Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Though not forbidden, cadets are strongly encouraged not to develop strong romantic attachments while studying in the quadrant for the efficiency of the unit.” -Article Five, Section Seven, The Dragon Rider’s Codex

“Second Lieutenant Sorrengail”

I look up from prepping Dealaigh, my blue morningstartail, for flight to give my commanding officer my attention, “yes sir?”

The Major looks at me with, is that regret? I start to slightly release the hold on my shields and pull on the thread of power stored on my grounding beach, preparing to read what he’s about to say to me.

Are you sure you want to do that? It will be difficult to distinguish truth and half-truths or partial truths from lies today.

I sigh in response to my dragon, she’s right, but the look on the Major’s face indicates he doesn’t want to tell me whatever the plan is.

He’s sending barely second year lieutenants into a battle any experienced officer knows they aren’t prepared for. Of course he doesn’t want to tell you what the plan is that he believes will likely send you to your death

Do you believe it will likely cause my death?

Dealaigh snorts it would be foolish to think there isn’t a probability of death, but you know I always choose to be confident that we will survive Warrior.

“I’m going to have you act as our communications back to command today. I know the distance is far, so you’ll need to monitor your usage to counter burn out. Ensuring the intelligence and communication flow between us and Calldyr is maintained is of the utmost importance. You’re why we’re here today.”

Truth

Being the first distance wielder in almost a century is proving to be a bit cumbersome. They really sent an entire command out here just for me to be here? I throw the thought to Dealaigh, not necessarily expecting an answer

Of course, my Warrior, both you and your chosen mate are made for the front lines.

“Yes sir, I’ll monitor my usage, and make sure Brennan is close enough that if things get truly dire, I can rely on his signet to assist, only if necessary, of course.”

The Major’s face falls momentarily “Second Lieutenant Brennan Sorrengail will be attached to another team for the duration, so you won’t be able to rely on his abilities today.”

My stomach drops and my deep blue eyes snap across the field, seeking out the orange daggertail, which is of course next to the black morningstartail, and meet the amber eyes of my husband.

Dealaigh growls behind me sending you to battle without the Mender is a mistake that no competent person in command would make.

How likely do you think it is that strictly command made that decision?

I send Brennan an icy glare when I see that he’s paying attention to my gaze. Half listening to the Major as he details my position and the requirements he has of me going into today, and acknowledging that the plans will change if we meet the resistance we’re expecting.

When we survive this, I will be sure to have words with Tairn about the dependency his rider has on your mate

I watch his frame as he starts to make his way across the field towards me, deftly avoiding getting into any dragon’s personal space, and I turn back to my commander.

“I understand and will adjust as needed.”

The Major turns and notes Brennan’s approach, “I’ll give you two some privacy, then” he’d always been awkward about a married couple serving under him, never quite knowing how to treat us.

It’s not just Naolin’s dependency I’m concerned with

Brennan reaches me, and attempts to pull me in for a quick kiss, but is interrupted by Dealaigh snapping her teeth at him. He takes a quick step back before looking up at the dragon and back to me “She’s not happy with me it seems.”

“She’s not the only one.” The words come out hotter and harsher than I mean for them to.

“Andy –” he closes the distance, blatantly ignoring my snarling dragon

I raise a hand, “don’t. I just can’t hear whatever it is you feel you need to explain right now. I don’t want you to feel you need to lie to me today.”

He places his hands on my upper arms and pulls me towards him, placing his forehead against mine. “Andy,” he takes a deep breath “I love you.”

Truth

But that had never been my concern, I knew he loved me, my concern was if I was his first choice, or his choice at all.

Now is not the time to concern yourself with this doubt. A doubt that you’ve held for this long without really wanting to know the answer, knowing, not knowing, nothing will change today.

I nod “I know.” Answering both Brennan and my dragon.

“I’ve loved you since you sat next to me in Battle Brief on our first day at Basgaith, you were my first love and I will love you until the day I die and today will not be that day. Neither of us will die today.”

Partial truth

He leans in to kiss me, it’s not a deep kiss, but it is intense and I feel myself smiling slightly as he pulls away. He throws me his signature cocky grin, the one that brings out his dimple and throws me a wink “You know you’re my favorite.”

Lie

I wish you would stay off the ground, you’re too vulnerable and I can’t protect you

I wipe the sweat dripping down my face as I dismount. I was already starting to feel the signs of the beginning stages of burnout, trying to mitigate the requirements of battle and the requirements of my body without Brennan is starting to feel like a disaster

How else am I supposed to get the information passed? It’s not as if you would let them come up and get it from me

Dealaigh snorts as I search the skies, straining to see if I can pick out the correct orange dragon.

Marbh says Brennan is still fighting. Worrying about him is not advisable.

I know, but I can’t help but worry

Worry is a waste of energy when you do not have energy to waste

Another piece of paper is pushed into my hands by an unknown Captain, replacing the one I just handed off, and I turn to mount, wielding once again to make it to Callydr

That was my last jump, I can feel the fever burning throughout my body as we land back in Aretia. We shouldn’t have gone back to Callydr this last time, I execute a running dismount, too far from the command tent, while Dealaigh launches back in the air to avoid any cross bows or other dragons while I'm on the ground.

I make it halfway across the field before I collapse to the ground.

I try to push myself off the ground, but my vision starts to close in around me. I’ve been still for too long, I hear the sounds of battle around me. I have to move.

I don’t think I can stand

Warrior, you have pushed yourself well past what I advised, I have sent for someone to meet you, I will be to you in moments, and then I will place you at the medical tent. You cannot pull anymore power today.

I feel someone grab under my shoulders, pulling me up to my knees, and an intense pain radiates through my side, an unbidden scream ripping through my throat. I turn on instinct, pulling a blade from the sheath at my thigh. I can’t see who attacked me, instinct taking over and I can feel the dagger going through bone and muscle and then the heavy weight of another person drops as I try to roll out of the way.

I look to the sky, and my vision clears just enough to see an orange dragon what I think, or hope is a daggertail. I’m not sure it’s him, but I need to believe he’s still here, still alive, that at least the last thing I see is what I believe to be him safe.

The last thing I hear before everything goes black is Dealaigh’s roar of rage, terror, and mourning as I feel the bond between me and my dragon snap

Dealaigh guards me for almost a full day, only allowing healers beneath her front legs to tend me. Snapping at anyone else who dares approach.

There are no menders to help

She tells me that Marbh fell silent and that Brennan is dead.

Prepare yourself, the General is coming

Chapter Text

“It is a grave offense against Malek to keep the belongings of a dead loved one. They belong in the beyond with the god of death and the departed. In the absence of a proper temple, any fire will do. He who does not burn for Malek will be burned by Malek.” – Major Rorilee’s Guide to Appeasing the Gods, Second Edition

Everyone had been evacuated from Aretia before the burning of the city began, sent back to their home stations. Before we land Dealaigh lets me know that I’m needed immediately in the Commander’s Office.

I walk into the Major’s office, pack still on my uninjured shoulder. As soon as I step across the threshold, I move to drop the pack and stand at attention but hear a sharp “relax Lieutenant.”

He gives me a once over, seemingly taking in my injuries, eyes pausing on my knotted braid. I know my ash blonde hair is tinged with dirt and dried blood, but I can’t find it in me to care about my appearance right now.

You resemble a warrior of old my Warrior. They did not care for their appearances, why should you when it shows that you are battle worn.

“You’ve been given the automatic two weeks leave for the death of a family member, which will begin immediately as General Sorrengail would like you to be in Calldyr for the burning of Second Lieutenant Sorrengail’s things. You’ll be given time to go through his things, repack your own pack, visit the bathing chambers, and then you are to head out.”

I nod, my right hand moving to my left to fidget with the gold band with a sapphire bevel, the Major’s eyes tracking the movement. “I’ve also approved an additional 30 days of leave”

I meet his eyes with surprise, “sir?”

“You don’t need to use it all, and we can always rescind it early if we need to, and if you decide you need more time, I will approve it.”

I can’t find my voice, so I nod again, still fidgeting with my ring.

“Go prepare his things for burning and take the time you need Lieutenant.”

✦ ✦ ✦

Dealaigh insists that we fly to Calldyr instead of having me attempt to wield power to get there. You’re still injured, and have not yet recovered enough. The flight time will do you some good.

I don’t argue with her, I don’t really respond to her either, but my dragon doesn’t require any response. She’s been gentle with me since I regained consciousness on the battlefield

You didn’t just regain consciousness Warrior; you came back to life. Your heart stopped and the bond broke.

I nod, knowing she is aware of the movement, even if she can’t see me as we fly west were you able to see what I saw when I

I pause unable to finish my thought.

I can see your memories, Warrior. But you haven’t processed it yet, so I do not have a complete sense as our bond was broken at the time.

Unbidden the unimaginable darkness came back, molten eyes the only thing breaking through. I shake my head to get rid of the vision before I hear the gravelly voice again.

I don’t think I can process it yet

You don’t need to process it now, you have time

✦ ✦ ✦

Once I dismount, with both my pack and a pack of Brennan’s things, I am escorted to the quarters where they have placed the people who have arrived for the upcoming executions.

The guard offers to take one of the packs from me, I shake my head, not willing to give up either as he slowly leads me through the hallways.

The guard knocks on the door for me, waiting until Asher opens the door to the temporarily assigned quarters before leaving me, likely under strict orders to make sure I’m delivered directly to the Sorrengails.

Brennan looked so much like his father that seeing him open the door sends a wave of grief, that I had been keeping down, through my entire body. Asher’s face shows the same grief I feel, as I drop both bags, he pulls me into his arms and for the first time since I was told that I was the sole surviving Sorrengail of the Battle of Aretia, I sob.

✦ ✦ ✦

Immediately after the burning of Brennan’s things, as there was no body found to burn, I’m called into the office General Sorrengail had commandeered for the duration while awaiting the executions.

I stand at attention just inside the door, waiting as the General stares down her nose at me.

“You didn’t burn the ring?”

I resist the urge to drop from attention to fidget with it, “it’s my possession, not his.”

The General tsked at me “I suppose that’s true enough.”

She sighs, “Andy, relax.”

I’m silent as I relax my body, still resisting any urge to fidget or show any discomfort at being alone with the General.

She eyes my hair, braided over my shoulder “I do wish you would consider cutting your hair.” And then she takes two steps forward, so she is standing an arm’s length away from me, before she pulls me into a stiff, awkward, hug.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry that I was the one who survived and not him. I know it was a disappointment to see that the Lieutenant Sorrengail removed from the death roll was me.” I had been holding that in since the General noticed I was the one who survived and not her favorite child.

It was not a disappointment that you survived Warrior. I do not want you to think such things.

I would not cry, not today, not in this office. Those would come later, and often, when I was alone but right now, I held it all in.

“It wasn’t a disappointment that you survived.”

“You ordered the burning of a whole city, of course I’m a disappointment.”

“You're angry.”

“Of course I’m angry!” I pull back from her embrace and feel every brick I had built to hide my emotions today come crashing down. “I’m angry because he went with Naolin and didn’t stay with me, I’m angry that I’m here, I’m angry that I didn’t tell him I loved him before he died, and I wish I had died. I wish I wasn’t the one who had to live without him.”

She pulls me back into her arms, and I sink into them sobbing in front of my mother-in-law for the first time. “He was supposed to be with you, you were both supposed to be together, so you could both get out. But don’t you dare wish you were dead too.”

I take a breath and finally voice the one thing I’ve been scared of this whole week “and now I’m just alone.”

Dealaigh growls in my head You are not alone.

The General is back, stepping away from me, her cold mask expertly set into place “You are a Sorrengail, that hasn’t changed. Compose yourself and go back to the family quarters.”

✦ ✦ ✦

I haven’t slept in days. I just stare at the ceiling in the quarters given to the Sorrengail family while General Sorrengail and General Melgren prepare for the execution of the Tyrrish Rebellion leaders.

They were going to make the children watch. I sighed rolling over, trying to get comfortable.

My impromptu meeting with General Sorrengail this afternoon over what was to occur tomorrow morning had been disastrous.

I put on one of Brennan’s sparring shirts for comfort, admittedly I should have burned them, but my parent’s culture didn’t burn the belongings of the dead, and I wanted to keep some of Brennan close to me.

There’s a small, hesitant knock on my door, I slowly rise to open the door, unsure who could be on the other side.

Violet stands there, looking extremely unsure of herself, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I’m sorry,” she looks down at the floor “I just, I wanted to ask, could I sleep with you?”

She looks so much smaller and younger than her 14 years would suggest.

This is the girl that Brennan adored more than anyone else, the one he believed made him a Mender, the one who would hide behind him when she was scared.

I gently grab her arm and pull her into the room, “of course you can.”

I look at her, trembling and sit her on the bed, digging into my pack and pulling out another one of Brennan’s sparring shirts, and tug it over her frame. “Don’t tell anyone, but I kept some things.”

She inhales taking in her brother’s scent and nods “I won’t.”

I pull down the covers on the bed and tuck her in, giving her a quick kiss on her forehead before crawling in behind her.

“I know I’m too old to be scared to sleep alone — “

I wrap my arms around her small frame and pull her into my chest “oh no, you’re never too old for that. I’m scared to sleep alone right now too.”

She rolls over to face me “my mom said that I couldn’t, but it’s just” she sighs “I don’t know”

I tuck her head under my chin “everyone grieves differently flower, and you are always welcome to sleep in here, or wherever my room is, when you can’t sleep alone okay?”

She nods into the crook of my neck “if you’re sure.”

“Of course I am. I haven’t been sleeping well either, so I’m glad for the company.”

Chapter Text

“I often wish it was all a bad dream, and that when I wake and you would still be here in the bed next to me. But instead, I have a permanent weight sitting in my chest where you used to be.” – Recovered Unsent Correspondence from Lieutenant Andromeda Sorrengail to Lieutenant Brennan Sorrengail

In the dark I feel like I can’t breathe, like it is physically weighing down on my chest and preventing me from drawing breath.

Dealaigh? I reach for my dragon, but she’s not there, I panic as I can’t feel her and I reach for my parent’s beach and can’t find it in my mind.

Molten bronze eyes appear in the darkness above me, a gravelly, otherworldly voice filtering down to wherever I am within the dark.

“I don’t accept your death Andromeda Promachos, you have been chosen to fulfil a greater purpose, and you have not started yet.”

I wake, gasping for air, turning to glance at the clock I kept on the small bedside table sighing when I see that it’s 2:45am. I don’t need to wake up for another few hours, but I know I won’t go back to sleep after that dream.

Would you like to go on a flight?

I roll to my back, trying to slow both my heart rate and my breathing

Not today, you need rest too. We have patrol later; I’ll get my thinking in then. Go back to sleep

I can handle less rest than you, if you aren’t going back to sleep, I don’t need to.

I flick on the mage lights with some lesser magic. I think I’m going to go make a cup of tea and try to at least rest, even if I can’t fall back asleep.

The dream, possible memory, and subsequent lack of sleep had been the only constant since I had left Calldyr after the Battle of Aretia. It had been a year, over which I had just learned to function without meeting any proper rest requirements, which meant my stubbornly supportive dragon also learned to function with less than ideal rest.

Being called into the commanding officer’s office was usually not a good sign.

I was hoping it wasn’t to deny the leave I put in for next month, Mira was graduating and while generally not a big celebration for riders, I was ready to use the fact my mother-in-law was the commander of the college to get to see my sister-in-law before she went to her first duty assignment.

Plus going to see Violet and Asher for a week after. I never planned on seeing the General. I still didn’t know how she felt about me, whether she had expected me to slowly disappear from their lives after Brennan’s death or was happy I stayed, or indifferent to my presence.

“Sir?” I knocked on the door.

“Come in Sorrengail and close the door behind you.”

I walk in following his direction. He’s got a smile on his face; Lieutenant Colonel Warren was generally a pretty laid-back commander, and a smile or grin was a staple of his personality.

“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to grant your leave request. Two sets of orders came in and it will be up to your new commanding officer as to whether they will authorize your leave.”

“Sir?”

He hands me the first set of papers, “this set is a set of promotion orders. Congratulations Captain Sorrengail.” I didn’t think his smile could get any wider, but he proves me wrong.

“And I think you’ll enjoy this new assignment.” He hands me the second set of orders

I look down at them, and then look directly up at my commander “Basgiath?”

He nods, “to teach. I’ve seen you around the new lieutenants, and especially how you are with the non-riders, and when higher asked for suggestions on a replacement for the outgoing professor position, I suggested you.”

He reaches out and shakes my hand “Good job Captain. I knew you were the best choice to mentor the young cadets. Especially with, well, higher command agreed anyway. You’ll leave next week.”

