CHAPTER ONE || 3.1K WORDS || 9 PAGES || PICS NOT MINE
“Of course, today would be the worst day for cadets to cross the parapet,” You mumble to yourself as the first drops of rain hit your black leathers. The skies cry out in a wrecking sob and your eyes strain to see the cadets making their way to you. Some slip on the stone and the unfortunate ones who can’t pull themselves back up fall into the fog that swallows them whole. It sucks seeing a sight like this, but what’s worse is when they fall off dragonback.
This is their first real test to see if they have the ability to ride a dragon. Balance is key to being on dragonback and you know all about it since your dragon is the fastest in The Empyrean. Sicaech used to torture you during flight manuvers because he wanted to make sure you could withstand any kind of turn with his incredible speed. It took months of you stomaching the whirlwinds he created in the clouds to understand how to hold onto him.
“I’m coming for you, Sorrengail!”
You hear a shout filled with bloodlust ring out into the storm. Then you step closer to the edge, your boots in front of the stone. Sorrengail? You force your eyes to clear the rain away and see a woman with mismatched boots balance her way towards you. She isn’t fast nor is she slow. Her dark hair matches her complexion in a way she looks like a goddess. Her eyes peer over her shoulder to see if her friend behind her is okay and it bothers you.
You can tell she’s worried about the person behind her, however her main focus should be crossing this parapet in this forsaken weather. So you do what any nice wingleader would do, get her attention before she gets herself killed.
“Hey!” Immediately your shout catches her attention and she looks at you with wide blown eyes. “Cross this now or you’ll never see your friend again! She’s going to need all the room to jump away from that lunatic!”
It’s like the rain pours heavier to make your voice drown in it. But it’s clear the woman hears you and she picks up her pace. She’s surprisingly nimble for her height and you’re thoroughly impressed by it. Finally when she touches the ground, you have one of your section leaders take her name - Rhiannon. Beautiful name for what could be a lethal woman.
You began to walk away with her by your side, her breaths becoming steadier now that she knows she’s on solid ground. “Nice to meet you, Rhiannon. Go on ahead and wait at the entrance.” You kindly tell her with a gesture to go on her way and she stops to say something to you.
“I have to see her cross, she helped me by giving me a boot of hers. I can’t just-”
“You will see her at the entrance to the citadel, do I make myself clear, Cadet Matthias?” And your nice voice has washed away with the cold rain that slides down your smile turning it into a scowl. You don’t have time to worry about her.
“Loud and clear,” She responds and wobbles over to where the other cadets who made it are. Now your attention can be on Violet, who General Sorrengail tasked her safety in your hands for the favor of your father. Your two section leaders stand where you were before when you shouted at Rhiannon taking in the situation Violet finds herself with another cadet.
Well, she’s a cadet. The blonde isn’t. Violet has the man in an interesting position, it makes the scowl on your face slowly ease into a smirk. She’s got him good.
You stand a few feet away from them and let your section leaders handle the problem. After all, you're here to oversee what happens. You will interfere when and if no one follows the authority of higher ranks. Then something catches you off guard.
The way the blonde backs off, but it’s not that. It’s the action of him getting a whiff of Violet’s scent that irks you. Like he’s some mangy dog. You curse yourself when you hear the familiar sizzle of your flames burn out in the rain. Looking down you see scorch marks beneath your boots and sigh heavily, taking mental note to control your temper today.
“I’m alive. I made it.”
Violet’s inner voice reaches you and you look up from your burned steps to see her tremble from the pressure and..pain. She’s in pain and you think it's because she’s slipped so many times on the parapet. She takes a step and it’s clear to you that she doesn’t want to be seen like this.
“Weak, Princess. Say it how you see it.” Sicaech makes himself known and you shiver at the warmth his voice provides you with.
“She crossed the parapet with a bloodthirsty dog chasing after her. Violet isn’t weak.” You counter and turn away from the scene when Rhiannon happily greets Violet. Lilith’s daughter will be protected for now, she’s got a friend to watch her back. Relief washes over you like the rain does on your leathers and you leave behind the scorched earth the size of your boots.
Sicaech hums and continues the conversation, “Her body screams otherwise. The will of the mind can only push the body so far.”
