Chapter 4 Kailin #2
We took our seats, with my parents sitting at the opposite ends of the table, Dylon, Alar, and I on one side, and Ravel next to Gran on the other.
Dad's expression grew serious as he looked us over. "Is there a reason for the dress uniforms? I hope there weren't any additional deaths."
We all turned somber, remembering that many of the wounded were still fighting for their lives, and the list of casualties was still growing.
"Not as far as I know," Ravel said. "We had a grand celebration in the Citadel in honor of the victory over the Shedun and flew here right after."
"What a miracle it was," Gran said. "Thank Elu and his divine providence."
Divine. Right.
Could I ever tell my grandmother that the god she worshiped wasn't a divinity? That he was flesh and blood just like us, only immortal and powerful?
"You should thank Kailin, Mrs. Strom," Ravel's calm voice cut through my thoughts. "Your granddaughter has rendered an extraordinary service to Elucia. She saved countless lives in Podana."
My father's brow furrowed. "How? Kailin is just a first-year cadet. What could she possibly have done to save lives in Podana?"
Ravel glanced at me. "Do you want to tell them or do you prefer me to do it?"
I forced a smile. "Since I'm a bit fuzzy about the specifics of what I actually did, perhaps it would be better if you told the story."
It was true that Ravel was better suited to recount the events of that night because he had fought in Podana. However, the real reason I wanted him to narrate it was to avoid sounding boastful.
"Kailin possesses a unique ability," Ravel said. "She had a prophetic dream warning of a massive Shedun attack on our capital. Her warning allowed the Dragon Force to mobilize in time to prevent a massacre. Without her, Podana would have suffered catastrophic losses."
The silence that followed was deafening. My family stared at me as if I'd grown a second head, and that was after hearing a very modified and diminished version of what I had done.
Ravel hadn't told them that my so-called prophetic dream had been achieved by me somehow merging my consciousness with that of animals and birds who had sensed the attack. He also hadn't told them that I had broadcast my dream to the dragons, alerting them to what was about to happen.
Gran nodded sagely, her weathered hands resting on her napkin. "You could always sense things before they happened, Kailin, like the time before the attack on your village."
I jerked in surprise. "You remember that?"
"Of course, and it wasn't the only time.
One time when you were little, you started crying for no apparent reason, and when I asked you what was wrong, you said that Daddy was hurt.
You couldn't have known that he'd smashed his finger with the hammer while fixing the fence, and yet you did.
He came home almost an hour later with a crude bandage he'd made from a piece of his sleeve.
" She cast a fond look at my father. "Do you remember that? "
He nodded. "I foolishly kept working, thinking that nothing was seriously wrong and that I could handle the pain. You saved my finger by setting the bones properly."
"Stubborn boy," she chided. "You never knew when to quit."
"Like mother, like son," he countered and turned to me. "So, you have dreams about the future? But if the future can be changed, then what you are dreaming is just one possibility from many futures."
Dylon chuckled. "Always the philosopher, Dad."
"He's right," I said. "But it doesn't happen often that I dream of a possible future."
"Elu is using you as a vessel to warn his children," Gran said.
I stifled a cringe and didn't correct her.
Ravel regarded me with his dark eyes. "It seems that you are attuned to Shedun attacks. Back in your village, you were physically close to the events as they were about to unfold, but three days ago, you were very far from Podana and still felt it. Your ability is growing."
My father had his suspicious expression on, and I knew that he realized there was more to the story than he was being told. "I'm surprised that the higher-ups acted based on a dream of a first-year cadet. Did you have other dreams that have been proven prophetic?"
I shook my head. "Shaman Saphir trusts me," I said, implying that was why the Dragon Force command had acted on my dream.
It wasn't straight-out lying, but it was close enough to make me want to lift three fingers to my lips. That would have given me away, though, so instead, I reached for Alar's hand under the table and squeezed it.
His return squeeze was a shot of reassurance.
"The mobilization was unprecedented," Ravel said. "General Lesten acted on Kailin's warning without hesitation."
I reached into my pocket and withdrew the medal, setting it on the table with a soft click. The sapphire at its center caught the light from the window, seeming to glow with inner fire.
"Dear Elu," my father breathed. "Is that the Hero of Elucia medal?"
"It is," Dylon confirmed with a grin. "Kailin received it this morning from General Bardaky himself, but she's too modest to wear it and has been hiding it in her pocket."
Mom made a sound somewhere between a sob and a laugh, pressing her fingers to her lips. Dad stared at the medal as if it might walk away if not watched.
"The real heroes are the ones who fought off the Shedun," I said. "Not me. I didn't face any dangers while asleep in my bed."
That wasn't entirely true. My body had been hollowed out, and I faced the risk of losing myself to the animal forms my consciousness inhabited during those dreams. But they didn't need to know that. It would only make them worry.
Gran lifted her hand. "If the generals decided that you deserved a medal, you don't argue with them. It's disrespectful."
"Can we eat now?" Dylon asked. "I'm proud of Kailin, but I'm also hungry, and I'm sure Alar and Commander Ravel are eager to dig in as well."
