48. Power
T he Aer-Kin played around in the large field at the back of the hatchery, Aeden watching on as a keen spectator alongside Lyric, who was beaming like a proud parent.
The field was full of a wide variety of Aer-Kin varying in colours, shapes, and sizes, the majority of which were diving around, flapping their wings, and play-fighting with their brothers and sisters.
Bertha, the chunky ruby Aer-Kin, sat curled up in the shade fast asleep.
She had been a rotund Aer-Kin the last time Aeden had seen her, and she was even bigger now, with little layers of chub and fat rolls appearing under what should have been her neck.
In the sunlight her scales shone even more vibrantly, as if each scale was a prized jewel. She was still a stunning creature.
There were so many more Aer-Kin in the field that it was miracle Lyric was managing to get any sleep at all. That probably explained the ever-growing dark circles that framed his sunken eyes .
Lyric pointed at Bertha and laughed. “She just might be the laziest Aer-Kin I’ve ever seen.
I thought Nyra could sleep, but Bertha, all she does is eat and sleep.
” An endearing smile fell on his face as he continued to watch over all of the Aer-Kin.
“There you go, all of the Aer-Kin hatched and happy, all one hundred and three of them.” The number itself was impressive, and Aeden couldn’t fathom the work that must go into feeding and nurturing them.
“It’s not too long until the bonding ceremony now, and then I can catch up on some much needed shut eye.
” Lyric chuckled to himself again. “At least you don’t have to worry about the ceremony. ”
Aeden shook his head. He may not have to worry about the ceremony itself, but he had plenty to be worrying about right now, as well as what came after the ceremony.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how it actually works. I just woke up with Nyra bonded to me, really. All I remember is the pain of when it happened.”
“That’s normal. I mean, what do you expect when your Weaves are fusing together?
Still, it’s always a sad day when they leave here for the ceremony.
I don’t have much to do with them usually after that.
That’s why it’s been nice to have Nyra around.
I’ll be sad when she has to move to the garrison with the rest of them. ”
Aeden had almost forgotten about that. Lyric had pulled some strings to allow Nyra to stay at the hatchery longer, but Aeden knew he needed to accept the inevitable, that she couldn’t stay at the hatchery forever, as much as he wanted her to be able to.
The very thought of her moving to the garrison filled him with dread, even more so after the attack from the older Aer-Kin that took control of their riders .
“What will you do when they’re all gone, if there are no eggs left to hatch?
” Aeden asked. He watched as Midnight, the dark blue, almost black Aer-Kin rolled over following a playful tussle with Copper Top.
The larger orange Aer-Kin flicked her away like swatting a fly.
Midnight lowered herself to the ground, letting out a growl that wasn’t as intimidating as it was clearly meant to be.
It drew a laugh from Aeden, who watched on as Midnight made multiple attempts to best Copper Top but was repeatedly knocked back as Copper Top hit the smaller Aer-Kin around the head with its short, club-like tail.
Getting the hint, Midnight grumbled again, then turned and ran off, deciding to play with a light green Aer-Kin which was more or less the same size as her. It just had a completely smooth head, which contrasted with the ridge of spikes on her own.
“Is Midnight an Offence class?” Aeden asked.
“Funny enough, she isn’t, although her temperament would make you think that she was. She’s actually from a Support bloodline. Reminds me of someone else that I know.”
“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” Aeden laughed.
“Yeah, you’re just about the most combative Support class that has probably ever been at this academy in all of its history, and that’s saying something.”
“What? I” – but Aeden had no defence. He’d had numerous confrontations with Kael and didn’t think twice about challenging others to prove that he and Nyra deserved to be here, deserved to become riders.
And that was before he got started on the syphon attacks and the assault from the two second-year students.
“I mean, it’s not my fault that conflict comes looking for me.
I’m entitled to defend myself. There’s only one confrontation that I’ll admit I may have started in the dining hall on my first day, but other than that . . .”
“Looking at Midnight, I can’t help but feel the two of you would have been a perfect match. If you hadn’t bonded with Nyra, that is.” Something in Lyric’s body language changed. His shoulders slumped as he shuffled around awkwardly. He was that uncomfortable he was practically squirming.
