Page 27 of The Dragon Queen Complete Series Collection

Chapter 27

“This is your room,” I said, looking at the only one that had a separate, lockable door. Everyone except Brom had beds that ringed the spacious main room, an alcove set up for each man. As I stood in the doorway, my eyes slid over the small bookshelf groaning with texts on history and military tactics as well as the small desk piled high with papers.

“We talked and decided it would be best for you to take it, mil… Pippin.”

I looked up and caught Brom’s steady gaze.

“No other cadet can boast of such a room.”

“And you are unlike any other cadet here.”

“Brom—” I went to argue, to say that I could take my place out in the main room with the others. That was already far more privacy than most would get, I was sure of it, but Glimmer launched herself from my shoulders, her wings flapping out as she made the small glide towards the bed, testing the softness of the blankets before settling down on top of them.

“It appears your dragon has decided for you,” he said with a smile.

“So she has. Perhaps we can discuss this further tomorrow, then?”

“Or you can follow your commanding officer’s orders.”

That hint of steel dragged my eyes up again to meet his. There was a quiet strength to Brom that could be easy to overlook, right up until he decided to flex his considerable muscles. I nodded, bending my head in recognition of his order.

“You can stow your gear on the desk for now,” he explained. “I’ll clear out the cupboards for you once I get a chance.”

I bit back my response, the part of me that wanted to protest, but this was my new world order. He gave orders and I followed them. I nodded, surprised to find I didn’t mind it so much. The minute he was done showing me the room, I retrieved my bundle of supplies, finding my suitcase now sitting on the table along with my precious knife. I was about to collect them up when I saw the shirt I’d snagged from one of the tables and worn to the palace.

“I apologise,” I said as I walked back into the main room, “but when Prince Draven thrust me into here to change I found I needed a shirt at short notice, so I borrowed this one.”

“Give us a look,” Flynn said, rolling to his feet and picking it up to inspect the size of it. “That’s Ged’s. The stains down the front are a giveaway.” He balled it up and threw it at the other man, Ged’s hands snapping out to snatch it from the air.

“Mm…smells like girl,” the man replied, burying his face into the garment.

“You’re much better borrowing one of my shirts if you have a need,” Flynn said with a lazy smile. “They’re in much better condition and smell a lot less like a dung heap.”

“Well, since everyone has their clothes sorted, it's time for some sleep,” Soren barked, turning down the lamp beside his bed. “I’ll be with the cadets at first light and the rest of you will be flying down the west coast on a patrol for the morning.”

“Ugh…” Flynn grabbed his pillow and held it over his face.

“That’s a blasted desolate stretch of land,” Ged grumbled. “Perhaps I can be of assistance to Drill Sergeant Soren here? I’d give good money to see Pippin using that knife to take on a bunch of boys who are still wet behind their ears.”

“Then be back at lunchtime,” Soren snapped, “after you’ve completed a thorough inspection of the coast. You’ll take the cadet up with you in the afternoon.”

“She can ride with me this time now she’s not queen-in-waiting,” Ged replied, but his eyes were on me, not Soren, though I’ll warrant he didn’t expect the silence that met his cheeky comment.

“Gods, your mouth just keeps getting you in trouble…” Flynn groaned.

“It’s a relief, really,” I told the room, my voice only wavering slightly. “I would’ve made a bloody terrible queen. Now, I bid you all good night. I can’t afford to piss off my drill sergeant.”

I heard a chorus of laughter as I swept into the room and then closed the door behind me, glad now for the privacy. Because it meant they didn’t see me sink down onto the bed, see my hands shake or hear the ragged rasps of my breath as I fought to maintain control and not break down.

Life in Deepacre had been largely one placid stretch of sunlit days followed by frosty ones, seasons tumbling over each other, year after year, punctuated only by the occasional tragedy. Mother’s death. My brow wrinkled at that. Then Father’s. Arabella and Cecily had disrupted that, creating a small point of chaos, one I was still feeling the repercussions of. Now was the first time I faced the consequences of my actions, the impact of steps taken by others, and I was away from the land which had protected me and all the others of my name for generations. I flopped down onto the bed, Glimmer moving like lightning to curl up on my chest, the weight of her, definitely heavier, helping pin me to the mattress. To the sound of her strange little croons, I shut my eyes defiantly, seeing the king, the queen, the throne room and even bloody Hallin’s buttocks flexing rhythmically in my mind when I did.

Just not him.

I definitely did not see his stark blue eyes, that pretty, pretty face bleached pale in the darkness as I fell deeper into it.