CHAPTER FOUR
T HE COLD WIND BURNS MY face as we climb further up the mountain. The urge to find something to create a spark so I can steal its flame is strong, and I curse that Bracken is with us. Normally I would use my fire ability to keep myself warm and dry, but with this many fae around, and the fact that I’m pretending not to be able to use my magick, I can’t. I watch with rage-fueled envy as Bracken stays dry and comfortable with the simple flick of his flint.
As promised, Bracken hasn’t said a word in the last few hours, but I still don’t trust him. Why after all this time, after everything they put me through back in Shalo, would he now want to spend time with me? It doesn’t make a lick of sense.
A shiver racks through my slight and frozen frame as we push forward toward a cropping of trees in the distance. Although the sun is covered by thick, heavy clouds, it’s still bright enough to see, but as we get closer to the forest, the trees are impossibly tall and ancient. The canopy of leaves seems to be so incredibly thick that the inside is shrouded by darkness even in the dead of winter, like the trees couldn’t bear to part with their secrets. It’s bizarre to say the least.
My hackles rise as a blood-curdling scream echoes through the forest followed by an ear-piercing roar. Dragons. Dragons are the Guardians of Phixmery. I will never forget the first time I heard the roar of these magnificent beasts, when my mother brought me to meet her dragon. It’s one of the few memories that are as clear as day and not muddled by time. They are intelligent creatures and are extremely fastidious with who they choose as their riders because they bond for life, just like gryphons. They are the only two creatures willing to create bonds with the fae—if I remember aunt Gretchen’s stories correctly—other than familiars, I suppose. They and their bonded riders are two of the most prestigious factions in Phixmery, something almost everyone has the hope of achieving if the whispers on the way here are anything to go by.
They say that dragons can sense your heart and judge your worth, although I’m not sure how much of that is fable. I should have guessed that they would be defending this place. Or maybe our leaders bargained with the dragons to build here? Who knows, but I’ll have to take these beasts into account when I escape. I swallow the lump in my throat and push forward again.
Bracken grips me by the shoulder and I flinch out of his grasp, narrowing my gaze at him as his eyes dart between me and the forest. “Maybe we should find a way around…?” His throat bobs as he swallows his fear.
“No, commander Ashbluff made it very clear that this is the path we need to take. You should have nothing to worry about if you’re a decent being,” I snap, having no idea if my words hold any truth to them. Dragons are almost as mysterious as the fates. I continue heading into the woods, hoping that no other creatures are lying in wait—creatures from the stories Aunt Gretchen has told me about. Ancient beasts and mystics that roam the old forests and oceans, beasts that like to play with their food before devouring their prey, keeping you alive for weeks until you’re begging death to take your hand.
After a few moments Bracken curses and follows. I enter a well-sized grove that feels ancient, and it vaguely reminds me of the Nairiden Woods, the woods Gretchen and I traveled all those years ago. It’s slightly warmer here, thank the fates, most likely due to the large trees protecting us from the crisp winter winds. I rub my hands together, the friction creating meager warmth, while Nero flaps nervously on my shoulder.
“ Something feels off… there’s something lurking in that forest… ” he mutters.
Apprehension licks up my spine as the forest becomes eerily quiet. A branch cracks to my right and I whirl around to meet whatever is there. A fae I’ve never seen before, decked out in more weapons than I’ve ever seen on anyone, comes barreling out of the brush towards us, wielding a flame that he throws in my direction.
My gaze widens and I dodge at the last moment, but I swear I smell burnt hair. I flip onto my back as he uses a device flame-users have to help conjure another fireball, but Bracken pulls the flame from the male’s grasp and uses it against him, hitting him square in the chest where his tunic burns, and the sickly sweet scent of burnt flesh fills the space.
“ Ravina! Are you okay? ” Nero flaps around me nervously. “ This would be a good time to tap into that magick you don’t want to use. ”
I shoot him a look but before I can respond a sense of being watched suddenly overtakes me and I glance around, seeing nothing out of the ordinary, until I look up and see giant green serpentine eyes staring down at me from a clearing between the thick, towering trees—eyes easily twice the size of my head. Then, quick as a viper, the dragon snatches the fae male from the battle with Bracken and swallows him whole.
He wasn’t even able to scream… We didn’t even hear it approach.
A gasp catches in my throat, but I’m unable to move as I stare at the beast with scales as black as an endless void. It turns its attention back on me, but before I can even think of what to do next, Bracken grabs me, hoisting my frame up over his shoulder and running as fast as his feet will carry him.
Using my hands, I prop myself up on his back so I can see behind us. The dragon doesn’t follow, but watches us curiously until it blinks then disappears back into the forest.
Relief pours off me, but the fear coming from Bracken is nauseating. I tap his hip. “Put me down, it’s not following us.” He ignores me and continues his swift pace through the woods.