I walk into General Sorrengail’s office, not expecting General Melgren, Colonel Markham and Colonel Aetos to be present along with General Sorrengail.

“Good morning gentlemen, ma’am” I greet them, snapping to attention near the door.

“Relax Captain Sorrengail.” General Melgren chuffs, gesturing towards a chair, all the other officers in the room taking a seat.

“We wanted to welcome you to your new teaching position and ask a favor.”

I look to each of the officers in the room, “thank you for the welcome, I do greatly appreciate it. And what favor can I assist with?”

General Sorrengail cuts in “As you may be aware this is the first year that any of the children of the rebellion leaders will be attending Basgiath to fulfill the treaty. We just want you to let us know if you notice anything unusual or suspicious with them.”

This is weird, right?

Just listen Warrior

“Is there anything in particular I should be looking out for, outside anything obviously concerning like rebellion activity?”

Colonel Markham steps in “if you hear anything unusual about what they are being taught in battle brief, or about what they believe we’re fighting against, we’d also like to be informed.”

I feel my brows knit together what on earth are they asking me to listen for?

“I apologize, but are you?” I pause, not even sure I have a question to ask “I’m not sure I understand.”

General Melgren gives General Sorrengail a look, and then answers “what do you know about Venin?”

Dealaigh? What is happening right now?

Listen Warrior, listen and do not react

“Like from folk stories?”

They aren’t just folk stories, are they?

No, and now we get to choose. Do. Not. React.

Colonel Markham begins to explain. I pull on the string of power.

It’s all true, I school my features into a neutral expression as each sentence I’m told pings as true

“Will you make sure to keep this secret?”

I don’t have a choice, do I? They’ve hidden all of this and now I can’t do anything

Answer that you will, that will keep you safe now, and we’ll keep others safe later

“Of course. I will be sure to let you know if I hear anything that is of concern.”

General Sorrengail gives me a smile “I knew we could trust you.”

Lie

I listen as they explain what the Scribe Quadrant and the rest of the higher-ranking officers within the Navarrean military have been doing to hide the truth of Venin from Navarre, schooling my face just trying to take in the information, confirming that each thing they tell me is, in fact, true.

I head to the flight field much later that evening, my head still spinning with the facts that had been presented to me.

Dealaigh, what do I do? What can I do?

My dragon lands, and I mount, hoping the flight time will clear my head

The dragons are divided. The Empyrean hasn’t made a decision so we’ve been told we cannot tell our riders unless they already know.

How many know?

Warrior, I could not accurately give you an answer. We dragons do not gossip about our riders.

I take a deep breath feeling the wind against my face

What do I do? If this is a real threat, even if we’re safe inside the wards, not everyone is inside the wards. And that’s just considering Navarre, what about Poromiel? Others must know and disagree, right?

You have been handpicked by the General to be her successor. Even Melgren agrees with her choice. We’ll have to be careful, but we can prepare the others and find those that agree.

I thought dragons didn’t gossip about their riders?

Dealaigh scoffs We gossip very selectively about our riders.

Do we have time for me to rise through the ranks?

Likely we do not, but no being has anything except speculation. So there may be time to rise through the ranks, but I don't think you can rise fast enough

I’ll have to teach the cadets how to fend off folk stories, without teaching them what they’re really up against.

Yes

We’ll need to organize a resistance, revolution? Something to make sure people are prepared and can fight, not just within the riders?

Yes

I’ll face execution if I’m caught

So don’t get caught

Markham hardly lets me get a word in during these, how am I supposed to do anything?

He needs to find you trustworthy; it has only been a few weeks. As you gain more trust, you get less oversight and more responsibility. You need to be thoughtful and slow to be successful and avoid execution

Do we have time to do it slowly and thoughtfully?

I do not know how much time we have, but you staying alive is my priority, so we must take the time until it is evident we no longer have the luxury.

I half listen as Markham explains the centuries old battle from The Great War we were studying, as nothing “of note” had come from the front outposts in days and studied the cadets in front of me.

Over the first few weeks I’d noted each Marked One, noticing that they barely spoke up during Battle Briefs, unless prompted by either myself or Markham. I tended to let them be, they had enough going on without being forced to speak in front of a group if they didn’t want to, but Markham enjoyed needling them for answers.

Hoping to catch them in some way I presume

We don’t even know if they know why the Tyrrish Rebellion happened, much less if they believe it.

The elder ones likely do, but yes, it is foolish for him to presume they would know and reveal it in what is, to them, enemy territory.

I hate that they punished the children. They had no choice or influence in their parents’ decisions. My eyes reach Xaden Riorson and pause, especially what they forced him to do.

I’m walking through the hallways of the Basgiath, doing a quick sweep before heading back to the family quarters, when I sense a few figures in the hall ahead of me. Curiosity hits me, as we are just after curfew and this isn’t an area near the dorms for cadets running back to their rooms to make curfew before getting caught.

And then I notice a straggling shadow, I know exactly which group stands in front of me.

I stop and let the group of three notice me. “Evening Cadets, it’s just after curfew.” Each of the three young men in front of me fidgets, and I notice the heavy bag carried by Cadet Riorson.

I’ve informed Sgaeyl that her rider can trust you, but I am unsure if she will relay the message, or if he will believe it.

He doesn’t trust easily. I doubt he will trust me, even if Sgaeyl deems me worthy of reporting back to him that he can.

I note each cadet stiffen and watch as Riorson steps in front of the other two. I hold up a hand. “It’s easier to sneak around after curfew if you aren’t out just after curfew when Professors are still wandering the halls, especially this far from the dormitories.”

My eyes dart back down to the bag once more and I motion them to continue down the hall with my head “don’t get caught.”

We’ve determined that not every professor at Basgiath has been informed about the threat beyond the wards. And that it’s determined more on position than the fact that they are stationed at Basgiath.

Correct. It seems to be position based and not location based. Or individuals who are being primed to take a high command position, like yourself.

We’ve also determined that one, The Marked Ones, at least this first batch of them, know and that two, they are involved in some sort of resistance movement, or some movement to help someone fight Venin. Likely the Poromiel fliers as they are outside the wards and would encounter them more often, but possibly people who have resettled in Aretia? That part is currently unclear.

Yes

And while you won’t confirm this for me, because “dragon secrets” I have noticed that some dragons, specifically the dragons for the Marked Ones, all of whom bonded first go round, which is a cause for concern from Command, and an unusual occurrence in general, are looking for riders who can channel powerfully, possibly ones who know about the Venin because those dragons are for going against the threat. And I have a strong suspicion, that you still won’t confirm, that I am not the only person who has manifested a second signet.

Dealaigh stays silent at that comment

And we have signets that haven’t been seen in decades or centuries, which theoretically indicate that the balance of magic is off, meaning we can speculate that Venin are becoming either more in number or in power.

That is your current theory, which I do believe has significant merit based on the information I am aware of.

So now we need to decide how to find out who will align with a resistance movement from within the ranks, how to organize that movement, whether to align with whatever movement the Marked Ones are involved in, all without command getting wind of it.

Do you believe the Marked Ones are organized outside of themselves?

It would certainly be easier to absorb just them instead of a whole separate movement.

Sounds like we need to plan a slow resistance, with little time to do so.

All without getting caught and executed.

Chapter Text

“I’ll say one thing for dragonfire. It kills quickly.” – Colonial Kaori’s Field Guide to Dragonkind

A scribe pokes their head in the door of the Battle Brief room. I look up, and motion for her to come forward.

Scribes don’t interrupt unless they’ve been instructed they must, so my assumption is something happened that requires Markham’s immediate attention.

“Take a moment to discuss with your squads what tactics you would use in this situation and be prepared to present those tactics in 10 minutes.” I project, as the scribe hands me a missive

“My apologies for interrupting, I was told this needed to get to you immediately Professor Sorrengail.”

I’m surprised to be the one handed the parchment, but I thank the scribe and note the familiar handwriting of my mother-in-law

Asher’s heart failed. He did not survive. I’ve taken the liberty of granting you the two weeks of leave for the death of a family member. This leave begins immediately, and you are authorized to leave your classes as soon as you deem it appropriate.

I take a breath, closing my eyes and grounding, letting my feet curl in the sand of my parent’s beach.

I hand the missive to Markham, making the decision to finish this class before heading to the family quarters.

“Oh,” Markham lets out a small gasp “what a loss. I knew the death of, well loss is always hard on a parent, but I didn’t think we’d lose Asher.”

Lie

My shields slam back into place, and I push the power back towards the sea. I hadn’t realized I had pulled power, using that here, especially with Markham always leaned towards partial truths if not outright lies. But to lie about not thinking Asher would die?

There was no confusing the read on that statement, no partial truth to hide behind.

Did you catch that?

I did

Well, fuck.

I look over at the door to the bedroom Lilith and Asher shared, Lilith hadn’t come out of their room since I returned from teaching yesterday.

Violet just sat in her father’s chair clutching the book of fables he always read to her.

I finish plating two plates, and set one down at the table “Vi, let’s get you something to eat, okay?”

She looks up at her name but doesn’t respond.

I set the second plate down, and get down on her level next to the chair “can we come to the table and eat?”

She shakes her head, tears welling up in her eyes and I feel my heart breaking. “Give me one second so I can bring this to your mom, and then we’ll work on getting some food in you, sound doable?”

I’m not sure she hears me, and I don’t get a response.

I pick up the second plate and knock on the bedroom door. “Lilith? I made some dinner; can I bring you a plate?”

She doesn’t answer, and I don’t expect her to. I push open the door, and see her just sitting on the bed, staring at her husband’s wardrobe, the things she started to go through to try to get ready for burning strewn about the room.

I set the plate on the side table, and turn to leave her in her grief when she asks, “how did you do it?”

Her voice is raspy; I’ve never heard the General sound small.

“How did you burn his things?” She adds when I don’t answer right away

She’d never asked me about Brennan, never helped me through my grief, through the burning. She had all but explicitly forbidden any talk about her son after his burning.

I think to the ring on my hand, the shirts in my drawer, the journals and letters in my desk, “I didn’t burn everything.”

She doesn’t turn towards me “I don’t think I can burn everything either.”

I place a hand on her shoulder, not knowing how to comfort her and just say “I know.”

An hour later I had gotten Violet to eat, and take a bath, before getting ready for bed. She was clinging to me through every step, and I finally just picked her up ready to carry her to my room, when I heard a knock on the door.

I move to set Violet down, but she clings to my neck. So, we both go to answer the door.

Mira stands on the other side, face wind burned and shoulders sagging.

I reach my free arm towards her, she crumples into me, as I kick the door shut behind her I hear her pack drop to the floor.

I stay silent as I rub her back as she sobs into my shoulder, waiting for her to say something if she needs.

After several long minutes of silent grief, holding both Sorrengail daughters, I let go of Mira and motion towards the bathroom. “I’m sure you want to clean up and rest. Let me get this one into bed. If you need me, I’m here.”

Violet is in my bed, staring at the wall while I finish pulling on one of Brennan’s old shirts, when I hear a small knock on the door before it creaks open, never fully shut behind me when I came in.

Mira shifts her feet, standing there looking lost.

I know this family doesn’t handle grief well, so I hold my arm out to her and guide her into my room, “there’s room here for you too.”

“I am going to have Violet enter the Rider’s Quadrant instead of the Scribe Quadrant.” Lilith Sorrengail states as I walk into her office, not looking up from the papers on her desk

“Good morning General Sorrengail.”

That makes her look up at me, but does not illicit a verbal response “is there a particular reason you believe Violet should change from her projected course?”

“Markham has determined that he wants to train her to be his successor.”

I nod, well aware of my teaching partner’s plans for Violet “he has, and has made that very clear, at least to me.”

“I think she’ll be safer in the Rider’s Quadrant” she meets my eyes when she states that, scrutinizing my body language

“I agree.”

Lilith Sorrengail raises her eyebrows at me, the only response to show her surprise

“I’m going to have Major Gillstead work with her on preparation for her entrance requirements.”

“I could always assist.”

“You have classes to teach and prepare for captain, and it can’t look like she’s getting any preferential treatment.”

She holds out two folded papers

I step forward accepting the papers “you will finish your teaching rotation at the end of this academic year, and then you have been chosen to take command of one of the regiments of the Samara outpost.”

I blink in surprise “I can’t take command of a regiment.”

It’s Lilith, not General Sorrengail who looks up at me this time “you’ve done exceptionally well over your career so far, and have been recommended by multiple officers for this command posting, why would you think you can’t take command?”

I look down at my uniform, noting my rank “I’m a captain, I don’t have the rank to take command.”

“That second set of orders contains your promotion. Congratulations Major Sorrengail.”

“I’ve only been a captain for 18 months, isn’t it early for a promotion to major ma’am?”

Being promoted quickly is a good thing, it means they don’t suspect what we’ve been doing, and they trust you. Being given a command, especially at an outpost like Samara will make it easier to continue to organize.

“It’s unusual, but not unheard of. Both General Melgren and I were promoted to major within two years.” Lilith gives me a rare smile “you’re on track to become general early, you’ve proven you can handle the responsibility of rank, and General Melgren personally signed your orders for the early promotion.”

She places the promotion orders in my hands, “It’s a good thing, be proud of what you’ve been able to do in your career so far. We believe you can accomplish a lot within the military and I am happy to watch your career grow.”

I nod, “I am proud of what I’ve been able to do” just not what she thinks I’ve been doing I send to my dragon “I’m just surprised, and honored of course that you, and General Melgren, see that potential in me.”

And now we ramp up the resistance movement

“Cadet Riorson, could you stay behind for a moment.” I call out as the cadets are filing out of Battle Brief, waiting until after Markham has left the vicinity before calling out.

The younger man momentarily gives me a confused look, but nods, gesturing at his right hand, Cadet Tavis, to go ahead while we wait for the classroom to empty.

“Come into my office cadet,” I offer him my arm to pull him past the wards I’ve placed around the door.

I walk to my desk, gesturing the young man to sit when I note that he is awkwardly standing next to the door.

Once he’s seated, I sit down across from him “My office is warded against sound, so nothing should be overheard.”

I still don’t believe the cadet in front of me trusts me, not fully, but we’ve had an odd sort of mutual respect and understanding that’s developed over the last eighteen or so months.

“I wanted to give you a warning, so you aren’t surprised in the coming weeks. General Sorrengail is going to call in her favor with you.”

I feel the tell-tale prickle against my mind that has indicated to me over the last year that Xaden Riorson is a lot more like me than he likely wishes, and push back, raising my eyebrows, acknowledging for the first time that I can feel him.

He jerks back ever so slightly at the push, and a slight fear crosses his features before he schools his face. “Do you know what she wants me to do?”

“It’s been determined Violet Sorrengail will be entering the Rider’s Quadrant on Conscription Day. General Sorrengail is going to use her favor to ask you to watch over her. She hasn’t been prepared to be a rider, instead of spending her time preparing to be a scribe. Outside of challenges, or other instances where you can’t intervene, you will be expected to assist in protecting her, ensuring she makes it through her first year, to the best of your ability.”

I wait a beat, unsure what his reaction will be.

“Why me? Why use her favor here, on this?”

I sigh, debating what to tell him. “You’re the only person here she can guarantee that will follow that order.”

“She can’t be sure you would protect her daughter?”

I give him a sad smile, “I’ve been given orders to leave, I won’t be here.”

For a moment I can almost see his face fall, but it’s so quick I can’t be sure I didn’t imagine it.

“It can’t look like there’s any favoritism is being shown. I believe she can do this, she just needs some refining. But I agree with the General that this is the best place for Violet.”

I stand and walk to the door, showing Cadet Riorson my back. Before I can open the door I hear him ask “why? Why do you believe this is better for her than being a scribe?”

I pause, considering how much I can divulge. “Information is more dangerous in any conflict than any battlements or weapons, I believe it will be safer for her here than studying directly under Markham.”

My dear Mira,

General Sorrengail has determined that Violet is to be joining the Riders Quadrant come July instead of joining the Scribe Quadrant.

Major Gillstead has been tasked with training Violet for her entrance into the Quadrant, I offered my assistance, but the General believes that I will be too busy with my classes to train Violet effectively, and she is concerned about the appearance of preferential treatment.

I have also been informed that my rotation at Basgaith will conclude at the end of this academic year and am set to take command of the Samara outpost. I will need to report to Samara immediately after graduation, which means I will not be at Basgiath on Conscription Day.

Major Gillstead is a good choice to assist Violet in getting as prepared as she can before going into the Quadrant, I will do what I can to assist within the boundaries the General has set for me.

I would tell you not to worry, but I know you. So, try not to waste too much energy on it if you don’t have the energy to waste.

Violet is stronger than anyone gives her credit for, I believe she will be successful in anything she does, including becoming a rider.

