“My mom wanted me out of the house, terrified things between my father and I would grow worse. But that’s not the only reason I asked your dad to intern.”
“So, youaretrying to steal the scholarship from me. Figures I was right about something.”
I remember when Farren had found out I was competing with her for the Revers scholarship spot beginning of year ten. She’d stormed up to me early morning on the crafting fields.
“Did you really apply?” she had asked.
Her hair was in small braided pigtails with a copper headband, and I was so startled by her approach I dropped the silver I was shaping and didn’t say anything for a good minute. My brain took way too long processing how pretty she was up close. Up close and addressing me. She’d had to prompt me. “Murphy. The Revers scholarship? Have you truly applied for the academic all-around?”
“Yes, I’ve entered.”
“Why?”
I’d told her the same lie I’d been telling my parents. “Because it’s a good opportunity.”
“Well, I have as well.”
“I know.” Of course I had known. She was my only real competition. Even then, we both knew it would come down to us.
That had upset her. “Don’t you dare think you’ve won on default. It’s more than crafting or riding. You’ll fail medical.”
“We’ll see.” I had said, ignorant to how that would sound. How that one decision changed her opinion of me from annoyance to nemesis. After that, if she ever caught me staring at her, she glared. If I answered a question in class, she shot her hand up next. She used every opportunity she could to prove she was better than me. We had trained near one another on the crafting fields before school for years. Me in the silver section, Farren in the copper. But after our conversation, she arrived at the training fields earlier and earlier. And I’d matched her every move, wrapped up in a dream that one day we’d relent and talk. Really talk. I lost track of the times I’d try to seem nonchalant as I passed by and gave her advice.
It’s best to keep your wrist straight so you don’t hurt yourself.
I heard the test is on folding tin today.
Seems like you could actually hold more copper.
One time I just asked if she was thirsty and she scowled like I’d insulted her. Every time I opened my mouth, she seemed to hate me more. But I welcomed it. Any attention was better than left wondering if she knew I existed.
Then, in autumn of year eleven, she’d stopped practicing in the morningsbefore school, went silent in class, ceased being the Farren I knew. I could only get her back to normal if I was brave enough to provoke her.
Tonight, in this cave, Farren sounds resigned to losing the scholarship. I understand her now. She’s had to fight to seem normal while also pretending she couldn’t craft better than any other person in the room. No, the world.
Farren straightens like she has a new idea. “I just realized telling anyone about Nity and outing us means you won’t be the best crafter in school anymore. You’d lose the scholarship. Another reason to keep this quiet.”
My throat tightens. There she is. Thinking the worst of me. “I’m sorry you had to bear this alone,” is all I respond.
Farren’s head snaps in my direction. I feed off her full attention.
“Nity’s worth it.” She gestures toward the babies playing. “This is worth it.”
“I didn’t ask your dad to intern to win the Revers scholarship.”
“You didn’t?” She sounds so unconvinced.
“I asked him because I want to be a dragon vet.”
Farren’s face scrunches in confusion. Her mouth pops open. “Wait, what? Like my family?”
“If I can be half as good as your dad, I’ll be happy,” I answer simply, frankly.
“Did you… did you just admit we want the exact same thing? Have the exact same dream?” She starts to shake her head. I’m a little worried I’ve broken her. “But you’re a dragon rider,” she says. “A dragon rider set to inherit the largest and most profitable racing tracks in Forsen.”
“I am, and that’s the plan.” I pause, staring at her. “Doesn’t mean I want it.”
“So, you don’t want the fame, fortune, or prestige of racing dragons?”