Nero claws in his face, seconds before Bracken curses and drops me on the cold hard ground. My shoulder breaks the fall and I just manage to stop my face from smashing on the cold forest floor.
He clutches his face, swatting Nero away. “Your fucking bird attacked me,” he seethes.
Clambering to my feet, I rise and then shrug, brushing the snow and dirt from my tattered cloak. “I told you to put me down.”
He throws his hands in the air. “I was trying to save us since you were no help. Sitting on the ground as we were attacked and almost dragon food. You should be thanking me.”
I blink at him as Nero settles on my shoulder. “Excuse me? I didn’t ask to be saved. It’s not like you helped all those other times I was being tortured by the fae in our village. Go fuck yourself, Bracken,” I scoff.
This time I quicken my speed, determined to make it to Phixmery without shitty company bringing down my already bitter mood. Unfortunately my shorter-than-average legs make it easy for him to catch up and then bypass me, leaving me in the dust—or should I say snow. My boots squish wetly in the snow and I take a moment, glancing around quickly, and when I’m sure I’m completely alone I use a flint and stone to summon a spark, making it so I can dry and warm my feet before continuing.
“ Well that was eventful, ” Nero drawls. “ I should have taken his eye instead of giving him a warning scratch, ” he pouts.
A tired laugh titters out of me. “ I’m sure there will be a next time. ”
It takes a few hours but after wandering through the forest, we finally reach the other side. Although I could feel eyes on me the entire time we were in there, nothing touched or came near me after that incident with Bracken. It was eerie, and I’m not sure how to feel about it. I’m just relieved that I’ve made it through that portion of this trial.
“ Nero, do you think you could fly up and see where we’re going ?”
He croaks before taking off and I watch him until he becomes a black dot in the grey-covered sky. I huff and start in the direction we were heading, considering it’s the only way. Two massive peaks sit on either side of the valley, with nothing but boulders and snow as far as the eye can see. My gaze traces the ground; if anyone has come this way, it hasn’t been for awhile, or the wind has covered up the tracks. I can only hope that I’m going in the right direction and I didn’t get turned around.
After about twenty minutes of trudging through snow, some of it reaching up to my knees, Nero swoops down, taking his place on my shoulder. “ We are still on the right path. We’ll probably reach the academy in a couple hours. ” He pauses like he wants to say more.
I tuck my hands inside my cloak, wrapping it further around me to keep warm. “Well, spit it out,” I mumble, my breath visible as it leaves my mouth.
“ There’s a cliff. It looks like you’re going to have to climb down it, ” he trails off.
My pace doesn’t stutter—much—as he gives me that minuscule amount of information. Commander Ashbluff didn’t say anything about scaling a cliff. Well, there’s nothing I can do about this now.
The only thing I can do is move forward and then make a plan when I see the situation with my own eyes. While I put off the impending thought of a cliff, my thoughts drag to other places, other plans I need to make. I have to keep my identity hidden, which means finding a way to escape this place and get as far away as possible. I could try to find a way to Vathia, but that is the heart of enemy territory and I’m no safer there than I am here but wouldn’t right under the enemy's nose be the safest? A list of pros and cons begin to form in my head. From the small amount of information Gretchen gave me over the years, I’ve been able to piece together that I’m surrounded by the enemy; in every province. Shalo isn’t an option for me for obvious reasons, but there has to be somewhere secluded I can live out my life… Maybe somewhere near the ocean but high enough in the mountains that finding me wouldn’t be easy.
I pace myself as I tread through the banks of snow until I reach the precipice. The view is gorgeous. The sun peeks out from the clouds and sits between the peaks of the mountains on the other side of the massive valley, like four lovers cradling it tenderly. Dragons soar in the distance; their roaring and deadly breath are a testament to their fierceness, their scales glinting in the setting sun while gryphons fly with them. I could stand here and watch them all day, but I’m sure there will be time for that later. The white sparkling blanket that covers the earth reminds me of home and comforts me like a warm hug. At least the landscape is familiar—this I can survive in. Always survive.
The thing that catches my eye amongst all the snow and brush is the massive towering castle in the distance. Dark spires reach towards the stars, and a massive curtain wall notched with parapets and guard towers surrounds the whole thing. It’s stunning, causing an ache to form in my chest as a whisper of a memory tries to surface. Maybe it’s my former childhood home trying to surface. But I barely remember that.
Peeking over the edge, I nearly lose balance. I drop to my knees to stay more steady and not tumble to my death. It’s a long way down. Black specks cover the ground below, and it’s hard to tell if it’s rock formation or bodies. I swallow the nervous lump in my throat and search for a place to begin my descent into my new hell.
Thank the fates for all the climbing I did back in Shalo. Hunting was always better up high, and I always needed to be prepared. I couldn’t workout regularly because of the meager scraps of food I had to ration, but I did my best.
