Page 81 of Tailwind

‘This is the good news we want you to share in the interview, Miss Paldon. It was quite a surprise for everyone to see your … spirited introduction. So, we’d like to clear up a few rumours. It’s all in the way you answer the questions.’

I waited. He’d laid out the offer of what I wanted. Now it was his turn. Martan pulled out the chair opposite to mine, placed his clipboard down and sat.

‘Lena, tell us, what transpired between yourself and Thorne for you to end up stealing his identity?’ His tone was flat, but the question carried plenty of judgement in itself.

‘He was a sexist piece of trash so my dragon kicked his shit in and I took the suit, since I’m perfectly qualified to do so.’ A direct question deserved a direct answer.

Martan drew in a breath so sharp his nostrils closed.

‘No, Lena.’

‘Yes, Martan.’ I replied petulantly. ‘It’s the truth.’

His shoulders sagged. He already looked way older than he was, but I’d been able to see him age an extra few years with my answer. ‘I’m not asking you to lie, Lena, but I do need you to pick certain strands of the truth and weave them together in a way that the press will understand.’

‘That’s a fancy way of telling me to lie.’

He ran a hand down his face, knocking his glasses askew. ‘First of all, it isn’t. Second of all, even if it was, you’ve been lying to the world for weeks on end – what would be the problem with doing it some more?’

‘The difference, Martan, is that I was lying to cover an innocent truth. It’s true that I’m qualified for the job. Every other door was closed to me so my only option to further my career was by pretending to be Thorne. Lying to cover up the fact that Thorne is a vicious creep with anger issues is absolutely not something that works in my favour.’

My leg bounced up and down as I leaned forward, elbows on the table. ‘Why should I protect the man that’s made me miserable for years? You can’t tell me you actually want me to make him look good, can you? I’ve seen the way he treats you too.’

He leaned forward as well. One chair leg was shorter than the others, making him tilt.

‘That’s an interesting concept you have there.’ He folded his fingers together.

‘That Thorne was a jerk to you? I didn’t think it was that bold a statement honestly.’

He waved a dismissive hand. ‘No, we all know that. Kiestral, the press, the dragons, the other teams … it’s no secret.’

‘Then why do you let him get away with it?’ My excitement at another chance to race was quickly being replaced with the frustration of years of being treated like crap. The resentment that wasn’t just towards Thorne, but towards everyone who catered to him and enabled the behaviour that had crushed my spirit.

‘We both know you’re smart enough to answer that question yourself.’

There was a longer, more complex answer that involved the men around Thorne ignoring his behaviour because they could, letting it pass until it reached someone who couldn’t: me. It wasn’t the answer Martan was looking for though, but it was the undercurrent of the whole sport. It fuelled the core of Volitant.

‘Money,’ I answered.

Martan nodded. ‘Yes, Lena, money. Thorne brings in major sponsors regardless of his current behaviour and performance. In the court of public opinion his previous success is worth the sacrifice of current Volitant points and the morale of staff here at Kiestral.

‘Now, perhaps you could apply that thinking to your previous statement. That you don’t see the benefit in protecting Thorne.’

‘I’m not going to sell out and accept money in exchange for my silence.’

‘But would you accept a career?’

The instant ‘no’ got caught somewhere between my brain and mouth.

‘It’s a less easy answer, isn’t it?’ His usually schooled face let through the hint of a smug grin. ‘No one is offering you money to cover up for Thorne, I want to make that very clear. However, I would urge you to see the benefits of telling the press a particular version of the truth. A version that paints you in a light that makes you appealing to the racing world. This is, after all, going to be your debut as Lena Paldon: the first woman to fly in Volitant.’

My heart sank.

I thought about every time Thorne had put me down. Every time he’d lashed out at me. Every time the rest of the Kiestral crew had avoided eye contact, like being a victim was contagious. Then I remembered the look Josie had given me in the train cabin. I’d seen the same fire in her that had kept me going too.

I was damned if I did, damned if I didn’t. Either I spoke out against Thorne, effectively ruining my career and the potential of other women in the sport, or I let it slide for the sake of progress and enabled Thorne’s abusive behaviour.

I stared at the grain of the wooden table. My fingernails scratched against it as I considered my options.