Athena Sorrengail (yep, that's me) has been preparing for the Healers quadrant her whole live, but her mother seemed to have a different plan.
Or so everyone thought
In secret has I have been preparing to become a rider since I turned 12.
The only...
Knowing I am in direct disagreement with General Melgren's
orders, I am officially objecting to the plan set forth in
todays briefing. It is not this general's opinion that the children
of the rebellion's leaders should be forced to witness
their parents' executions. No child should watch their parent put to death.
-The Tyrrish Rebellion, an official brief for
King Tauri by General Lilith Sorrengail
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"Welcome to your first Battle Brief," Professor Devera says from the recessed floor of the enormous lecture hall later in the morning, a bright purple Flame Section patch on her shoulder matching her short hair perfectly.
This was the only class held in the circular, tiered room that curvs the entire end of the academic hall and one of only two rooms in the citadel capable of fitting every cadet.
Every creaky wooden seat is full, and the senior third years are standing against the walls behind us, but we could all fit. It is very different from history last hour, where there were only three squads of first years. Of couse was Liam's squad the only one missing. But at least the first years in our squad are all seated together. Now if I could only remember all their names.
Ridoc is one of the names I can remember - he cracked wise-ass comments all through history - and was the same guy who joked about Sawyer. Hopefully, he knows better than to try the same in here, though. Professor Devera isn't the joking kind.
"In the past, riders have seldom been called into service before graduation," She continues, her mouth tensing as she paces slowly in front of a twenty-foot-high map of the Continent mounted to the back wall that is labeled with our defensive outposts along our borders.
Dozens of mage lights illuminate the space, more than making up for the lack of windows and reflecting off the longsword she keeps strapped to her back.
"And if they were, they were always third years who'd spent time shadowing forward wings, but we expect you to graduate with the full knowledge of what we're up against. It's not about just knowing where every wing is stationed, either." She takes her time, making eye contact with every first year she sees.
The rank on her shoulder says captain, but I knew she'd be a major before she left her rotation teaching here, given the medals pinned on her chest.
"You need to understand the politics of our enemies, the strategies of defending our outposts from constant attack, and have a thorough knowledge of both recent and current battles. If you cannot grasp these basic topics, then you have no business on the back of a dragon." She arches a black brow a few shades darker than her deep-brown skin.
