Page 19 of Flameborne: Chosen (Emberquell Academy #1)

SOUNDTRACK: Weak by Grace Blue

~ brEN ~

I slept for longer than I should have and was woken by a pair of servants bringing clothes, food, and blankets. Or rather, by Akhane in my head warning me that they were there.

‘Wake up, Little Flame. They have gifts for you. They’re afraid of Kgosi and won’t step foot in the stable, which is probably for the best.’

I stumbled out of that little room into the big airy stable which was dimmer now that the sun had dropped behind the mountains.

I could immediately see why the servants didn’t want to enter.

Kgosi lay just inside the doorway. He hadn’t gotten to his feet, but his ears were back and he watched the doorway with sharp eyes.

The two women stood a outside the open door looking self-conscious and fearful.

I wasn’t entirely sure of him myself, but Akhane huffed in my mind. ‘He will protect you with his life, Bren. You may move around us freely. We’ll correct you if there’s need.”

That didn’t seem reassuring, but there wasn’t time to ask her what she meant because the two women had caught sight of me and looked relieved.

“Hello,” I said as politely as I could, wondering if I was supposed to curtsey or salute?

But as I stood there, gripping my skirts, the nearest one smiled.

Both sides of her hair were in tight braids that fell almost to her waist. She wore a pinafore that fell to her knees, and thick stockings underneath.

She held out the blankets and sheets she’d carried, with a tray on top of the stack that held a full plate of gravy smothered meat and roasted vegetables that looked delicious and were still steaming. I blinked.

“Thank you!” I said earnestly as my stomach grumbled .

The woman glanced at Kgosi to my left warily, but she nodded. “There’s more bedding to come. But these are the first. We’ll make certain you have changes.”

As I took the bundle from her, careful not to let the precious food drop or spill, the other woman spoke up, her voice quiet and a little shaky.

She was also in braids and wearing skirts, though her top was a clean, white blouse tucked in to the thick waistband, and she wore boots rather than stockings and shoes.

“The Quartermaster says you should come in for measuring tomorrow—your leathers will need to be specially made,” she said with her eyes wide.

“But these things will suffice to replace your old clothing before your training.” She held a large bundle wrapped in paper and tied with string, but I had no way to carry it, so begged them both to wait while I took the other things to my room.

By the time I’d taken the first bundle and returned for the second, there was a third woman standing in the doorway to the stable—taller than the first two, and blonde against their dark. She was older than us, likely a peer of the Commander.

“You must be Bren,” she said with a bright smile.

“I’m Terra, I’m a Furyknight Healer. Commander Arsen sent me to see if I could help?

” Her hair was also braided tightly. I would have to ask if it was required.

I often braided my hair for work, but hadn’t for this trip because Ruin always liked it down and—

The thought made me freeze, my mind tumbling back to the painful night of walking and that awful morning and everyone staring at me while I just stood there, dumb.

“Hello! Yes! I’m… I’m so sorry,” I gasped. “I just—”

‘Don’t apologize for carrying a heart in your chest, Little Flame,’ Akhane said gently, but with a firm tone.

I swallowed, glad my arms were full of the bundle from the servants because I imagined my hands would shake if they weren’t gripping the paper.

“It has been a long and strange day, I’m sure,” the older woman said with a motherly smile. “I need to speak with you alone when you have time, but if you’re busy now…?”

“I… I don’t think so?” I said, looking at the servants.

They both shook their heads.

“We were asked to tell you that more would come tomorrow, and your leathers the following day if you see the Quartermaster in the morning.”

“The Mistress wasn’t certain what would be best for the acknowledgement, but said what’s there was the nicest she could find on short notice.”

“I-I’m sure it will be excellent,” I said hurriedly. “Please tell her I’m very grateful.”

Then the servants and I both looked at Terra, but none of us spoke. She smiled carefully. “Well then, perhaps it would be a good time to speak now? I can help you carry your things, and we can discuss tomorrow. Has anyone explained what purpose the Acknowledgement serves?”

I shook my head.

Her lips went tight. “I thought as much. Very well, I’ll do my best,” she said with a pointed look at the servants.

They both bobbed curtsies to her which made me wonder if I was supposed to have done the same. But she just nodded to them and murmured something as they passed, before turning to Kgosi.