“Then give me a chance to train her body to withstand what this college can throw at her and she’ll be just fine. It’s not her fault that her mother threw her into the dragon's den. Literally.”
“You cannot carry a soft spot for the General’s daughter just because she asked you to watch over her.”
Sícaech is against the favor Lilith Sorrengail asked of you because it paints a huge target on your back. It’s not hard to blame him for wanting to ignore Violet, so you could continue to strive to the top. You have been doing well on your own, earning the title of Wingleader to prove you’re not just a princess. He made sure that your title of being the King’s daughter didn’t get you special privileges, making you endure hardships in flight maneuvers.
Having to babysit over someone he finds weak irritates the hell out of him. You can feel the anger coil down through the bond. It burns in your throat and you can tell the fire in his own is not going to be clenched with your rejection.
“Violet may surprise you, Sí. I wouldn’t undermine any Sorrengail.”
“The only thing that will surprise me is her surviving. Everyone is going to be after her, Princess. Good luck.”
Then he disappeared to go simmer in his anger before arriving with the rest on the perch. You knew better than to make him feel better and remained unbothered by his usual temper. Sícaech will always be Sícaech.
Meanwhile you watch Violet leave with Dain Aetos and you notice the…tension between them. You didn’t have the energy in you to read their minds, yet you can spot the heat in their eyes. They have history with each other and you’re glad you never got into the scene of royalty, generals or politics.
Ballgowns aren't your type of clothing. You prefer leathers and rider black.
“Wingleader [L.Name]!” You look off to the side and spot one of your section leaders running up to you with her parchment of names covered by her upper body, “It seems like Aetos is claiming two cadets already. Will you allow it?”
“Depends on who he is claiming,” You respond smoothly and cross your arms over your chest.
Riley steps closer to you and whispers, “Violet Sorrengail and Rhiannon Matthias.”
It sucks that Dain Aetos doesn’t fall under your command. You would have loved those two picks, nevertheless you wave your hand dismissively, “He can have them. Did you overhear this by the way?”
Riley nervously chuckles and says, “Well you told me to keep an eye out on potential cadets that can strengthen our wing. I believe Cadet Matthias is someone you would find potential in.”
“Not Sorrengail?”
Riley straightens up when she hears your tone, one that sounded offended. She presses her lips in a thin line and mutters, “No one wants Sorrengail on their squad. She’s a liability.”
“And how can you tell that?” You demand.
“Word is spreading that she was supposed to be a Scribe. That and she was limping away from the-“
“Riley, I’m going to need you to stop talking. Because I recall you wanting to be a Healer, but your father forced you to come be a Rider. Violet Sorrengail is in the same position you were in last year…Will you be another person who undermines the will or strength of someone like you?”
She pauses to think and her eyes draw to the floor, her shoulder slumping in defeat, “No, Wingleader.”
You sigh and give her a pat on the shoulder, “Don’t be that type of person, Riley. You’re my second in command because I believe in you. It’s about time others start believing in one another too. Go back to your station, this should be over soon.”
“Right away, Wingleader.” Riley turns away from you with her head held up high. She knows she’s not the only one who doubts Violet Sorrengail. You’re afraid that you are the only person in this college to believe in General Sorrengail’s daughter.
After an hour or so passed, the bells rang signaling the last of the parapet trial. You sigh with relief when you spot Xaden and he walks over to you with his usual intimidating face. “So did she cross?” He asks you and you fall into step with him, people avoiding him like the plague and making room for the both of you to talk.
“Yes, she did.”
You two kept the conversation short and joined the others up on the dais along with Commandant Panchek. He starts giving his speech, hands moving and announces that 67 people did not survive the first trial; the parapet. It’s more than average and you blame the rain along with the soles of the footwear they wore. Rhiannon could have been the 68th if Violet didn’t give her a boot that had traction.
“You don’t mind me taking the spotlight for a bit, do you?” Xaden leans towards you as he whispers his words.
You look up at him and his eyes snap onto yours, a smirk playing at his lips. You know what he’s thinking, but you kept your second signet a secret from him regrettably. So you play along.