All my love,

Major Andromeda Sorrengail

Chapter Text

“There is nothing quite as humbling, or as awe-inspiring as witnessing Threshing…for those who live through it anyway.” -Colonel Kaori’s Field Guide to Dragonkind

“I still think you should cut your hair,” General Sorrengail states as she gives me her customary look over, noting the ash blonde braid sitting over my left shoulder as I walk up to the dais.

I internally roll my eyes; we seemed to have this conversation every time I had a meeting with the General since I graduated, but she had become much more intense regarding my hair since the decision had been made for Violet to enter the Rider’s Quadrant.

“I prefer to keep it long. It hasn’t been an issue for me since graduation, but, when keeping it long becomes a detriment to my career, I will happily cut it.” The truth was Brennan always preferred my hair long, and keeping it long made me feel like he was still with me, just like I continued to wear my wedding band.

I also like your long hair, if my opinion matters, it makes you like the warriors of old.

I turn to my blue morningstartail and give her a small smile Your opinion always matters to me.

“Thank you for inviting me to Threshing General, it is one of my favorite traditions here.” I comment as I turn back to the field.

General Sorrengail nods, “I thought you might enjoy coming back, especially this year.” She won’t admit that she’s nervous about Violet becoming a rider and won’t say that the reason I was invited was to offer her support in case Violet didn’t bond, or something else happened to her today.

The Hatchling will be fine; I look forward to her joining our ranks.

All there is to do now is wait for the new riders to arrive with their newly bonded dragons.

Threshing day, when you aren't participating, really means there’s a lot of waiting, and what I’m using it for is for face time with leadership and command. At this point I am fairly confident I’ve figured out who knows what, and that there’s not a single individual in higher command that is against keeping the information about the Venin and the threat they pose to the continent from the lower ranking military members and civilians.

Currently higher command is concerned about the uptick in attacks from Poromiel gryphon fliers on the outposts along the shared border, but they don’t feel a need to inform the outpost commanders what the fliers are looking for during the attacks.

Because of this concern, I’ve been getting a lot of questions regarding any attacks on Samara, how they’re different, what the formations of the fliers look like. All information I have dutifully confirmed have been in my attached scribe’s reports for the base commander who compiles the reports to send to the command. But I continue to repeat the answers when asked.

Every general knows, but they also know that the more who know, the more likely there is going to be a leak. It seems those who get brought into the fold are the ones they want to take over hiding the information.

And it seems so far to be inclusive to the Rider and Scribe Quadrants, not a single individual in the Infantry or Healer Quadrants I’ve come across seems to have an inkling I respond to Dealaigh granted I’m still integrating into the Infantry Quadrant, but they would be the Quadrant who would benefit most from knowing what they would be dealing with, especially as the wards are increasingly unstable.

Hours pass with no sign of Violet. I’m trying to keep my nervousness to myself and keep pleasant conversations going with the generals around me.

And failing

I mentally roll my eyes at my dragon

You can calm, The Hatchling approaches

I look up to search the sky and feel my heart drop. There is an all-to-familiar black dragon flying towards the field.

“General Sorrengail.” I lean over to my mother-in-law and motion with my head towards the dragon making its way to us.

“That’s Tairn.” Every head on the dais hears my whisper and turns to the sky. “Dealaigh said Violet approaches, you don’t think? I thought Tairn wasn’t willing to bond.”

I can’t believe it, especially after Aretia.

Looks like he changed his mind for The Hatchling

Oh, Violet bonding the second strongest dragon on the continent, being placed right behind General Melgren, is going to cause the best kind of problems for command.

Lilith shakes her head keeping her cold mask in place. “We’ll have to see what is recorded.”

That’s when I notice a little golden dragon trailing the larger black dragon.

I hear a snort behind me Well, this is going to be interesting.

I turn, fully facing my dragon Why? What do you know?

Wait and see Warrior, wait and see

General Sorrengail is very obviously refusing to look at Violet as she approaches the role keeper. Keeping her eyes on the black dragon, just like every other person on the dais.

I make sure to give Violet a smile and a wink. While I know Lilith Sorrengail loves her children, and would do anything for them, she is terrible at letting her children know she cares about them. And while she cares about ensuring no one could dare accuse her of favoring her children, she ends up alienating them, especially with her youngest.

So you try to overcompensate

Violet has been ignored by her mother for most of her life, it's not fair to her to not feel like she doesn’t have anyone in her corner. To not be sure that her mother loves her. She deserves to know she’s loved and protected.

Yes, she does deserve that, all hatchlings should have a parent, or parental figure to care and nurture them. I’m glad The Hatchling has you

I’m not sure she can be called The Hatchling anymore. She’s a rider now.

But you view her as your hatchling, so I view her as your hatchling. She will always be The Hatchling to me. I smile, thinking of why my dragon told me she chose me during my own threshing

“Both dragons?” I hear the role keeper exclaim

It starts with a low murmur, and then all hell breaks loose around me as the generals start to register that little Violet Sorrengail has not only bonded Tairn, but another dragon as well.

I look at her a huge grin spreading across my face and mouth “That’s my girl.”

I told you it was going to be interesting

Mira,

You should have seen the generals squawking at Threshing. I’m sure the gossip has already made it to Monserrat, but Violet not only bonded Tairn, but a second dragon Andarna, the cutest little feathertail, if a dragon could be call cute (which, according to Dealaigh is an insult, but she does agree Andarna is, in fact, cute).

Command was worked up about it, trying to determine if it was allowed or not, like they have a say at all. They yelled about it at each other until the Empyrean said it was fine. I think they just wanted something to do to feel important.
I can’t help but be so proud of her. I knew she would be the best of us.

Tairn’s mating bond to Sgaeyl will prove to be interesting. The General is not pleased that Violet is now tied to “that Riorson boy”. I’m sure the unbonded will prove to be a problem and according to Devera Violet is really good at pissing people off (which is not at all surprising) so having Riorson on her side can’t hurt.

Much love,

Major Andromeda Sorrengail

Andy,

Violet’s squad won the squad battle and was rewarded with a visit to Montserrat. Apparently, they broke into Mom’s office and stole a map, I wish I could’ve seen the General’s face when she realized that happened. Could you imagine?

Violet and Dain’s relationship is… not great. I’m not exactly sure what happened between the two of them, but it was noticeable to myself and the riders at Montserrat, so I’m sure it’s worse than what I saw. I’m sure whatever it is is Dain’s fault, but we didn’t get a chance to discuss what happened between them. And I’m not sure Violet wanted to talk about it with me. At least not really. I have a feeling that the execution of the wingleader has something to do with it based on a few things that were said, but that can’t be the whole story.

Xaden Riorson is going to be a problem, I can feel it. He showed up because their dragons couldn’t last three days without seeing each other, at least according to him. Something is going on between him and Violet, and I don’t think it has to do with their mated dragons.

I explicitly told her to stay away from Riorson when she made it to the Quadrant, but does she listen to me? No, she goes and bonds his dragon’s mate.

I did find out that Violet is having trouble staying seated on Tairn, I told Riorson that if he wanted me to trust him with her then he needed to help her figure that one out. He seemed amenable to that stipulation so hopefully he fulfills that request.

We were attacked by gryphon riders while they were here. Riorson was able to get Violet to leave, which I’m sure was a struggle for him, us Sorrengail women are stubborn, and I think Violet got more of it then the rest of us combined.

I miss you. Seeing Violet just reminded me how much I miss us all being together. Let me know if you can take leave soon, or if I can take leave to visit.

Love you,

First Lieutenant Mira Sorrengail

Mira,

I can’t believe I forgot to tell you! Dain kissed Violet at Threshing, it was painful to watch. Violet was not having it; she looked like she’d kissed a fish! I guess Asher was wrong about those two.

I don’t know if there is more to their falling out, but last year Dain seemed to want only to impress his father, and you know my feelings on Colonel Aetos.

I think you may be projecting a bit onto Xaden Riorson, I taught him for the last two years, and while he’s calculating and guarded, I don’t think he’ll allow anything to happen to Violet. He’s a lot more like us than I think he, or we, would like to admit. I’m not saying you need to trust him, but I do think he will do what’s best for him, and his own, which now includes Violet.

I don’t know when I’ll be able to take leave next. I have plenty to take, but being a commander of an outpost, especially Samara, requires a lot of hands-on time. But I can always pop around for a bit the next time you have a bit of free time. Let me know when and where and I’ll get Dealaigh ready for a visit. I always miss you and Violet. Maybe we can sneak into Basgiath next year? We just need to plan around the General’s schedule. And try not to cause too much trouble.

With love,

Major Andromeda Sorrengail

Chapter Text

“July first, the anniversary of the Battle of Aretia, is hereby proclaimed Reunification Day and will be celebrated throughout Navarre on this date every year to honor the lives lost during the war to save our kingdom from separatists and those saved by the Treaty of Aretia.” -Royal Proclamation of King Tauri the Wise.

Major Sorrengail,

King Tauri has determined that the celebrations for Reunification Day will occur at Basgiath this year. Your presence has been requested. I attempted to make your excuses as your new post requires the utmost attention but was denied.

General Lilith Sorrengail

I hate today, I don’t know why I need to be here to celebrate

Warrior, you know it’s because of the name you choose to keep. The General has hand-picked you as her replacement and made it known to the forces, it’s inevitable that you would be asked to participate in the celebration of a battle you gave so much to win

I’m in my old rooms in the family quarters of Basgiath, adjusting the medals on my dress uniform when I hear a soft knock on the door, and the sound of it being pushed open.

My deep blue eyes meet the brown eyes of General Sorrengail in the mirror.

She stands behind me, her face softening slightly as she fusses with my hair, which I’ve placed in an updo for the occasion. “You look beautiful my dear. Even if I do still wish you would cut this hair.” She offers me a smile to let me know she’s not serious, at least at this moment.

I can’t bring myself to smile at her, not today. “Thank you General.”

She turns me around, inspecting my uniform, before taking my chin in her hand and forcing me to look into her face. “I know it’s a hard day.”

I try not to show my surprise, the Sorrengail matriarch never mentions anything about what happened to me, to us, to the family, on this day. She won’t mention Brennan, won’t allow him to even be hinted at in her presence.

“I also know you would rather not be present today but thank you for attending.”

“It’s hard to say no when the King requests your presence.”

She lets go of my chin and I look down, fiddling with the ring on my left hand, trying to school my features into a cold mask desperately trying to hide the tears pushing against my eyes.

It is alright to be sad today

Tell her that.

I think she understands, her becoming cold is how she coped with her grief, how she still copes with her grief. You could have easily gone down a similar path and no one would have blamed you, Warrior.

She abandoned everyone around her to her grief, I couldn’t do that

I know which is part of why I chose you. Your moral compass and compassion is a strength, not a weakness. Don’t forget that. And don’t forget, not every battle is fought on the battlefield. You are going into battle tonight.

And with that I lift my head.

I see Violet enter the ballroom on the arm of a cadet I don’t recognize, although with the wide berth everyone around them is giving the couple, and the glares Violet is giving everyone around them I presume her escort is a Marked One.

I shouldn’t be surprised she would be friendly with the Marked Ones, between her connection to Riorson, and her compassion, it’s logical that she would at minimum be friendly with them. I’m sure the General will be less than pleased about the closeness between her and that group once she sees her daughter's companion.

I politely excuse myself from the Infantry Quadrant professor and silently make my way across the room just in time to hear Violet’s companion whisper “I go where you go.”

“And who is this?” I interrupt watching the two cadets whirl around to face me.

“Major Sorrengail!” Violet’s eyes sparkling as they rise in surprise “I wasn’t expecting you to be here.”

“Well, when General Sorrengail tells you you’re going to be somewhere—”

“You’ll be there.” She finishes giggling.

I give her a once over, knowing she hates that both myself and Mira do that to her every time we see her. I give her a small smile, “Lightning huh?”

She nods, looking down. I place my hand under her chin lifting her face to mine. “I always knew you were the best of us.”

She gives me a small, sad smile and then turns to her companion.

“Andy, this is my friend Cadet Liam Mairi. Liam this is my, well this is Major Andy Sorrengail.”

Liam grips Violet's arm tighter briefly before releasing a hand to grip mine. “Pleasure to meet you, Major Sorrengail.”

“Please, call me Andy.” My eyes drifting briefly to the exposed relic peeking out of Cadet Mairi’s uniform, then looking into his bright blue eyes and giving him a small smirk. “Prepared for battle Cadet Mairi?”

“Andy” Violet whispers sounding appalled. “You can’t just say things like that.”

I look at Liam’s face, and back to Violet’s “sure I can, a wise dragon once told me not all battles are fought on the battlefield.”

Liam nods he head to gesture behind me, “and Violet’s greatest enemy approaches.”

I turn, noting my mother-in-law, General Melgren and Colonel Aetos accompanying King Tauri making their way towards us.

“Liam!” Violet exclaims, looking between her companion on her arm and me.

“He’s not wrong.” I whisper, turning to face the group.

Major Sorrengail,

Cadet Sorrengail and the squad she was attached to for War Games have been missing for 4 days. Colonel Aetos is planning to put them on the deathroll as they did not arrive at the location directed, nor have they returned to Basgiath.

General Sorrengail will return tomorrow from her most recent travel, she has not been told yet, which I believe is a mistake, but Colonel Aetos thinks that she should be told in person and not via a missive.

I didn’t want you to panic when you got the deathroll, and with your signet, it may be good for you to be present when the General is told.

Professor Devera

I crumple the missive from Captain Devera letting it fall onto my desk, taking a deep breath before I stand to grab the emergency pack I keep in my office.

I’ll meet you at the gates

I stop at my executive officer’s office telling him “I received a missive; you’re in charge until I return.”

“Ma’am?” Captain Halstrome calls but I ignore him and head out the gate, every soldier I pass jumping out of my way to attention. I don’t even acknowledge them to let them relax, focused solely on making it to my dragon.

Dealaigh is prepped for me to mount as soon as I see her just outside the front gate, immediately when I am seated on her back, I take us both to Basgiath.

Aimsir says the General is in her office. Colonel Aetos just left.

We do a mid-air dismount, and as I hit the ground, I wield taking me to the hallway outside General Sorrengail’s office, ignoring the guards that have been stationed in front of the door as I walk up to, and knock on it.

I’m met with an icy glare, followed by confusion “Andy?”

“Professor Devera sent me a missive; she thought it might be a good idea for me to be here when you were told.”

Lilith Sorrengail pulls me into the office, shutting the door and locking it behind me. As I drop my pack on the floor, she pulls me into a hug and sobs.

I don’t think I can shoulder this grief for her

Warrior, you don’t have to shoulder anyone else's grief, not this time. You lost your Hatchling, there is no requirement for you to be strong for her, there never has been.

I can’t help the tears in my eyes, and I sob with my mother-in-law for the second time in six years.

It is decided that I will not be on the dais with the Basgiath leadership when the death roll is read, which is fine by me. I’m to be in the back of the formation to hear the reading.

Thirty minutes before first formation I feel a jolt of joy from Dealaigh down the bond.

Tairn and the others have arrived. Their riders have already made their way to Basgiath. Tairn stated that the Hatchling should be heading to the first-year dormitories.

I bolt towards the dormitories, ignoring anyone in my path, making my way towards the first-floor rooms.

I see Cadet Riorson first, standing just behind a few other cadets and feel my heart swell as I notice the silver tipped hair peeking out from the cadet directly in front of him. Violet is there, in the arms of another cadet as I approach. I hear Cadet Riorson state “We have to go,” as I approach.

“Cadet Sorrengail!” I hear the waiver in my voice, needing to place eyes on her, needing to make sure she’s okay.

The four other cadets in the hallway snap to attention as I place my hands on Violet’s shoulders, running my hands up and down her arms “what the fuck happened? They put your names on the death roll.”

The cadets behind me move, leaving myself, Violet, and Cadet Riorson alone in the hall.

She looks at me, wide eyed and I feel a prickling at the front of my forehead, I glance above Violet’s head and glare at Riorson. “What happened?”

“We were sent to Athbyne for War Games, we were attacked on the way, and we found the outpost was emptied when we arrived.” Riorson supplies

Partial truth

I look back over Violet, “What were you attacked by?”

“Gryphons.”

Lie

My grip instinctively tightens on her shoulders

Dealaigh

I’m ready

“Where?”

She glances down, I know every tell this young woman has, and so does the General. “Do not look down when answer that question, look into command’s eyes, you look down when either you lie, or are ashamed of what you’re thinking.” I whisper

Her hazel eyes meet mine, “Resson.”

Truth

I suck in a breath, remembering the reports that came in a few days ago, and look to the man standing behind her, and back to Violet locking eyes with her. “Do not tell them you were at Resson. Say you stopped before Athbyne, that you didn’t see anything going on at Resson, only mention Resson if they press for anything, do not volunteer that information.”

