Page 56 of The Last Dragon (The Great Burn Chronicles #1)

T o ensure the Hold’s safety, soldiers are assigned to various duties to strengthen security and patrol the perimeter. I’m stationed with Sam, working on strategy and analysis, and preparing for the next expedition alongside the commandants, the general, and the lieutenants.

Raumen’s shift has doubled—patrolling one day, maintaining the ballistas the next.

Eryca and Ilian spend their time crafting bolts, while Nida and Alex rotate through the Medic’s Wing, helping with various tasks to free up time for the medics to focus on the injured.

The days blur together, excruciating in their pace.

We barely have time to eat—just bread on the go, or cold soup if we’re lucky.

No time to reheat it. We hardly see one another, except during sparring or unit drills.

Eventually, a single day lines up when we are all on break at the same time—the only time we meet outside the training grounds.

“My feet are killing me.” Ilian sits on the dirty ground, stretching his legs to alleviate the pain.

“You’re one to talk,” Eryca says, rubbing her neck.

“They’ve been using us up like machines.” Ilian stands.

“It’s only for now. They’re working up a new strategy for the expedition,” I say, stretching my back. Hunching over the map for hours is catching up with me. I’m not used to sitting around this much.

“Well, they better get it done soon.” Alex rolls his eyes, his voice sharp as daggers. “I’m tired of constantly having to scrape blood off the floor like a cleaning maiden.”

“The Corps has finally seen you for what you’re worth,” Ilian snaps, his eyes narrowing at Alex.

“Yeah, because sitting around like a mindless monk gluing feathers to sticks is such a dream job,” Alex snaps back.

“Hey, those bolts save your ass,” Eryca fires back, jabbing a finger at him in warning.

“I can save my own ass, thank you very much.” Alex’s body tenses up, and I let out a sigh. This again.

“Can you shut up for just one minute?” I mutter, pressing my fingers to my temples.

“You heard him,” Ilian says with a smirk, his tone dripping with playfulness.

“ Both of you,” I hiss.

Ilian looks at me, confused. “What the—I didn’t do anything!” His hands flare as he points at Alex.

Alex crosses his arms. “You started it.”

“And you’re adding fuel to the fire.” My patience is wearing thin.

Ever since Alex joined the unit, the two of them have been at each other’s throats—trading jabs, exchanging glares like they’re one second away from drawing blood.

And every time, it falls on me to separate them.

To keep the unit— a unit. It’s Morton and Valous all over again. Only worse.

Eventually, the conversation drifts to our daily jobs, reflecting on the briefings and the plan for the Front.

Ilian and Eryca continue their debate, still throwing occasional jabs at Alex.

Raumen circles us, mumbling to each of them and dropping something brown into Nida’s palm.

His voice overlaps with Ilian’s—just a quick question—but I can’t catch what he says.

Nida inspects the piece, then pops it into her mouth.

I raise an eyebrow as she lets out a soft moan.

Her face lights up, and Raumen can’t help but grin.

He takes another piece from his hand and drops it in Sam’s hand.

He analyzes it for a bit, with questions written on his face, before he slowly puts it in his mouth.

What in the soil—?

I return to the conversation, trying to recollect where we are.

“There aren’t enough soldiers on the planet to keep track of all the villagers at this point,” Ilian says with worry, as he extends his arm to Raumen, who drops something into his hand.

“We have to convince General Grogol to reconsider. There’s no way everyone is going to stay silent about this. First-years will rile things up just like last time,” she says, dropping her head low. “Even I worry about Ma and Pa in Garta.”

“Zel,” Ilian says, his voice slightly shaky. “Do you think he would reconsider?”

I shrug, momentarily lost in thought. This is one of those moments where I have no idea which way he’ll go—it could swing either way.

“If he’s already made up his mind, changing it won’t be easy.

On the other hand—” I trail off, losing myself in thought as Raumen approaches, eyes locking with mine.

He extends the brown substance toward me, but I shake my head and lift a hand in quiet refusal.

Without a word, he moves on to the next person.

“But couldn’t there be a better way to phrase our concerns to him?

” Nida asks. “Maybe if we find a clearer way to inform the villagers about their defenses, they could take precautions themselves to stay safe,” she suggests, glancing at me.

“That way, we work together instead of separately, and still move forward with the expansion plan.”

“You make a good point,” Ilian says, rubbing his chin.

“That only works if the villagers take it the way we expect,” Alex interrupts. “The safest move is to keep them in the dark—that way, we control their reaction. Besides, if they find out, they might stop producing the materials we need for the expansion.”

“But there could be higher casualties if they don’t know what’s going on,” Eryca says. “Halting the production altogether.”

