protecting the King and my friends, and with one good night's sleep, I am feeling renewed and refreshed.
Ready to maim, or possibly kill someone. It should be a productive next couple of weeks.
———————
“Stop fidgeting.” Mira says swatting at my hands as they throw the fork into the air for what seems like the millionth time. “You know this was you’re home too for five years.” She mutters and I smack my fork down at the empty table.
“I'm aware, it was a very awkward and uncomfortable time for me.” I hiss.
And being back in here makes me think of my father, but not in a good way. It takes me back to his failing health and scrambled mind. My mother's look of indifference towards him as he babbled nonsense at this very table one of the few times all three of us would be present for a meal.
I look over to Mira who is absently staring down at the wood beneath her fingertips. She looks..strange. The more we talked last night I could tell no matter what face she was trying to put on for me or the joking words that slipped out of her lips, something happened.
Her eyes stayed serious, an expression usually only worn when our mother was present, or some other rider that she had to pretend to be the decorated captain for.
I take her hand in mine as we wait for the General to make an appearance in her own home for a dinner she invited us to.
“What’s really going on Mir? I feel like you left some shit out last night.”
She huffs out a breath and gives me a small smile. “Do you remember that old story Dad would always read to you?”
My mind instantly jumps to the fables of the barrens but I hold back my excitement, all my father did was read to me, and with me as a child, she could be referring to a number of things.
What a hilarious and obviously incorrect thought Andarna quips.
“Which one?” I say thoughtfully.
She pulls her hand from mine and runs it through her short hair. “Oh you know, the one about the evil beings that plagued the land. I think they were called…venom.”
I narrow my eyes on her.
Subtlety is not her most prominent trait.
She has to know, or she has to suspect.
“They were called Ven-in” I pronounce the word slowly and look for a flicker of recognition in her eyes. All I get is the same steely gaze back.
“And yes I remember it. Why? Finally interested in books? I can give you some meant more for someone of you’re age and rank.”
I lean back on my chair. “Maybe a nice tome on weapons from the Isles.”
She scoffs but the noise sounds strained. “No, I need to talk to you about that specific book.” I raise my eyebrows at her, waiting.
“Why is that?” I murmur.
“Because…what if everything we grew up learning was a lie?” She whispers at me inching closer to my face.
Happiness runs through me. Oh, it’s so much easier now that she already knows. She obviously kept her mouth shut, or she wouldn’t be sitting here, and I don’t have to waste hours trying to convince her I’m not insane.
“You mean-“ I say grabbing her hand again and putting my head on her shoulder. “Because Venin are real, the gryphons aren’t the enemy, Navarre has been lying to everyone, and we are letting thousands of people die outside the wards?”
She sucks in a huge breath and moves from under my head to look at me, right when her mouth opens the door finally makes a noise and our mother breezes in the room with the worst timing ever.
Fuck this dinner just got more awkward.
Just ten minutes go by and I feel myself reverting into the old me slightly. I watch silently as the General's guards bring in plates for us, and then push my food around with a fork.
Waiting to make an informed decision doesn’t make you weak Silver one. Only smart.
Yes well, when I was younger I wasn’t quiet and pliant so that I could wait to make decisions, I let everyone make all of those for me. I was just too overshadowed for anyone to notice when I did talk. My family used to have three very big and outspoken personalities, and me and my father weren't amongst them.
Mira answers my mother's questions about her posts, and the wards are clipped as she keeps staring at me.
“So why did you let me come here, mother?” Mira finally asks the question that has been awkwardly sitting between us.
She just purses her lips as she pushes a small carrot into her mouth and chews slowly. “Can I simply not want to see both of my children at once for the first time in over two years?”
I snort and my sister immediately snaps “No.”
My mother levels her with her normal icy glare that lost its bite years ago.
“I assure you I have no other reason for requesting your leave other than wanting to spend time with you both.”
Oh, what a crafty selective truth. That is probably a driving factor of this weird family bonding, but the true reason behind it is left unsaid. Of course, I am the only one who has to bear the burden of knowing about my mother's impending death.
