Chapter 53 #2
I needed to fix things with Kailin, and it was definitely my turn to do so, even if I still felt uneasy about Ravel and his true intentions.
I had to trust her judgment and respect her agency.
If something was not as it should be, I hoped she would find a way to tell me or at least Shovia without having to break her vow of secrecy.
When we entered, Kailin was seated in the front of the classroom, with her shoulders stiff and her gaze locked on the board behind the instructor's desk, which was laden with neat stacks of leather-bound books.
I hesitated, unsure if I should sit beside her or give her space.
Codric solved my dilemma by nudging me forward. "Just go."
I slid into the seat next to her. "I'm sorry if I upset you," I said quietly.
"I should have trusted your judgment, and that if anything was amiss, you would have told me or Shovia.
It's just that I was worried about you, and all those tragic scenarios played in my head.
I even considered that something might have happened to Chicha, and I wondered if they would have called you for that. "
That got a twitch of a smile out of her, and she turned to look at me. "Were you really worried about Chicha?"
"I like your little dog, but I have to admit that I was more worried about your reaction to the bad news than I was about her."
Kailin's expression softened. "So, you weren't jealous?"
Elucians valued truth, so I had to admit that jealousy had been part of it.
"I was a little envious, but not because I doubted anything you told me last night.
I trust you. It's everyone else I'm suspicious of.
" A ghost of a smile encouraged me to keep going.
"I just know how manipulative some men can be. Particularly men in power. You are young and inexperienced, and even though you are smart, you might not notice the manipulation if it’s done subtly.
But upon further reflection, I realized that I did you an injustice.
You are much too smart to let anyone take advantage of you. "
She leveled her intelligent eyes on me. "Thank you. Try not to forget it next time Commander Ravel requests my presence."
I tensed, the little measure of calm I'd managed to gather dissipating in an instant. "There will be a next time?"
Kailin nodded. "I can't tell you what it's about, but it will require more of my time. I promise to tell you what it is as soon as I'm allowed."
Before I could respond, the classroom door opened, and a tall woman strode in. Her dark hair was pulled back in a knot that sat low on her neck, and the insignia on her uniform indicated her commander rank.
The room fell silent as all attention focused on her.
"Good morning, cadets," she announced, surveying the room with sharp, dark eyes.
"I am Commander Moira Langston of the Storm Wing, and I will be one of your principal instructors during your time at the academy.
We will start by each of you standing up and introducing yourself to your fellow cadets, and after that, we will go over the academy's rules and regulations.
In the military, rules are not suggestions for civilized behavior. A strict adherence is required."
Her eyes shifted to Codric and me, and a sardonic smile lifted her thin lips.
"In a mercantile enterprise, breaking the rules might mean monetary loss and sometimes legal action, but in the military, it can mean the difference between life and death, not just your own, but of your fellow riders.
Following the rules is vital, and infringements will be dealt with swiftly and harshly. "
Codric and I had heard similar speeches before, so her words had no effect on us, but most of the other cadets seemed stressed.
"Let's begin with you." She pointed at a cadet sitting in the first row. "Please stand up, turn to your fellow cadets, and tell us about yourself in a few words."
As the introductions progressed, I tried to memorize as much as I could of their stories, but I wasn't too worried about forgetting which village each cadet was from or what they had studied and hoped to be before the pilgrimage.
That life was over from the moment they'd heard the call of the dragon to come forward in the Circle of Fate.
Besides, I counted on Codric remembering every detail and reminding me if needed.
My cousin wasn't the most studious or the brightest, but he had an incredible memory for personal stories. Perhaps that was his secret power of charming almost anyone into becoming his friend. He really listened to people because he cared about them, and they appreciated him for that.
After the introductions were done, Commander Langston gestured for Morek and another cadet to stand up. "Please distribute the Academy's Regulations Manual to your classmates."
She waited until each one of us held a copy of the book, which wasn't nearly as big as the one Codric and I had gotten in Vedona and had to memorize.
"This manual contains everything you need to know about conduct, protocol, and expectations during your training here, and much more. I recommend that you keep it by your bed and read from it every night. It contains the wisdom of many riders, former and current."
I ran my fingers over the embossed dragon silhouette on the cover and wondered how such a small manual could contain all of that.
"Study the rules first," Langston continued.
"Memorize them. When you're thousands of feet in the air, on the back of a creature that could incinerate a small village in seconds, they can be the difference between life and death.
They are what makes the difference between cohesion and chaos in the ranks. "
She began pacing at the front of the room, her polished black boots clicking against the stone floor.
"Some of the rules are more flexible than others. Some are merely suggestions for harmony in close quarters. Others…" her gaze swept across us "are absolute and inviolable. They are marked appropriately so you will know the difference."
I opened the book, curious about what constituted an inviolable rule in the Dragon Force. The pages were filled with neat, small text, interspersed with quotes from former commanders and advice on various scenarios.
The markings were self-explanatory, giving an immediate visual indicator of what kind of rule it was.
