57. Ready to Fly
~ GRACE ~
I stood at the head of the field alongside three other men.
Two of them were young. Still teenagers, I thought.
The other appeared to be a few years older than me.
I hadn’t met any of them before, though I’d seen the older one across the dining room once or twice.
I smiled to them as we stood in line, waiting for the general’s word to quiet the crowd—because there was a crowd.
Furyknights gathered around the edges of the clearing, their dragons, too.
Above us, several already flew, along with officers holding positions that would mark our course for the flight.
My heart hammered in my chest. This was the very first time I’d fly Koa completely alone. No instruction. No one doubling with me. No arms to hold me into take-off if I slipped. No advice.
Whatever happened today, happened as a result of my choices, and my skill.
I swallowed hard. ‘We can do this.’
‘I am sure for you, Firebird.’
I smiled and snuck a glance at Koa over my shoulder.
She tossed her head and danced on the spot.
She was thrilled as well. Eager for us to fly alone.
I just had to pray that I remembered all the formations.
I’d been working so hard to take off and land without falling, and learning all the formation commands in classes, we only started serious focus on flying the formations a few days ago.
Koa had a good memory, and enjoyed the movements. But nerves trilled in my stomach as I mentally recited the list to myself.
All my brothers and Bren said the same thing: Every Flameborne assessment was different. Different formations would be called, different maneuvers than had been used before. That way, no one could cheat and practice just the parts they would need.
So, it didn’t matter what they’d called for Bren, what movements she’d been required to know—or any of my brothers. We would rise or fall today—perhaps literally—based on what the captains had chosen for our test.
I swallowed hard as one of the men next to me shook out his arms and rolled his head on his neck.
At least I wasn’t the only nervous one.
The general stepped up to stand in front of us and called for the gathering to honor the queen. As we all bowed and saluted, I prayed that I would make her proud.
Bren stood alongside the ruler because she’d been standing next to Donavyn. Now, Bren and our brothers stood, facing us, along with the other squads. All of them preparing to fly. Because we had to demonstrate that we could fly in formation with our squads.
I blew out a breath and sent up a prayer that I wouldn’t make a stupid mistake.
I could do this. I had to do this!
One little test, and then Koa and I would be allowed to fly alone, whenever we wanted. Koa felt the surge of hope and anticipation in me and trumpeted her encouragement.
I wanted to do a little dancing of my own.
Please, God. Please…
“…This is an honorable task, undertaken by every Furyknight ever sworn to the pin and crown. Flameborne, you have been Chosen for this. Do not take this lightly. Though this is not one of your trials, it is, indeed, a test. But fear not: if you do not pass today’s assessment, your journey to Furyknight is not over.
Today, and only today, you are given the chance to fail, and continue on this path.
Flight assessment is an important step in proving that you’ve absorbed your training, and are ready to begin working with your team to meet the express challenge of the Furyknight trials.
But today you will be tested only for your safety, and the safety of your dragon. ”
The man who walked up and down in front of us was Captain Gunnar.
He was the Wing Commander of the Flyers.
The group of Furyknights whose primary skill was in flight.
While every man here could fly their dragon in ways that stole my breath, the flyers were acrobats.
Incredibly swift, and skilled in in-air combat.
I wondered if we would become one of them.
Captain Gunnar stopped at the center of our line and stared at us one by one. He was older than Donavyn, but he still stood straight, and had broad shoulders, even with his hair beginning to gray.
“Flameborne, today you prove yourselves. If you are able to mount, launch, fly, obey formation commands, and land safely, you will be cleared for solo flight. Do not underestimate the importance of this assessment.
“This is our first chance to measure your readiness to join our world, up there,” he said with a half-smile, tipping his chin to the sky.
“Yet, if you’re successful today, you receive the freedom of a child, not yet an adult.
You will not fly patrols, or become a functioning member of your squads until you have passed your first trial.
So, while this is a gauntlet, you pass through it to be allowed to walk alone, not run.
” His expression softened as he grinned, which surprised me.
“Fear not, little ones.” Everyone watching chuckled.
I felt my cheeks heat. “While passing today’s assessment does not make you a Furyknight, neither does failure mean you will never be.
