Page 18 of Flameborne: Chosen (Emberquell Academy #1)

~ DONAVYN ~

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 openly approve of 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.

We have to 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 felt off to 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’t undermine 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 was not to 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 be induced. Those rules would hold as sure for her, as they did for any Furyknight.

Any form 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 think very carefully 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 presence couldn’t change 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 Bren space, 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.’

He had a point, I supposed.

“…in short, every man will be expected to keep his hands—and body—off her, his words respectful, and his eyes averted. She will be required to meet the same exacting standards you have. But she won’t be pressured outside of her training. At all.”

“And that is where they’ll struggle,” Mont muttered.

To my surprise, Olve agreed. “The men test each other—in healthy ways, and not-so-healthy. But it’s their way.

We’ve all experienced the hazing and joking.

Men hear these things differently. Where’s the line?

If she’s excluded from the joking, she won’t find her place among her squad.

But with her being a woman it will be very easy for hazing to tip into abuse. ”

“That’s why it’s so crucial to have her in a mature squad,” I said. “She’s been selected by Ronen, and Kgosi affirms the choice.”

Mont cursed and everyone’s brows rose, or they laughed and shook their heads.

“There’s no way she’ll keep up!”

I was about to respond, but Barak stepped in. “It depends greatly on her dragon,” he said firmly. “Akhane is large enough to keep up with the males. And if she’s mentally ready, she’ll be able to bring her rider through.”

“Her rider hasn’t even learned to ride yet. Even if she can do it physically—I’m not convinced—how can she be expected to keep up with a squad we were moving towards promotion? That entire squad is well past the trials. We’d be promoting Ronen into Captain within years, and his Lieutenant—”

“There are two possibilities,” I broke in to quiet the agitation in the Captain. “That squad will need to bring their Flameborne up as they would with any male. This may slow their individual progress, but it will not stop it.”

“How does Ronen feel about that?” Mont spat .

“If you open the door and call him in, he can tell you himself,” I said quietly. I’d asked Ronen to wait outside until he was called in, as was appropriate for his rank.

At Mont’s nod, one of the Lieutenants rose to his feet and opened the door, leaning into the hallway to call the man inside.

Ronen entered looking grim. He was a strong, steady man, and the most mature of our Wing Leaders.

Mont was right that without the appearance of Bren, he would likely have been promoted within a year or two at most. And his Lieutenants not far behind him because though most didn’t know it, he had two, and he’d done an excellent job of preparing them.

But now? Who knew.

He entered the room and marched towards my desk to salute me.

I waved him off. “You’ll find us an informal group when others aren’t present,” I said to him with a nod of reassurance.

“We retain traditions of respect before the eyes of anyone outside this room. But here we are brothers before anything else.”

Ronen’s eyes widened slightly, but he smiled and nodded too. “That’s gratifying to hear. Sir.”

I snorted. “You’ll get used to it. In any case, my brothers would like to hear how you feel about taking on the female Flameborne, especially if her progress slows your own.”

No point avoiding the issue.

Ronen’s expression flattened. “It’s a challenge I didn’t anticipate,” he said, turning to address the room. “But as the Commander spoke this afternoon it was clear to me—and to my dragon—that to refuse her would be selfish. And that’s not true leadership,” he said grimly.

Well said. And well-spoken for this room—that would give them something to think about.

I would have said it out loud, but I didn’t want to give the impression I’d urged Ronen to raise that thought.

Fighting a smile, I turned to look at the others. “Does anyone disagree with Wing Captain Ronen’s assessment?” I asked, fighting not to sound smug.

The others glared, or shook their heads. But no one spoke up.

“Good. Then, are we in Accord? Do we take the example of our up-and-coming leader here and accept the burden of her training with a view to our own growth in it? Or are there more questions to address? I don’t expect you all to celebrate this.

But can we meet the men in the morning as one mind?

Can I tell them honestly that we see the Creator’s hand at work in this, and will step up to the challenge with hearts willing to meet it, even with our concerns? ”

There was a muttering and shifting throughout the room.

But of course, who could argue with Ronen’s honorable and selfless assessment?

No leader worth his wings would admit that he could be less devoted to his given charge, or less reliable in the face of change than a man ten years younger and less experienced.

I had brought Ronen here for his improvement and reward. Instead, to my delight, he was steadying the rest of us.

‘God will always use the humble to lower the proud,’ Kgosi inserted airily.

‘When do you get lowered, then?’ I sent back with a jab of amusement.

Kgosi huffed, but didn’t respond and I gave my full attention to the men.

“Then it looks like we have found our Accord,” I said, doing my best not to reveal my fierce relief. “Can we say the words and finally be done with this long, unexpected day?”

There was more muttering, but to a man, they all stood to attention and recited the Accord.

We speak of one mind.

We act of one body.

We order with one heart.

Any who stands against my brother makes an enemy of me.

I sighed with relief when it was done. “Thank you. All of you,” I said earnestly.

“Tomorrow will be a first in our society. And I don’t deny that it will bring frustrations and challenges I’d rather avoid.

But I also agree, she comes at the hand of God.

And so, we will answer appropriately. Sleep well tonight.

Prepare to lead your men. Because there will be many questions and it is our job to ensure they’re answered—and the appropriate boundaries are adhered to. ”

As soon as we broke up, most of the men stood to speak with their friends and allies. Feroz nodded to me, but walked to the door, which meant he had nothing to add.

I answered a few unrelated questions from the men, then led them all out of my office, because this day was not yet done for me.

I had servants to check, resources to arrange, and a King to visit.

The formal acknowledgement of the first female Flameborne in existence was not a petty piece of information to leave floating on the wind of gossip.

The King must be informed before he was told by a servant and subsequently took his shock out on my hide.