What has she gotten herself involved in?

You know some of what the Children of the Apostasy have been involved in. We knew it was likely she would be involved once she was linked to the Shadow Wielder

I had hoped it would be after she was out of Basgiath

I take another breath, and press my forehead to hers, “you’re okay?”

She nods, “I am now.”

I kiss her forehead, “Good, I can’t wait to see Colonel Aetos’s face when you show up.”

Chapter Text

“Tea, while often ridiculed by those who are naturally coarse in their sensibilities, can often heal what healers and menders cannot.” – Effective Uses of Wild and Cultivated Herbs written by Captain Lawrence Medina

I wait outside General Sorrengail’s office, casually leaning against the wall, waiting for her to finish “dealing with” Colonel Aetos.

The guards that are usually stationed outside have mysteriously disappeared, likely so the General can have as few witnesses as possible to the verbal altercation being delivered.

I hear the door open and push myself off the wall, catching the colonel by the collar of his uniform as the door slams shut behind him, swinging around to push him against the wall, my forearm against his throat.

He’s a good five inches taller than my 5’9” frame, but I’ve surprised him, and I’ve been keeping up on my sparring skills where he has not. Which is evident when he attempts to swing at me with his right arm and I’m able to easily block it with my non-dominant hand. Pinning his arm to his side and punching up with my right hand.

There’s a satisfying crunch as I feel his nose break and I put that forearm deep into his windpipe. Ignoring the pain radiating up my right arm from my now likely broken hand, as I wasn’t able to deliver the punch with proper form, or from a good angle.

I lean up on my toes to his ear, and whisper “If I hear that you have done anything, and I mean anything, to harm either Violet or Mira, you’re dead. Rumors, whispers, I don’t even care if they’re true. Nothing will save you. I promise you that.”

His eyes widen as I push off of him “you would dare threaten a superior officer?”

I release him, raising my eyebrows and tilting my head. “I don’t see a superior officer in this hallway, do you?”

I shoot him a glare, and he retreats down the hallway, refusing to look back at me.

I burst into General Sorrengail’s office, noting that her anger at Aetos hasn’t yet dissipated.

She glances down at my hand, “what did you do Major Sorrengail?”

I ignore the question “You’re sending two newly graduated lieutenants to Samara? Brand new second lieutenants are never sent to border postings, especially not Samara.”

“There weren’t orders prepared for them since they were prematurely added to the death roll.”

I continue as if she hadn’t spoken, which is certain to cause some backlash. “On top of that, you realize your daughter will now be at Samara every two weeks? Because you’re sending the rider whose dragon is her dragon’s mate to the front lines? She’s going to be on the front line. What if something happens while she’s there?”

General Sorrengail glares at me “I didn’t have a choice Andromeda.”

“Bullshit. You’re second in command of the Navarrian military! What do you mean you didn’t have a choice?”

“We had limited options, and considering those limited options, its best for them to be at Samara. With Riorson and Tavis being at Samara, you can watch them, make sure they aren’t doing anything suspicious. Melgren trusts you to keep an eye on them. And then you can watch over Violet instead of her being sent somewhere where the command doesn’t care if anything happens to her!”

She’s right, after the surprise of their survival today, and the suspicions Colonel Aetos has of what they saw, the Hatchling is safest under your supervision

I sigh, instinctively bringing my hand to my forehead before wincing and remembering that it is most assuredly broken.

“Now Major Sorrengail, what did you do? It looks as if you’ve managed to break your hand between formation and making it to my office.”

I shrug, “nothing of note. Not really sure what I did to my hand.”

General Sorrengail rolls her eyes, “I have a first aid pack, let me at least wrap it for you before you head back to your post.”

I head down to the gathering hall, wanting to say goodbye to Violet before I head back to Samara.

I make it to the rotunda when I see one of the new lieutenants who has been placed under my command. “Tavis,” I nod “I hear you’ll be under my command.” I note that he’s already in his new flight leathers, pack at his feet “heading out early?”

“Ma’am,” He moves to snap to attention, but I wave him off, wincing at the movement of my dominant hand.

“I’m not in your chain of command until you report,” I start looking around.

As if knowing who I’m looking for, Tavis nods to two figures standing away from the crowds.

I watch, curious to see their interaction, it’s hard to pin down anything concrete, but I do find myself agreeing with Mira, there is something more going on than just their dragons being bonded.

After a few minutes Riorson moves in the direction myself and Tavis are standing throwing a “Try not to burn the place down while I’m gone,” over his shoulder.

Violet watches Riorson and Tavis walk towards the flight field when she notices where I’m standing, a small smile gracing her features as she quickly makes her way towards me.

“Andy!”

“Just here to say goodbye flower.” I lean down and kiss her cheek “I’ll see you in two weeks.”

She looks up at me, giving me a confused look.

“Riorson has orders to Samara, so—”

Her smile widens, “so, when I go to Samara, you’ll be there?”

“Not every time, but I’ll make sure I’m there for your first visit.”

Captain Halstrome knocks on my door frame, “the two new graduates have arrived from Basgiath.”

I look up from my desk “perfect, have they been shown to their quarters?”

My executive officer nods, “yes ma’am. They’re on their way to you now for your meeting with them.”

I shuffle to organize the paperwork on my desk, putting the stacks away the best I can. “Their sponsors are with them?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Perfect, thank you.”

A few moments later Lieutenants Riorson and Tavis are dropped off at my door. I look at the two first lieutenants who have been assigned to sponsor them and let them know to give me thirty minutes with the new members of our regiment.

“Welcome to Samara, you should have been shown to your quarters. Your sponsors will give you a tour, as well as integrate you into your schedules over the next few weeks. If you have any questions they should be able to answer them, but if they can’t, you are always more than welcome to ask me.”

I take a breath, eyeing the two Marked Ones in front of me. “I have an open-door policy, which means you can come directly to me, and we can discuss any issues you may have. I do encourage going through your chain of command before coming to my office, but if you feel that you cannot please do not feel like you can’t come speak to me directly.”

I wait until I get acknowledgement from both of them before continuing. “You are both the first children of separatists who are being stationed with most of the riders, and the other quadrants. I have told our regiment that I will not tolerate any sort of hazing or hostility towards either of you, but I need you to alert me if you are having issues with anyone, from any regiment, because of your parents.”

Do you actually believe they will tell you if others cause any issues?

I don’t, but I need them to know they can trust me, not just as their commanding officer, but with whatever else they are doing. You know I give the same speech to every new officer who comes under my command, these two just have a few added complexities.

“Any questions or concerns before you go back to your sponsors?”

Both men shake their heads in the negative.

Major Sorrengail

There has been a new position created at Basgiath, vice-commandant. It is currently being filled by Major Burton Varrish. I am aware that he recently left Samara, so you are aware of him and his tactics, as well as suspicious of his allegiances. His dragon has already set fire to a squad from Fourth Wing of bonded riders after parapet.

We will need to be cautious.

Professor Aarya Devera

I stare at the kettle in front of me as I situate the blend of herbs in my strainer waiting for the water to boil when I hear the slight creak of the floor behind me.

It’s not unusual for someone to come into the kitchen when I’m making tea, with the changing over of shifts it’s bound to happen, but glancing up at the clock above me I realize it’s too early for a shift change.

I chance a glance over my shoulder and see a familiar form standing in the doorway.

I sigh, reach above me to the cabinet as the kettle starts to whistle. I set the second cup down and pour the boiling water over the herbs and hold it out to the young lieutenant behind me.

“Take the mug Riorson.” I say when I don’t hear him move.

A few breaths later I feel the cup lifted out of my hand “it needs to steep for three minutes.” I say, preparing another strainer of herbs, pouring the kettle for myself.

I turn around and see Lieutenant Riorson awkwardly standing with his hands on the cup, and I motion to the stools near the counter.

He sits stiffly, hands cupped around the warm mug in front of him, staring blankly at water mixed with herbs as I move to sit across from him.

I watch him for a heartbeat before I ask, “do you want to talk about it?”

He looks up at me and shakes his head.

I nod. We sit in silence while waiting for the tea to seep.

When the three minutes is up, I pluck the strainers from both our mugs, setting them on a saucer before taking a sip.

“I wake up from nightmares most nights. Sometimes the tea helps calm my mind, sometimes it doesn’t.”

I pick up the discarded strainers, and as I’m cleaning them, drinking the tea slowly, I pull the container I keep hidden in the back of the cabinet.

I carry it back over to the shadow wielder and set it in front of him. “If you need more let me know. If it doesn’t help, you can give it back.”

I turn to walk back to my room, placing my hand on the young man’s shoulder as I pass. “If you change your mind, and want to talk, my office is always open. I’ve been told it helps to talk through it, but” I give his shoulder a small squeeze before releasing my hand and walking to the door “I never talk about my demons either.”

Major Sorrengail,

Lieutenant Riorson and Cadet Sorrengail are to be checked for any sort of contraband prior to leaving both Basgiath and Samara. Please ensure that you are doing the inspections. We can’t have anything fall through because you trusted the wrong person to do this inspection.

Rider’s Quadrant Vice-Commandant Burton Varrish

Major Sorrengail,

There have been several assassination attempts on the cadets who were attacked during War Games. It also seems that there has been an increase in attacks on outposts where recently graduated lieutenants who were involved in the aforementioned attack are stationed. I have a feeling of who may be behind it, but there’s no proof of any orders.

Keep that in mind.

Professor Aayra Devera

Chapter Text

“Being an effective leader isn’t about being in charge, it’s about taking care of those you are charged to lead. Actions should inspire those around you to learn more, do more and become more. That is the legacy of an effective leader.” - Major Andromeda Sorrengail’s Command Philosophy

General Sorrengail,

I have been receiving missives of instructions from Basgiath regarding Cadet Sorrengail and Lieutenant Riorson and how to “handle” their leave.

As you are aware I do not fall under the command of your Vice-Commandant, and in fact suggested he be removed from any sort of leadership position after his conduct at Samara. If you or General Melgren have orders for me in regards to the mated dragons and their riders please advise. Otherwise, I will continue to run my command as I see fit without the interference from those outside of my chain of command.

Major Andromeda Sorrengail

Major Sorrengail,

I was not aware of any missives or orders being sent to you regarding any of my cadets. The commandant and vice commandant have control over the day-to-day orders of those under their charge.

They cannot, however, order you to do anything specific for those under your direct command. So, while I will ask you to attempt to accommodate their requests for Cadet Sorrengail, you have no requirements to follow any direction they have regarding Lieutenant Riorson.

General Lilith Sorrengail

I stand just outside the gates of Samara, watching as the black morningstartail lands in the field. Every infantry soldier gives the massive black dragon a wide berth as he watches his rider make her way to the gates.

It takes her a moment to notice that I’m standing there, but as soon as she does, I see Violet’s eyes light up, picking up her pace to meet me “Andy!”

Her black dragon takes off from the field as soon as she reaches me. “Welcome to Samara Cadet Sorrengail.”

She gives me a smile as she follows me through the gates.

“Now, I’m sure you want to see Lieutenant Riorson, who is currently fighting for the pass for this weekend, but before I take you down to him, I need to talk to you.”

She fidgets as I pull her into my office on the first floor, immediately when you enter the outpost, “This won’t take but a moment.”

I shut the door behind us, and gesture to the set of chairs in front of my desk, sitting down and waiting for her to follow, she drops her pack and sits.

“Xaden’s fighting for a pass?” She asks, not waiting for me to speak before asking her first question

“There’s only one pass for the lieutenants this weekend, Lieutenant Colonel Degrensi likes to pit the officers against each other for leave occasionally.” I roll my eyes, having fundamentally disagreed with that line of thinking, but he’s the outpost commander, and I’m just the Rider Regiment commander.

I see Violet’s brow furrow, and I continue speaking before she can ask a follow up question.

“There’s a sound ward on my office, so nothing said in here should be overheard.” I look at her pointedly “I’ve received missives that you and Lieutenant Riorson are to be checked both leaving Basgiath and Samara for any sort of contraband. Now, I don’t fall under the command of the vice-commandant of Basgiath, so I will not be doing those checks. I can control some of what happens here at Samara, but you fall under the command of the commandant’s office of Basgiath and General Sorrengail has told me to follow those missives to the best of my ability when it comes to you.”

Violet looks up at me, her brows furrowed, I continue before she can respond. “I have also received word that there have been several assassination attempts, and that there are likely to be more occurring within the group that you were with during War Games.”

She nods “I had a first year try on Assessment Day.”

“You took care of it I’m assuming?”

Violet looks at her hands in her lap “Yes, but not before he killed another member of my squad.”

My own hand starts to fidget with my wedding ring on my left hand in my lap. “Did you get any indication of who sent them?”

She looks up at me with bright eyes “I think,” she pauses, gathering her thoughts, or deciding what to tell me, “the first year repeated something Colonel Aetos said to me on the dais the day we came back.”

I sit back, crossing my arms, waiting for her to continue.

I guess the colonel didn’t take my threat seriously.

Dealaigh stays silent, but I feel her anger simmering through the bond

“He said” she pauses, gathering her thoughts “secrets die with the people who keep them.”

My eyes narrow as my hands clench; I let out a small hiss of pain as my still broken hand protests at the movement.

Violet looks down at my lap noticing my wrapped hand “What happened?”

“Colonel Aetos’s nose.”

“Andy, you can’t just—” I hold up my nonbroken hand.

“Moving on, we do not have specific lodging set aside for you. While I do not care where you sleep,” I raise my eyebrows as I catch a blush creeping up her neck “I will offer my bedroom if you require it.”

I move to stand. “Now, I’ll take you down to the gym. You can leave your pack here for now, nothing will be touched in my office.”

I stand and loop my arm through the younger woman’s, leading her down the halls.

As we reach the sublevel I feel Violet tense, then release, clutching my arm a bit tighter moving through the empty hallways.

I give her a look, but I’m not sure she’s aware of the movement she’s made.

We turn and enter the gym to the right of the hallway, and I nod to the two infantry guards as they jump aside with a “Ma’am.”

While the gym is a no salute, no attention area, every rider moves out of our way as I make my way towards the railing, situating Violet so she can face the packed dirt arena, placing her next to Lieutenant Sahalie.

“Ma’am,” the lieutenant greets me, noting the addition I’ve brought with me.

“I’m heading back to my office, I’m sure Lieutenant Riorson or any of the other riders can get you back to my office when you need to grab your pack.”

I turn to Sahalie “I’m sure you’ll tell me how this ends and let me know if a change needs to be made to the roster.”

Professor Devera,

I believe we may be missing something that is going on at Basgiath. Keep an eye out on where professors and leaders' loyalty lies and signs of anything else that may be amiss. Inform the others.

Major Andromeda Sorrengail

Andy,

Something weird is going on. I just got my first letter from Violet, and it’s been heavily redacted. Someone is reading mail, I don’t know if it's everyone’s mail or just Violet’s. I’ve asked a few of the other officers here who have siblings still at Basgiath, and none of them have noticed anything.

I’m worried. Do you know something?

First Lieutenant Mira Sorrengail

I look up as I hear a knock on my office door and see Second Lieutenant Riorson standing at the door.

I motion for him to come in.

He enters, shutting the door behind him. I perk up, that’s new.

As the young man stands in front of my desk, I don’t feel the expected prickling sensation that usually accompanies private conversations with him.

It seems he is learning to trust you

I certainly hope so

I gesture at him to sit, which he does after a moment.

“What can I help you with lieutenant?”

He takes a deep breath and pauses to gather his thoughts before speaking “When I went to Basgiath for my leave, Violet and her squad were taken for RSC, land navigation specifically. I was not able to see her, and Tairn wasn’t comfortable being to far from her in case she needed him, so he wasn’t able to spend much time with Sgaeyl.”

I rummage through one of my desk drawers for the stack of missives I had received concerning the two of them, handing them over to him.

As he looks them over I respond, “I can’t do anything about what happens when you visit Basgiath, but what I can control here, I will.”

He nods and pauses before handing the stack of parchment back to me. “There’s one more thing, they gave the squad something, it cut off their connection to their dragons, but Sgaeyl said Tairn could still feel Violet on his end of the bond.”

Why would they develop something like that? What would be the reasoning for cutting off a bond?

I don’t know, but it seems odd that they would test something like that on cadets.

“Lieutenant Riorson, Lieutenant Tavis.” I project as I see the two children of separatists moving suspiciously down the hall.

They both look at me, Tavis with a momentary flash of panic on his face before composing his features. Something to work on, I note.

I motion them into an empty room, holding the door open and following them in.

I look them up and down, noting their heavy bags and watch as Tavis shifts his weight between his legs slightly, a tell.