“I have to side with Alex on this,” I say, crossing my arms. “If we control their reaction, that’s one less problem for us. We can focus on how to defeat the dragon instead of dealing with riots and uproars while pushing forward with the expansion.”

“But if one village gets attacked without proper defense or reinforcements, the uproar won’t just be larger—it’ll come at the worst possible time,” Sam’s voice cuts through, barely more than a whisper. He makes a good point. Damn it, this is harder than I thought.

I glance at Raumen as he raises his hand, the piece of brown substance poised between his fingers.

I roll my eyes but nod, finally giving in.

A gentle grin spreads across his face as he reaches out and places it in my hand.

I study it for a moment. It’s soft and almost creamy, and sticks to my fingers the longer I hold it.

“This conversation isn’t going to help anyone,” I say, rolling the piece between my fingers.

“We should focus on our duties instead, and trust that whatever the general decides” —I toss the piece into my mouth— “will help both sides.” Tender sweetness spreads across my tongue—soft and honey-like, yet bitter and roasted, like coffee from the Middle.

“But…” I trail off, letting out a soft moan as the rich flavor fills my mouth. I quietly smack my lips, darting my eyes between the floor and Raumen’s smiling face. Chocolate . My thoughts drift away, and the rest of the unit begins to chatter over my point.

“Zel, can you find out more about his plan? We can come with you,” Nida adds, as the rest nod in agreement.

The taste of chocolate fades from my mouth, and I snap back to reality.

Raumen eyes me, his smile widening as he gives a thumbs-up.

Where the hell did he get this? Chocolate is only available in the Center—sometimes Velerum.

“I don’t know if I’m willing to go to his quarters,” Ilian says. “That man smells fear. I doubt having me around is going to help the cause.” He lets out a nervous chuckle, his eyes darting around us.

“Weak,” Alex mocks.

Ilian’s fist is already in motion before Eryca catches him by the collar. Alex’s mouth twists into a sneer.

“Stick to your side of the area,” Eryca hisses. Alex shifts his feet annoyed.

Raumen’s hand shoots up with another piece held between two fingers, his eyebrows raised and a slight grin coloring his face. I roll my eyes at him, catching the unspoken offer ‘ Do you want another?’

My mind lingers on the tender taste in my mouth.

I nod slightly, and Raumen tosses another piece over Ilian to me.

When I catch it, I notice the shape is different—not square, but a round ball with a red pebble in the center.

I toss it into my mouth, and a delicate dance of cherry and chocolate flavors unfolds on my tongue.

Divines. I swallow quickly, trying not to get consumed by it. Damn it, Raumen.

“I’ll talk to him,” I blurt, and all eyes turn to me.

“Maybe instead of telling the villagers the whole truth, we tell them half,” I say, wiping the chocolate stain from the corner of my lip.

“If we keep them in the dark too long, they’ll sense something’s wrong.

Then we’ll have two problems instead of one.

Tell them half the truth—they’ll at least feel included.

By the time the full truth comes out, they’ll have already shaped their own reality based on what they know. They’ll hear what they expect to hear.”

“And you think that’s going to work?” Nida asks.

“It has to. Sam and I have a meeting with the lieutenants and the general tomorrow after training. We’ll review the plan for the expedition and decide if I’ll lead them. It’s the perfect time to weigh in with our thoughts.”

Everyone nods in agreement. Then they scatter—returning to their posts—only Nida and I left.

“Have you heard anything?” Nida asks moments later.

I shake my head. “No mention of a female Redsnout.”

She clicks her tongue, silence stretching between us. She drags the sole of her boot across the brick ground, dust clinging to her leathers.

She scoffs. “Figures. Sometimes I end up doubting what I saw.”

“I don’t think you should.”

She steps forward, and in seconds her face is inches from mine, as if she’s covering up our conversation, a curl falling across her face.

“What do you think will happen now? ”

“I’m not sure,” I whisper. Instinctively, I reach for the curl and tuck it under her ear. Her hair still beautifully braided. She started braiding her hair more after I did—doing a way better job than me.

My hand lingers a moment longer than it should, a strange warmth creeping up my spine. What am I doing? I shake my head, forcing myself back to the conversation. Soldier first. Duty always. Clearing my throat, I push the moment aside and meet her eyes again.

Her cheeks flush, and she steps back, clearing her throat. “Well, as long as you don’t forget you’re not alone in this,” she stutters.

I nod. My mind is still tangled in the warmth of that small touch, the feel of her so close.

I swallow hard. “I’ll keep that in mind. My voice sounds firmer than I feel, but I force myself to stand tall, even if every instinct seems to pull me toward her.