Dragons respect intelligence as much as courage. Remember, it's not strength they wantâit's resilience.
Excerpt of recovered correspondence of Lieutenant Xaden Riorson to Thana Valaren.
~
The path stretched out before them, winding and narrow, lined by the intimidating presence of dragons on either side. Each creature loomed tall and still, all of them averaging a massive twenty-five feet. The cadets waited in formation, several feet back from the path, each one trying to still their breathing, trying not to let nerves show. Thana felt her own pulse thrumming in her neck, threatening to suffocate her, as she stood beside Liam, their squad braced for whatever was to come.
"Let's go, Second Squad, you're up next," Garrick called, his voice sharp and clear. He locked eyes with Thana, giving her a reassuring wink, then slipped back into his professional demeanour. "Into formation!" he ordered.
Thana and Liam found themselves positioned in the front of the lineânot the place Thana would've chosen but there was no changing it now.
"Walk straight down, stay seven feet apart," Garrick instructed. Luca, stationed a few steps behind, raised her hand with yet another question. Garrick's patience visibly waned. Thana and Liam exchanged a knowing look.
"Is it true that a feather-tailed dragon might bond with someone?" Luca asked, a faint quiver in her voice.
Garrick didn't answer, his irritation barely concealed. "Single file."
As he passed by, Thana caught the muttered "for fuck's sake," under his breath, and had to stifle a laugh. It was an all-too-familiar reaction to Luca's endless questions.
Liam led the way, his shoulders squared, steps deliberate. Thana walked behind him, fighting to keep her composure steady. Up close, the dragons were massiveâfar larger and more imposing than they had looked on Conscription Day. As they passed each one, the tension in the air thickened, the dragons' eyes tracking their every move.
They passed a Brown dragon first, its dark, intense gaze fixed on them as they walked by. Then, a Red, its fiery eyes narrowing, its head angled toward Liam as if sizing him up. Thana's heart pounded harder, but she kept her expression steady, following Liam's lead.
As they neared a yellow feather-tail, she could feel Liam's subtle glance back at her, a silent check that they were both seeing the same thing. The murmurs from the cadets behind them grew louder, the nervous energy sparking among them like a frayed live wire.
Without warning, a scream echoed down the line. Thana's stomach dropped as she turned in time to see Pryor incinerated in flame, his scream cut short as a Brown dragon unleashed another scorching jet of fire. Silence fell as the smoke dissipated, leaving nothing but ash in its wake. Thana clenched her fists, pressing down the icy chill creeping up her spine, and forced herself to keep moving. She could see the tension in Liam's back, his fists clenched tightly as he continued down the path.
Breathing deeply, she took a steady look around. Dragons lay everywhereâsome sprawled in the open, others hidden back in the tree line, their eyes glinting with watchful intensity. She was keenly aware of every sound, every whisper of breath and movement as they walked. Each dragon was a predator, waiting for the slightest sign of weakness.
As they walked, two Green dragons crossed their path, their powerful bodies moving with slow precision. They were the most temperate of the dragons, known for their quiet strength and reason. One of the Greens on the right lowered its massive head, coming close enough that Thana could have reached out and touched it. It looked just like her father's but, she knew it wasn't Xerath. She held her breath, unsure what it would do, but thenâ
A loud rumble shook the ground. The Greens retreated, their heads turning away as a dark shadow moved toward them. Thana's pulse quickened as she looked up and saw the Blue dragon. It was so close to the path that if she had stopped walking, she would be within striking range. Its gaze locked onto her, and as she passed, it dipped its massive head ever so slightly, almost as if bowing. Thana felt herself inhale sharply, her breath caught in her throat. Unsure of what else to do, she dropped her head in a subtle nod, maintaining eye contact. Then, just as suddenly, the dragon launched itself into the sky, its wings casting shadows over the path as it disappeared.
Keep walking, Garrick's voice echoed in her mind, urging her forward. Thana picked up her pace to fall back in step behind Liam. Her hands shook slightly, but she forced herself to keep moving.
As they neared the end of the path, finally out of sight of the dragons, Thana spotted an old oak tree. She dropped down beside it, her legs shaky as she sat next to Liam. He leaned his head back against the trunk, his eyes closed as he breathed deeply. She could feel the tension in his shoulders easing as she rested her head on his shoulder, the weight of the ordeal finally lifting now that they were out of the line of fire.
Nearby, Xaden stood, arms crossed, his gaze scanning the cadets still lined up on the path. He looked impassive, his face set in an unreadable mask. But something about the way his eyes lingered on the pathâsharp, alert, and just the faintest bit relievedâcaught her attention.
Thana tried to decipher his expression. Was it relief? Fear? Or something else entirely? She couldn't be sure. Xaden's emotions were often locked away, hidden behind the carefully constructed walls he kept in place.
"Not what you expected?" Liam asked softly, his voice breaking her train of thought.
She looked up at him, offering a faint smile. "I'm not sure what I expected, honestly."
Liam nodded, his gaze fixed on a distant point in the sky. "They're majestic, aren't they?"
She gave his hand a squeeze, her own fingers still tingling from the adrenaline coursing through her veins. They had survivedâbarely.
From a few feet away, Xaden's gaze flicked toward her for a split second. For a heartbeat, she thought she saw something thereâsomething vulnerable and raw. But just as quickly, his expression returned to its usual impassivity.
She took a deep breath, letting the weight of the moment sink in. Threshing was just around the cornerâthis wasn't over yet.