“Major Sorrengail—“

I hold up a hand, interrupting the shadow wielder “don’t speak. Speaking gets you in trouble.”

I pull a sealed missive from the inside pocket of my flight jacket and hand it to Riorson. “Don’t get caught, but if you do, show whoever catches you that.”

He takes the folded parchment, running his thumb over the seal, and places it in his pocket. His face showing no sign of surprise or questions.

“And I would appreciate a heads up if you do need to use it. I’d hate to be unprepared.”

I turn to walk out of the office door, before calling over my shoulder, “and Lieutenant Tavis? You need to work on your body language. You’re projecting to anyone who looks at you that you’re doing something you shouldn’t be.

I look up as I hear a knock on my office door and see Riorson standing at the door.

I sigh, and motion for him to come in. “Shut the door behind you please.”

The door clicks behind him, and he sits down across from my desk, usually he insists on standing until I force him to sit, so I consider this an improvement.

I hand him an opened missive, “you’ve been tagged for ops duty this weekend.”

“Major Sorrengail?”

“The order came from above me, I can’t change the orders, or the timing for your twenty-four-hour shift on the operations floor. I tried.”

Riorson gives me a calculated look, pausing for a moment, before asking “Varrish?”

I shrug, “I do not fall under his command, and you do not fall under his command. These orders came down through our chain of command.”

The young lieutenant puts his elbows on his lap, placing his head in his hands.

I continue, “I was able to get the concession that you are not to be put on patrols while Violet is here, since the whole purpose of the leave every two weeks is so your mated dragons can spend time together.”

He nods, not taking his head out of his hands.

I sigh, “I am sorry lieutenant. I wish I could do more, but it’s unfortunately out of my control.”

Since Riorson is stuck on twenty-four-hour duty, I make sure I am scheduled to be physically at Samara for the entirety of the time Violet is to be on her leave.

I am mid-planning for an intelligence drop when Dealaigh informs me that Tairn has made it into Samara’s airspace.

When I meet Violet at the entrance to Samara, her dragon waiting until she is with me before taking off to his mate, I give her a small smile.

“Rioson’s on duty while you’re here this time. So, you’re stuck with me for your leave.”

I see her face fall as she follows me into my office.

Once she settles into one of the chairs in my office, with me back behind my desk she gives me a look.

“Shut the door before you say whatever it is you’re thinking about.”

She does, and sits back down, waiting a few heartbeats before voicing her thoughts “Xaden has twenty-four-hour duty because Varrish wants to punish me.”

I look up from the maps in front of me, “well, he wants to punish both of you, for a reason I’m not sure I’ve been able to figure out, but can only get to you. The reason why Lieutenant Riorson has twenty-four-hour duty is because that order came from higher command.”

Violet sits in silence after hearing that information.

I fold my hands and lean my elbows on my desk, placing my chin on my hands and studying the young cadet in front of me. “What does Varrish think is going on?”

Violet shakes her head, looking at her hands in her lap, refusing to answer.

“Vi, I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s going on.” I take a breath, “you know I’ll always help you, and I’ll always believe you, right?”

She nods, and another few heart beats pass before she responds quietly “I just don’t know if I can tell you.”

What has she gotten into?

Violet rolls over to face me in my bed, “Andy?”

I open my eyes, “yes Violet?”

“What do you do if you know someone is keeping secrets from you? That they won’t tell you things?”

I roll onto my back, staring at the ceiling of my bedroom “everyone has secrets Vi, some things can’t be shared. But I guess it depends on what the secret is, and why they are keeping it, and if it detrimentally affects you that they keep it from you. ”

“How do you know what secrets are okay being kept?”

I roll over to face her and think for a moment. All of the secrets I’m keeping bubbling to the surface. “That’s not an easy question to answer, Vi. Everyone keeps secrets for a reason. Sometimes you have to because it’s a part of your job, sometimes it’s not your secret to tell, sometimes it’s because you feel like you can’t share because it’s scary to let someone know something. Sometimes secrets are selfish.”

She furrows her brow.

“You thrive on information and feel like you need all of the relevant information to make the right decisions, but information takes time, secrets take trust, and bravery, to share when they are able to be shared.”

“What if it’s a secret that directly involves you?”

I pause, trying to think,“I don’t think I have an answer. If the secret puts you in direct danger by not knowing? Then it should be shared, but if it’s something that will come with time? Well, that’s harder. I guess it depends on the secret, and to me, why the secret was being kept.”

Violet doesn’t answer for several long minutes, I can see her mind whirling through something. Then she sighs and rolls back over. “Thank you Andy.” And then a beat later “I love you.”

“Love you too, now get some sleep before you have to fly back tomorrow.”

Chapter Text

“Cadets who are found absent without leave will be subject to court martial by their chain of command, if they are not executed on site.” -Basgiath War College Code of Conduct Article Four, Section One.

Captain Halstrome knocks on my office door first thing Monday morning, peaking around the corner “Major Sorrengail, we have another lieutenant being assigned to join our regiment.”

I lean my head into my hand, elbow resting on my desk, and sigh, holding my other arm out for the missive I know he has in his hand informing me of the change.

“I don’t understand why we keep getting lieutenants, I need more experienced riders.”

I feel the parchment being placed in my open hand, and hear my executive officer chuckle, “I think you’ll like this lieutenant.”

I look up at him and see his brown eyes sparkling with his dimpled smile and read the missive.

Major Sorrengail

First Lieutenant Mira Sorrengail is being assigned to the Samara Outpost under your command. She will be essential with the issues we’ve had with wards breaking, and the continued gryphon attacks.

I expect there will be no issues with this addition to your command.

General Lilith Sorrengail

A few days later I hear a loud knock on my door with a very joyful sounding Captain Halstrome calling towards me “I’ve brought you a special delivery Major!”

I look up and can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. “Lieutenant Sorrengail, welcome to Samara Outpost.”

Mira walks into my office, snapping to attention as Halstrome starts to back out of the door frame, closing it as he states, “I’ll send her sponsor to you in an hour.”

“Thank you, Nathan!” I call after him.

“Relax Mira, take a seat.” I gesture to the chair in front of me.

She sits, leaning back taking in my office, “nice. How’s being a commander?”

“I enjoy it.” For more reasons than I can tell her.

Do you not want to ask her if she wants to join the resistance effort?

I’m not sure if I want to involve her just yet. I suspect Violet’s being pulled into it headfirst, which I already don’t like when I can’t watch over her.

It may be best to bring the Protector into the fold soon. And she’s here, you can watch over her alleviating one of the concerns you have for the Hatchling.

I turn my attention back to the woman in front of me. “Samara is different than the other outposts, even the other outposts along the border. I know you’ve been to the front before, but the culture here can be,” I pause trying to find the right word, “brutal.”
She nods.

“Every new officer is assigned a sponsor, they will show you around, get you up to speed on your expected duties. I do have an open-door policy for everyone under my command. If there’s a reason you feel you cannot go directly through your first line leader for an issue, complaint, or question, feel free to come to me.”

She nods once more; I finish my usual spiel with “Any questions for me before you are handed off to your sponsor?”

Mira leans forward, her brown eyes sparkling, “How’s Violet? When is she coming here next?”

I’m just coming back to Samara, and my bed, late Saturday evening from meeting with several officers at other outposts and locations, when I hear an insistent banging on my bedroom door. I groan internally as I get out of bed to answer.

As soon as the door cracks open, Mira storms in “she’s falling in love with him!”

I close the door behind her, noting that she’s still dressed in her flight leathers, as she flops herself onto my bed.

“Could you at least take off your boots before you get in my bed?”

Mira kicks off her boots, before repeating “she’s falling for him.”

She’s surprised her sister has feelings for the Shadow Wielder?

“I gather you’ve noticed Violet’s feelings towards Riorson?”

She sits back up, and glares at me “you knew?!”

I feel my hand go to the bridge of my nose, a habit I picked up from Brennan, and sit on the edge of my bed next to the angry lieutenant.

“I thought it was obvious, but I haven’t heard either of them admit to anything. Which they need to admit it to both themselves, and each other, before telling me.”

“He loves her too?”

“Did you come here just to complain about your sister’s choice in men? Because that could’ve waited until I was awake.”

“Oh please, you don’t sleep. Which, by the way, neither does Violet anymore apparently. I gave her some of your tea, she was talking some nonsense about fables and then started asking me about wards while we were throwing daggers earlier.”

I freeze.

You knew that she knew the truth.

“Wait, what?”

“She knows about the alloy, and asked me how to weave new wards, how the wards are extended, which she should not know about. And she asked if I knew how the wardstone worked.”

I suspected she knew something, but if she’s talking to Mira about it, she’s in deeper than I wanted either of them to be. And why is she asking about wards? This is so much deeper than I thought Riorson was in, who is he working with? This can’t just be his group of Marked Ones

You should tell the Protector.

I look over at the middle Sorrengail sibling Soon.

Tairn arrived minutes ago in a panic.

Why?

I can’t get him or Sgaeyl to confirm, but if I had to make an educated guess, I believe news made it to Basgiath of the attack

I move to stand when Mira comes running into my office “Violet’s here.”

I nod “Dealaigh just informed me that Tairn arrived.”

“I don’t think Violet is separating her emotions from his, she saw me, saw that I was okay and took off running to Xaden.”

“Where’s Riorson?”

“The gym, with Garrick.”

I make my way to the sublevel gym, resisting the urge to run, knowing if it looks like I am panicked it will cause those around me to react.

Once I make it to the door of the gym, I see Lieutenant Tavis leaving. He stops and snaps to attention before I can wave him off.

“Violet came running in.”

“I was informed.”

He moves to place himself in front of the door, “I’m not sure if you want to go in there yet.”

I shoot him a questioning look “How was she?”

“Tairn’s got a hold of her emotions, I’m not sure. Xaden took her into the showers to try and shock her out of Tairn’s hold.”

I nod. “Go, I’ll take care of this when she’s gotten calmed down.”

The young lieutenant pauses, looking uncomfortable, “I’m really not sure if it’s a good idea for you to go in there right now.”

I give him a once over, “I can handle anything that’s going on in there, I promise.”

I’m leaning against the wall when Riorson leads Violet out of the locker rooms, both soaking wet, and haphazardly dressed.

I lock eyes with Riorson first, who stiffens to attention and Violet immediately follows, pivoting her head towards me.

I let them both stand at attention for a beat before raising my eyebrows with a small smirk as I wave them out of it. “Relax, the gym is a no attention area.”

“Andy, you’re okay?”

I give the couple in front of me a once over, before locking eyes with Violet. “You back in control of your own emotions?”

She nods, a blush creeping up her neck.

“You’ll have to head back to Basgiath in the morning. I’ll deliver something to Pancheck to try and head off any sort of punishment, but Violet, you have to be more careful. You can’t just take off without leave, especially now.”

She looks down at her feet, while I feel a prickling at the spot above my eyebrows. I tilt my head at Riorson. “I’ll see you both in the morning, keep her safe for tonight” And I turn to walk out of the gym.

Commandant Pancheck,

Cadet Sorrengail arrived at the Samara outpost an hour ago, unable to block her dragon’s emotions. His mate’s rider was severely injured last night, and it seems when the incomplete battle report was given during Battle Brief he panicked, forcing Cadet Sorrengail on the flight here without letting her grab a pack, or change into her own flight leathers.

It took us an hour to get the emotions to break and Cadet Sorrengail’s mental shields back in place once she arrived. Since it is not expected of a second-year cadet to have full control in blocking out their dragon’s emotions, I suggest no punishment is given to Cadet Sorrengail for the actions of her dragon.

I’m sure Professor Kaori will agree with my assessment.

Major Andromeda Sorrengail

After dropping off the sealed missive to Commandant Pancheck, and hearing Professor Kaori did indeed have the same opinion I did regarding Violet’s lack of punishment for her dragon’s ability to overpower the emotions and mental shields of a second-year cadet, I discreetly make my way to the professor sleeping quarters.

I knock on Aarya Devera’s bedroom door, she doesn’t look surprised when she answers and sees me standing there.

I’m quickly pulled into her sleeping chambers, “How’s—”

“Everyone is fine, we got Violet to disengage from Tairn, well, Riorson did, I’m sending her back in the morning. I spoke to Pancheck to try and head off any punishment, Kaori had already spoken to him when I got there.”

I look at the captain, “Have you heard anything about where any of the orders are coming from? Anything additional from leadership? Anything specific to Basgiath?”

She shakes her head, and motions for me to sit on the edge of her bed. “Varrish has it out for Violet, it seems to be because her second dragon won’t attend flight maneuvers. Tairn took care of that, but it hasn’t stopped the harassment that has been hurled towards Violet from Varrish. Before Tairn took care of Varrish, he took her and Carr to use her signet as a punishment, pushed her to burnout. Carr tried to step in, but” Aarya trails off "I don't think it's about the dragons.

I nod, clenching my fists at Varrish using wielding as a punishment, but having suspected most of the information based on the conversations I’d had with Riorson.

“Violet mentioned that the messages being given to her from assassins were a phrase Aetos told her the day she came back from the War Games. I’m not sure who he’s working with, but Aetos and Varrish working together doesn’t surprise me, but neither of them is likely to be at the top giving the orders.”

“The leadership suspects Riorson of something but still has no proof. Varrish thinks there’s some sort of link between Riorson and Violet.”

I stand, and start pacing the foot of her bed, “we need to be ready to move or react. I had hoped we would have more time, but I don’t think we do.”

“I agree, after the group came back from War Games, it seems like someone, or something, is forcing an escalation from within command.”

“I’ll start getting things organized, keep a watch and let everyone here know to keep an eye and an ear out. It seems like Basgiath may be the start of whatever is being planned.”

I pause, “don’t attempt to send anything moving forward, even coded. I don’t want to risk any letters or missives being intercepted, and I’m not sure they haven’t already been read.”

Lieutenant Riorson knocks on my office door Sunday evening. I look up, and motion him inside as I gather the documents on my desk and shove them in a drawer in my desk.

“You’re working late.”

“Well, work never seems to be done, I keep trying to play catch up when I’m here.”

He nods, “you’re off post more often than I suspected a regiment commander would be.”

I shrug

That’s because you run a resistance and have to have meetings in person because we can’t be sure no one is reading your missives.

“What can I help you with this evening lieutenant?”

“I just got back from Basgiath, they took Violet and her squad for interrogation while I was with her.”

Riorson’s mask makes it nearly impossible for me to get a read on his emotions, he almost looks scared, and furious when he tells me that information, which sets me on edge.

I clench my fists in my lap, as I wait for him to continue, feeling Dealaigh’s anger mix with my own apprehension.

“They tried to give them the serum that cuts off the bond, but Violet recognized the smell, they didn’t drink it, so she was still connected to Tairn. But, they were still there when I had to leave to return.” He takes a deep breath before continuing, pacing the back of my office. “Varrish was there, and he seemed to want something from torturing Violet.”

Varrish shouldn’t have any involvement in the actual interrogations, not after what happened here. That was the entirety of the reason we had him removed.

Anger explodes down the bond, and I’m standing, hands on my desk, before I can ground to attempt to separate my anger from my dragon’s.

“What do you have her involved in Riorson?”

He stops his pacing, slumping into the chair across from my desk. “I tried to keep her out of anything, this is Varrish’s need to punish her for her dragons and her association with me.”

And likely her association with you, Warrior.

Chapter Text

“For there, in the land beyond the shadows, were monsters that dwelled in the night and dined on the souls of children who wandered too close to the woods.” -The Wyverns Cry, Fables of the Barren

I hear a quick knock on my office door and look up from the paperwork in front of me, to meet the face of a terrified Lieutenant Riorson with Lieutenant Tavis trailing behind him.

“I think I may need your help.”

Well, that’s a sentence I never thought I’d hear from Riorson

I motion the two men inside and watch as they close the door behind them.

“What can I assist you two with?”

Riorson’s leg is bouncing as he stands next to the door. In the four years I’ve watched this young man I’ve never seen him have a tell. “Do you have a sound ward on this office like you did on your office at Basgiath?”

I nod as I effortlessly plant my feet in the sand at my parent’s beach, and pull a strand of sapphire power, not sure if I’ll need it, but a gut feeling tells me while I will believe anything this scared man tells me in this moment, I may want to confirm.

We may want to be ready to react and to inform the others.

I am always ready when you are, Warrior.

“I assisted Violet, members of her squad, and a cadet in the Scribe Quadrant steal two journals from the original six from the Royal Archives.”

Truth

What the actual fuck did they get themselves into?

I stay silent, my breath catching as my eyes follow the pacing man in front of me, waiting for him to continue.

“Tairn just flew close enough to get a message to Sgaeyl.” Riorson stops and closes his eyes, taking a deep breath before continuing. “Violet was caught with one of the journals, Nolon took her to Major Varrish.”