Of course, I have to take more responsibility even though up until a year ago, I was still seen as the weaker daughter, less than.
My old anger surges within me and I blame all of my words and actions on it as I bark out a cold laugh, and stare at my mother.
“Let’s all speak plainly. All three of us know about the Venin, so why don’t we have the first honest talk you’ve ever had, and you can prove to us you want to actually change mother.”
Silence greets me as both of them look my way. Well, I guess I have changed since becoming a rider. Looks like everyone is listening now.
My mother is pacing next to the table and Mira’s elbow shoots into my gut.
“Why in the fuck did you think yelling it out would be a good idea?”
I shrug. “Maybe I’m tired of dancing around the truth with everyone who clearly knows what’s happening!” I hiss.
“Also, why not just talk about it? You really thought our mother didn’t know?”
She glares at me. “Of course, I knew she knew! But I wanted to keep you safe”
The General finally joins the conversation. “Violet doesn’t need anyone to keep her safe the king himself told her of the dark wielders because of her power.”
Oh, a rogue compliment. I want to feel all warm and fuzzy about it, but that is squashed when my sister stands and starts yelling.
“And you're just going to let him use her!”
My mother's icy facade cracks. “Of course not! There are plans in place to help guide-“
Mira scoffs loudly. “Oh ‘plans’. Like your plan to throw her in the quadrant, never talk to her, treat her like shit?”
I just volley my head back and forth and look at the exchange. I mean this is about me, but it seems as if my input isn’t needed. I’d rather hear more compliments and supposed truths my mother wants to share.
It seems as if something in my mother finally breaks. After all these years. Two deaths, everyone hates her, and something about what Mira said did it.
“I am working with the King to ensure her safety! I am finally trying to help instead of shielding you!”
Time to join the fray and make this a real family affair. “Oh the King wants nothing but silence and to act as if all of right in the world mother. You should know that by now.”
Her jaw clenches and the words she utters are a whisper, almost too quiet for me to make out.
“Not that King.”
Both me and Mira wear matching expressions of surprise.
“You’re telling me you are working with the King of Tyrrendor?”
Mira says at the same time as I yell excitedly “I knew you knew Fen better than you let on!”
And then Mira whips her head to me, “Did you just call the fucking King by his first name?” She makes a noise of frustration. “What the fuck is happening right now!”
———————
Tairneanach:
The wind whipping through the open field smells of the men nearby who are culling the herds. My nostrils constrict with the hot smell of blood that reaches me.
‘Maybe they need some help’
The young one glides under my wing and sinks low near the ground snapping her jaws.
‘We have business to attend to, and you must stop eating every minute.’
I say tiredly.
‘I'm growing, it's necessary.’ she replies shooting back up towards me with saliva dripping from her maw.
I sigh at her insatiable appetite. ‘Well then you must shield better because our rider is done growing and doesn't need to consume her weight in food as you do.’
Her laugh trills through my mind as we breach the Vale and descend.
The stones crumble under my talons when I land in the middle of the Ceilidh.
This is an opportune time to finally have my words with Rogha as my rider and her life giver argue incessantly.
‘As if you weren’t listening just as intently as me.’ The young one says as she lands next to me and shoves herself under my wing. I chuff in admonishment and slightly snap my jaws, but I welcome the comfort. I can feel the strain of my mating bond being pulled taut, and the distance feels like a physical wound.
‘It’s only been days, and you grumble about our riders' thoughts on the dark prince.’
A growl rumbles low in my chest, the young one is not wrong, but I do not have to like it. I watch as the other dragons we put out the call to start to make their descent into the open stone cavern we use for meetings of the elders. It is to be a haven of sorts. Somewhere we can air our grievances, without the threat of deadly repercussions for our varying opinions. Even though I distinctly remember the meeting of the Empyrean I had to endure after I told Silver one the truth and the feelings of Codaghs teeth penetrating my scales. It seems I am not the only one who breaks the rules.
