Your father often said Basgiath's cruelty had a purpose. It forces you to find what you're made of. But don't let that cruelty harden you. I'd hate to lose you to this place.
Excerpt of recovered correspondence of Lieutenant Xaden Riorson to Thana Valaren.
~
The weight of the Gauntlet was beginning to settle into Thana's bones. It had been a weeks since they started their training, and each time she climbed, balanced, or swung through the course, she felt more sure of herself. The muscles in her arms had hardened, her grip tightened, and her sense of balance had sharpened. There was still fearâa steady hum at the back of her mindâbut it no longer controlled her. Instead, it pushed her, a reminder of what was at stake. Every climb, every jump, every slip was a lesson, and she was learning faster than she expected.
Garrick had been pushing her harder each day. His patience was unwavering, but there were times when his frustration showedâwhen she slipped, when she missed a rope or lost her footing, he'd flinch and his jaw would clench, and she'd see the flicker of panic in his eyes.
"Again, Thana," he would say, his voice clipped. "Don't think, just do it. Focus."
Thana would nod though aggravated at his tone, nevertheless she'd try again. She was stronger now, but the Gauntlet was unforgiving, and there were days when the course felt like it was mocking her. Today, however, she was determined. Today, she wouldn't slip.
They worked on climbing, scaling walls with nothing but their hands and feet, then testing their agility and balance on beams set higher and higher. They moved from rope to rope, from wall to ledge, until the only sound was the pounding of their hearts and the crunch of gravel beneath their boots.
Despite her progress, there were moments when Garrick's frustration was too palpable. When she missed a jump and had to scramble back, or when she faltered, gripping the wrong rope too tightly, he would sigh deeply.
"Focus, Thana," he would mutter, his tone softer but still tinged with impatience. "I know you can do better than this."
He had always been like a big brother to her, but lately, it seemed that the pressure was weighing on him too. It wasn't just about the training anymore; it was about making sure they all survived. And Thana could sense that if she fell, he would carry the blame.
By the time the sun dipped below the horizon and the evening training session ended, she was exhaustedâher arms burned, her legs achedâbut she couldn't stop. They had to be ready for the final climb tomorrow. Presentation Day was almost here.
The next morning, the courtyard was quiet, more subdued than usual. As Thana lined up with the rest of the cadets, her stomach churned with anticipation. She could see the other squads, most of them tense and jittery, the realization of what today meant settling over them. It was different todayâthere were fewer of them than there had been when they started, the attrition of training already claiming so many. The air hung heavy with expectation.
Captain Fitzgibbons stood on the dais, his voice steady and strong as he read from the death roll. The names seemed to echo in the crisp morning air, each one a grim reminder of the stakes they faced. The toll of the Gauntlet was unforgiving, but Presentation was right around the corner.
"Evander Vossir," Captain Fitzgibbons called, his voice like a bell tolling. There was a brief silence, and Thana felt a knot form in her stomach. She'd seen itâthe fall, the sickening plummet as Evander lost his grip. Thana had wanted to scream at Jack for not helping, for not doing more, but nothing had come of it. Jack was who he was.
"Second and third years," Captain Fitzgibbons continued, his tone unyielding, "unless you're on Gauntlet duty, head to class. First years, it's time to show us what you've got."
Thana's stomach twisted as the words settled into her chest. It was their turn now.
Imogen leaned over to Violet, a sly smile crossing her face. "Good luck today," she said, her voice dripping with faux sweetness. "Hopefully, you don't fall short."
Thana bit back the snide comment she wanted to make in response. She didn't have the energy for itânot today, not when everything was on the line.
Liam, standing next to her, squeezed her shoulder. "Ready?" he asked, his voice calm, though there was a flicker of nerves in his eyes.
"Let's just get this over with," Thana muttered, trying to shake the anxiety that was tightening around her chest.
They walked toward the Gauntlet, the towering cliffside looming ahead. Thana could feel the tension in the air, like a charge in the atmosphere, building with every step they took.
Garrick fell into step beside them, his face set in an expression that was half-steely determination, half-worried concern. He glanced at both of them, his eyes lingering a little longer on Thana. "Focus, all right?" he said, his voice gruff but kind. "You've trained for this. I know you can do it."
Then he handed her a small piece of folded paper. Thana took it without thinking, her mind still caught in the haze of nerves. She unfolded it quickly and read the short note from Xaden.
"Don't die," it read, in his familiar, scribbled handwriting. The words were blunt, but they made her smile.
"Don't die," Thana murmured under her breath, folding the note back up and tucking it into her pocket.
An hour later, she was at the base of the Gauntlet, the wind whipping at her hair as she stared up at the cliff face. It felt different now like she was staring at something that could break her. The pressure was heavy, the weight of everyone's expectations threatened to consume her.
As she started the first climb, she focused on Liam, just ahead of her. He was always so sure-footed, moving with the kind of confidence Thana still struggled to find in herself. But today, she couldn't let her mind wander. She had to do thisâshe had to prove she could make it, for herself, for Garrick, for Liam.
The climb was a blur. She focused on one handhold, one foothold at a time, her body moving in a practised rhythm. The panic crept in when she neared the steep incline, her hands slick with sweat, but the voice in her head wasn't hers this time - it sounded like her father's, steady and firm, a reminder to breathe.
"You've got this," she whispered to herself.
As she sprinted up the incline for the final stretch, she saw Liam standing at the edge of the flight field, his smile wide and encouraging. Beyond him, Garrick watched with an unreadable expression, his arms crossed, his gaze never leaving her.
Thana pushed harder, her legs burning, the ramp steep under her feet. She didn't slow down, not until she reached the top and heard the roar of the crowd around her. She glanced over and saw Bodhi, with a smile from ear to ear, clapping his hands rapidly. Then, her eyes darted to Violet, who had made it as well. Thana didn't even try to hide her feelings.
Then, Liam was there, wrapping her in a tight hug, his arms strong around her, and she exhaled the breath she didn't even realize she'd been holding. "Thank Gods," he said.
"That's all me," Garrick called over Liam's shoulder, his smile wide as he watched them.
By the end of the morning, only 169 cadets remained, and their squad had come fourth out of thirty-six. Liam had been the fastest, winning the coveted patch, and Thana was convinced he didn't know how to accept second place. Prick.
The box canyon was breathtaking in the afternoon light, the sun casting a warm golden hue over the meadows and the peaks rising around them. The leaves had begun to turn, gold and amber, painting the landscape in vibrant color.
As they walked toward the narrow entrance to the valley, Liam reached his had back to her. Thana gripped it tightly, her heart still pounding from the Gauntlet.
Liam squeezed her hand tightly. "We got this," he whispered.
Thana just nodded, her gaze lingering on the dragons that circled above them. As they descended into the valley, Thana's throat began to close up. This was just the beginning.