Nero flies behind me, helping to guide my feet and hand placements as I climb down the escarpment. A strong gust of wind blows past me and I press myself into the rock face, shivering.
“ You can do it Rav, you’re almost halfway there. ” Nero cheers. “ Alright, now put your left foot down about a foot and a couple inches to the left. Perfect, ” he praises.
My hands are cut and bleeding from the firm grip I’m keeping, and more than one nail is busted and stinging, but pain is something I can push through. Pain is as familiar to me as the feel of my own flesh. I go to step down again and the moment my foot connects with the foothold it crumbles beneath me, my grip loosens and I slip. The breath in my throat catches as the wind rushes past my face.
“ Ravina! ” Nero bellows, his voice echoing inside my head.
I take a second, ready to summon my magick, consequences be damned, when something catches me in its grasp mere moments before I splatter on the snow-laden ground, then proceeds to drop me unceremoniously into a deep snowdrift.
My breath catches as I roll onto my back, and I see a glimpse of dark purple or maybe black scales before it disappears back into the mountains. Before my mind can comprehend what just happened Nero lands on my chest and nips my nose.
“ I swear to the fates Ravina, you’re going to make my plumage fade into a dull black. Are you okay? Did that dragon hurt you? ” he rapidly questions.
Laying there for a moment, I take stock of my body. “I think I’m okay. Just a bit winded. Wait, did you say dragon?” I say out loud, not bothering to mind-speak with him.
He flaps his wings and hops further up on my chest. “ Yes, dragon. It came out of nowhere—I thought it was going to have you for a snack! ”
Pushing to my feet, I dust the wet flurries off myself before turning towards the massive castle in the distance, nothing but scattered evergreen trees and foliage standing in the way of the end of this exhausting day. “Well, I wasn’t a snack and I didn’t die. Come on, let’s get moving. I want to get there before that stupid dinner bell, I’m starving.” I pick up my leather bag and place the strap on my shoulder. Unable to stop my curiosity, I look back towards the sky, hoping to catch another glimpse of the beast, but it’s already long gone, so I turn my attention back in front of me.
But my appetite quickly fades as I notice the numerous bodies scattered around me, their blood and innards coating the snow, bones sticking out of chunks of lacerated flesh where they’ve broken when they hit the ground, standing out starkly against the pale drifts. Definitely bodies and not rocks, then.
Why was I saved while these fae were left to fall to their deaths?
MY LEGS ARE dragging as I finally approach the black hewn stone gatehouse to Phixmery, with the portcullis left open for us recruits. The sun faded almost an hour ago and nothing but torch sconces light the way as I cross the drawbridge, fear of the unknown skittering along my skin.
A guard steps out of the shadows into the flickering, warm light. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a recruit come in so late. Name and magick type?” he snaps.
My voice comes out as a whisper and Nero nuzzles against my temple. “Ravina Solace and I’m not sure,” I lie. “I thought I was a null until commander Ashbluff said I wasn’t, so here I am.”
“Don’t talk back, Cadet. This is your only warning,” he snarls as he jots something down on a scroll. “Dinner is just about over. Head into the training yard and wait to be addressed about your rooming and schedule.” He strides away, dismissing me.
Training yard? I glance at Nero who ruffles his feathers in what I think is the bird equivalent of a shrug. So helpful. I can only hope that this place is easy to find. I mean he would have given me directions otherwise, right? We carry on through the tunnel, leaving the crotchety guardsmen behind, and it opens up into a wide-open space of walls lined with targets and straw dummies. Torches line the pathway all the way to what I assume is the front entrance to the castle with its large stone arch and towering wooden doors.
A bell rings out in the distance, sounding twice before nothing but its echo surrounds us and floats off into the mountains. That must mean the end of dinner. When I’m halfway to the doors, bodies file out into the space that I’m now thinking to be the training yard and begin forming lines on either side of the walkway of torches. My steps hurry to catch up, glancing around for any of the familiar faces that were in the wagon with me on the way here.
With nothing but the flickering light of fire I manage to make out a few I recognize and line up beside them, huffing as I calm my racing heart. I did it, I got here on time. After what seems like forever of standing out in the cold, I peer around and notice that only a third of us are still here.
“Cadets,” A voice sounds out, sounding like commander Ashbluff. “Congratulations on making it here in one piece. Now the real test begins: Phixmery Academy. Tonight you will be assigned your lodging and schedules, and tomorrow you will rise and begin your training to become one with the Damorleia Army. You should be proud to serve your kingdom in the fight against the Skuggi. This will not be easy, and you’re not allowed to leave unless you’re in a coffin.”
A pregnant pause fills the air as we all take in his words.
