Excerpt #2
I swallowed, feeling guilty for taking a break. "I need time to recuperate, Shovia. Saphir said it was okay for me to stop drinking it for a few days."
The truth was that I was terrified of resuming the nightly ritual, and not just because of what the dream took out of me physically. What if I got lost inside those creatures who unwittingly hosted my consciousness during my dreams?
Shovia's expression softened, and she put her hands on my shoulders, turning me around and pulling me into a hug.
"I know." She stepped back. "I'm sorry for suggesting that.
The Shedun will need a long time to recover from the devastating blow our forces dealt them.
No one expects them to launch anything big anytime soon. "
"I hope so. I really need a few more days off. Instead of giving me a medal, they should have rewarded me with a vacation at home. I miss my family and Chicha, and my gran's cooking would do wonders for fattening me up."
Shovia squeezed my shoulder. "You should get both.
That way, you can go home with your new, shiny medal, and tell your parents that you are dating the wealthy Elurian they were all so impressed with.
" She chuckled. "Your grandmother would be thrilled.
I still remember how she gushed over Alar's impeccable manners. "
They would be even more impressed if I could tell them that Alar was a prince, the fifth son of King Tekumuton of Catonia, but that was another secret that I had been entrusted with and couldn't share with the people I loved.
"Alar is Elurian," I said. "I'm not at all sure my family will be thrilled with me dating him. They would much prefer a nice Elucian boy."
Shovia pursed her lips. "I'm not sure you are right about that. But speaking of Alar, where is he? Why isn't he here fussing over you like he usually does?"
"He doesn't fuss over me." Well, he kind of did, but only for the past three days. "He's getting ready in his and Codric's room, and when he's done, he will come over to help me climb those drakking stairs."
Right now, climbing eleven floors seemed more challenging than the pilgrimage, which was a testament to how that dream had hollowed me out, leaving me a barely functioning husk.
"Good. That gives me time to fix your hair." Shovia pointed me toward her desk chair. "You can't look like a wreck when receiving Elucia's highest honor."
"Thanks." I grimaced as I sat down. "That really boosts my confidence."
"Oh, stop it." She reached for the brush. "You know what I mean. I will also put some makeup on you, so when you show the recording to your future children, they will gush over how pretty their mama was when she was named a Hero of Elucia, and not how miserable she looked."
Leave it to Shovia to be brutally honest, but she was right. I wanted to look nice in the recording, even though I wasn't sure I'd be given a copy.
The event would be filmed, but to preserve what was left of my anonymity, it would not be broadcast on the civilian network. If I got a copy, I could show the ceremony to my family in private, and I wanted them to see me at my best.
Dylon would attend in person, so I would finally get to see my brother, and I intended to give him an earful for not visiting me even once after my prophetic dream.
I didn't care about the entire population of the Citadel thinking of me as a hero, but I cared about my brother finally acknowledging that his little sister was a badass.
As Shovia worked, weaving my hair into an intricate crown braid, I closed my eyes and tried to imagine Dylon's reaction. He would be proud of me, of course. How could he not be?
"Ow!" I winced as she tugged too hard.
"Sorry. Just making sure it's secure. Can't have a hair out of place on the head of the Hero of Elucia."
"Please stop calling me that. This medal belongs to all the riders who answered my call, and all the soldiers in the ground forces who held the line against the Shedun horde."
"That's an excellent acceptance speech." Shovia stepped back to admire her handiwork. "It will get you a lot of applause."
I swallowed. "Am I expected to speak? I haven't prepared anything."
Wasn't a thank you and a handshake enough?
"No, but what you've just said sounds awesome.
When you thank the general for the medal, add that.
" She put her hands on my shoulders. "Perhaps it will make the other cadets more comfortable around you.
People are envious of achievement, sometimes even resentful, because they don't want to feel inferior in any way.
Showing humility and giving credit to others is a great way to mitigate the effect. "
"I doubt it will help."
It wasn't just the cadets. The service staff and the instructors had been giving me strange looks, too. People were grateful for what I'd done, but they were also more distant. Less friendly. Perhaps even a little wary of my unprecedented ability.
Not that I could blame them. Even to me, it seemed like dark magic.
No wonder Saphir was hiding his compulsion ability and putting on a playful act. I should emulate him, but I lacked his natural charm and penchant for drama.
Shovia added a little rouge to my cheeks and lips and took a step back. "Much better. Do you want to take a look?"
I stood and turned to the mirror.
"It's alive!" I exclaimed, which made Shovia laugh.
After she'd treated her own face to some of the rouge, she put the tiny jar away and patted my shoulder. "Showtime."