‘I will close the link between us if you continue to comment on every errant thought.’ Even to my own ears, my voice sounds petulant. I blow steam out of my nostrils in annoyance.
‘Errant? I would say constant old man, and you would never. You’re mind would be a very boring place without me and our bonded.’
I'm saved from having to respond when dragons start to fall from the sky. Deigh lands beside me as Fierge stands beside Andarna. Atrom, Sliseag, and Molvic drop across the large chasm, and my eyes narrow on the added green who lands last. She shuffles back in forth in obvious agitation.
I open my mind minimally to each one, as I level my glare across from me.
‘This is not an open discussion Tienecridhe’ I growl.
Her green scales shimmer in the low moonlight as she swivels her neck towards me.
‘My rider knows all now, we will not be left out of what is obviously an important meeting. Do not think I did not notice you rallying your friends around you.’
A small plume of flames juts from my mouth. If I were a mere human it could be considered a bark of laughter. Friends? We are allies at best.
‘Do not lie to yourself, old man. They are now you’re family just as I am, you just do not want to admit it.’
My tail swings in annoyance behind me at Andarnas' words.
I do not need friends, I need dragons who are prepared for what’s to come.
I feel Atrom and Sliseag open their minds to me now, they were obviously in their own conversation that we must now all partake in.
‘I am not saying we should kill him, I’m just pointing out the fact that it would be easier than this.’ Atrom sighs as he sits down heavily.
‘We will see what he has to say! We need every dragon for the future, and no matter how insufferable he is, he could also be useful.’ Feirge snaps at the air in front of her at the younger brown.
I sigh internally. When we are all subjected to fly together, it can be more tiring than when I listen in on my rider and her compatriots. After years upon years of silence, I was not fully prepared for the cacophony of noise bonding a young girl would bring.
What only the young one knows is the unfamiliar feeling of warmth that I sometimes get at having constant shadows at my back. I have to admit it does help knowing all of my allies are loyal and deserving of Andarnas love.
Where is Smachd and the dragon in question? It would be wise to be done with this sooner rather than later before Molvic loses his patience with Atrom once again.
‘Are we letting her stay?’ Andarna asks narrowing her golden eyes on Teine.
‘I can hear you child. Didn’t your elder teach you how to speak to others?’
Oh, Arawn take my soul and deliver it to an domhan thíos. For that would be preferable over these dramatics.
Andarna immediately shoots a jet of flames toward the green and snarls.
‘Call me child again and I will forget you are bonded to someone my rider loves cladhaire.
I make sure I am only speaking to the young one as I curl my tail around her and scoot her back away from the edge.
‘Remember the talk we had before coming here and how you assured me you could keep your temper.’
The reminder does nothing for me as her head undulates angrily.
I hear chuffs coming from others but before an entire argument can begin, the orange dragon we have all gathered to talk to lands across from me, followed by Smachd.
I reach out to his mind and open up a line between just the two of us.
‘Finally.’ I complain.
His head swivels to me quickly and the set of his eyes tells me he is annoyed.
‘Next time you can be in charge of watching him’ Steam billows from his nose. ‘You would think asking for our assistance would make him more compliant, but that seems not to be the case.’
I reach out to everyone now and feel them let me in.
‘Open your connections to everyone and let us be done with this.’
Andarna sits with a loud huff next to me as all nine of us link. ‘Very official, we should have gotten Sìorraidh, at least he would have made an effort at decorum.’
I chuff at the mention of the elder who would rather stick his snout in our hatching sands than realize our race is on the brink of extinction.
‘Where is the old bag of bones? I thought this was an official meeting of the Empyrean’ Rogha complains eyeing the group in defiance but I can sense his apprehension.
I stamp my hind foot to call order and rise to my full height as rocks cascade around me because of the force of my steps.
‘You were mistaken. This is an official meeting of the Laochra and you Bochtrhoga will plead for your existence and meet our judgement with the courage you’ve never shown.’