Conscription until death? Fear threatens to consume me as I take in the implications of my being here. I thought the other cadets were kidding when I heard them mention that on the way here. No, Nero and I will find a way to get out. It’s the only way I can still keep my promise, because it’s only a matter of time before someone finds out even more about me and I can’t have that. But the scent of fear and excitement laces the air like a toxic tonic.
“Let me remind you that deserting the Academy or the Damorleia Military is considered treason, and punishment is death. By completing the first trial, you have agreed to stay and train, and leaving the grounds without clearance is a punishable offense. Now the first row on the right: form a line in front of Captain Darnell to get your room numbers. Everything else will be awaiting you in your chambers,” Ashbluff commands and the shuffling of feet sounds.
Dread forms in my stomach—it could also be hunger—as I realize that there’s only one row behind me and I’m on the opposite side to those now moving. Damn me and my little legs making me so much slower than the others, and now one of the last to get to bed.
Standing completely still is making my muscles seize up, and the chill of the winter night seep into my bones like a worm burrowing into the dirt. My fingers and toes are stiff and numb, but I don’t dare risk the use of my magick to warm them. Not here—not with so many around.
Finally, my line is called and I follow the line of cadets, my aching bones struggling to keep up with the others. We halt just next to the looming grand entrance and one by one we are granted our chamber number.
“Name?” the captain drawls without glancing up from his parchment.
I clear my throat softly. “Ravina Solace,” I state softly, exhaustion overcoming me.
“Chamber two-oh-six in the South Tower,” he states like I know where that is. “Move along.”
Nero stays quietly perched on my shoulder as I climb up the cobbled steps and through the towering doors that dwarf my size, making me feel like a mere ant amongst trees. “ You should probably find somewhere to nest tonight. I don’t know where you’re supposed to sleep inside, ” I murmur to my Familiar.
“ Okay, just call to me if you need me. I’ll be there as fast as I can. ” With a quick gentle nip to the ear, he takes off soaring up and over the curtain walls, probably to look for the nearest tree to sleep in.
Stepping into the dimly lit hall, I notice paintings of various males and females throughout history. Some are dressed in military fatigues, or dress uniforms plastered to the brim with medals and ribbons. There are even a couple who are dressed in riding leathers. It’s awe-inspiring to see some of the history here, even if the reasoning behind it is dark. Dark halls and tall intricate arches are spaced equally along the ceiling and a massive grand staircase sits at the end of the hall.
Fuck, I really have no idea where the South Tower is. I glance around to see if there are any signs or directions posted and much to my dismay, there isn’t.
A fae female strides past me with short tresses cut to just below her chin. “Excuse me,” I all but shout but push past the embarrassment of my voice echoing in the hall.
She turns to face me, and her yellow eyes appraise me before she levels me with a glare. “Yes?”
“Do you know how to get to the South Tower?” I inquire firmly, hoping that she knows.
Her face becomes impassive before she sighs and gestures with her head for me to follow. “What chamber?” she asks after a moment of walking in silence.
I peer at her out of the corner of my eye. She’s taller than me and much more lithe. Her looks are elegant yet harsh with her sharp feminine jawline and narrowed yellow eyes. “Two-oh-six,” I state succinctly.
She murmurs something under her breath before saying, “Follow me, you’re in my chamber.” She sighs and picks up the pace and I jog to keep up with her. At least I’m going to get my cardio in.
Turns out the South Tower is the furthest away from the training yard, taking us nearly thirty minutes to get to—even at the female’s brutal pace. Tomorrow I will make sure that I find a way to get around without the help of anyone else. We climb up the wide spiraling stone staircase to a floor near the top of the spire. As she opens the door, I’m greeted by eight sets of eyes of both male and female. We stare at each other for a moment before I quickly thank the female for getting me here then stride past, looking for an empty bed, shocked when I recognize Bracken on the way past.
Do they seriously let males and females dorm together? Why and how in the Fates, out of all the fae recruits, is Bracken one of my chamber mates? I find a bed near the back of the room—the fourth on the left side. Next to my bed is a small table, while on the other side is a tall, dark wooden storage cabinet. The other beds are set up the same way, a row of five on my side and the same across from me as well.
“Ravina, I’m glad you made it. I’m sorry about—”
I hold my hand up. “Bracken, I don’t want to hear it. I’m exhausted. I just want to look over my packet and go to bed.”
He nods sheepishly and ambles back over to his bed which is three down from mine. An exasperated sigh leaves me as I place my meager belongings in the cupboard, noticing multiple uniforms, military leathers, new boots and a fur-lined cloak inside. At least I won’t have to worry about drying my clothing for tomorrow. With a quick peek at my schedule I groan, knowing that I’m going to need to be up before the sun rises, so I shrug off my tattered, wet cloak and boots before climbing into the blissful warmth of the bed, curling up on my side.
I may not get much sleep with all the strangers around me, but I’m banking on the fact that they’re just as exhausted as I am and won’t cause me any harm.