Truth

I feel Dealaigh growling down the bond as I clench my jaw.

He is dead for harming The Hatchling

Tavis interrupts “Xaden wants to cause a distraction to draw leadership out of Basgiath to rescue Violet from Varrish, but I suggested we come talk to you before we did anything drastic.”

My eyes narrow at the young man, who I’ve seen cares so much about Violet, “What is your current plan?”

“Drop Wyvern corpses on the five outposts on the border of Navarre and Poromiel.”

My eyes widen I’m not sure what I was expecting, but that was not it.

That plan means we’ve lost all of our precious time for the resistance. We’ll have to move quickly and organize fast. Are we ready?

I think we may not have a choice, we know the Marked One’s are working with some form of a resistance, I think this is happening regardless of whether I help them or not. But at least if I help, I’ll get to make sure my people are informed and have some sort of plan for the fallout from leadership.

My mind is whirling through the scenarios as I dig through one of my desk drawers, pulling out a pack of parchment ready to be updated, sealed and distributed to the resistance members.

“Well, that would certainly draw out leadership, not only from Basgiath, but from Callydr and likely even the midland outposts.” I start speaking through the thoughts spinning around in my head, trying to parse out a plan. “If we drop them here first, then I can walk to Calldyr, give you a head start to Basgiath while others make the drops, but if we do Samara last then there may have been orders given already by the time I walk, meaning you would walk into the chaos. Simultaneous drops might be best to cause the most internal chaos. The biggest issue, outside getting the corpses, will be if anyone recognizes the dragons dropping them, and we’ll need to move quickly so I don’t know if I can set up the safe houses for everyone involved–”

I pause, interrupting my thoughts, and look at the two Marked Ones, setting the letters on my desk “how many people do you need? And how many will we need to remove from Navarre, in addition to those assisting?”

Riorson masks his expression, but Tavis’s shock is written all over his. “We have a place we can take anyone we need to.”

Tavis responds before I can “Xaden, I’m not sure The Assembly–”

“Will it be able to accommodate all those who assist and all the Marked Ones? I can get to the children, make sure they aren’t retaliated against.”

Xaden pins his dark eyes on me, and I feel the all-too-familiar prickle at the base of my forehead. I lock my gaze on his and lower my mental barrier slightly.

What is it you’re looking for Riorson? I push the thought towards him, and watch as he steps back ever so slightly.

I leave my mental barrier cracked, not enough for full access, I don’t know exactly what Riorson’s abilities are, but I leave enough of an opening to hopefully let him know he can trust me.

“Tell them to take the children to Riorson House in Aretia, we’ll meet them there and there’s plenty of room for anyone to seek refuge.”

Of course we have to go back to Aretia.

We can handle that old demon, as long as you are alive to face him.

“I’ll need about an hour to prep and deliver these and get teams to gather the children. They’ll need to get to them before leadership realizes what we’re doing. I assume you will gather the graduated Marked Ones?”

Tavis nods.

“How long do you need?”

Tavis glances over at Riorson, who gives him a nod. “I can do it in the hour you need.”

I raise an eyebrow.

“I can walk and get the message to them in the allotted time.”

Seems I was right about others hiding second signets

Dealaigh doesn’t respond, her anger still simmering along our bond.

I acknowledge the burden of trusting me with that secret, “Second signets seem to not be nearly as rare as they teach us. Meet back in my office in one hour.”

Before the two first year lieutenants walk out my door Riorson pauses “I knew you knew enough to keep us from getting caught, help us and giving us clues that you knew, but you’re part of a resistance? From within the ranks?”

“No,” I fill in a few details on the first two pieces of parchment in front of me, pulling out my seal and making the letter as tamper proof as I can. “I head a resistance from within the ranks.” I hand each of them the sealed missives. “Those will protect you if you get separated and need assistance from someone within the ranks. It has safe houses, codes and instructions.”

Both Marked lieutenants have a look I can’t quite place.

“Would you be willing to join another resistance, merge efforts?”

I shoo them both out the door, “That’s something that can be discussed once we’ve finished committing treason.”

Hopefully avoiding dragonfire in the process

I shove a stack of sealed missives into Captian Nathan Halstromes’ hand, “ma’am?”

“I think we’ll need those soon. I’ll be back within the hour after I deliver the rest of these and organize some teams. Pass those out to those who need them and prepare for the worst.”

My executive officer’s eyes widen, “ma’am?”

“It’s best you don’t know what’s going on until it happens. Plausible deniability.”

Two days later I make sure I am as far away as I can feasibly be when the alarms start sounding.

I react to the alarms as usual, but am pulled aside by Lieutenant Colonel Degrensi, “we had a drop over the walls.”

“Sir?” I question

“Its,” he pauses, shaking his head “it almost looks like a dragon corpse, but not quite. I need you to confirm, and then we need to inform command, and prepare for whatever is following."

Once I confirm that it is, in fact, a wyvern corpse to the outpost commander. And inform the outpost commander that higher command does know about the existence of wyvern's, I run to Dealaigh, wielding us to Calldyr, and sprint through the halls to where I know General Melgren’s office is located.

His infantry guards take a quick look at me and open the door to inform the General I’m there.

I enter the office, snapping to attention in front of both General Melgren and General Sorrengail.

“What happened Major Sorrengail?” General Sorrengail asks as I’m released from attention.

I look at both Generals noting they both are prepared for flight, leathers on and flight goggles ready to be pulled over their eyes. “There have been wyvern corpses dropped on the Samara outpost.”

General Melgren nods “you’re the third border outpost we’ve heard from today.”

“The third?” I hope my tone comes across as astonished or surprised, but I’m not sure how it reads to the two highest-ranking officers of the military standing in front of me. I am surprised that they’ve only received three, I thought we had timed it to be the fourth in with my abilities.

General Sorrengail nods, “I’m on my way to pull leadership from Basgiath, the order has already gone to the midland posts to send aid. When did you get hit?”

I pause, calculating “The alarms went off about an hour ago, after confirmation of what it was we were looking at, I came straight here.”

“Did you speak to anyone who witnessed the drop? Did they see anything that stood out?”

I shake my head, “We didn’t have a chance to confirm if anyone saw the drop or what they saw before Lieutenant Colonel Degrensi sent me here.”

“When you return, tell Degrensi that is his priority. We’ve told each outpost to interview any potential witnesses to the drops. We need to know what was seen so we can figure out who is behind the drops.”

I nod “I’ll make sure we get that information ready for you right away.”

If I was seen at any of those drops, you’re implicated.

We already knew there was a very high likelihood we would be seen. We already planned to desert after this. Let’s just be grateful they haven’t received any witness statements yet.

And you should be grateful that Melgren can’t see the Marked Ones in groups larger than three, or that these drops didn’t meet the requirements for his signet. Otherwise, you wouldn’t make it out this door.

And with that statement from my dragon, I wield back to her, knowing I have hours until someone informs leadership that they saw me.

Returning to Samara I’m met with chaos. It’s a semi-organized chaos, but no one is exactly sure how to react to creatures from folklore, folklore that not everyone is familiar with, being dropped within the outpost walls.

I stop Lieutenant Colonel Degrensi in the hall and let him know that command is sending aid. Based on timings they should arrive within four to six hours. “The only command they gave us in the meantime was to get any witness statements to determine if anyone saw enough to determine who is responsible for the drops.”

I grab Captain Halstrome in the hallway “we have four, maybe six hours, and they are asking for witness statements.”

My executive officer nods, “I can start gathering them from within the Rider Regiment, but you need to be gone before I hand them in.”

I weave my way through the crowds to my office, where I’ve packed up as much as I could of my things, ready to make my way to Basgiath.

“Andy!” I turn, seeing Mira push her way through the crowded hallway

I gesture towards my office, pulling her in and shutting the door behind us.

“Wyverns? Like from the book of fables my dad used to read to us?”

I nod, looking around my office, checking drawers and cataloging everything that could implicate anyone else and making sure it is safely in my pack.

“Violet knew? She tried to tell me something happened—“ Mira stops, watching me “what are you doing?”

I sigh

You should have told her before now.

I don’t need you butting in right now.

“Making sure I have everything.”

“Why?”

I look into Mira’s face, locking my blue eyes with her brown “I believe Violet knew, but she never told me what exactly happened during War Games. I was told what was being hidden from the public when I began to teach at Basgiath so I could watch the Marked Ones and report back to command. Venin, wyvern, the stories are true, or at least partially. That’s what you’ve been seeing when you thought you saw dragons behind enemy lines.”

“And you didn’t tell me?”

“I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone! Mira this is being hidden for a reason. Command didn’t want anyone to know except those who would help hide it. People they were priming to take over.”

Mira shakes her head, so I continue before she can ask any more questions.

“I didn’t agree with the decision to hide the information, to leave those outside the wards vulnerable, so I’ve been building and running a resistance from within the ranks to combat the misinformation. But then I received word that Violet was caught by Varrish after stealing two journals from the First Six and is being tortured.”

Mira gasps, but I don’t let her interrupt “Riorson came to me and asked for my help. We’ve dropped the corpses to draw out leadership to rescue Violet and the Marked Ones and anyone else we need to. But Melgren and your mother are asking what any witnesses saw. I made some of those drops.”

I can see the gears turning in her head “someone saw?”

“Most likely, so I have to make sure everything that can implicate anyone else is secured and once we pull Violet from Basgiath—“

“You can’t come back.”

I nod.

“You could’ve told me; I would’ve helped!”

I turn to her and grip her shoulders, “I know, but I didn’t want to pit you against your mother if I didn’t have to. I felt I couldn’t risk losing you, or Violet. I had hoped we had more time, but we ran out faster than I was expecting. Once you were under my command I had planned to tell you since I could protect you, but this moved faster than I expected.”

“Let me come with you!”

I shake my head, “they can’t think you know anything. I don’t know if I’ll make it without being caught and executed, and anyone with me would be implicated in treason charges. But, if I don’t get caught, and once it’s clear, and I know that where I’m going is safe, I can get word to you for you to join us.”

Mira nods and pulls me into a tight hug “I’m mad at you, I wish you had told me.”

“I’m not sorry for keeping it from you. I just wanted to protect you. Both you and Violet, make sure you were in a place where you were safe. Pulling you in, well, it’s hard to pull people you love into something that can get them killed. It’s okay to be upset at me. I expect it.”

“I love you too.” She kisses my cheek. “Go kick some ass and save Violet. You better send for me, or I will kick your ass.”

I give a small chuckle, tears welling up “you’re welcome to try.”

I pulled a sealed missive out of my jacket and hand it to her. “If I don’t make it, link up with Captain Halstrome, he’ll make sure you’re taken care of and integrated in where you can be.”

Chapter Text

“I won’t presume you will join the Rider’s Quadrant, but, if you are anything like me as you grow I imagine you will. You will need to distance yourself from me and my name but know that you will be taken care of by your dragon. And you will bond, that promise has been made already.” —Recovered Correspondence from First Lieutenant Aurora Promachos to Andromeda Dirgel

Dealaigh drops me off near the flight field, I’m going to the Vale to converse with the dragons. Sgaegyl and Chradh are already here.

I wield directly into Aarya Devera’s office, thankful when I see she is alone. “Has the order come through for leadership to head to the border outposts?”

Aarya looks up, a brief look of shock on her face, “An order came through about twenty minutes ago, along with the information that if we see you, we’re to attempt to detain you by any means necessary, are you alright?”

I nod, handing her a stack of sealed parchment missives, “give those to anyone who needs them.”

“Wait, what did you do?”

I give her a tight smile, “something they won’t be able to hide easily.”

Aarya stands as I move towards her office door, “Violet’s been missing for a few days, Pancheck and Varrish wouldn’t give an answer to any of the professors about where she was but told us not to worry. Her squad is also being held in the RSC classroom.”

I turn back “I knew about Violet, hence the distraction. Tairn got word to Sgaeyl, and Riorson asked for my help. We’ll see what we can do about her squad. It might not be a bad idea to ready an emergency pack, if you feel you may want to leave.”

I sprint through the Rider’s Quadrant, not daring to wield in case I need the energy later, already flirting with burnout from the usage since Riorson asked for assistance.

I head to where I know they are holding Violet, make it through the door, down a flight of stairs and stop sharply at the landing that leads down to the interrogation chambers.

General Sorrengail has a dagger to Tavis’s neck.

I quietly sheath my daggers, raising my hands in deference to the woman in front of me.

She locks eyes with me, her emotions always difficult to read with her mask in place, but there’s something besides anger there now. “These are your lieutenants, under your command. Do you take responsibility for their actions?”

I straighten my spine and lift my chin “I do.”

Tavis looks and starts to respond, but I shake my head at him.

“You take responsibility for the missing weapons. The information being passed through, the suspected resistance effort, all of this?”

I stay silent, hands still raised, trying to get closer to the General and Tavis, calculating how to get him away from her dagger, since my confession did nothing to change the General’s position.

“Your affairs are all in order?”

I nod, “they are.”

“I expect you to be gone when we come looking for you.”

“Ma’am?” I start to pull on a thread of power

“You were recognized; leadership has already determined you’ve committed treason.”

She pauses, taking a shaky breath. “You know the lengths I am willing to go to in order to protect my children.”

“I do.”

“That includes you, Andromeda.”

Truth

My whole body reacts to the emotional shock. This seems like a weirdly intimate moment to have with her holding a weapon to someone’s throat and me having my hands up in surrender, as I’m being told I’m to be charged with treason.

Do not question the avoidance of execution, not now.

“What kind of problem Garrick?” Riorson calls up the stairwell as Dain Aetos makes his way up the stairs.

“A general-sized one.”

I start to position myself between the General and the stairs, when I see worry cross Lilith’s features “Violet.”

I whip my head around and can’t help the small gasp that escapes as I see Xaden carrying Violet and I feel my anger surge and merge with Dealaigh’s down my bond as Violet whimpers “Mom.”

“Who did you kill?” The General directs towards Riorson

“Everyone.”

I hear Tavis let out a breath, and turn back to him and the General, noting that she dropped her blade and Tavis has moved against the wall. Knowing Lilith won’t hurt Violet, I reach behind me towards the stairs, pulling Dain up the last steps, situating myself between the General and Tavis so both men are behind me.

I miss part of the conversation but hear the General demand to speak with Violet alone for three minutes and watch as the three men march up the stairs. I give mother and daughter one last glance. As I turn to follow up the stairs Lilith reaches out and squeezes my hand, pulling me in, stroking a calloused hand across my cheek, before letting me go.

The four of us wait just at the top of the landing for the three minutes Lilith demanded to say goodbye to Violet.

After approximately fifteen seconds of silence Garrick Tavis looks at me curiously “you really are just, going to take all the responsibility for… all of this?”

I raise an eyebrow at him.

“You just-“ Tavis continues “they’ve determined you’ve committed treason, which means execution, and you’re willing to take all of the responsibility for it?”

“I took responsibility for everything you did the moment I let you go in the hallway your first year at Basgiath. There are systems in place so the resistance I built wouldn’t end with my execution. I’ve known execution was a probability years ago, I’m not afraid of it.”

There’s a few more moments of silence before Riorson catches my eye, “If I ask you to take Violet to the heart of another resistance effort, to a Mender, ahead of us, would you? Knowing you would likely be questioned once you arrived and that they don’t know what you’ve been doing? Would you be willing to join another resistance? A revolution even?”

I shrug recognizing the continuation of the conversation from my office. “I’m willing to entertain joining with another resistance, or revolution. But I will protect my people first and foremost.”

Tavis inserts “she was told she had to leave before they came looking for her, she's coming with us, right?”

Xaden nods, moving his eyes back towards the General and Violet “I already told her to send anyone who needed to get out to Riorson House. I trust her, we need help, and working together seems better than being separate? It’d be entertaining at least.”

“Plus, I can think of a few people who would be upset with me if she was executed because she didn't come with us.”

My heart swells when Violet insists that every cadet gets the chance to choose whether to leave Basgiath or not.

“I guess my last act as Wingleader will be to call a formation.” Dain states.

“I’ll make sure you aren’t interrupted.” I squeeze his shoulder, recognizing how difficult this decision is to make, especially for him, as I wield back to Aarya’s office.

We are partially successful with the distractions, orders coming through to capture a traitor by any means necessary is a hell of a distraction.

I end the hour with a few more injuries, but with the lack of leadership, and Emetterio working with Devera and Kaori, meant we at least had the advantage in hand-to-hand. It’s fairly easy for us to give the cadets, the Marked One’s, and the dragon’s enough time to make a decision.

Half the cadets and riot of Dragons at the Vale are following Violet and damn I can’t help but feel proud of her.