Inviolable rules that must be obeyed at all times were marked with crossed swords and pertained to the chain of command, battle conduct, safety protocols, etc.
Flexible, situationally enforced guidelines, which allowed for discretion based on context, were marked by balanced scales.
And advisory rules, which were merely suggestions for unit cohesion, morale, or best practices, were marked by a star.
"Take a few minutes to familiarize yourselves with the content," Commander Langston instructed. "We'll discuss some of the most important sections when you are done."
The rustle of turning pages filled the classroom as everyone began exploring the rulebook. I flipped through my copy, noting sections on flight protocols, combat formations, and maintenance of equipment.
"Oh, interesting," Codric murmured from behind me. I turned to see him grinning at a page.
"What is it?" I asked.
He tilted his book so I could see. "'Intimate relationships between cadets of the same year are permitted as long as they are fully consensual, done discreetly, and don't interfere with other cadets' studies or rest times,'" he read in an amused voice.
Shovia rolled her eyes. "Of course that would be the thing to grab your attention."
"It's the most relevant information." Codric tapped the book. "Although I don't understand why we are restricted to cadets of the same year."
"Be grateful that it is allowed at all." Morek sighed. "I wish Erona had been found gifted and joined the academy."
Shovia leaned over and patted his arm. "Of course, you do."
A guy whose name I'd already forgotten turned around. "We are all adults here. It would have been illegal for them to forbid us from finding release with each other."
I could have told him that civilians and soldiers did not enjoy the same rights, but I kept it to myself.
Returning to the rulebook, I noted with interest a section about the chain of command and protocols for reporting misconduct. There was a specific prohibition against instructors or officers engaging in relationships with cadets, exactly as I had suspected.
"See here," I murmured to Kailin, pointing to the passage. "Relations between instructors or commanders and cadets are strictly prohibited, regardless of consent. It's clear-cut."
She didn't even look at the page. "I told you that it's not like that. Would you drop it already?"
"I did," I said quickly, not wanting to reignite our argument. "I just wanted to show you that the concern wasn't entirely unfounded. Otherwise, there wouldn't be a strict rule against it. It's actually marked with the crossed swords even though it is not battle-related."
She nodded in a concession of sorts and returned to her reading.
At some point, the door to the classroom opened, and Captain Odinah walked in. I tensed up, expecting her to call Kailin out again.
"Carry on, cadets. I'm not here for you." She continued directly to Commander Langston, and the two started a hushed conversation.
From their body language and facial expressions, I deduced that the topic wasn't trivial. Pretending to be engrossed in my rulebook, I strained to hear what they were talking about.
"The investigation into the bombing uncovered some interesting new information," Captain Odinah said.
"They used the same explosive materials to create the avalanche that they used in the square.
Although it makes little sense to me. If they'd succeeded in killing Saphir with the bomb at the square, the pilgrimage would have been canceled.
So why plant more explosives on the way to the temple?
Killing a few pilgrims didn't achieve much.
Some fatalities are always expected. It's painful, and we all grieve for the loss, but it's not like they could crush our spirits by killing a few kids. "
"Maybe they didn't expect to succeed in eliminating Saphir?" Langston suggested. "Maybe all three events were just their usual thirst for Elucian blood. It's all about how many of us they manage to kill by any means. Each death is a tribute to their vile god."
"It might be that the event at the square was just meant to kill as many Elucians as possible, and it didn't even occur to the Shedun that they might get Saphir.
" Commander Langston leaned against the desk.
"After all, they are dumb, and they are not great at long-term planning.
They are rotting their brains with all the performance-enhancing drugs that they consume. "
"The inbreeding doesn't help their average intelligence either." Odinah leaned against the desk next to her friend and folded her arms over her chest, mimicking her pose. "We are lucky that they are so incompetent, but even so, they still nearly managed to deal us a fatal blow."
They weren't keeping their voices as low now, and I wondered whether their conversation was meant for us to hear.
Did they still suspect Codric and me, and were watching our reaction?
"Anyway, I came to tell you that security is being upped a notch for the shaman's arrival tomorrow," Odinah continued. "You should go over the protocols with the new cadets."
Saphir Fatewever was arriving at the Citadel tomorrow? That was valuable information. I needed to talk to him.
Would I even have access to the shaman?
Could I request an audience?
After Captain Odinah departed, Commander Langston returned her attention to the class. "Let's discuss safety protocols and what each code means. There are five levels of security. You should take out your notebooks and write this down." She walked over to the board.
"Level one…"
I glanced at Kailin, studying her profile as she concentrated on Commander Langston's words.
The light from the window highlighted the golden strands in her hair, and I longed to rake my fingers through the silky softness.
Thankfully, the dress code demanded that those with long hair keep it gathered only during active training, so Kailin was free to showcase her impressive mane.
She must have felt my gaze on her and turned, catching me watching her.
I held her eyes and smiled, trying to convey without words that I was there for her.
She smiled back and nodded, which I hoped meant that she was there for me as well.