My mouth went dry. Maybe it was better if I kept the details of how Ignimitra and I ended up bonded a secret.
This spirited version of Irikai was a stark contrast to the one I had seen last night. It was as if he had changed in his sleep.
“So why are you here?” I asked before Solra could speak. “If it’s so horrible, why didn’t you choose to do something else?” He clearly had the pleasure of choice.
His dark brown eyes burned in the brilliance of the sunlight.
“My father,” he said. “I’m here because of him.”
I knew he left a lot unsaid. I could feel it.
“The only good part of this is Titan,” He added with a smile.
The dragon stirred to life at the sound of his name, only to duck again when the boat shook as we battled through a rapid.
Ignimitra was hanging so far off the boat, I had to hold her so she didn’t fall. She seemed to want nothing more than to go for a swim.
Solra piped up.
“I’ve wanted to be a Dragon Guard soldier from the first moment I discovered what they were,” there was a steely determination in her voice. “I’d rather die trying.”
Solra’s words sounded like something I would have said.
“Wanting choice is just thinly veiled complacency,” I said. “There’s no turning back now. We have to do it.”
Irikai bristled under my gaze.
“Speaking ill of His Majesty’s Dragon Guard is treason,” Avek’s eyes were like cut steel, stabbing a hole through Irikai’s. “Keep those thoughts to yourself if you want to stay out of trouble.”
Irikai nodded weakly.
“I was only kidding,” he chuckled.
We fell quiet then, my mind preoccupied with the future.
The rumble of the water against the boat, Ignimitra’s delighted yips when water splashed on her or when she was close enough to pick a leaf from an overarching tree, and the melody of the birds were the perfect backdrop for my own thoughts.
THE JOURNEY UPSTREAM must have been a grueling one for Azamora, as the river got steeper and faster the higher we climbed. Still, we made it to the Academy true to Freyk’s prediction. The river ended in a cenote, where we moored by a hewn rock jetty that looked like it had seen many years.
“Have fun, kids!” Freyk said, as he and Azamora disappeared down the river. Hopefully, it would be easier for her with an empty boat.
A staircase had been hewn into the walling of the cave, and led up to the opening in the ceiling.
The three of us—loaded down with our things, —our dragons and Avek climbed the myriad of stairs. The sunlight streaming through the hole in the roof made it seem like we were trekking up to heaven. I was panting by the time we made it to the top.
What I saw took away the little breath I had.
We were looking down at The Dragon Academy nestled in the sloping crater of a dormant volcano—Mount Pyr, Freyk had said. The city was easily the biggest one I had ever seen, giant towers stretched into the sky. The vast clusters of buildings and clearings were a motley of green and stone, the air fresher than I’d ever experienced.
The sound of dragon wings pulled my eyes upward, to see tens of huge dragons flying about in the sky. My eyes burned at the sight of so many majestic creatures at once. I felt tiny, but in a good way. This place was more amazing than I’d ever dreamed.
“We’re here,” Irikai mouthed, clearly awestruck himself.
“Thanks for pointing out the obvious,” Solra’s usual sting was missing, she too incredulous.
“It’s more amazing than I could’ve imagined.”
The two grunted in response.
Just then, a familiar green dragon descended to us. It was Nurik, he knocked Avek over in greeting, licking his face.
“I missed you too,” he said, and I was sure that Nurik smiled.
“C’mon you three, I’ll take you to the orientation station.”
We flew low through the city, giving me a better vantage point.
The city made me feel nostalgic for the town I grew up in. Gold and silver veins crisscrossed the buildings, seemingly mixed with the mortar that held the stones together. Even the street stones glistened. The city seemed to be divided into three, each section connected by hewn rock steps.
Ignimitra was drinking in every sight, wide-eyed admiration on her face.
Nurik landed in front of one of the more regal looking buildings, it’s wooden roof was lined with gold and stained red. There had been no Dragon Guard soldiers in the streets, but we found a handful here.
“I have to report to command,” Avek didn’t alight. “Just go inside, someone will help you get settled.”
With that, he was off.
As we made our way into the building, I could feel the stares of the other Dragon Guard soldiers on us. I didn’t dare look at them.
The inside of the building was even grander than the outside. The floors were polished marble, and the double-height walls bore rich red and gold drapes, paintings of notable moments in Dragon Guard history and a large portrait of the Fire Drakken.
In the center of the room, a man sat behind a large desk.
“New cadets,” He pronounced with an air of severity, glancing up interestedly from his papers. “Sit over there. Someone will be with you.”
We found a wooden couch draped with sheepskin a few paces away from his desk.
That someone turned out to be Jules. She was dressed more casually in a leatherwork outfit instead of armor.
“Looks like I’ve got you newts this round,” Jules chuckled, producing a bound leather book. “Sign your names, former village and the name of your dragon, and we’ll get on our way.”
I was the last to sign—both Solra Rushing and Irikai Wilder had come from villages I’d never heard of.
“Alright, cadets” Jules said more to the sky than us when we exited the building. “This is your first training exercise. Let’s see how fit y’all are.”
The purple haired woman broke out in a jog, “Keep up!”
