36. Brothers in Harm
~ GRACE ~
Voski strode away, muttering to himself. My stomach flipped.
When we made it out of the building and he was nowhere to be seen, my heart tugged, pulling at me.
The sensations were dramatic and swung wildly between nervous and thrilled, dread, and confusion.
It distracted me while Bren very kindly led me through the Keep to the astounding academy building, and the quartermaster’s shop, to meet the seamstresses.
I tried to focus. These women were helping me.
Both were simple, but capable women. The kind of servants my mother always described as salt-of-the-earth, which was to say that she appreciated their skill, but didn’t believe they should step above their stations.
While, I’d always felt more accepted by those kinds of servants than by others of the blood. A fact that made my mother sigh.
When the seamstresses realized I was Flameborne as well, they were thrilled, and promised to make flying leathers adjusted to my measurements as quickly as they could.
“If you can give her shirts, I can let her borrow some of my leathers until you make sets that fit her properly,” Bren said casually, then frowned at me. “They’ll be too long, but nothing like wearing the men’s clothes.”
The women assured us that they could get me leathers quickly, and hunted through shelving in the next room to bring me a couple of sleep shirts that would fall to my knees, two cotton shirts that were made for stableboys, so tight in the chest, but only a little long, along with socks and gloves that were only a touch too big.
They took my cloak for cleaning, exchanging it for a coat that was far too big, but would keep me warm on the cold nights until I received all my clothing.
“At least this time we have more than an hour,” one of them said, when Bren apologized for the late notice. “We also have our patterns from making yours, so we can adjust new sets to her measurements quickly.”
Bren smiled, and leaned in closer. “You may want to start accumulating pieces in different women’s sizes. I believe… I believe we’ll see more females before too long.”
Both the seamstresses grew wide-eyed. But Bren swore them to secrecy, before leading me out of there.
As we stepped out into the main hallway of the building, Bren leaned into my ear. “Don’t worry, they’re very good. And you can wear mine until they make you your own. They’ll be too long, but better than nothing.”
“Thank you,” I said, and meant it. Bren smiled at me and walked on, and I took the moment to examine the beautiful building again. I had to keep reminding myself not to let my mouth hang open.
The building was stunning. Unlike anything I’d ever seen—three stories tall, with towers at each end, and all made from a deep, shining black stone. Even the gabled roof and strange, wide, semi-circle wall behind it, which Bren called the Auditorium, were molded in the impossible black stone.
“The black is dragon-fired stone,” she’d explained as we entered it and my eyes went round. “The first Furyknights built it with the dragons and, well, you can see, they’ve added to it over the years.”
I nodded, but I could barely take anything in, because at every step a new beauty or strange detail was revealed.
Stone slate pressed into the gleaming black floor to give traction to all those heavy boots.
Slickly sanded and varnished balustrades lining the wide stairways from the lowest floor.
“You’ll become very familiar with this building,” Bren warned me as we trotted through the space.
We passed man after man—all tall, strong, intimidating. Most nodded greetings to Bren. Some also greeted me, others raised a skeptical brow in my direction.
My pride prickled the first couple of times, until I remembered, they didn’t know who I was.
And then it occurred to me… was I a noble any longer? Could I even claim a bloodline I’d abandoned, when I never planned to return?
What did it make me, if I didn’t?
What if I wasn’t able to become Furyknight like Bren? What if—
“You’re going to do great, Grace, I promise. And we’ll help you, don’t worry.”
Bren smiled gently at me, then pulled me through the door in the main entryway, leading me back along the paths through the buildings that surrounded this one.
The others were all large, and grand—each with wide, grassy lawns between, though the ground was torn up by dragon talons, leaving raked lines in the dirt. But none were as fascinating, or startling as the main building.
“It will all become second nature, I promise,” Bren continued, walking close and keeping her voice low. “I know it feels scary now—it will for a while. But one day you’ll find yourself just walking around. And you know what to do. And you know what you’re here for. It’s wonderful.”
I swallowed. That did sound lovely. “How long does that take?” I asked.
Bren’s lips twisted. “Um, I think I felt that for the first time about three days ago?” she said with a breathless little laugh.
When my brows shot up, she raised her hands up to soothe me.
“It’s only because I was being tested, then thrown into training for our trip to Fyrehold.