You huff exasperated and ask him, “You plan on taking her under your wing, don’t you? Even after I told you what General Sorrengail asked of me?”
“I think it’s a smart plan considering that most of the Marked Ones fall under my wing. You already have my word that they won’t hurt her.”
Because he made a deal with General Sorrengail. Something he hasn’t shared with you yet. There’s a feeling in you that someday he will tell you about it as you would one day talk about your second signet.
“I trust you, you already know that.” You tell him and gesture for him to make his announcement to the other wingleaders.
“Dain Aetos and his squad is going to be under my command.”
Xaden brings the attention to him and you hate it when the words that are supposed to be directed at him are actually directed towards you. Nyra shakes her head and says, “Your boyfriend has some audacity to claim a squad that Violet Sorrengail falls under command of.”
You don’t bite the bait she sets out for you, instead you turn your head away from it with disinterest. “As long as my wing stays intact, I don’t care what he does with his.”
Nyra scoffs and says, “Right, it surprises me that you don’t have a relic of your own, Switch.”
“Watch your tone.” Xaden steps up and glares at Nyra, “I’m the one calling for the change, not Wingleader [L.Name]. Your hostility should be focused on me. Second Wing can have Aura Beinhaven and her squad.”
Nyra huffs through her nose and throws her hands up, “Fine then. It’s one liability off of Second Wing’s hands. Good luck.”
You’re growing tired of hearing that stupid phrase: good luck. As if anyone in Basgaith experiences good luck. It’s a damn war college with dragons, luck is never on their side.
“Dain Aetos, you and your squad will switch with Aura Beinhaven’s,” Nyra and the rest of the wingleaders take a good look at Dain and his squad including you. Violet’s eyes are glued onto Xaden and you hear him chuckle with mirth. He leans into your side again and says, “Make sure you tell Sícaech not to eat anyone this year. He’ll scare away all the potential.”
The sarcasm in his voice makes you roll your eyes and you bump your elbow in his side gently, “Sícaech can do whatever the hell he wants. He’s in a foul mood too.”
“Well then, it’s a shame that those cadets down there think they’re worthy because they crossed the parapet. Sícaech has a way of weeding out the weak.” Xaden steps ahead of you and starts addressing the cadets down below, their cheers blending in with the sounds of beating wings. These cadets aren’t ready to see the sight of what dragons are capable of showing off. Xaden was right, Sícaech has a way of getting rid of weaklings. He’s told you before that he would be damned to let any weak person bond to his Reds.
You’re confident that he’s advised them not to go near Violet Sorrengail. Or dare to bond with her. As future Elder of the Reds, Sícaech already commands authority in his color that even Xaden mentions it the moment Sícaech lands right behind you on the perch.
“You all have the pleasure to meet an Elder bonded to none other than Wingleader [L.Name] of Third Wing. Don’t disappoint him or her else you’ll die in the most undesirable way.”
Murmurs are heard across the formations and Sícaech commands all the attention. It isn’t the first time hearing of an Elder bonding to someone as General Melgren is with Codagh. But for one to command attention like the Elder of the Blacks, it’s a scary sight to see Sícaech and his crown of horns.
Your dragon burns with massive heat and he lets out a loud roar into the sky, his wings spreading out wide before being tucked into his side. He shows off his teeth where drool pools down from his mouth and forms a puddle behind you. Meanwhile his scorpion tail flicks dangerously side to side, daring for some poor cadet to run.
One does.
A cadet from Third Wing leaps out of formation and runs for his life. It’s a pity to see one from your Wing do that.
You sigh and shake your head with a thin smile, “Sícaech, he’s all yours.” You won’t tolerate cowardice in your wing either, it’s a good thing this cadet made himself known. Everyone watches with bated breaths and when the cadet makes his way to the stone arch doorway, that’s when Sícaech shows off his incredible speed to the remaining cadets.
He flicks his scorpion tail over the heads of Third Wing and the tip of it strikes through the runaway cadet. The quench of blood splattering on the stone floor is followed by the shallow gasp of the cadet. Right on target, his tail went through the chest of the cadet. It’s a gruesome sight then another Red opens its mouth and burns the cadet. A pile of ashes falls down on the floor and more fall when cadets all around start screaming.
