Page 21 of Flameborne: Chosen

“And if you don’t serve these two very deserving females with your full respect and hard work until they’re firmly settled, you’ll be assigned to the scatpit. Do I make myself clear?”

The horror that entered his widening eyes was satisfying. The scatpit was our collection point for dragon manure. It made an excellent fertilizer and fuel—but some of the piles would be bigger than the boy was tall.

“Sir! Yes—of course. I’ll work very hard, sir, but—”

“No buts,” I growled and he snapped his mouth closed so fast his teeth clicked. “Benji, the Academy is our home, and we are a family within it. No one else understands our life with the dragons, so thisis our place for camaraderie and unity. If we stand against each other, we tear ourselves down and our enemy gains. Until the Flameborne is settled in a squad, you’ll see these two as your personal responsibility. Their comfort is your purpose. Do I make myself clear?”

“Y-yes, sir,” he said. He was still pale. I suspected if he’d been alone he would have given in to tears. But he kept his chin high and nodded once.

“Good, then hurry ahead and find Akhane’s stable and ensure she has plenty of water and straw to nest, we won’t be far behind you.”

The boy nodded again, staring at me.

I sighed.“Go.”

He leaped into a run with a yelp like someone had stuck him with a thumbtack. I watched him scamper until he disappeared between the forest of men surrounding us, then took a deep breath as I turned back to the Furyknights still standing at attention.

But, Sir, she’s a girl!

What was the Creator doing to us?

“I know this is a time of many questions for all of us. Until we have the answers, your role is to trust. Trust your leaders. Trust your dragons. They were appointed to shepherd you through the Creator’s plan. Now, please. Return to your day. Runners—find the Captains and make certain they await me in the Battle room. Wing Leaders, report to our map room in two hours.”

Then I put my hand to Bren’s back and ushered her through the crowd and into the stables. The doors into the building had been left open by those rushing out to see what had happened, so there was no need to open them for Kgosi and Akhane.

There were a handful of servants who hadn’t heard the hubbub outside, or who’d taken their chance to get tasks done while so many were out of the aisles. But other than that, the stables remained clear, giving us easy passage.

“Where is Akhane’s stable?” I asked Kgosi quickly.

‘She’s young. In the north wing, near the main entrance.’

I cursed. She would be disrupted a great deal there—and with all the traffic in and out the pair would attract even more attention.

“I’ll talk to the Furymaster, we’ll get her moved. She’s going to need more quiet than that will provide.”

Kgosi rumbled his agreement.

Unfortunately, for this moment there was no choice but to return her to her usual stall. And that meant I needed to settle Bren with her for a few hours—a new bond was so raw, separation could create panic in a dragon or their human.

Whistling to catch the attention of another stablehand strolling out of a stable ahead of us, I beckoned him closer. The boy’s eyes were round as platters, staring up at Kgosi, who ignored him, but those flickering ears told me my dragon wasn’t as ignorant of the admiration as he pretended.

“Run ahead to Akhane’s stable in the north wing. Find Benji and tell him we’ll also need a cot for the new Flameborne. He can get one from the Quartermaster. Now run.”

The boy took off, feet slapping on the stone floor.

I nodded to myself. That would ensure the space was empty when we arrived and give the girls some time alone, as well as providing a place for Bren to rest comfortably.

“Where are we going?” Bren asked quietly from my side.

“I’m taking you to Akhane’s stable where you two can rest together for a time while I work out the rest,” I said grimly, shaking my head slightly.

“The rest… of being a Furyknight?” she asked timidly.

I huffed and clawed a hand through my hair. “Truthfully, Bren, there aremanysteps between any Flameborne and becoming Furyknight. Today will be mostly about finding a way to keep you safe and healthy here.”

She looked around. “Here?”

“Not the stables, specifically, but here in the greater Dragon Keep. We areallmale. And though I would trust your civilian life and safety in the hands of any man here, there are complications to your appearance.”