Smachd uses the orange's surprise at my words to catch him unawares and swings his tail upwards to knock the orange from the walls. He falls for a moment toward the middle before snapping his wings out to land with a loud thud.
‘There has not been a Laochra in over 600 years.’ He spits but as I breathe in I can smell the fear emanating from him. I can practically see it roll off of him in waves.
‘And that’s exactly what we want you cowards to think.’ Atrom says in amusement.
‘As if a child would be a part of the great warriors.’ Rhoga spits and I roar to silence them.
‘Atromanum has proven himself worthy in his 23 years, when you have failed for over 50.’ I bellow.
Molvics' roar echoes off the stones now.
‘Speak now. For my rider has already seen two paths you may go, and your words will solidify your journey.’ Molvic says gazing down at the pacing orange.
He finally stops moving and stands to look at all of us.
‘My rider has channeled the forbidden magic. He has taken what is not his to have.’
Everyone starts to exclaim at once in my head.
‘Why have you not broken free?’ Feirge exclaims.
‘I feel like that was obvious.’ Atrom mutters.
‘We should just end him now for allying with the dark.’ Sliseag says turning to me.
Teine remains quiet as she watches the events unfold and much to my astonishment, so does Andarna.
‘Quiet.’ I snap my jaws shut and nudge Feirge with my head.
She repeats her question in the silence.
‘We have been together for decades. At first, I thought I could stay with him as he grew in power, his thoughts were only of keeping the wards intact.’
Rhoga bows his neck toward the charred earth underneath him.
‘But now he is gone, everything that made him the rider I chose, has disappeared under a layer of wrongness that I can not breach. I can barely talk to him, and when I tried to sever our bond, I almost perished.’
Smachd takes a step forward to bend his neck down toward the other dragon. ‘How is that so? Our bonds are gifts we bestow. It can be taken as freely as it is given.’
Rhoga looks up and dark orange flames shoot through the air from his maw. ‘Obviously not!’ He yells. ‘His sage, the one who teaches him, he is a power I have not ever had the displeasure of meeting before.’
I see his tail flick back and forth in agitation. ‘He has shown him things, ways to control us. We all know Solas is already lost.’
Andarna finally breaks her silence as she shuffles to her feet. ‘Are you finally confirming that his rider is also an abomination?’
His orange head shakes back in forth. ‘No, I do not believe he is. But he has somehow gained control with the help of one of them. Solas will no longer converse with me, he barely even stays in the vale.’
His eyes finally show the fear that we all know he has felt since stepping a claw on this stone. ‘You can not tell the elders, they will kill him and I know that it will take me with him. You must find out how to sever the bond between us, kill the Dark one that pulls my rider's strings. If you do that, I will tell you of all his movements I can see.’
Teine finally moves and lets out a puff of steam. ‘By your own admission, you can’t not see or feel him anymore, you are as useless as your tainted rider.’
Andarna shifts and cocks her head. ‘I agree.’
‘We will keep him alive, my rider needs every advantage, and let us not mince words. She will be the one to bear the brunt of the responsibilities.’
I say glaring at the young one.
‘Having him dead will be one less trouble.’ She argues.
‘But information is worth more than blood, my dear.’ Feirge says extending her neck to look upon the smaller iridescent dragon.
‘Let us deliberate.’ Molvic says but before we can shut the cowardly orange out he yells.
‘There is more!’
‘Who would have ever guessed he was keeping more things from us?’ Atrom mutters sitting down again.
‘If I tell you, you must help me!’ He exclaims and I blink down at him once.
‘You will tell me, or you will die. Those are the only options you have currently.’
Silence stretches for a moment until he bows his head in deference.
‘Before I was truly shut out, I stayed quiet, unseen. My rider heard from his new master that we have the power that has only been talked about by our elders, elders. The stories that a dragon once lived and was the embodiment of power, that it had a never-ending stream of magic from the Flaithis itself.’
‘Sounds like a true tale.’ Sliseag states, but Rhoga continues.