"Of course," my father said. "But first, let's offer thanks to Elu for this food and for bringing my children safely home."
After we said a quick prayer of thanks, Gran served Ravel a generous portion of goat. "So, Commander, what brings you to our humble town besides escorting my grandchildren home?"
I was wondering the same thing.
Ravel shifted in his chair. "I have some personal matters to attend to, and I can use a few days off. Podana took a lot out of me."
"I bet," my father said. "Everyone who took part in that battle deserves time off to rest and recuperate."
"More potato casserole, Alar?" My mother offered.
"Thank you, Mrs. Strom." He took the platter from her. "Everything is delicious."
"Please, call me Milly. You're practically family now."
Alar cast her a charming smile. "Thank you, Milly."
I nearly choked on my water. Mom was moving faster than I was comfortable with. Then it suddenly occurred to me that no one had asked why Alar had accompanied Dylon and me or where he was staying tonight.
Had Dylon told them about us becoming a couple?
It was possible. Then again, they'd met Alar before the pilgrimage, and the sparks between us had been pretty obvious, so maybe they'd deduced that things had progressed since then.
Still, I needed to make an official announcement if I planned on Alar sharing my bed instead of sleeping on a cot in Dylon's room.
"Tell us about the academy, Kailin," my mother said. "The only news we got about you came from Dylon, and since he was discouraged from visiting you, he only heard things about you from Jagura."
I latched onto the safer topic gratefully. "It's exhausting. We're up before dawn every day for physical training. Then classes all morning—tactics, dragon physiology and anatomy, history, navigation. Afternoons are flight training and weapons practice."
"Flight training," Dad repeated. "Do you enjoy it?"
That was his circumvent way of asking how I was managing my phobia without revealing my secret to Alar and Ravel.
"It's exhilarating, and not as scary as I expected it to be. Onyx helps."
"Onyx?" Mom asked.
"Commander Ravel's dragon," Dylon supplied. "He's been helping train Kailin."
I shot my brother a warning look, but the damage had been done.
Mom's matchmaking instincts flared to life, and she shifted her gaze to a new target that appealed to her much more than my Elurian boyfriend. Even Alar's princely status couldn't compete with the allure of a dashing squadron commander.
"That's wonderful!" She beamed at him. "Are you planning to draft Kailin into your squadron?"
"That's one option," Ravel said noncommittally and continued eating.
Alar took my hand under the table again, squeezing it gently, less in support and more in possessiveness. I squeezed back, trying to convey that he had nothing to worry about.
"How long is your leave?" Dad asked.
"Three days," I said. "Alar and I have to get back before sunset on the third day."
"Both of you?" Gran's sharp eyes moved between Alar and me.
"I was granted the same leave," Alar confirmed. "Given recent events, our commanders didn't want Kailin to travel alone."
There it was—the closest anyone had come to acknowledging the real reason for Ravel's presence, for Alar's, for the whole carefully orchestrated charade.
Gran put her fork down. "I may be old, but I'm not stupid. Is my granddaughter in danger?"
"Gran—" I started.
"No, child. I'll speak plainly in my own house." She fixed Ravel with a stare that could extinguish dragfire. "What kind of danger is Kailin in?"
Ravel held her gaze steadily. "Hopefully, none. Other than you, no one outside the Citadel knows about Kailin's ability to predict Shedun attacks. I doubt the information would leak from either source."
"I see." Gran narrowed her eyes at him. "You are using Kailin to check if there are any leaks from the Citadel."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop. My mother gasped, Dad's face darkened, and even Dylon looked shocked.
"That's not—" Ravel began.
"Save your denials, Commander," Gran interrupted. "I'm not too old to remember military logic. A valuable asset draws out traitors. Better to control when and where than wait for them to choose."
"That's true," Ravel said. "But as I said before, the risk is very low, and I have people watching Kailin and the house."
His words eased the knot in my gut. I was better protected than I'd thought I was. I could relax and enjoy time with my family despite the real reason I had been granted this vacation.
"I should have been informed," Dylon muttered.
Alar glared at Ravel. "As should Kailin and I."
Ravel didn't seem to be bothered by Alar's hostility. "Would it have made a difference? You are here, and you will protect Kailin. The idea was to let you enjoy your vacation and not worry about a threat that would most likely never materialize."
"Commander Ravel is right," Dylon said into the heavy silence. "Kailin's home for the first time in over six weeks, and we have three days to enjoy as a family. Let's make the best of the time we have."
"Yes," my father agreed quickly. "How is Shovia doing?" He changed the subject. "It was such a shock to learn that she had the gift. Morek too." He turned to Alar. "You and your cousin getting your wish was just as surprising. Elu must have some grand plan in mind for the five of you."
If he only knew, but I couldn't tell my father how right he was.
"It has never happened before," Ravel said. "The five of them were grouped together on the pilgrimage, and all five were found to be gifted. I was never a great believer in signs, but after what Kailin has done for our people, I'm forced to reevaluate my position on divine intervention."