Chapter 23 #2
I look down at the sleeping dragons. Should I leave them to their grim fate, so I don’t ruin whatever I have with Alayel? Or should I do everything to protect them? Do I want to marry a man who has no compassion?
So many thoughts buzzing in my mind, and still no plan for how to get the little dragons out of here.
Plan. My heart races in my chest.
I’ve made a decision. An impossible, incredibly dangerous decision, but I’ve made it. That’s the first step.
Now I’ll figure out the how.
I’m going to save Ava and Vos—no matter the cost.
Bells ring at a distance, waking me with a start. Beside me, Vos grunts, while Ava still breathes softly, unbothered by the noise. I don’t recall falling asleep—and don’t even know what time it is.
It must be the middle of the night, but I’m not sure. For a second, it’s me and my brother again, except that this time, I’m hoping the dragons will reach me and take these hatchlings away from this place.
They could kill me, though. I should leave this room, and yet my eyes close again as my mind drifts, even though the bells keep ringing.
When I wake up again, it’s already day, and the sunholes shed more light than usual, meaning that it’s probably late. Ava stares at me, perched on a rock, while Vos drinks from the water basin.
“Little dragons, I have to go,” I whisper. “But I’ll be back.”
Vos squeaks, while Ava emits a long coo. They’re so lovely, so trusting. Trusting the person who might have condemned them to a horrible death.
No. I’ll save them.
Six guards stand between the hallway and the staircase. I’m counting now, paying attention, as I walk by them and climb the stairs as fast as I can, hoping I’m not too late for class.
When I get to my bedroom, Nelly’s leaving it.
“Mayara?” Her tone’s startled.
“Am I late?”
“I was going down to breakfast.”
I exhale, relieved that I can still make it to class. “I’ll wash and try to eat something if there’s time. Don’t wait for me.”
“All right. See you in class.” She smiles and walks away.
I grab my uniform, then go to the washing stalls where I scrub my skin to get rid of any scent of the little dragons.
When I get down to the refectory, all first-year students are gone, since our classes start soon, but I feel as if there’s a hole in my stomach, so I get two apples and five loaves of bread.
I devour them in a few frantic bites and run up to Katrine’s class.
The class bell rings a second before I enter the classroom, but some recruits are still taking their seats, and all Instructor Katrine does is raise an eyebrow at me as I walk to my place, even if the front table looks wrong and empty without Celine here.
Nelly gives me a tight smile, her eyes somber. There’s no question that our friend’s absence is cutting deep.
Meanwhile, my mind’s reeling, wondering how I’m going to get the little dragons out of this castle, and if there’s any way to save them without losing Alayel.
The instructor’s words sound foreign and distant, as my thoughts try to find a solution. An impossible solution.
When the instructor assigns us a chapter to read, I don’t even know how I walk to the front to get the book. Celine should be here, reciting the words in her melodious voice. Still, I try to read as well as possible, so that at least Nelly understands the chapter.
My voice is slow. “Dragons can have different types of tails, and they can use them to hit sentinels. It is very important to be ah-aware—”
“You’re reading well,” Nelly says.
The compliment is bittersweet. I’ll never sound like Celine, and I’ll certainly never be as enthusiastic as our friend.
The chapter lists different dragon tails. Some have spikes, some are smooth and flexible, some are thick and heavy. The idea is that just because a dragon isn’t facing you, it doesn’t mean it won’t strike you, and you should pay attention so that you know the kind of damage they can inflict.
“Did you understand the chapter?” I ask.
“Yes.” Nelly snorts. “If the dragon’s facing you, you’ll be roasted. If the dragon’s turned the other way, they’ll slice you, smash you, lacerate you...”
I don’t know if she’s trying to joke, but the grim images she’s conjuring do nothing to improve my mood. I wonder if Ava and Vos will one day come to our kingdom and use any of their body parts to harm anyone. So far, their tails look smooth, but they could change.
When all the tables finish reading, Katrine walks to the front and claps her hands. “Let me check how much you learned. Who here can tell us what kind of tail Auranius has?”