JULES HAD IMPECCABLE breath control—she spoke to us while we jogged through the city. According to her, a walking tour would’ve taken too much time. I doubted that.
“Right now, you’re in the Administrative District. The Headmaster, instructors and active duty Dragon Guard stationed on this island live here,” she said.
These buildings had the same shiny regal look to them—stone with inlaid gold and shining sheet metal roofing. I noticed that the houses were set far apart, each with a large grassy clearing in the back. Reminding me of my own home, the one I lived in before my father died.
“You’re not allowed in these parts past sundown, and even then you’ll probably need a note explaining your visit,” Jules held up a hand to the air, beckoning to her surroundings.
A grand flight of stairs led us down to another part of the city. The streets weren’t as shiny, but sounds of activity filled the air—as well as the smell of something tasty. The buildings here were closer together, only a few had as much yard space.
“This is the Artisan District—where the cooks who make our food live and work, the alchemist who heal us and our dragons, and the craftsmen who make our harnesses, weapons and such,” Jules said
As we sped through the streets, I caught the glimpse of people busy at work—a craftsman in his yard doing leatherwork, a woman picking herbs from her front garden—and some who weren’t. A few kids played in the streets, stopping abruptly to make way for us.
The distinct roads and buildings of the Artisan District fell away abruptly, it seemed like we were standing on the edge of a cliff, until I noticed more stairs carved into the rock face, like at the cenote. Nestled in the depths below the cliff was an expansive community of buildings, clearings, forests—even a lake.
“Watch your step tadpoles,” Jules teased as she hopped down the cliff stairs. My heart was in my throat just watching her.
“Can we just take a breath?” Irikai’s question ha
d been brewing in my mind ever since we sped past those kids in the Artisan District.
“You can rest when you’re dead!” Jules laughed, quickening her pace. “This should be light work for you three.”
Irikai mumbled something under his breath.
I looked to Solra, who was close behind Jules. Signs of exhaustion were evident on her—the hair sticking to the back of her neck was slick with sweat and her feet looked unsteady as she took the stairs two at a time—but out of the three of us, she was the one matching Jules’ pace the best.
As we descended, our surroundings got larger than life.
The buildings looked as though they were part of the landscape—weathered from many storms, vines and shrubs creeping up their walls. The greenery had an odd tapestry about it. Some parts were lush and vibrant, while the rest seemed scarred, bent into shape.
Suddenly, darkness fell over us. But it went as quickly as it came, and it was then I saw the story the land was trying to tell.
Above us flew six dragons—not as big as Slavidi or Nurik, but much bigger than our three—in a tight v-shaped formation. They dipped behind a thicket of trees and disappeared.
“This is where you’ll be spending most of your time,” Jules called over the sound of their cries. “Welcome to the Academy District, cadets!”
It took us nearly two hours to complete our tour of the Academy District. Jules had allowed us to walk, mostly thanks to Irikai’s pleading. She showed us the school building—a huge hall three stories high with a field nearly a league wide—as well as the expansive training grounds, the lake, the stables where the dragonhands took care of the dragons, and lastly the dormitories.
“Lucky for you three, you’ll be neighbors,” Jules said as she led us up the large wooden stairs of the first-year dormitory building. “For now, your dragons can room with you—but in a week or two they’ll be assigned their own caves.”
“Caves?”
“Yeah, on the side of the mountain. They’re pretty cozy.”
Ignimitra met my gaze with an equally worried one. It didn’t sit well with me that she would be so far away.
Jules led us to the east-most part of the floor, practically the end of the building.
“This one’s yours,” she told me, pointing to the farthest wooden door. She dangled a key in front me. “Freshen up, and meet us in the courtyard in an hour.” She, Solra and Irikai disappeared down the hall.
My room was not what I had expected.
After our accommodation last night, I had prepared myself for the worst. But this room was the most luxurious place I’ve ever been able to call mine.
The floors were a polished green that shone in the brilliant afternoon sun, the gold Dragon Guard crest was emblazoned in the center of the floor. A large double-hung window opened on to the training grounds below, and thick gold drapes adorned both sides. I had a bed large-enough for two people with thick bedding, a wall-to-wall closet, a sturdy wooden desk with all the trappings—paper, ink, lamp—and even a bookshelf and rocking chair.
Ignimitra seemed to like the bed, for she wrapped herself in the blankets.
“It’s great, isn’t it?” I said in awe.
That’s when I spied a small door to the side of the room. I opened it curiously, shocked to see a bathroom. A personal bathroom. I had my own shower and toilet.
Maybe everything would be okay. Maybe Ignimitra and I could survive this.
Chapter 5
We stood under a grand oak tree, a few steps from the main entrance to the dormitory. In the center of the courtyard was a huge water fountain carved in the image of a dragon. A huge torrent of water spewed from its mouth, mimicking a fire dragon in full attack.
On the faces of the other teenagers mulling around, I could see the same expression that I saw on Solra and Irikai’s—curiosity and wonder. The stories my father had told me about the Academy paled in comparison to what I saw. Being here was an accomplishment in itself.
Even though I didn’t belong.
