@beccaylaa likely the first of a few oneshots I’m gonna post.
@luxxyb thank you for previewing
Title: Whining? Ain't Nobody Got Time for That!
A possible excerpt of what I hope to call Gryphon’s Crown.
Amaranth studied the male trainee standing in front of her. A sullen pout made his youthful face ugly, and his short black hair was stuck up at awkward angles from the wind outside. She could hardly believe he was sixteen years old; he looked at least two years younger. His uniform was made of finer material than the other trainees of the corps. Amaranth tried to not grind her teeth at it. He was not following protocol, but that was a lecture for another day.
“Captain Amaranth, I want to change rooms.” he stated.
“What’s wrong with sharing a room with Trainee Aloster?” she replied.
“I want to sleep in my own room.”
Amaranth closed her eyes and exhaled. Not this again.
“Trainee Isidoro, you haven’t answered my question,” she stated. “Do you have any concerns with sharing a room with Trainee Aloster?”
“No, I don’t.” Isidoro responded. “I just want my own room.”
“We’ve discussed this, trainee. That’s not going to be possible,” Amaranth said. “There isn’t enough room in the western tower to give every male trainee their own bed. Were you listening when I gave that lecture?”
“I saw some empty rooms over in the eastern tower!” Isidoro exclaimed.
Amaranth sighed and clamped down her frustration. Evidentially, he had not listened.
“The eastern tower is for female trainees only. You’re not supposed to be over there,” she stated. “Must I repeat what I said about the western tower and male trainees?”
“Why not upstairs on the second floor?” Isidoro complained.
Amaranth stared at him, dumbfounded.
“Those are private living quarters,” Amaranth responded. She fought to keep her temper in check. “They’re reserved for my family members, fortress servants, and visitors.”
“Does your brother sleep up there?”
“Trainee Caius sleeps in the western tower with the rest of the trainees,” Amaranth snapped. She couldn’t help it anymore. “He knows better than to beg for his old room back or ask for a room of his own.”
The implication wasn’t lost on Isidoro. He frowned deeply.
“Aloster snores and he smells like a pig sty,” he complained.
Finally, a legitimate complaint from him. But she wasn’t going to let him off the hook.
“I can have you switch rooms with another trainee, but you’re still going to be sharing a bed with someone,” Amaranth stated firmly. “Furthermore, not all of the trainees here are from noble stock like you. Not everyone grew up with the luxury of bathing every day.”
“Is that why you told us that rank doesn’t matter in this corps?” Isidoro asked abruptly.
“Exactly. Your position in my corps isn’t dependent on your bloodline or what social class you are. It’s dependent on your vow to patrol the country’s borders and your strong ties with fellow corps members,” Amaranth answered. She paused briefly. “…and your gryphons, but that’s beside the point.”
Isidoro fell silent. He was still frowning, though it didn’t have the ugly grimace from before.
“Fine, swap me rooms,” he demanded. “I just don’t want someone who snores or smells.”
“I can’t guarantee that, trainee,” Amaranth replied nonchalantly. She reached for a ledger on the desk and dragged it towards her. “Just hope that there’s someone willing to change rooms with you.”
Isidoro paled.
--
Bonus
“I can’t guarantee that, trainee,” Amaranth replied nonchalantly. She reached for a ledger on the desk and dragged it towards her. “Just hope that there’s someone willing to change rooms with your spoiled rich ass you.”
Isidoro paled.
“W-What did you just call me?”
“You’re dismissed, trainee.”