Chapter 47 Alar
ALAR
"Fortify against the enemy without, but guard no less vigilantly against the enemy within."
—Commander Darius Hawke, Elite Forces' Vedona Academy
Avida tried to engage me during the flight, making small detours to point out this or that peak and its significance in this or that battle, but I looked at it all with little interest. I was wholly preoccupied with Kailin and what I should do when I saw her.
One thing was for sure. Given the turmoil I was feeling right now, she wasn't the casual fling I'd attempted to convince myself she was, and my feelings for her ran deep.
Regrettably, I might have arrived at this groundbreaking realization too late and blown up my chances with her by not showing her how much she meant to me.
If I had done better, would she have gone with that rider and gazed upon him like he was her be-all and end-all?
By the time we landed, I managed to get myself under control the only way I knew how—I went numb, as cold on the inside as I was on the outside.
My rider must have attributed my silence and lack of enthusiasm to fear or shock over my first dragon flight, but she was gracious enough not to comment on it.
I did a decent job of dismounting the dragon, and after the rider handed me my pack, she escorted me to a large stone chamber, which was warmed by braziers and lit by electric lights and olive torches.
It was a strange mixture of ancient solemnity and modern utility.
"Cadet Alar Tekum," she introduced me. "I leave you in the capable hands of Captain Odinah." She smiled and clapped me on my back. "Good luck."
Captain Odinah was a tall and lean rider, with close-cropped silver-blond hair and sharp features, who had the aura of a no-nonsense career military officer.
"Welcome to the Citadel, Cadet Alar Tekum," she said without even a hint of a smile. "Please take your place among the other cadets."
My gaze immediately sought out Kailin, who stood with Shovia near one of the braziers, warming her hands. She gave me a small nod and even forced a smile, but then turned back to Shovia, and they continued their whispered conversation.
Was she telling her friend about the dark-eyed rider who'd brought her here? Was she singing his praises and gushing over how handsome he was?
Thankfully, he wasn't with her, so I wouldn't get thrown out of the academy for attacking a superior officer before orientation.
It seemed like he'd merely dropped her off, but that didn't mean he wouldn't return for her. The thought sent a bolt of pain and anger through my heart, cracking the ice shield I'd managed to temporarily surround it with.
"That looks cozy," Codric said next to me.
I had been so focused on Kailin that I hadn't noticed him walking in or getting introduced to Captain Odinah.
"It's not freezing, but it's far from cozy," I said, just to say something and hide the turmoil raging inside of me. "These Elucians seem immune to the cold."
Codric rubbed his gloved hands. "More than we are. That's for sure."
At least he'd had the foresight to put his gloves on.
We waited a few more minutes for the rest of the new recruits to be dropped off and introduced to the captain, and when everyone was accounted for, she lifted her hand to get our attention.
"Welcome to the Dragon Flight Academy, cadets.
I'm Captain Odinah Castell, and I'll be one of your instructors.
Congratulations on being selected, but let's make one thing clear—getting chosen means that you have the potential to become dragon riders.
It doesn't guarantee it." Her gaze swept over us, lingering a fraction longer on me and Codric, the only Elurians in the group.
There was no approval in her gaze, only suspicion.
Codric stepped closer to me, his shoulder brushing mine in silent solidarity.
The captain continued, "The twenty-four of you will be joining the twelve cadets selected from the previous two pilgrimages of this year.
You'll be sharing the same quarters, but not all the same classes and training.
Hopefully, all of you will graduate together or at least survive the training.
" She gave us a stern look. "Following instructions and staying alert will keep you alive. Remember that."
Next to me, Codric shifted his weight to his other foot, and I tensed, expecting him to utter some stupid remark that would get him or both of us in trouble. But thankfully he kept his mouth shut, and I let out a silent sigh of relief, refocusing on what I had learned so far.
An annual crop of thirty-six cadets was pitiful, but it was considered larger than usual, and of those chosen, some would graduate.
Fortunately for the Dragon Force, riders became immortal thanks to the bond, or it wouldn't have been viable.
Then again, the rumors claimed that riders didn't survive to old age, which I couldn't reconcile with the supposed size of the Dragon Force.
It was either much smaller than Elucia pretended it was, or not as many riders perished as the rumors claimed.
It was one more of the mysteries that I was here to uncover, and I hoped I would get the chance to do so and not get kicked out once the shaman outed me to the commanders.
I still couldn't believe that he'd found out who I was and yet permitted me to be here.
The logical course of action would have been to throw me in the brig and interrogate me.
"Your schedule for the first month will be rigorous," the captain said.
"Morning reveille at 0500, followed by physical conditioning from 0600 until 0700.
Breakfast from 0800 to 0830, followed by orientation until 0900.
Dragon Studies until 1100, then combat tactics until lunch at 1230.
Afternoons will be dedicated to practical applications of what you've learned in the morning.
That means actual flight practice, combat drills, and maneuvering exercises. "
From behind me, Morek groaned. "Are they trying to kill us?"
"They are trying to weed out the weak," I murmured. “It's st—"
"Cadet," Captain Odinah's voice cut me off. "Do you have something to share with the rest of us?"
I straightened, instinctively falling into a military stance. "No, Captain. Just expressing appreciation for the efficiency of the program."
She narrowed her eyes, assessing me, but then she nodded and continued.
"Living arrangements are simple. You'll be paired in rooms according to gender.
Each room has two beds, two desks, and two wardrobes.
You're expected to keep them immaculate at all times.