The Hatchling shows a promising future as a leader. She gives great credit to you for how you raised her

I’m pulled aside by Lieutenant Tavis as chaos reigns around us as cadets and professors get ready for flight. I am not surprised by a single professor who joins the movement; most had a sealed missive from me in their possession, nor am I surprised by the ones who chose to stay behind, even with the missive hidden on their person. “We’re going to go ahead, get Violet help, warn the Assembly, and to make sure you don’t get caught. I’m going to go with you, warn them before you show up with Violet. I’ll meet you on the hillside outside the city, so it looks like you brought us all there.”

I nod as Violet comes up to me, Tairn following, apparently less than pleased that he will not be the one to carry her to Aretia. “Are you sure Dealaigh doesn’t mind carrying me?”

Dealaigh huffs in response of course I don’t mind, she is your Hatchling and I will always be willing to carry her if she needs it. I always take care of my rider’s hatchlings.

Before I can relay the response Tairn growls something, causing Dealaigh to snap her teeth at the larger black dragon.

I have protected her far longer than she has been bonded to you

I hear my dragon’s response as Violet states “Tairn says that he expects you to deliver me safely and that he will” she pauses and turns to her dragon “I’m not telling her that, she’s my-“

I look at the black morningstartail, meeting his golden eyes, “I have and will always put her life, her wellbeing before mine. She will be safe.”

His eyes narrow at me, so I continue, knowing that my own dragon would be reluctant to let me go ahead of her “I can’t bring you and Andarna with us, I’ve never tried with another dragon, much less two, and I’ve already pulled more power today than I should. Violet needs to be seen, you’ll be hours behind her and I promise I will watch over her.”

I look at her, noting the extent of her bruised and beaten body, knowing what Varrish was capable of. “She won’t be able to sit in her saddle without pain for the eighteen-hour flight to Aretia. Let me get her help.”

He gives me a chuff and then lowers himself down to Violet.

As Violet speaks to her dragon, Riorson approaches me “I need to warn you before you arrive in Aretia. There’s a member of the Assembly Lieutenant Colonel Aisereigh, he’s the Mender and has Mended Violet before, after Resson.”

I nod, logging the information for who I need to find upon landing. Trying not to focus on the fact I’m going back to Aretia.

“He is known as Brennan Aisereigh, but he defected from Navarre after the Battle of Aretia.

That first name perks my attention away from my breathing. It has to be a coincidence

“Aisereigh isn’t his given name. Before he defected he was Brennan Sorrengail.”

My breath catches in my lungs, I feel all the blood drain from my face and my entire body go numb, swaying slightly before Riorson reaches out to steady me. Gripping my shoulders, he gently turns my body to face his before continuing.

“He was gravely injured during the Battle of Aretia, but Naolin was able to save him. He was found afterwards by other dragons. There’s more but he can tell you, if you let him explain.”

How?

There is no answer from my dragon except to block off her end of the bond, meaning she doesn’t want me to feel what her emotions are.

“Your name was on the original death roll, from the Battle of Aretia.”

I nod, still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that Brennan was alive, ignoring the pounding heartbeat and rushing in my ears, needing to hear what Riorson was saying. It was known that there had been several amendments to the death roll from that day, and I had been on the original death roll, but my name had been removed in the first reissuance of the casualty list.

“Brennan doesn’t know you survived and neither does the Assembly.”

I jerk at that comment and loosen the control and pulling on small tendrils of waning power, not caring that I’d already pulled too much power today, and would need to pull more momentarily. “How, how could they not know? You didn’t tell them? You knew I was alive; I was your instructor and your commanding officer.”

“Brennan didn’t want his siblings to know he survived, and I didn’t trust him when I found out he was there. As for the Assembly well–” he shrugged

Truth

“It’s been six years; they never gathered the information on their own? I wasn’t exactly hiding.”

“The Assembly has been focused on their efforts, being very selective about what information, if any, they cared to get from Navarre. And while I have worked with them and agree to an extent with their views, they left me to deal with the aftermath of the Apostasy alone. As for Brennan I thought if he knew you were alive, he wouldn’t do anything different.”

Truth

“You were the one that stood up for the Marked Ones, even before we were marked. You were the one who found out what we already knew and tried to help from the inside, knowing execution was highly likely, hell, you formed your own resistance! You were the one who watched over the children of the Apostasy at Basgiath and opposed our conscription. You just took responsibility for my actions, my plan, and now are branded a traitor to Navarre and are subject to execution. I trust and respect you.”

Truth

Riorson tilted his head towards me, “well, it just never came up to tell the Assembly you were still alive once I knew.”

Truth

“I didn’t want you to be shocked when Garrick brought out your dead husband to meet you. Now, I do wish I could see his face when he realizes it’s you, but I'm sure Garrick will take notes and report back. But the Assembly will have to wait until I’m there to speak to you, and that I’m looking forward to.”

My brain sorts through everything the shadow wielder has dropped on me, unsure how to catalogue the information.

“You know that I stood up for you?” Grasping on that small tidbit to ground my emotions. “No one should know about that,” I would have been surprised if General Sorrengail had even shared that conversation with General Melgren or King Tauri.

“We were there, me and Bohdi, waiting to hear what would happen to us and the other children. We both heard.”

Mostly true

I breathe for a moment, steadying myself, pushing down my emotions as Violet comes back to the two of us, wrapping her arms around me and I automatically heft her up like I did when she was younger. “I’m not hurting you, am I?”

Violet shakes her head, clinging to me. I allow her to ground me, focusing on her weight, and her physical pain instead of my own emotional pain and panic.

I look back to Riorson “Thank you for informing me before we landed.”

Dealaigh lays flat on the ground, and I wield to get myself and Violet situated on her back, so as not to disturbed the injured girl. I feel Dealaigh lock us into place with her own magic, both of us using more power than we should to keep Violet safe and as comfortable as we can.

“We’ll see you in about eighteen hours.”

Chapter Text

“It is my opinion that of all signet powers riders provide, mending is the most precious, but we cannot allow ourselves to become complacent when in the company of such a signet. For menders are rare, and the wounded are not.” -Major Fredrick’s Modern Guide for Healers

Dealaigh lands on the hillside just above Aretia, meeting the brown scorpiontail who appeared milliseconds before us. The arrival should have had a minimal delay so no dragons notice that we arrived separately.

My whole body burns with fever, as I’ve pushed my magic beyond where I should over the course of the last few days, without proper rest, but unlike in the past where Dealaigh would admonish me for getting to the brink of burn out, she stays silent on the matter.

Chradh will fly ahead and inform the rider’s dragons who reside in the house of our arrival. Dealaigh informs me as Tavis takes off down the hill into the valley below.

Seeing Aretia again I feel a desperate panic start to bubble up underneath my skin, in an attempt to redirect my own feelings, I pull Violet closer to me, feeling Dealaigh’s magic tighten around us both. “Are you alright?”

She nods against my chest, burrowing her face deeper into my flight jacket, clinging to me like she’s fourteen again. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

I tighten both of my arms around the younger woman, ignoring as my own injuries twinge, not worrying about staying on top of the morningstartail, knowing my dragon will not allow Violet to be harmed. I feel her wince and I loosen my grip “am I hurting you?”

She shakes her head, “everything hurts.”

I feel her shaky breath, and she continues “I know I should have told you about Brennan, but I–” she cuts off with a teary breath.

I pull away from her, looking down to her face and into her amber-blue eyes.

I can give you a few moments, but we need to follow to the house. She needs to be seen.

Thank you I feel my dragon block off the bond on her end, giving me a bit of privacy in this moment.

Violet looks down, away from my gaze, starting to fiddle with the collar of my flight jacket, “I was scared to tell you.”

I close my eyes, taking a deep breath, “why would you be scared to tell me?”

She doesn’t look up at me, her bruised and battered hand still fidgeting with my flight jacket “What if you left?”

Of course she would be terrified I would leave. Every important person to her had left either through death, grief, or whatever the hell Brennan did. I gently put my hand beneath her chin, pulling her face up to meet mine “Remember what I told you when I received orders to leave Basgiath for Samara?”

She nods, the tears I know she’s held in the last few hours finally falling, but she doesn’t respond.

“I will tell you this as many times as you need to hear it. I promise you, I’ll never really leave you, not for long.” I give her a small smile “you know I can get to you in an instant, no matter where I am.”

I let go of her chin, and she buries her face in my jacket. Alright, let’s face this I push down my parent’s beach.

Blue wings spread and Dealaigh launches down into Aretia.

As we touch down in the courtyard of the house, I see two figures running down the marble steps. I shift my weight as Dealaigh releases her magic’s hold on us, swinging my leg over, pushing off her back and appearing on the ground.

I set Violet down, both of us swaying slightly, pushing the packs into Tavis, who’s already reached us, as I hear a ghostly voice call out “Violet!”

A vice grips my chest at the familiarity of the voice, but I reach back to continue to support Violet, ignoring my body’s reactions to him, to this place, as Dealaigh launches into the sky.

I’ll be close if we need to leave quickly. You need to rest before attempting to wield again

“Riorson, what the fuck did you get her –” The fury stops as the man realizes the blue dragon that just took off wasn’t Sgeayl.

I quickly build my mask, reinforcing my mental shields, refusing to look towards the man who hid here for six years, pushing down the anger, the panic, the hurt, the joy and every other emotion currently bubbling under the surface as I hear him whisper, voice breaking, closer than I anticipated “Andy?”

I glance up, noting he is steps away from the two of us, meeting his amber eyes for the first time since he left me to fight beside Naolin, hearing Violet whimper as she folds back into my side, I heft back into my arms “I’ve got you.”

Brennan’s attention moves from me to his sister, reaching out his hands gingerly, stopping just short of putting his hands on her face. “Oh gods, Violet, what happened to you?”

“I’m alright” she responds, laying her head across my collarbone. I adjust her weight in my arms, trying to avoid jostling her splint arm and displaced hip. “I could probably use some mending.”

Brennan reaches to take Violet from me, but I pull back half a step. “I’ve got her.” Currently she’s the only thing keeping me grounded as the truth I’ve lived with is crashing down around me, threatening to drown me. Even with the warning I received before arriving, seeing him here, alive and whole, is almost more than I can take.

There’s a brief moment of pause before Brennan directs “follow me.” My attention going to Tavis before I move to obey the direction.

“Warn whoever you need to that they have eleven, maybe twelve hours to prepare for the children, and about seventeen hours for the cadets. If they want to interrogate me they’ll have to wait until after Violet is healed and Riorson arrives.”

He hesitates, and then nods, “I’ll bring this up to you and Violet when I’m done.” He shoots a glare towards Brennan and darts back up the marble stairs and into the house.

As we are led through the house, up an empty set of stairs, and to an empty hallway on the second floor, the only thing I can register is the weight of Violet in my arms. Brennan stops short in front of a door, and I barely manage to stop before running into him.

He pushes open the door, and gestures to me to enter. I take a quick stock of the room, realizing this is a bedroom, not a medical facility. I bring Violet to the bed, loosening her grip gently, so I can lay her down on top of it.

“Don’t leave me?” She whimpers.

I brush a bit of her bloodied and dirty hair from her face, “of course not.”

Forty minutes into Violet’s mending I crawl into the bed, situating myself behind her, holding her whole body as she tries not to scream, doing anything I can think of to calm her.

“You’re doing great, love, I’ve got you.” I whisper into her ear, not sure if she can hear me, but continuing to murmur words of encouragement, ignoring the sparks of mending I can feel as the man standing next to Violet works on her, at points needing to move my own body placement to get to where he needs to.

At some point I start humming melodies deep from within my memory, ones my own mother used to sing to me that my father continued singing after her death.

By the hour and a half mark I snap at Brennan that he needs to let her take a break, the anger at command for letting this happen, Major Varrish, who I recommended be removed from any position that he could do this from, and Brennan for being the only person who could help when I don’t want to see him or be in the same room as him at the moment, all mingling together with the pulsing anger spilling over from my dragon, and needing an outlet for release.

Tavis brought our packs into the room at some earlier point, setting them just inside the door, so I grab Violet’s and lead her into the ensuite and begin to draw her up a bath.

Violet is quiet as I help her wash the last five days off her body, but once we move on to her hair she whispers “I didn’t say anything to you, I tried to tell Mira and she just brushed it off as not getting enough sleep, and I don’t know, I should’ve tried to tell you, I should’ve put together you already knew after Resson, but then I didn’t and I didn’t know if I could block out Dain, and it was dangerous to know, I wasn’t supposed to tell –” Tears begin to well up in her eyes as her words tumble out, she had always felt so fiercely and showed her emotions easily.

I shush her, continuing to wash the soap out of her hair, “I’m sorry you felt you couldn’t come to me. While you’re right I already knew, I didn’t know what you had gone through, even if I didn’t know about venin and all of it, I failed you if you felt you couldn’t come to me because you were afraid of my reaction. I will always be here for you. I will always support you when you need me to.”

I kiss the top of her hair as I finish rinsing the soap from her hair. “Are you ready to continue this?”

She nods, and I pull the drain, grabbing a towel to wrap around her, bracing myself to hold her as she screams.

After a total of six hours, with two additional breaks for rest for all three of us in the room, Brennan finishes with mending what Varrish put her through and the subpar mending Nolon had done in between Violet’s torture sessions.

Tavis enters the room with a few people to change out the bed sheets, as I hold Violet in my arms, after falling asleep, when Brennan finally tries to speak directly to me.

“She’ll need to–”

I don’t let him finish, snapping, “I’ve been with her plenty of times after mending, I don’t need your instructions.”

“Andy, let me mend you too” he takes a step towards me, and I feel anger flare white hot.

I throw him a cold glare, and he freezes mid-step “I don’t want, or need, you to mend me.”

The two individuals changing the bed sheets finish, pulling back the covers so I can easily place Violet in the bed and exchange a look before hurrying out of the room.

Tavis stays just inside the door as I place Violet in the bed covering her with the quilt.

I can sense that Brennan hasn’t moved, I don’t move to face him, not sure I can keep any sort of composure if I look at him. “You can leave now.” I take a deep breath. “If she needs your assistance again, I’m sure we’ll be able to get you.”

Tavis clears his throat after Brennan walks out of the room, “I’ll be just outside if you need anything.”

I look up and lock eyes with the young lieutenant. “You’re planning on staying out there?”

He nods, “I’ve been just outside the door, in case you needed me.”

I shake my head, “come in and lock the door. It will be more comfortable for you here, we can take turns resting.”

He awkwardly enters the room, shutting the door and locking it behind him before pulling a chair in front of the door and sitting stiffly.

“Try to relax a little.” I take a deep breath, “I’ll be right back.”

I head into the ensuite, feeling the click of the lock. I press my back to the door, hands going to my eyes as my legs give out beneath me, and I finally let myself break down.

Brennan was alive, had been alive and safe in Aretia this whole time. Alive and safe while I mourned him, while I fought to inform Navarre what the real, hidden, threats were from inside the ranks, risking execution by dragon fire. While I raised his youngest sister because his parents were too deep in grief to notice anything else, and his middle sister had to deal with her grief alone in the quadrant.

He was fine.

Eleven hours later there is a sharp knock on the door. Tavis jumps up from his chair to answer, cracking it open to see who it is before letting them inside.

I look up from my place next to the bed, seeing Xaden Riorson walk in, with Brennan trailing into the room behind him.

I rise from my seat, folding my arms across my chest "Lieutenant Riorson, glad to see you made it.”

The young man, almost on instinct, snaps to attention, “No need for that Riorson, I’m in your home, after we both committed treason–”

“Yea, yet you are the only one who is wanted for execution.” Tavis mutters under his breath. I shoot the man I just spent hours staring at, both of us refusing any rest while sitting over Violet, a glare. All while attempting to ignore the man who is currently rubbing his fingers across the bridge of his nose.

“The point, no need to stand on ceremony Riorson.”

He relaxes, and looks down at Violet, “The Assembly would like to speak with you in one hour, and Brennan would like to check on Violet, make sure she’s recovering appropriately.”

“Oh, does Lieutenant Colonel Aisereigh doubt his skills as a mender?”

“Andy, let me check on her, please.”

I pin him with a glare, but otherwise do not respond.

“Mom?” I hear Violet’s confused voice, hoarse from sleep, screaming and torture waft up to me, I don’t move or respond, continuing to glare at the man across the room “Andy?” she says after a few seconds.

I look down at her and give her a small smile “you should still be sleeping.”

“You don’t have to protect me from Brennan; he’s not going to hurt me.”

I raise my eyebrows at that but sit down in the chair I’d occupied gesturing to the bed.