‘But according to the Dark ones, it is not a dragon who holds this power, the dragon is just the conduit, it is a human that has been blessed by Badb herself.’ His golden eyes shift to me and he blinks.
‘Your human.’
Andarna growls and snaps her teeth.
‘We will wait to dole out punishment.’ I say. I need this to be done, I need to confer with the young one about our rider and my fears.
‘I’d say it's more like consequences, but I concur.’ Feirge says and then launches into the air.
Everyone agrees except for Teine, who is silent once more before she leaves. Smachd looks at me one last time before his deep grave voice reaches out. ‘When the dark and the light meet, the world crumbles in their wake.’ The words from one of our many tales that have been passed down for generations ring out with new meaning in my mind.
Did I damn us when I found my mate? Or does the King's words he told my Silver one ring true? That some things need to break so they can be forged even stronger.
I hastily throw myself into the air and focus on the wind beneath my wings for the short flight back to my den.
Andarna lands right behind me and I immediately turn on her once we are inside. ‘We must tell her about you.’
She just cocks her head and narrows her eyes at me. ‘She will figure it out on her own when the time is right.’ A growl emanates from deep in my throat.
‘You know how much she relies on truth and knowledge, don’t you think she will be cross with you when she realizes you have kept both from her for years?’
She lies down lazily in front of me as if the conversation is already over.
‘I will gladly take her anger if it keeps her safe from the ones that will want to use me for what I am. She already knows I am different, she just doesn't realize quite how much.’
I snap close to her exposed neck for the implication that our rider would ever let the information get out. ‘She would die for your secrets!’
She stands up faster than should be possible but her smaller stature gives her that edge. ‘And she should not have too! You have not seen what I have! You do not understand!’
I whirl around to retreat further into the cave and she has to duck her head under my swinging tail.
‘Then explain it to me young one. Or should I start calling you Secret Keeper? We can see how long it takes our bonded to figure you out after she hears that.’
I make sure she can hear and smell the anger I have. I will not be the one to let her down, she is my last, my chosen, I will always tell her what she needs to know. It was a promise I made to her after I chose her and I will not break it.
‘The King looks for something that will require my help.’ She says quietly.
‘How do you know that, and we do not?’ I ask in confusion, a feeling I am not accustomed to and do not enjoy.
‘Because certain signets don’t seem to work on me, I’m special.’ She says flaring her wings.
I growl. ‘That explains nothing!’
‘One of the new Aretian allies can wipe memories and I followed them as they left. No one saw me, but I heard a great deal.’
Outrage runs through me and I can feel our riders' panic at my emotion.
I wait and let Andarna soothe her fears as I pace back and forth.
‘They altered my memory?’ I yell into her mind.
‘Yes, I felt it all, like she shuffled through you and Violet's brain and plucked it out. Very handy, and I don’t think she even realizes how strong she is.’
I blow a hot blast of fire at the wall in front of me.
‘That is why you have been talking of someone manifesting that signet?’
She laughs and then sounds grates on my frayed nerves.
Even though I agree that it is very necessary, I did not think a signet given by a dragon could be powerful enough to breach our minds.
‘Why would you not tell us?’
I finally look at her with betrayal. I have never once not trusted her, cared for her. I keep my mind open to her always, letting her into every thought so they she may never feel the loneliness I once suffered from.
I know she can feel it all through my mind and she bows her head and shoves her body into mine.
‘I just knew you wouldn’t want to keep it from her!’ Her voice sounds pained.
‘And she couldn’t know that she has the power to build the wards around her Prince's home. She wouldn’t wait for the right time to strike, she would be caught trying to steal what she needs.’
‘Wards?’ I say with surprise.
Contrary to my rider's belief I am not nearly old enough to have the knowledge of how to build them.
‘Yes. I believe the honorable King will give her the information at the right time, and when she has that I will tell her everything.’
Everything.
That will be a very difficult conversation. Because for all the power every dragon and human thinks I have, the young one currently buried underneath my wing has me outmatched in every way.
She will make our rider a power beyond measure.
She will bring the Dark ones to their knees.