Page 106 of Flameborne: Chosen

I nodded and took a deep breath, reminding myself of that. I wasn’t sure, but IthoughtI’d been given more training than these men. Donavyn had been broader in his training than Ronen and my brothers, who solely focused on the practical foundations, and formation commands.

Donavyn challenged me. And I was getting better—Akhane having to make fewer and fewer adjustments to help me stay in my seat.

Three nights ago, I even managed to get myself back into my seat after a fall while Akhane was still flying. Donavyn told me that kind of maneuver wasn’t expected of a Flameborne until they passed the first trial.

I’d walked on air that night even after we landed.

But now I stood here in a line of men a foot taller than me, all with dragons older and most of them larger than mine, and suddenly it didn’t matter whether I was ahead of the game or not. I just didn’t want to fail.

“Since there are five of you, we’ll need you to break into a pair, and a group of three to run formations with the Wing Captains. At ease, Flameborne. Find your partners.”

I blinked and my jaw slackened.

I had to find a team? No one had said that! I thought we flew with Furyknights and—

“You’re Bren, right? Did you want to partner with me?”

I turned, startled, to find the newest of the Flameborne, a tall, brunette man I guessed to be in his early twenties. He’d been Chosen by a massive greenscale who towered overallthe other Flameborne dragons, not just Akhane. Yet, he was very lean compared to the grays and reds.

“Yes. That’s me. I’m Bren,” I said lamely. “And thank you. That would be… great?”

He smiled and his face lit up. His hair was a deep, rich brown, and his eyes matched, though they twinkled with good humor when he smiled.

“Bren, I’m Saul. It’s great to meet you.”

He offered his hand to shake and it took me a moment to stop frowning. I’d grown used to the men watching me curiously every time I walked around the Academy or the stables. A few even flirted harmlessly at times. But most in the Reach treated me with a certain amount of wariness. And some with downright contempt. This was the first man outside of my brothers who’d seemed genuinely eager to be near.

I swallowed hard. “It’s nice to meet you too, Saul.”

“Oh, the pleasure is mine. One of these days I’ll tell my grandkids that I flew my first assessment with the famous female Furyknight,” he said with a wink. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, I guess?” Uncertain what else to do or say, I threw a hand awkwardly towards his dragon. “What’s your dragon’s name?”

“Oh! That’s Bitch. Isn’t she awesome!” he said happily, tipping his head towards his massive dragon. I almost swallowed my tongue.

“You’re dragon’s name is…Bitch?”

He snorted. “It’s spelled B-i-c-h, but, yeah. I had to take a moment when she told me, too.”

‘The human fascination with Bich’s name is baffling to me,’Akhane said softly in my head.‘My sister is already self-conscious of her size. She doesn’t understand the humor of her name.’

‘It’s because it sounds like a swear word.’

‘We understand that, Bren. But to us, names are… images. She is not the word. She is herself. When you meet her, smile. She is pained by human ridicule.’

I frowned.‘Why would she fear how I felt? She could burn me where I stood!’

‘Bich is a healer, not a true battle dragon. She feels the feelings of those around her. She can guide her Chosen in diagnoses and assist in treatment. She is a deep well. But a healer, not a fighter. Be kind.’

‘Of course! Of course.’Were the healers Furyknights? I’d always thought they were separate, but if Saul was being assessed…?

I opened my mouth to ask him, but Captain Gunnar spoke up again.

“Very good. Now take a moment to discuss your positions in flight. Your assessment will begin the moment you grasp your mounting strap, and it will not end until you have followed every order to the best of your ability, then returned your dragon to this clearing and dismounted. God be with you, Flameborne. You have five minutes. When the whistle blows, mount and take your positions in the sky.”

We all saluted as Captain Gunnar returned to the edge of the field where Donavyn and several other Officers stood, watching.

Saul and I trotted towards our dragons. But we were only halfway to them when Saul tipped his head down to keep his voice low in my ear.