Chapter 4 Happy?
~ brEN ~
Hours later I stumbled back into the stable shared by Kgosi and Akhane.
Akhane bugled and leaped towards me, shaking the floor as she bounced, her gray scales shimmering and pulsing with that impossible light and heat, as if the embers of fire danced just under her skin.
Kgosi, nestled in the straw, rumbled his mock-disapproval at her enthusiasm, his ebony-black scales only flickering.
‘You did it, Bren!’ Akhane sent, nudging me with her snout so hard I almost sat down in the straw. I had to hug her nose and hold on to keep my feet.
I laughed. ‘Thank you. Did you know?’
‘I suspected,’ Akhane said smugly. ‘My mate remained tight-lipped, but I tickled the truth from him an hour ago.’
I spluttered at the mental image of Akhane teasing Kgosi, who was a figure of such respect and power, I couldn’t quite imagine him engaging in puppy-games. But he only ruffled his wings. He didn’t raise his head from where he lay in the straw, and I sensed Akhane’s delight as she teased him.
‘Well, that’s… lovely,’ I stammered, eyeing Kgosi from the side and trying not to smile too broadly.
Akhane preened. ‘He says you did well, and your brothers will be proud that you did not hesitate.’
I was shocked and flattered by her approval.
Akhane had always encouraged me, believed in me, right from the start.
But this eager enthusiasm made me want to do some preening of my own.
All of us had been tense and struggling as the bonds took hold.
So much of what we faced threatened to tear us apart.
But now that I understood the role I’d been given, I was eager as well.
I didn’t want Vosgaarde to go to war. But if we would, if I could succeed within the Shadowfang and truly make a difference…
Nerves and pride and fear all swelled in my chest in equal measure.
‘Do we fly?’ Akhane asked quickly. ‘Or are you finished for today?’
I took a deep breath. ‘No patrol today. But there will be plenty of flying, Akhane. I’ll have extra duties now, and… we have a lot to learn.’
‘We can do it!’
Kgosi rumbled his agreement and tears pinched my eyes. I thanked my dragon silently and hugged her nose again. ‘Thank you.’
Akhane crooned.
I sighed happily as we parted. It had been a long day already, and it was only lunchtime.
I wouldn’t usually be in the stable at this time, but in broad daylight it was too risky to sneak into Donavyn’s apartment.
Until a little over a week ago, when we’d discovered our bond, my home had been the room in the back of this stable.
Though most of my things were at Donavyn’s quarters now, I kept a few things here, including a set of fresh leathers in case I needed to change.
There were only so many times in a week the sole female Furyknight could be seen arriving at, or leaving, the Officer’s building without someone asking difficult questions.
Once I’d assured Akhane that my sigh was a happy one, I left her to rest with Kgosi and walked back to my old room.
Minutes later, as I marched through the stables to the well outside to get water to wash, my shoulders slumped with weariness, but I smiled.
I just been promoted, and my mate was safe. I was a Furyknight, about to be trained for secret duties, and equipped to fulfill responsibilities many of the men weren’t.
I had a short break now, then a discreet meeting with Voski to plan my Shadowfang training around my existing shifts.
It would be a long week. But I was eager to get started.
A couple hours later, Voski and I sat at a table at the back of our squad’s usual classroom in the main Academy building, though it was empty apart from us.
I was tired after the very early start. But I couldn’t stop smiling.
I kept catching the gleam of my Furyknight pin out of the corner of my eye.
I now understood that those black eyes on the pin, the part I’d thought was a craftsman’s mistake in the enamel work, was actually the secret symbol of a Shadowfang member.
A tiny detail, easy to overlook—but one we all knew to watch for.
They’d intended to switch out my pin using the flaw as an excuse if I didn’t take the vow.
I couldn’t help sitting up straighter when I thought of it.
It was a balm after walking across the Emberquell Academy grounds from the stables and passing two older Furyknights, both staring at me from their seats in the courtyard—one sullen, the other’s eyes glinting.