Each cadet had a dragonling like Ignimitra, but none of them looked like her. I discarded the idea of asking Jules, who was leading us to supper. She didn’t seem like the type to be forthcoming with anything.
The mess hall was a grand building on the other end of the courtyard. The kitchen was on one end, a long counter displaying pots of delicious smelling food. As the smells assaulted my nose, it dawned on me that we hadn’t eaten since last night. Irikai’s half-eaten bowl of soup had been less than filling.
“This is where our tour ends, cadets!” Jules said with a huge smile on her face. “I’ll put in your orders for uniforms, so expect those. See ya around!” Then, she disappeared.
Irikai sighed loudly, earning us the confused stares of a nearby table. “That woman is crazy.”
I chuckled, but Solra didn’t find it funny.
“Is the Placement School in your province that mediocre? Only the best make it here. It’s kind of sad that you couldn’t keep up with her.”
Irikai smirked, seeming genuinely amused by her assessment.
“I work smart, not hard,” He said. “You should try it, sometime.”
Solra scoffed but didn’t retaliate, only glared. I for one, didn’t like where this was heading. I only made it here on a technicality.
“How we got here doesn’t matter as much, does it?” I offered.
“True,” Solra said.
Irikai shrugged. That was enough for me.
“Let’s eat then?”
Our dragons yipped excitedly.
“Can’t argue with that,” Solra quipped.
The six of us joined the queue by the counter to get our grub. Fortunately, I didn’t have to choose between feeding her and feeding myself this time around.
DURING SUPPER, IRIKAI came up with a wacky plan—he was certain there were parts of the city that Jules’ hadn’t shown us on the tour. He wanted to explore them.
“You haven’t even been here twelve hours,” Solra argued. “They’ll kick you out of here for sure.”
“Maybe that’s why I want to do it,” He laughed, poking her shoulders.
She flicked his hands away.
I opened my mouth to tell him how bad of an idea it was, when a loud sound cut through our conversation—and all the other conversations happening in the mess hall.
It was like the Royal Militia war-horn, but more eerie. A shiver ran down my spine, and my first urge was to run away. There was a hidden urgency in its call, a sound of action.
The other cadets were just as confused.
Hushed whispers erupted about what the sound could mean. Were we under attack? Instinctively, I reached for my knife. Ignimitra pressed herself against my thigh, she was too heavy for my lap now.
When the sound stopped, a soldier—he looked to be a few years older than me and wore the same silver-and-gold uniform Avek did—stood to speak.
“That’s the Summoning Horn,” His voice carried well in the silent aftermath of the eerie sound. “It means we meet in the assembly hall. Whenever you hear it, drop whatever you’re doing and go there.”
He rushed out of the door immediately, followed by the cadets that he had escorted to the mess hall. Immediately, the other cadets began to follow.
I rose to my feet and Solra followed.
“Great, I didn’t even get to finish my supper,” Irikai said. Titan nudged him in the ankle, forcing him to his feet too.
“It was your second serving.” Solra snickered.
“I don’t eat as fast as you,” he responded, pinching her arm.
“What do you think the assembly is about?” Ignimitra fell into step with me, sensing the tension in the air. I glanced over at Zelkor, whose erect tail signalled that he was just as anxious.
“It’s probably just a nightly thing,” Solra chirped.
She was so relaxed through everything. I envied her. She was sure of her place in the world, sure of her place here at the Academy. Perhaps there was a time in my life when
I felt like her—but it was so long ago, I couldn’t remember it. I fought back the bile in my throat. We were allied today, but what would we be tomorrow?
The stream of cadets crossed the courtyard, making their way towards the lake. There, in the thicket of trees and wildflowers stood a stone building that looked older than time. It reminded me of the crumbling castles I’d seen in history books. A relic of Olde Pyralis. We filed up the stairs and into the grand open hall.
The room was expansive, with polished earthen tiles and large louvered windows that let in the crisp nighttime breeze. There was a raised platform at the front of the room, with a handful of chairs and a door that led beyond the stage. Spaces were filling quickly. We managed to snag seats in the center of the room.
Dragon Guard soldiers stood at the perimeter—by each door, almost. They wore austere looks. Avek wasn’t among them, but the thought of him had my stomach in a knot. The Dragon Guard soldiers were a reminder that this was all actually happening.
Something about the air made me feel like I shouldn’t talk—and it seemed like everyone else felt the same way. The lively conversations that had been happening in the mess hall died down, deathly silence taking their place. The only thing to be heard was the howling wind and the soft footsteps of the remaining cadets taking their seats.
My heart was in my throat.
Just then, four soldiers filed onto the stage. They were dressed differently from all the other soldiers in the room—their armor was the same black the commander who had shown up at my house had worn. These were high ranking officers, then. They came to stop two on each side of the podium. We waited.
“Stand for Headmaster Archer!” The four cried in unison.
I stumbled to my feet. The soldiers at the perimeter saluted, so I did too.
The Headmaster.
I hadn’t even seen him yet, but I knew that he was fearsome. He commanded respect without even being in the room. Footfalls echoed from the door behind the stage. They were slow, almost taunting. My lips were raw from working them with my teeth.
Dragon Academy Page 5