So the culling begins.
Carefully, you watch Violet as she stands in her spot with her chin up.
“I will not die today.” She chants over and over in her head while Sícaech and the other dragons burn the weak ones. It’s a gruesome sight you reiterate, yes. Nonetheless, these dragons know what they are doing.
Then Sgaeyl watches Violet with her golden eyes and Sícaech huffs through his nose when he curls his neck back to stop burning cadets. You kept count of how many he’s burned which was four.
Seventy-four have died today.
The two dragons look like they are conversing with one another. Their main topic is obviously Violet and the bandage around her knee because Sícaech gestures with his snout at Sgaeyl’s own joint. They chuff at one another then she completely ignores the brave face Violet wears in order to survive.
Both Sgaeyl and Sícaech know they cannot touch Violet. So you know there’s nothing Violet should fear, but she doesn’t know that.
“No cares who your mommy or daddy is here. Even King Tauri’s second son died here during his Threshing.”
Xaden’s words catch your attention and you move your eyes onto his wide back. You never planned on telling him who your father was because you were raised by your grandmother. You don’t even have a relationship with King Tauri besides making mandatory visits late at night to interrogate people he deems are untrustworthy.
Secondly, you work closely with General Melgren as both of you have incredible signets that prevent future uprisings. His with foresight and you with reading minds. You don’t think Xaden will understand the reason why you hide who your father really is. He’s going to think that King Tauri planted you like some spy, but it’s further from the truth.
You are no one’s spy, no one’s pawn. When King Tauri asks about the Marked Ones, specifically Xaden, you lie about what you say. It’s easy because he thinks you’re some Godsend and he trusts your word. King Tauri is a fool just like your half-brother, Alic.
You were nobody to King Tauri before Sícaech revealed your second signet to Codagh and the other Elders.
You will not be a piece to him now or his daughter when he never cared for you in the first place.
“Because you’re not untouchable or special to them.”
Sícaech lets out a growl to agree with Xaden’s words, giving approval of his speech. Then your boyfriend looks behind him and points at Sgaeyl finishing off with, “To them, you’re just the prey.”
Xaden locks eyes with you and a sudden thought rushes in your head.
Maybe, just maybe he could understand your purpose.
ʙᴀᴄᴋꜱᴛᴏʀʏ: Establishing a secure spot among the Marked Ones wasn't easy, yet you earned the respect from Xaden Riorson. What the both of you weren't expecting was to fall in love with one another. You fall for him first, but he falls harder. Until your secret comes out and he thinks you betrayed him by keeping your real family name under wraps. It's time for you to prove to him that your love for him isn't some scheme your father planned. No, your love for him burned with a passion that made you defy your father in front of everyone.
ꜱɪɢɴᴇᴛꜱ: Fire- wielding and Mind Reader. Since there is no same "intinnsic" abilities, Reader's ability to read minds only happens when she links with someone. She doesn't automatically have access to everyone's thoughts like Jeremiah. She needs to link with them by one look into their eyes (because eyes are the doors) and it has to be by her will. She can also unlink with someone by cutting off the connection with them, so she's not plagued by hearing unwanted thoughts all the time. We want our baddie to live for longer than Jeremiah and not go completely insane.
ᴅʀᴀɢᴏɴ: Sicaech is a red, scorpion tail dragon with a fierce temper. Cadets, lieutenants, generals and even other dragons are warned not to get on his bad side because he has no problem with eating, stomping or burning others. He is the fastest dragon and it makes him lethal in combat. He has a crown of spiked horns that serve to protect his head towards his neck, but they get smaller in size the further down. He is about the same size as Sgaeyl. Because of his anger, Sicaech is not favored by a lot of the dragons, but Andarna loves him which makes Sgaeyl and Tairn watch over her more when she hangs around the Red Riot.
I believe that's all I can flesh out for now. I can't wait to post this series, chapter by chapter to see where it goes and how everyone reacts. I know Reader seems OP, but come on. If Violet freaking Sorrengail can survive a death college with very little experience of fighting and using her brain then Reader can survive what is thrown at her...with her plot armor.
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