“What is it?’ Aeden asked, suspecting that Lyric was holding something back.
“It’s nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me, Lyric, it’s not in your nature, and it doesn’t suit you.”
“Well, it’s just, Midnight . . . she’s . . . well, her bloodline . . .” Lyric fumbled on his words, his hands fidgeting like he didn’t know what to do with them.
“Spit it out, Lyric, it can’t be that bad.”
“She’s a descendant of your mother and father’s Aer-Kin.”
That might have explained why Aeden felt more drawn to her, but he couldn’t even comprehend the thought of not being bonded to Nyra.
It wasn’t something he wanted to give any further thought to.
“Oh,” he said, not quite sure how to respond.
It was a faint link to his parents, but a link nonetheless.
“Are there any more? You know, from that bloodline.”
“Not in this batch, no. Support numbers are low, meaning it’s harder to breed, and the rest of their bloodline are already bonded and fighting on the front lines. We were surprised when we found Midnight’s egg if I’m honest.”
“Master Ember.” Orion’s voice was not what Aeden wanted to hear, not today. Not on any day, for that matter .
Aeden’s first thought was Nyra, who was sleeping in the hatchery. He hoped and prayed the Sable twins had not been inside.
“No need to be alarmed. The guards told us you were out here, so we came straight around.” Orion stood in front of the gates, stopping at the fence as he looked at all the Aer-Kin in the field.
Rosheen stood further back, not as interested as her brother.
Her arms were rested behind her back as she stood in silence.
“We’re just here to look at the latest batch of Aer-Kin from the academy. I believe you’re not far away from the bonding ceremony?”
“That’s correct,” Lyric said. If he was looking uncomfortable before, he was desperate now as sweat beaded on his forehead. “They’re all almost ready.”
“Really? Is that what you would say, looking at all of these? They seem like they all have low potential. What do you think, Rosheen?”
His sister stepped forward and scanned the field. “One or two have potential. The rest, not so much so.” She turned away, disinterested, and moved back to her spot, placing her hands in the small of her back once more.
“See, if Rosheen sees it, then there really is no reason to disagree. These are a poor calibre of Aer-Kin, Master Ember, even by the academy’s low standards. Is that something you take responsibility for?” Orion’s tone was like a predator teasing its prey before striking.
Lyric couldn’t have looked any more uncomfortable. If he could have shrunk into the ground, he would have been a puddle .
“Now, let’s take a closer look,” Orion said. “Open the gate.”
“I can’t let you in, they’re untamed.”
Orion stared at Lyric. It was an intent stare, an unmistakable aura of power and authority emanating from him.
“I’ll open it up,” Lyric said. He moved to the pen, opened up the latch, and pulled the gate open for Orion, who stepped inside. Lyric followed him and locked the gate behind him before opening up the one on the opposite side of the pen so they had entry inside.
Once inside, Orion walked around slowly, concentrating on different Aer-Kin as he meandered past them.
Lyric followed closely behind. There was something strange, almost subservient about how he carried himself as Aeden watched on, wondering what was going on.
He checked on Rosheen, who was still in the same position, her expressionless face giving nothing away.
Orion continued around the field, inspecting the Aer-Kin one by one until he eventually stopped and pointed at one.
They were still close enough for Aeden to hear what he was saying.
“What is this?” he sneered.
“This is Bertha,” Lyric said.
“It’s ghastly. What’s wrong with it?”
“Wrong with her ,” Lyric corrected Orion. “Absolutely nothing. She’s just a hatchling.”
“She’s grossly overweight. What kind of Aer-Kin will it make if it’s like this now? The bloody thing can hardly lift its head. ”
Bertha opened her eyes and sniffed the air before raising her head. She huffed and grumbled, then stood up, clearly not happy at being woken early from her afternoon nap.
“It would be a miracle if this could get off the ground, let alone across the field on those short, stumpy legs.”
Aeden wasn’t keen on Orion’s tone, not one bit.
“She isn’t – it’s just a bit of new hatchling chub. Some of them are like that. They soon lose it when they start to grow,” Lyric said, leaping to Bertha’s defence. There was a tremor in his voice. Aeden understood that Bertha was one of Lyric’s favourite Aer-Kin out of all the new hatchlings.