And then… well. It’s all been a lot. But a couple of days ago I got up to walk to breakfast and it wasn’t until I was halfway to the stable and talking to Akhane in my head I realized, this is home now. It feels normal. It feels right.”
The ground around the main building was slightly higher than the rest. As we walked, I tried to take it all in—the wide, dragon-raked lawns, the tall buildings that Bren told me were barracks and officers administration building where we’d gone to Donavyn’s office, the Academy building behind us, the massive stable below all the rest—and the launch hollow behind that…
I wanted this to be my home. I couldn’t help but clasp my hands together, and pray this would become my home.
Please. Please…
Bren led me to the chambers she shared with Donavyn on the top floor of the officer’s apartments—which was a pleasant surprise.
Though small, and very masculine, the furniture was functional and of fine quality.
And the bathing room was such a welcome sight.
Only the castle in Fyrehold had running water back home.
And to learn that here, the dragons heated water for them?
When Bren offered me the chance to bathe properly, I jumped at it. Stripping the moment I was alone, and groaning as I sank into that bath. Then promptly fell asleep while I soaked.
When I woke to a deep voice in the adjoining room, I panicked, hurriedly washing, then scrambling to get out and dry myself.
It wasn’t until I was out of the bath, and I heard the low deep rumble without the panic, that I realized it was Donavyn, returning to speak with her.
I didn’t catch the words. Didn’t want to try, because my chest panged at the sound of that rough, deep voice offered with such warmth and tenderness.
I took a deep breath and stomped my feet, making a great show of turning the creaking door handle to open the bathing room door into their bedroom, clearing my throat so they’d hear me coming.
In the living area, they stood near the small kitchen—close. So close.
Bren stood at his feet, looking up, her head craned back because the general was so tall. He had a piece of fruit in one hand, but the other clasped her upper arm.
Voski, standing over me, his eyes dark with intensity. Those strands of hair falling between us, yet he searched my gaze with—
I cut the thought off as Donavyn frowned. Yet, Bren nodded and murmured something, as if she reassured him. And he smiled in return.
A man of such size and power. Yet, her words, her smile, soothed him.
My heart squeezed.
I cleared my throat, but Bren only turned, her smile stretching wider when she saw me. “Are you clean? That must feel so much better. My first bath after that trip was heavenly.”
I nodded, my cheeks warming because Donavyn had turned to look at me also, and I suddenly felt shy, though I was completely covered by the thick trousers and shirt—too long, so the sleeves were rolled up to my wrists. The coat the seamstresses had given me hung on a hook near the door.
“It was very nice. I think I fell asleep. Thank you for letting me use your home,” I said with a strange twisting, rush in my chest.
Home. I no longer had a home. Yet, I wanted this place to become that.
“You’re welcome, of course, Grace,” Donavyn said smoothly.
“Until we find something better, it’s too cold to bathe outside, and we don’t ask you to share with the squad,” he said smoothly.
“We will, however, need to find other answers with time. As a Flameborne, you can’t be seen to be offered special attention. ”
“Of course,” I nodded quickly, but felt my cheeks heat. “Thank you.”
“Don’t let him make you embarrassed, Grace.” Bren rolled her eyes. “He won’t throw you to the wolves. He would have stabbed my brothers if they’d tried any of their shenanigans on—”
“I think we should let Grace meet her brothers and form her own opinions,” Donavyn said dryly.
Bren rolled her eyes, but I smiled.
It was the dinner hour. Bren told Donavyn we’d head to the dining hall for a meal, and he apologized for not being able to join us.
I wouldn’t have expected him to do so, but there was no time to say so, as Bren leaned up on her toes to kiss him quickly, then started for the door, beckoning me to follow her.
“They aren’t on patrol tonight, so you’ll get to meet them all. It will make tomorrow less intimidating,” she told me as we trotted down the stairs outside their apartment.
I nodded. And I was looking forward to eating, and meeting these men. As long as they were friendly.
But then I had visions of Voski’s anger and my lungs went tight. “Will they be angry? About me?” I asked.
Bren frowned. “No. Why would you think that?”
“No reason. I just… Voski didn’t seem pleased that I was joining the squad. I worried the others might feel the same?”
Bren frowned, but went quiet.