“Primarch, may I accompany Bren to her room? These are things we should discuss in private.”

I blinked. Could the dragons talk? But almost immediately, Akhane spoke in my mind.

‘Tell her she’s always welcome here and doesn’t need to ask permission, unless she wishes to touch one of us.’

I looked at her, stunned. “He says you’re welcome here. You don’t need to ask. You can just enter the stable any time. Only ask permission to touch them.”

Terra seemed far less shocked by that than I was, though touched. She put one hand to her chest and half-bowed to Kgosi. “Thank you, Primarch. You bless me.”

Kgosi blew air from his nose, but then yawned, his great mouth suddenly a cavern that sent me stumbling back a step.

Terra only laughed and thanked him again.

It was only as she stooped that I noticed the satchel over her shoulder and a large bowl and pitcher at her feet.

She picked them up, then turned towards me, her expression open and curious, expecting me to lead.

With a hurried half-bow at Kgosi and whispered thank you to Akhane, I turned and trotted back to my room, praying that she wouldn’t stay long so I could eat the food while it was still hot.

But when we entered the room I realized I had nowhere for her to sit, and little space otherwise. The narrow bed was already taken with the stack of blankets and sheets, and the tray of food.

To my surprise, Terra walked straight in and across the room, muttering about putting children in the dark, then there was a scrape, and a spark, and suddenly light bloomed from that corner, where she promptly set the washbowl and pitcher on top of a small stool I hadn’t noticed, next to the short drawers.

“How did you—”

“I have flint and a small blade. I’ll leave them here.

Every space in the stable building has sconces in the corners—especially those with no windows.

If you run out of wick, just speak to a Supply Officer.

I’m sure they’ve been informed that you’ll be in this room,” she said, turning circles and looking around, a small v pinched between her brows. “It is very stark.”

“I don’t mind,” I said quickly. I didn’t want the Commander to think I’d complained .

But Terra turned away from her survey of the room and looked pointedly at me.

“Bren, I know this has been a very difficult and trying day. And I applaud your willingness to remain positive in the face of it. But the reason the Commander sent me was to ensure that you had everything you needed from a woman’s perspective.

Everything,” she said quietly. “He also wanted me to examine you and double-check that nothing was missed this morning. I gather you took quite a fall?”

“Akhane caught me. It was an accident,” I said, licking my lips and gripping my skirts.

“I wasn’t hurt. Nothing worse than falling off a horse,” I said with an awkward shrug.

When her concerned expression didn’t change I wanted to sink into the floor and disappear.

“Please, I’m fine,” I said quickly, swallowing back a pinch in my throat.

“Please don’t tell the Commander I’m hurt or ungrateful. This is… I never expected—”

Terra’s eyes went wide. “Oh, no! No, Bren. You aren’t being measured .

He sent me to serve you. As a Flameborne, your care falls under the Furyknights.

I’m a battle medic, and a healer. And one of the few females who treats the Furyknights in the infirmary.

The Commander thought you might be more comfortable with a woman.

That’s all. Don’t be worried. And please, if you haven’t eaten, sit down and eat while we talk.

If you’re certain you aren’t injured, we can forgo the examination.

But this is a very physically taxing job.

I only want to see if you need treatment or support for any bruises or sprains before you have to try and manage a dragon,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.

“I’ve also brought everything you might need for your next cycle,” she said, patting her satchel.

“I don’t know where you are in that, but there won’t be supplies found anywhere in the Furyknight commissary.

We’ll need to get those to you directly.

Or speak with one of the female servants. They could also help you in a pinch.”

“Thank you,” I said miserably. “That’s very thoughtful.”

Instinctively, I put my hand to my lower belly that had been so painful for all these weeks and… it didn’t hurt?

I frowned and looked down at myself.

“Are you well?” Terra asked gently. “Is there something—?”

“No, no… I had suffered an injury before I left home,” I breathed, shocked. I pushed my fingers against my belly, low, under my navel…

Nothing.

No pain.

“Light, it’s gone!” I murmured.

“What is?” Terra said. “Did you have an open wound? I could dress it, or check it, or—”

“No, no,” I said quickly. “I had pain. A healing, er, problem. But it’s gone. I was hurting so badly last night before all this, but now—”