There will be daily inspections, and failures to keep up standards will result in additional duties. "
She gestured toward a young man standing near the back entrance, who stepped forward at her signal. "This is Cadet Jarren Voss. He's a second-year and will be your hall monitor. Any questions about housing, recreation, or other non-academic or flight matters should be directed to him."
Jarren nodded to us, his expression neutral but not unfriendly. "Welcome to the most challenging year of your lives," he said. "I survived it, and I hope all of you will survive it too. We need riders."
A few nervous chuckles rippled through our group.
I wasn't among them.
The Elite Forces' Vedona Academy had probably been more challenging, and I'd graduated top of my expedited training class.
Elucian Forces were formidable, but their command structure was much less rigid and seemed amateurish in comparison, but no one could argue with their effectiveness, so perhaps less rigidity was preferable.
It was one of the things I was here to learn.
Captain Odinah handed her clipboard to Jarren. "Cadet Voss will assign you your rooms and provide a brief tour of the facilities. After that, you'll proceed to the mess hall for the Feast of Fate, which I'm sure you are all eager to get to."
The truth was that I had forgotten about my empty stomach and the festive feast that had been promised at the end of the pilgrimage. The tea's drugging effects must have included appetite suppression.
She fixed us with a final appraising look and then cracked a smile. "Dismissed until 0500 tomorrow. Jarren, they're all yours."
As she exited, Jarren motioned for us to follow him. "When I assign you to your rooms, leave your packs there and come out. You can check out your accommodations after dinner.”
"There are no keys because there is no need to lock the doors when you leave your rooms," Jarren said as he led us down the corridor.
"Stealing is an affront to Elu, and no self-respecting Elucian would transgress in such a dishonorable manner.
" He cast a quick glance in my and Codric's general direction, but I didn't think he had done it intentionally, or at least I hoped that he wasn't implying we were more likely to steal things than his fellow Elucians.
After a quick glance at his clipboard, Jarren called out two names, and as the cadets opened the door to their room, I craned my neck to see what was inside.
I didn't have high expectations, and I was proven right. The place looked a lot like the room Codric and I had shared in the pilgrims' lodge.
"Morek Wagoy and Terral Novis." Jarren motioned for them to step forward. "Room 214."
Morek's roommate was a lanky guy with a shock of red hair, a face covered with freckles, and a friendly smile. He offered Morek his hand before opening the door to their room and stepping inside.
"Alar Tekum and Codric Teress," Jarren called next. "Room 216."
"Thank you," I said.
Just like the other rooms, ours was spartan but functional, furnished just as the Captain had said they would be. Codric and I dropped our packs at the foot of the beds and stepped back out into the corridor, but not before I noted that there was a chain and hook to lock the door from the inside.
I was relieved, not because of the added safety, but because it was a much-needed privacy measure, especially for the girls.
Kailin and Shovia got assigned to Room 229, and I wished I could check whether they had the same security feature in their room.
After everyone had been assigned their lodging, we followed Jarren through a series of corridors, each lit by a combination of electric lights and occasional natural light from strategically placed shafts that penetrated from the mountainside.
"First years are housed on the second floor," Jarren explained as we walked.
"Second years are on the third and third years on the fourth floor.
Permanent staff have quarters on the fourth floor.
The rest of the floors are occupied by riders according to rank, and the top floor is where the offices and war rooms are located.
All floors above yours are off-limits without direct invitation. "
He led us to a modestly sized common area with several worn couches arranged around a television set that looked at least a decade out of date. A single telephone hung on the wall nearby.
"This is the first-year lounge," he said, gesturing around the space.
"It's not much, but you'll be lucky to have any time to spend here anyway.
The phone is for emergency calls only. First-year students are not permitted to place outside calls.
If there's an emergency requiring outbound communication, you'll need to speak with your commanding officer.
They'll evaluate the situation and, if warranted, place the call for you and monitor it. "
Shovia raised her hand. "What constitutes an emergency?"
"Serious injury that means you are going home."
"Oh." Shovia looked disappointed, which I found odd.
She didn't strike me as the type who was overly attached to her parents, and she had no boyfriend back home.
Codric was right here, and the two could spend as much time together as their schedule allowed, but I didn't know how serious she was about him and whether she wished to continue their relationship in the academy.
I glanced at Kailin, but she averted her eyes again like she'd done every time I looked in her direction.
What was her problem?
Was she ashamed of how she'd acted?
She should be.
Well, not really.
She hadn't done anything wrong. Even if we were a couple, which we weren't, she could ride with anyone she wanted. What rubbed me the wrong way was how she'd looked at that commander.
"Each floor of the dormitories has its own communal bathroom facilities," Jarren said as we moved on. "One for guys and one for gals."
Codric leaned closer to me. "Reminds me of the academy back home, but back there we had privileges."
Being royalty had its advantages. While other cadets had shared communal bathrooms, Codric and I had our own bathroom and nice, private rooms. The excuse had been that we had required extra security, which had been true.
Things were not as peaceful in Eluria as they appeared to outsiders, and political kidnappings and assassinations were not uncommon.
What was common was the suppression of publicity about them.
The rags sometimes published the stories, but most of the public believed that they were fabrications or conspiracy theories.
We continued following Jarren through the corridors until we reached a set of large double doors, which he pushed open.
"And this is the mess hall, where you'll take all your meals according to the schedule Captain Odinah outlined.
First years also rotate kitchen cleanup duty, but yours won't start until you get settled.
" He smiled. "At first, you will be too exhausted just trying to keep up with the training schedule.
After that, the roster will be posted weekly. "
"Oh, the joy," Shovia murmured loud enough for everyone to hear.