The sharp-eyed one whispered, and his friend guffawed.
Neither of them stopped watching me. I pretended not to notice, but the skin on the back of my neck prickled.
“What did you think of the vow?” Voski asked quietly, yanking my attention back to the classroom, my training, and this moment.
I cleared my throat and considered his question. “I was surprised that it superseded the Furyknight vow.”
Voski nodded. “Just remember, we’re still flying and fighting for whatever whim the king believes will aid the kingdom.
He’s still the one who chooses where we’re sent.
And in truth, we’re even greater servants than the others.
Working harder. Achieving more. For less recognition.
But our loyalty remains in the same place.
“The throne,” I said, nodding.
“Yes. But it isn’t all work and duty—you’ll find out that your new brothers are very tightly knit.
We train together, help each other, cover for each other.
We have to. We don’t get to fly together except in training or missions.
We don’t live together. We choose to stay connected. And you’ll have to, as well.”
“I will. But, how do you find time? Especially if others don’t know what you do?”
He shrugged. “Just like this. It’s the most satisfying part of my job, actually,” he said, a strange expression on his face.
I tipped my head. “You’re different here,” I breathed.
He snorted. “No. I’m just… more easily myself.”
I was shocked. “You don’t feel like you can be yourself with our brothers? I thought you and Harle were just teasing each other—?”
“No, no. It’s not that,” Voski said, scratching the back of his neck.
“I trust our brothers implicitly—and you can too. But, you’ll find out that having a purpose and a duty that’s hidden means there’s always a piece of you that you can’t share.
I have to be careful with our public squad.
I don’t want to put them at risk. And I don’t want to undermine Ronen.
He’s a good man. He’s taught me more about leading and courage than anyone I know,” he said quietly.
Earnestly. Which was strange coming from the dark, sly Voski I’d come to know in the past few months.
I’d always known he was intelligent. And he could be funny. But his humor was cutting, and his patience sharp. He didn’t suffer fools, and had no time for weakness. Or at least, that’s what I’d thought.
“I’m glad that you feel comfortable. I love our squad,” I said carefully. “They really welcomed me. I was surprised.”
Voski half-smiled. “There’s a distinct difference in your new friends, Bren,” he said, glancing over my shoulder towards the door.
We both kept our voices low, under the noise in the hallway outside the room.
“They are the most trusted, the most uniquely skilled. You’ll discover that they aren’t here because they’re the strongest, or their dragon is the fastest. They’re here because of their character and their savvy.
” He tapped his own temple. “There’s something in the way they think, and how they handle themselves.
That’s why you’re there, too. We’re always excited when someone joins our ranks, because we’re rare. We value each other highly.”
My cheeks heated, not out of embarrassment, but emotion. Something he said touched a place, deep in my heart.
“That’s… wonderful,” I said breathlessly, and meant it. “And also terrifying.”
Voski chuckled. “Don’t be scared. The difference between Shadow and Flame is that in the shadows, we’re primarily used in the ways we’re naturally equipped, rather than forced into the mold of this place,” he said waving his hand to indicate the Academy building and the people within it.
“You’re obviously even more unique here.
We know you’ll be a great addition. We’ve been urging leadership to consider bringing women in for years.
But, without the dragons, it got complicated.
We need people with the discipline and commitment the dragons can sense. ”
I was stunned. These men had asked for women to join them? “Maybe… maybe more women will be Chosen now? Since I gained the pin?”
Voski shrugged. “I know Akhane heard your heart, and you were right for her. But she’s the first that we know of.
Are there others in other kingdoms? Maybe.
Everyone in leadership wonders. It’s not something we considered before.
All we know for sure is that you’re meant to be here, and you’ll do something none of us can do. ”
“Like what?”
Voski looked away. When he spoke, it was hesitantly, as if he chose his words carefully.