Page 149 of Flameborne: Chosen

“We’ve hammered into the men that she was to be given no special treatment beyondnecessitiesfor modesty and honor, but now they all stand by and watch you just hand her First Rank?”

I blinked out of my shock as the men around the table snapped and shouted, peppering me with accusations.

When it seemed like they’d run out of criticisms to throw and they all took a breath, glaring or staring at me expectantly, I turned away and didn’t speak as I crossed the room, allowing it to go silent and my footfalls to echo on the stone floor.

‘Did you catch all of that, Kgosi?’

‘More than you, I’ll wager.’

‘Do you think I—’

‘No, Donavyn. Do not waver. Your heart was right and true. What you handed out was justice.’

I caught eyes with Feroz who stood at the back of the room, leaning against the wall, his expression blank, but tense. At least he wasn’t shouting at me. Of course, he didn’t smile, either.

When I made it to the table, the older men stood with folded arms, or fists planted on the tabletop, while those with fewer years hung back. But to a man they were aggravated. Monk bristled like a stood-on cat.

“Perhaps now that everyone’s got that off their chests, someone can summarize for me?” I drawled, kicking out a chair and taking a seat while they all remained standing. “I find it difficult to untanglea dozen voicesshouting at once.”

Some of the men were wise enough to look chastened. But most only gritted their teeth and plonked into their seats.

The petty side of me wanted to remind them to salute. But like Feroz before me, I’d always encouraged my men to speak their minds—and not to sacrifice truth to the idol of tradition. Still, it would have been satisfying to watch them all be forced to restrain themselves.

As chairs dragged and voices muttered, I waited, looking as calm and undisturbed as I could. But my heart pounded.

When they were all seated, I looked around the table. “Well? Who’s going to speak for you?” I growled.

It was no surprise when Mont was the one to push to his feet, his chair scraping loudly on the stone floor.

“Sir, this cannot be. You can’t account for her raising.”

I rolled my jaw and swallowed a curse. “I’m sorry, did you say Ican’t?”

Mont’s expression darkened, but I’d give the man that he never spoke a word he didn’t truly believe. His jaw jutted forward and he folded his arms, nodding.

“With all due respect,Commander,you handed her the rank. You haven’t done that for a man as long as I can remember.”

Anger rolled down my throat like a spiked candy.

“Am I to understand that that is the opinion of every man here?” I asked quietly.

One or two of the younger ones looked askance at their Captains, but to my surprise, even Gunnar nodded, despite commending her flying when we spoke before the ceremony.

When no one spoke up again, I pursed my lips. “You all question my judgement, yes? You believe I…?”

“Lacked objectivity,” Olve muttered. “Perhaps not with malice, but Donavyn, you must see, there hasn’t been a Flameborne raised in that manner ingenerations.Even with precedence it looks terrible.”

“You think I went light on her?” I asked him.

“I wasn’t there for the evaluation. I only saw the ceremony,” Olve said tightly. “But that is how it looked, yes.”

I turned to Gunnar. “Do you agree?”

“Somewhat,” he said reluctantly. “It seems like she’s been given special consideration.”

I wasfurious.

I was also sweating inside my leathers because whether these men knew it or not, I was terrified my affection for her had blinded me. I’d thought giving the decision to the Royals was a stroke of genius. A way toavoidlooking like I’d singled her out. But if they were all seeing it this way—