Page 175 of Flameborne: Chosen

There was movement behind him and I glanced past him to see Donavyn standing, leaning against the stable wall, watching me with a penetrating gaze.

“I’ll remember that, as well,” he said gruffly. “And if there’s ever a gap in shifts, a time when you’re all gone for the night, tell me. I’ll make sure there’s a guard for her.”

I wanted to protest, but both he and Ronen shot me looks, so I swallowed it back.

There was a little more talk about details, but it was time for all of us to get some sleep. I thanked my brothers, accepted a few side-hugs, and waves, then swallowed back a new rush of emotion as they began to file out.

Ronen and Donavyn stood aside, talking quietly while the others filed out, but to my surprise, Voski hovered to my right, waiting until all the others were out of earshot.

His expression was blank, but his eyes were storms.

I looked a question at him and he cleared his throat.

“I’ve been in that place,” he said quietly. “I don’t talk about it,” he said abruptly when I opened my mouth. “I just wanted you to know, you’re not alone. And your dragon didn’t Choose you because of it.”

I waited, but it seemed like he was done. “Thank you.”

He nodded once, his jaw tight, then he turned and strode after the others without another word. Ronen saw him bringing up the rear, murmured to Donavyn, then followed Voski out into the stable aisle.

Which left me there with the two dragons—and Donavyn.

For a moment our eyes caught and all the emotion and sensation of that moment when he’d gotten close and reassured me came rushing back.

His eyes widened slightly and I thought he might approach again, but then he tore his gaze away and looked behind him for his jacket, hurrying to it when he spied it. He swept it up and strode towards the stable door with only one more glance over his shoulder and a simple nod.

I nodded back. It wasn’t until he was rounding the doorway into the aisle and he threw the jacket over his shoulder that I caught sight of his bruised and swollen knuckles again, and remembered what had passed.

I hurriedly linked with Akhane‘Can you tell Kgosi to pass on to Donavyn that I’m so grateful for his intervention with Faren? And sorry he was hurt?’

Akhane replied a moment later.

‘Kgosi says not to worry. Donavyn knows.’

It was a strange, comforting, challenging feeling to turn then and walk back to my room alone. My limbs dragged like they were weighted. My mind felt sluggish. And my shoulders wanted to round with the weight of everything that had passed.

My brotherscared.And they meant it. I was sure of that. I still felt like my presence was a weight to them—but I believed that they wanted to help me.

And Donavyn? Well, that was a mess I wasn’t sure how to untangle, but when I remembered the rage he’d unleashed on Faren it made my heart flip. He cared too.

After a very brief wash, I crawled into bed, and even though I wanted to cry again, it wasn’t with grief.

It was with pure, unadulterated relief.

And a little bit of joy.

49. The Second Trial

~ BREN ~

I was in that meeting room again, with Ronen and Gil. Both of them were on their feet, but leaning over the table between us which was covered in a large map of the region. A smaller, more specific map was spread out over the top of it and weighted down with polished stones.

“Remember, this trial is focused on your dragon—on their confidence in you and yours in them. This is about how the two of you work together in a fight. The tower’s here, near that cove—the easiest way to find it is to follow the coastline up, then head directly east from the center of that cove. There’s no real wind today, so the mists will be thick. You’re going to have to keep your eyes peeled. The first part of your test will be finding the tower, then approaching it properly before you’ve even met a conflict.”

I was sweating. “What makes an approachproper?”I asked nervously.

Ronen straightened and folded his arms. “You have to decide whether you’re choosing attack or defense. Once you’ve made that determination, we’ll explain.”

I frowned. “I have to decide without knowing what the task is?”