Page 36 of Flameborne: Chosen

I sat at my desk, the Council members squeezed into the room, some seated, others standing against the walls.

We were all frustrated.

“It’s not an argument to remove her, that call has been made and the dragons are in agreement. But Accord? You’re asking us to openlyapproveof her in ranks when some of us don’t!” Mont growled.

I worked to keep my face expressionless.He speaks what others think.Mont was an asset in that way. He would uncover any hidden sentiments, the cold water running under the surface. But the man was a thorn in my side in every quarter, except battle.

“I don’t ask you to stop thinking for yourself,” I said finally. “I ask you to present a united front. We’ve already agreed there’s a need for tighter codes of conduct with her among the men. There’s a reason for that: she changes the landscape. Wehaveto stand aligned. If we’re divided, the men will be also, and that could be catastrophic.”

I was still debating whether to tell them about the squad leaders rejection of her. I’d told the men not to speak to anyone else about it and even though I could justify breaking my own rule—I had the rank to do it—it feltoffto require something of the men I wasn’t willing to live myself. I had learned the hard way that words could never be unsaid. Better not to share while I was still uncertain of the benefit.

But the squads responses had surprised me and made me more wary of Feroz’s warning.

My mentor stayed at the back in these meetings and rarely spoke unless I asked him to. He’d told me from the moment he stepped down and I took Commander that his role was now in support of me, and he wouldn’tundermine my authority with the men. He’d been faithful to that. I was humbly grateful, especially knowing some of the mistakes he’d silently watched me make early on.

Sometimes, like now, I wished he’d add his weight behind my decisions for the sake of the audience. But he believed my authority was only sure if I held it without his affirmation. I knew he was right. But it might have been a helpful shortcut now and again.

He met my eyes from behind the others and gave a single, slow nod.

I sighed to myself.

“Let’s go over the list and see where we agree—and where we don’t, then work towards Accord,” I said as evenly as I could. “It’s for the benefit of all Furyknight society. Not for me, or even for her,” I reminded them. Then I read them the list we’d compiled.

She would work, train, and be required to attain the same heights of any Flameborne.

But her autonomy and the differences of her body would be respected.

Her bathing and resting would be private. She wasnotto be propositioned or harassed.

Romantic relationships between Furyknights were rare, but they did occur. No Furyknight was expected to answer for his sexual adventures—but neither was any partner to beinduced.Those rules would hold as sure for her, as they did for any Furyknight.

Anyform of sexual pressure or intimidation would be met with swift disciplinary action.

Treat her as a sister, not a barmaid—or a potential wife.

It was likely too much to ask that she never have a relationship with another Furyknight, but she would be expected to keep that relationship as private as any others that existed, and it could not affect her work, or the work of her partner.

I’d told every man who’d been raised under my command to thinkverycarefully before giving their hearts to another Furyknight, or anyone entrenched in our service at the Keep.

Our lives were dominated by the Dragons, and they should be.

Even normal relationships were deeply threatened by our work. Any relationship with a man who was required to drop everything at a moment’s notice to attend to their duties was difficult. Romantic relationships were almost always doomed.

We were all slaves to the dragons and the job. The men knew that. Her presencecouldn’tchange that.

I was pessimistic, however. Even keeping women to the kitchens, commissary, and medics—services that didn’t closely interact with the Furyknights on a daily basis—we had conflicts between knights over pretty women, or romantic ties. We were strong, accomplished, competitive bastards to a man. Even flirting with the same seamstress had created rifts in the occasional squad.

As I continued to list the ways and means the men would be expected to give Brenspace,my mind conjured images of her in our skintight flying leathers, combat training gear, rolling on the ground with another knight in training for hand-to-hand battle and—dear God,this whole thing would be a disaster.

‘It will be a test. But most of the men will pass it. They retain honor because they learn it from you and the other leaders, Donavyn. And the dragons will stand for her as well. Don’t forget that.’

‘Desire is a powerful driver,’I sent back.‘Even an honorable man’s control can be shaken by it.’

‘Indeed. But if they can resist this, they can resist other battles for self-control. It will refine them.’

‘I can’t afford to lose good men and dragons to this particular battle.’

‘If you lose them to her, they were not good men to begin with.’