It is simply a step. Do your best to take it with pride.
But if you cannot, accept defeat with humility and keep working. ”
The words had the ring of a vow. The Furyknights lined up behind him nodded, as if they recognized it.
My heart swelled. I prayed one day I would stand in that line and remember this day when they’d been spoken to me. But then Captain Gunnar turned and raised his voice again.
“Since there are only four of you, we will have you fly formation together. You have one minute to determine who will fly wing, and who will fly pivot. Go.”
I turned quickly as the three men in the line huddled together, muttering to each other without hesitation.
“Beck is small, so I’ll fly pivot,” the young blonde one said. I opened my mouth but the other two nodded.
“I’ll be your wing.” That was the other, younger man.
It seemed the two were friends—I suspected they’d planned this.
But that left the third man who’d stood next to me in line.
He had dark hair, and a thick beard. He cursed and shook his head, obviously angry at the other two for choosing each other and leaving him with me.
“You don’t need to worry,” I assured him. “Koa is very talented, and I can—”
“Your dragon is huge for a female,” the third man said flatly, interrupting me. “I’ll fly pivot. You fly wing. Follow my instructions. We’ll get you through.”
“But—”
“Do you have your positions, Flameborne?” Captain Gunnar called.
“Sir, yes sir!” the men responded. I turned to snap to attention with them.
Irritated, but willing to let it go. I’d been prepared to fly either position.
A pivot dragon had to be more agile, able to turn, ascend, or descend quickly, because they were the dragon others’ wings centered on.
The wing didn’t need to be as quick, but a strong flyer, because movements would be larger. Especially in turns around the pivot.
“Very good. You will have five minutes to plan your positions and strategize.
Do not waste it. Your assessment will begin the moment you grasp your mounting strap, and will not end until you have followed every order to the best of your ability, then returned your dragon to this clearing, and dismounted.
“When the whistle blows, take your positions in the sky. May God bless you in your efforts today!”
A cheer went up as we turned back to our dragons. The men strode along at a quick pace. With their height, I had to trot to keep up. The two pivots—the younger, brown-haired man, and the man a little older than me, quickly discussed who would take left and right.
“Should we share names?” I suggested, tugging at my partner’s sleeve. “In case we need to get each other’s attention while we’re—”
“The dragons will help us if there’s a need,” he snapped. “Right now, it’s most important that we know who’s watching who. You set your dragon at our wingtip, and follow like you’re tied to us. I’ll manage the rest.”
I frowned, and fire sparked in my chest. Apparently, the arrogance I’d observed in the noblemen of my nation wasn’t restricted to class.
“Thank you,” I said to him sweetly. “I don’t know how we would get through this without you.
” I smiled at his uneasy frown, then ran ahead of him to start up my mounting strap.
I knew it would take me longer than the men to mount, and I didn’t want to give anyone—my fellow Flameborne, or the assessors—reason to wait for me.
I was on Koa’s back almost as quickly as the men, and we hurriedly practiced the hand signals.
We would fly four abreast, the two pivots in the center. I’d been given the right-hand wing. When formations called for a division, the pivots would wheel off in opposing directions. Me and Koa, and the young blonde man, would follow our pivot’s direction and speed until the four of us reformed.
Hand gestures were used by the pivots to agree on direction, or any other nuances, to ensure dragons didn’t collide or tangle with each other in movement.
I watched the men, following their quick discussion to clarify and ensure they knew the same signals I’d been taught, then the whistle blew, and a cheer rose from the Furyknights there to watch.
I took hold of Koa’s neck strap. ‘Let’s go!’
As she lurched forward, my nerves surged with her and I gripped those straps until my nails threatened to split my palms. But I was determined to make no mistakes.
Koa called as we lifted into the air. ‘Breathe, my Grace.’
I let my lungs deflate, then sucked in a fresh breath. ‘Thank you, Koa.’
‘We will win.’
‘Don’t let the males dismiss you.’
‘No male can dare,’ she sent with a playful scream, shaking her head as we rose into the sky.
And then, I was flying. Alone. With my dragon. And banking to find the men and our position in formation.
I could do this.
I would succeed.
Koa was right. We would win this.