Page 166 of Ashborne: Defiance

“Sir, yes sir!” the men responded. I turned to snap to attention with them. Irritated, but willing to let it go. I’d been prepared to fly either position. A pivot dragon had to be more agile, able to turn, ascend, or descend quickly, because they were the dragon others’ wings centered on. The wing didn’t need to be as quick, but a strong flyer, because movements would be larger. Especially in turns around the pivot.

“Very good. You will have five minutes to plan your positions and strategize. Do not waste it. Your assessment will begin the moment you grasp your mounting strap, and will not end until you have followed every order to the best of your ability, then returned your dragon to this clearing, and dismounted.

“When the whistle blows, take your positions in the sky. May God bless you in your efforts today!”

A cheer went up as we turned back to our dragons. The men strode along at a quick pace. With their height, I had to trot to keep up. The two pivots—the younger, brown-haired man, and the man a little older than me, quickly discussed who would take left and right.

“Should we share names?” I suggested, tugging at my partner’s sleeve. “In case we need to get each other’s attention while we’re—”

“The dragons will help us if there’s a need,” he snapped. “Right now, it’s most important that we know who’s watching who. You set your dragon at our wingtip, and follow like you’re tied to us. I’ll manage the rest.”

I frowned, and fire sparked in my chest. Apparently, the arrogance I’d observed in the noblemen of my nation wasn’t restricted to class.

“Thank you,” I said to him sweetly. “I don’t know how we would get through this without you.” I smiled at his uneasy frown, then ran ahead of him to start up my mounting strap. I knew it would take me longer than the men to mount, and I didn’t want to give anyone—my fellow Flameborne, or the assessors—reason to wait for me.

I was on Koa’s back almost as quickly as the men, and we hurriedly practiced the hand signals.

We would fly four abreast, the two pivots in the center. I’d been given the right-hand wing. When formations called for a division, the pivots would wheel off in opposing directions. Me and Koa, and the young blonde man, would follow our pivot’s direction and speed until the four of us reformed.

Hand gestures were used by the pivots to agree on direction, or any other nuances, to ensure dragons didn’t collide or tangle with each other in movement.

I watched the men, following their quick discussion to clarify and ensure they knew the same signals I’d been taught, then the whistle blew, and a cheer rose from the Furyknights there to watch.

I took hold of Koa’s neck strap. ‘Let’s go!’

As she lurched forward, my nerves surged with her and I gripped those straps until my nails threatened to split my palms. But I was determined to make no mistakes.

Koa called as we lifted into the air. ‘Breathe, my Grace.’

I let my lungs deflate, then sucked in a fresh breath. ‘Thank you, Koa.’

‘We will win.’

‘Don’t let the males dismiss you.’

‘No male can dare,’ she sent with a playful scream, shaking her head as we rose into the sky.

And then, I was flying. Alone. With my dragon. And banking to find the men and our position in formation.

I could do this.

I would succeed.

Koa was right. We would win this.

58. The Assessment

~ VOSKI ~

I stood at the back of my brothers and sister, watching. Barely able to breathe.

It had been a slow, and humiliating week. Ronen yanked me off patrols, and set me to work in the stables, like a common prospect.

I’d almost gone to Donavyn, but something in my chest went tight every time I thought of it. It was such a whiny thing to do. Kham warned me against pressing any further, plus, Donavyn was so busy, we’d barely seen him in the Keep. Even today, he accompanied the queen. Bren was worried about him not getting enough sleep, trying to do the job of three men as they restructured the kingdom’s military, attempted to clear the problems in the city, and navigated the change with the dragons and Furyknights—meanwhile, out of sight, he directed the Shadowfang in efforts to uncover anyone who’d worked with the traitors we identified in Fyrehold, as well. A scheme most Furyknights didn’t even know had brought about this upheaval. They only thought the kingdom was in flux because of the king’s death. None of them knew how close they’d come to a coup.

Bren was right to worry for Donavyn. But I also knew, he wouldn’t have it any other way. Because the opportunity to pull him aside without a formal request hadn’t presented itself, I’d taken Kham’s advice, and kept my head down for the last five days, doing what I was told without argument. But inside, I simmered.

This should never have happened today. Not for Grace. My heart rose in my throat right alongside her on her dragon.