If Celine was here, she’d probably forget she’s not supposed to answer anything and raise her hand, excited to prove her knowledge. In her honor, I raise my hand, and the instructor points at me. “Yes?”
“Smooth,” I say.
“What makes you say that?” Her condescending tone would grate me if I wasn’t used to this class and to the way she talks.
“It looks smooth?” I shrug. I saw that dragon from up close, as well as flying above us many times.
“Does anyone else have a different opinion?” Katrine looks around.
“It’s heavy,” a girl says.
The instructor chuckles. “It’s certainly heavy, but we’re talking about the kind of tail he has. Any guesses?”
“Sword edge,” a young man says.
Katrine looks at the classroom. “It’s actually barbed. And you’re going to say: impossible! It looks smooth. The reason it looks smooth is his size. He’s so big that his barbs can’t be noticed. But that won’t happen with the smaller dragons who attack us. You’ll see their tails.”
I saw an attack. In the confusion, gliders collided against each other. I doubt anyone had time to check any dragons’ tails.
Attack. There was another one last night. More bodies sent to Auranius. My stomach churns.
The class drags on as the instructor asks stupid questions to each table, while my mind spins, still trying to figure out a way to save the hatchlings.
I’m glad when the class is over and I head to the refectory with Nelly. Somehow, I’m still starving, and I make a little mountain of rice, beans, and some fish on my plate.
When we sit, Nelly whispers, “There will be another star nectar party tonight, and… I have an invitation. Do you want to come?”
I hold my fork in the air, wishing I could stab something with it. This isn’t Nelly’s fault, but it’s horrific that recruits can get excited after a night when some of our colleagues died.
But that’s not even the biggest issue. I shake my head. “It would remind me too much of Celine. Do you mind if I stay in?”
“Makes sense. And don’t worry about me. I’ll manage.” She takes a deep breath. “I’m upset too, you know? It’s why I need the distraction.”
“Oh, I understand. It’s why I wish I could come with you, but I just… can’t.”
She bites her lip and stares at her empty plate. “Eventually, it will pass. The pain.”
“Hopefully.” Except that nothing will erase what I saw. Nothing will bring back my trust in this academy.
I take a forkful of rice, still stunned that my horror hasn’t suppressed my appetite.
Nelly then stiffens, looking at someone behind me, and I turn and see Alayel, who walks to our table and crouches by me.
“Come to my room,” he says, his voice soft. “At rain time.”
He kisses me briefly on the lips before I have time to tell him I’m eating. Then he walks away from the refectory, Flavio beside him.
Nelly smiles. “At least you’ll have a lovely evening.”
“For sure.” But I’m feeling weird about his invitation, maybe because he worded it like an order, even if his tone was gentle.
Everything feels weird and I don’t know what to do. No. There’s one thing I have to do right away.
I don’t knock on the door this time. I just walk into the chaos of the end of lunchtime at the Grease & Spice.
The assistant cook is washing dishes, while Laristella walks in holding a pile of dirty plates.
“Mayara, dear—”
“Let me help,” I offer, then take her pile and put it in the sink.
Laristella gives me an odd look. “Shouldn’t you be in the academy?”
“I had the afternoon off. Don’t stop your work for me.”
She huffs and goes back to the serving room as I clear the plates. My brother walks in and sniggers. “Decided to come back, Mah?”
“Just today.” In reality, the reason I came so early was to make sure to catch my brother at the restaurant. I need to talk to him—and to Laristella too, and I need time for that.
Ensuring the cleanup ends earlier will give me more time, so that’s one reason I’m helping.
Soon enough, the last dish is dried and stacked away. When my brother climbs the ladder to his room, I tell him, “Don’t go anywhere. I need to talk to you.”
He chuckles. “I’m just going to rest!”
I smile at him. “And you deserve it.”
When the assistant cook leaves, I walk into the serving room, where all the chairs have been put aside. Laristella tosses water and soap on the floor, then uses a broom to scrub it.
“How do you do it?” I ask.