“So do you want to explain to me why you took dragon Salvadora out and rode her alone when there is an orange flag flying?”
I blinked. Frowned. And turned. Only then did I see the flag flying there. “That wasn’t up when I left.”
Yes, it was,Dora belatedly told me.
Damn it all. I turned back and faced my Flight Captain. “My apologies, Captain. I failed to register the warning. I am at fault.” A fact that just made me angrier at myself, I should have noticed, I should have taken better care of Dora. Even in my general anger.
“I am glad you recognise that. You realise that I have no choice but to command discipline for the action?”
I swallowed and stood at attention. “Yes. S-sir.” The stutter came from a shiver. Of course he would discipline me. That was his job.
“You’re running cold—”
“No, sir. I’m running hot.” My teeth were gritted. “Boiling hot.”
“Flight Sergeant?”
“I resign.” The words were out of my mouth before they had even formed in my mind. Salvadora grunted behind me. I could feel her trying to push into my mind. I blocked her out.
“Denied.” Shi’s voice was dangerously low.
“What? You can’t refuse.” My rational mind and my words were two different people in that moment. “I resign.”
What happened to talking to Fin about this first?
It was a struggle, but I pushed Dora’s voice away again.
Shi stood without reacting. “Why would you want to do that?”
By the Gods, I wanted to punch him. Why couldn’t he just react? Why didn’t he get bothered by anything? By me?
“Because!”
Something flickered in his features. Finally. Was he actually listening to me?
“Because of what, Sullivan? Why would you want to leave?”
My chin wobbled despite my grasping for control. I wished I had a fraction of Ang’s composure. “Because I want Fin to have a normal life. I want him to see what the world is like, not this grey, never-changing, men-only box. We’re here because I told the truth. An inconvenient truth that the brass don’t like. I’d no option and I’ve ruined my son’s life because of it. I’ve requested transfers, and you’ve denied them. The only way out now is to resign my post.”
Ang stepped closer. His hands appeared at his sides. They moved forward, then back. Behind his back. “Request denied.”
“Why?” I demanded. “Are you trying to torture me? Or is it Fin? Are you trying to torture him? Because it looks like it. The poor kid comes home most nights and passes out from exhaustion. He never gets a break.”
“I am training him as he asked to be trained. To be the best Rider he can be.”
“You’re pushing him too hard,” I argued.
Ang didn’t respond immediately. He rarely did. When he spoke, it was measured. Controlled. “He will need it.”
“No one needs that!”
“Sullivan—”
“No one can keep going at that level forever.”
His eyes flashed, his nostrils flared. “I know what I’m doing.”
“So do I,” I shouted. “You are overstepping!”