Chapter Text

“Part of me can’t believe we made it here to this moment; I’ve been in love with you since the first day we met.” – Wedding Vows from Brennan Sorrengail to Andromeda Dirgel

Forty-five minutes later, after finally feeling I could leave Violet long enough to clean the last few days off of me and change into a clean uniform, I am being escorted through the halls, filled with cadets, flanked by Lieutenants Tavis and Riorson. Having left Violet in the hands of Cadets Durran and Matthais in the interim, Tavis refusing to be left behind.

Riorson pulls open a door on the main floor, gesturing us inside. Tavis enters first, I follow, Riorson bringing up the rear, pulling the door closed behind him.

While there are seven chairs set up at the long table in front of us only six individuals are seated.

I glance at each of the individuals in front of me, trying to gauge who is in charge of this Assembly, my heart dropping as I notice that Brennan is seated among them.

Of course he would be on the Assembly in Aretia

I could burn him if that would make this better? Even if it doesn’t, I am more than happy to do so

We can’t just burn him. Violet would be upset, and Mira would want to help you do it.

Dealaigh huffs And you would be upset if I did it, even though you won’t admit that. If you change your mind, let me know. In the meantime, I’m going to have a conversation with Marbh.

As soon as the door clicks shut behind us, the women mid center seems to explode towards Riorson “You made a decision that could expose us all, without informing this counsel!”

Riorson moves to take a step forward, but I hold out my arm to stop him. I take two steps forward, sizing up the individuals in front of me. “I’m sorry, I think we’ve forgotten our manners, I believe introductions are in order? I’ll start, I’m Major Andromeda Sorrengail, leader of the resistance inside the Navarrian military. And you are?”

There are a few beats of silence before I am told the name of each person, paying attention to which individual seems to hold the most sway over the others.

I pick out the colonel, Felix Gerault, as that person and turn to address him. “Now that we’ve been properly introduced, before we start this conversation, I would think that since you are all sitting, we should also be offered chairs? If I had wanted to stand trial, I would’ve stayed behind. We’ve been all over the continent, fought wyverns, and a general over the last 48 or so hours and I don’t believe any of us have slept.”

After a few moments, with no verbal response, Brennan stands and grabs three chairs, setting them a few feet in front of the table.

I gesture towards the chairs with my head to the two lieutenants, who take the two outside chairs, waiting for me to sit before sitting themselves.

I fold my arms across my chest, crossing my legs in front of me, posturing myself as someone who is not intimidated by the group in front of us.

Before I can speak, the first comment is lobbed in my direction from the table, from Gerault “You were on the death roll for the Battle of Aretia.”

“I was on one issuance of the death roll, there were several updates and redactions to the death tolls from that day.” Unconsciously my eyes flick to Brennan “They are still not wholly accurate, as you are acutely aware.”

“How did you survive?” Gerault continues

I raise my brows at the obvious, “I didn’t die,” before another comment or question can be thrown my direction I continue “now it sounds like you” I pin my eyes on Suri “are attempting to blame one of my lieutenants for simply offering his home to assist me, as I didn’t have enough time to set up safe houses for 101 cadets, over 200 hundred dragons, the children of the Apostasy and their escorts, or anyone else who may require assistance leaving Navarre and may have been exposed. If Riorson does not have the ability to offer his own home for that, I can find other safe houses that should be able to make the accommodations.”

“You were able to organize the removal of all the children of the Apostasy?” Kylynn asks.

I nod knowing that they had started arriving hours ago, “We gathered them before the drops, and I ensured that their escorts would be staggered to not cause suspicion or reveal our location, we will likely need to find families to watch them, but they won’t be retaliated against for our actions over the last few days.”

Riorson sits a bit straighter in his seat as the next question is fired at me by Felix Gerault “How were you able to do that?”

“Did you honestly believe that your effort at a revolution is the only resistance to the purposeful misinformation within Navarre? That no one else learned the information and decided to band together to form their own resistance?”

“We didn’t realize,” Gerault trails off.

“Well, we were aware of some sort of resistance based out of Aretia, not the extent, or who was involved, but our intelligence was able to deduce something” I pause “small was raised from the remains of the rebellion.”

I see shock flicker across the faces of The Assembly, “How extensive of a resistance have you been able to form?” Ulices asks.

“It’s,” I pause, calculating how much to share, “enough to continue to pursue our goals, even with myself essentially in exile.”

“How were you able to recruit from under command’s nose?” Ulices continues.

I uncross my legs, leaning forward “I had not only the trust of leadership, I was being trained, mentored, and groomed specifically to take over the Navarrian military. I used that, my name, the grudge everyone thought I should have, and my positions first as a professor and then as an outpost regiment commander. With all of that, I was able to easily recruit for our resistance efforts from within the ranks with no cause for suspicion.”

“Fuck Andy.” I hear Brennan whisper under his breath, my stomach dropping as I hear him say my name, and then he says louder “Are you willing to merge your efforts with ours?”

I lean back and look over at Riorson, “I think we’ve already been assisting with your efforts over the last few years but, I am willing to discuss an agreement for a more formal alliance.”

Trissa throws out “You’ve been assisting?”

“Who do you think made sure that the first-year cadets didn’t get caught smuggling the only known weapons that can combat venin out of Basgiath?”

“Well, we did get caught,” every head at the table in front of us whips to Riorson. “Major Sorrengail caught us a few times. Told us when, and how, to sneak around at Basgiath, and then gave us this after we were assigned to be under her command.” He pulls out the first sealed missive I handed him in Samara “to use if we got caught.”

“She watched over the children of the Apostasy not only while she was at Basgiath, but before we were even Marked.” Tavis interjects.

The room is silent for several minutes, and then Tavis adds, folding his arms across his chest and leaning back in his chair, “she also broke Colonel Aetos’s nose.”

I roll my eyes, “I don’t even know how you know that, and that doesn’t seem relevant.”

Tavis shrugs “I think it’s relevant.”

We come to an agreement that my resistance will work with the Aretia Revolution, with the concession that I would keep leadership of the individuals who fell under my resistance, and anyone who required or wanted to leave Navarre would be welcome in Aretia or at Riorson House. Rider’s defecting would assist in any patrols or missions the Assembly required all under the advisement of the Assembly.

I would also head and establish an academy based out of Aretia, again with the advisement of the Assembly, for the cadets who followed Violet and Dain, with the Basgiath Professors, members of the Assembly, and any riders who may arrive who were capable, taking part in the curriculum and instruction.

I’ve also agreed to attend any Assembly meetings as the representative for my resistance movement, along with another representative to be chosen at a different time.

The biggest concession was that I was not to be put on rotations for patrols or any front-line fighting. We were still in Navarre, and the members of the Assembly were worried my presence would cause significant issues if Navarre was looking for me as a scapegoat.

As we finish the meeting, planning for the first formation for the cadets in the morning, Brennan following myself and the two lieutenants out into the hall. Riorson glances towards Tavis “I’m going to check on Violet, escort Major Sorrengail to her room?” He looks briefly behind me before rushing off.

“Andy, can I talk to you?”

My lungs feel like they can’t hold air, but I turn and face the person whose death was the catalyst for everything I’ve done over the last six years.

Tavis moves next to me, folding his arms across his chest.

“Alone?” Brennan asks

I channel my best General Sorrengail impression, looking down my nose at the lieutenant colonel. “No.”

“Andy, please?”

“She said no,” Tavis growls, stepping in between me and Brennan. Brennan throws a look I can’t quite place towards me, before retreating back into the Assembly chambers.

My shoulders sag as I watch him retreat, I barely notice when Tavis grips them and guides me towards the stairs. “Xaden has you in the family wing, next to him and Violet.”

That night I’m unable to fall asleep, every time I try to close my eyes all I can hear the metallic sounds of weapons and swear I can even smell dragonfire.

I finally get out of bed, throwing my flight jacket over my nightgown and make my way through Riorson house, hoping to find the kitchen and some coffee.

I find the kitchen without too much difficulty, and after rummaging through the cabinets I find a mug, some coffee, a coffee maker, and work on making myself a cup, hoping to calm down enough to get some work done before the rest of the house starts to wake.

I don’t hear the door opening behind me, too rattled from being back in Aretia, and the events of the last several days, to be aware of my surroundings. A soft voice rings through the kitchen.

“You’re the one married to the lieutenant colonel?”

I jolt up in surprise, turning to face an older, kind looking woman, and give her a confused stare. My understanding had been that no one outside the Assembly and a few of the Marked One’s knew Brennan’s true identity and shake my head. “My husband is dead.”

She gives me a sad smile before stating, “people forget that the help sees and hears everything that goes on around here. I’m Sarah, these are my kitchens.”

“Andy” I reply back, not sure if I’m about to be kicked out of the kitchen, or reprimanded for being out of bed and wandering when the Assembly still isn't convinced I should be here.

She gives me an appraising look taking in my flight jacket thrown over my nightgown and my bare feet. “You watched over the children. Anything you need, you let me know.” She pats my shoulder, “from what I’ve heard about you, you are always welcome in my kitchen.”

She looks to the coffee I’m brewing and then glances at the clock on the wall, “if you’re having trouble sleeping, I have something that may be useful another night.”

She reaches into a cupboard and pulls out a bag of mixed leaves. “Try this tonight,” she then pulls out a pastry “and Emily made these last night for the cadets, but I’m sure no one will notice one missing.”

I nod, taking a plate while waiting for the coffee to brew, nibbling on the pastry.

“And if that lieutenant colonel causes you any issues, you let me know.”

I like her Dealaigh yawns down the bond

Go back to sleep

You first

The sun is rising as I make my way back to the room I’ve been assigned, a fresh mug of coffee in hand. Riorson exiting the room next to mine as I reach the top of the stairs.

He gives me a look, “couldn’t sleep?”

I shrug in response.

“Since you’ll still need to do work, and plan lessons, I can get you set up in an office on the first floor. I can show it to you as soon as you get changed if you would like? That way you’ll have somewhere to prepare before formation.”

I nod, “give me five minutes and I’ll be right out.

As I stand looking at the cadets in the first formation since arriving in Aretia, I make note of the third years I taught, quickly calculating the percentage who chose to defect. Glancing towards the Fourth Wing with Dain, and finally Violet’s squad.

And that’s when my vision snags on a familiar blonde head.

As the formation is released, I make my way to Fourth Wing. I watch until Second Squad, Flame Section leaves, placing a hand in front of the familiar first year cadet stopping him.

“You’re coming with me to my office.”

His green eyes meet mine, “ma’am?” He stops, standing next to me, silent for a beat before “the Codex states any discipline—“

“Wingleader Aetos,” I call over the crowd of cadets “you will need to come with me to my office with one of your first years.” I look over at the familiar man standing next to me. “Anything else cadet?”

Cadet Matthias situates herself in front of me “Major Sorrengail, if you need to see Cadet Graycastle I think as his squad leader I should be present. Especially if there is a need for Wingleader Aetos to be present as well.”

I raise an eyebrow “Cadet Graycastle?” With his nod I continue “are you amenable to your squad leader attending this meeting as well?”

He sighs, “yes ma’am.”

I lead the three cadets to the office Riorson had given me that morning, shutting the door behind us.

I stand behind my desk, letting them stay at attention, taking a moment before speaking.

“Does your father know where you are?” I direct at the first year.

“No ma’am.”

“Did he know you were in the Rider’s Quadrant? Do I need to be prepared for him to believe that Tyrrendor, or a rebellion based out of Aretia, kidnapped the second in line for the throne?”

Cam Tauri shakes his head. “No ma’am. He didn’t want me to join the Rider’s Quadrant. I entered without his knowledge as Aaric Greycastle.”

I give the man in front of me an apprehensive look, “who knows your true identity?”

He lists off several members of his squad, one of the cadets from the Scribe Quadrant and Xaden Riorson. I note that each name is an individual who defected to Aretia and take a deep breath.

“If that list changes let me know. I don’t want the Assembly to realize who they have here, and I don’t want it to get back to your father.”

“Yes ma’am”

“You’re dismissed.”

There’s no air in the darkness, no sound. Nothing but a heavy weight around me.

I can’t feel my body, I’m not sure I have a body in this place.

Dealaigh? I try to reach down the bond, even though I felt it snap.

“Mother of gods, I do not accept your death.”

Not that voice, not again.

I gasp pulling myself out of the nightmare. Pulling for the bond with my dragon to confirm it’s still there.

The bond is still intact Warrior, you are still here

The darkness of the room doesn’t help in pulling me out of the memory, so I light the mage lights, and try to get my breathing under control. With nothing familiar in the room I’m still struggling to control an impending anxiety attack.

While the nightmares had been a staple since the Battle of Aretia, they had lessened over the years. No longer being a nightly occurrence. Since my arrival back in Aretia however, if I was able to fall asleep, the nightmare was a guarantee.

I throw my flight jacket on, and make my way down to the kitchens, trying to be grateful I’m finally getting some sleep, even if it is interrupted, and I find the kitchen occupied.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” I state as I turn to leave

“You must be Andy?” The young woman asks, “Sarah told me you may come down, I’m Emily I do most of the baking here.”

She looks to be about Mira’s age, her dark hair pulled in a tight bun, and is set up on the island in the middle of the kitchen with ingredients splayed out.

“Sarah mentioned you made the pastries? I had one last night, it was very good.”

She gives me a small smile, and is quiet as I make some tea, letting me sit at the island while she prepares breakfast for the over a hundred extra people who arrived over the last few days.

We don’t converse while I finish my tea, but I give her a smile and thank her for her company as I leave.

I am preparing to meet with Aayra Devera in an hour to go over the schedule and instructors for continuing the education of the cadets who arrived, when I hear a knock on the door to the office Riorson had given me.

I look up and see Lieutenant Tavis standing in the doorway.

“Ma’am? Could I ask you something?”

“Of course, lieutenant, come in.”

He comes in, closing the door behind him, and sitting down in one of the chairs in front of my desk.

Waiting a beat before speaking he asks, “since you know about my second signet, I was wondering if you would be willing to help me with it? I’ve never really trained it, because I didn’t want anyone to know—” Tavis takes a breath, trailing off.

I give him a smile and a nod, “yes, I can help you with training your distance wielding. Once we get schedules down for classes and your patrol schedule, we can work together to find times that work to meet.”

I’m rewarded with a boyish grin.

Chapter Text

“My dear daughter, remember that at times the right thing to do may be at odds with what you are ordered. Always follow what you believe, and know, is right.” -Recovered Correspondence from First Lieutenant Aurora Promachos to Andromeda Dirgel

Aarya Devera meets me in my office, assisting me in planning the curriculum for the cadets.

Members of the Assembly have volunteered their services on different subjects, and while space will be crammed on the first floor, the office I had been given being the only one not utilized for classes, we have space for every cadet, including an auditorium that can seat every single cadet, with some room to spare, for daily Battle Briefs.

“Colonel Gerault has offered to teach history, which will take place in the larger office down the hall,” I try to refrain from referencing the fact that particular office used to be Fen Riorson’s office, but Aarya knows.

“And Major Ulices has offered to teach Physics; Kylynn will take over flight maneuvers once the Assembly has cleared the air space around Aretia.” Aarya reads off, looking at the paper in front of her.

“Lieutenant Colonel Aisereigh will be assisting you Battle Brief. He’s talented as a tactician and will be useful in assisting the cadets with critical thinking when faced with unusual tactics.

“If you think that’s best.”

“Emmetiro will continue with combat training and assist the cadets to adjust to the altitude. For signet practice we can split up the cadets into similar types or classes of signets and pair them up with riders who can assist?”

She nods, making a note, “You should teach grounding and mental shielding, you’ve always been good at not only doing it, but you’ve helped me strengthen mine, and I’ve seen you teach a few riders how to strengthen their baselines.”

I nod, and we continue to plan a base curriculum to start the cadets off with, staying within the limitations we currently had for space and instructors.

You need to rest

I sigh, sitting on the turret of Riorson House, looking out over the skyline of Aretia. I know

I had always been able to get by on less rest, but the last week had pushed me beyond my limit. No matter how physically tired I was, my mind just wouldn’t let me sleep.

I pull my knees to my chest content to watch the sun set, grateful for a few moments where I don’t need to be strong for the cadets or fight against the Assembly and can just exist.

I’m pulled out of my contemplation by the scraping of the door behind me, instinctually a dagger is in each hand as I stand whirling around to face whoever approaches, flipping the dagger in my right hand to grip it by the tip, readying it to throw.

Of course

My eyes meet the familiar amber eyes of Brennan Aisereigh and immediately narrow.

His eyes widen as he takes in my stance, putting his hands out in front of him. “I didn’t mean to startle you, I didn’t know you were up here.”

I don’t answer, reaching for the dimmed sapphire tendrils of power.

You cannot wield. You haven’t recovered enough, and I will not allow you to burnout over the betrayal you feel from the Mender

I can’t stay here

You cannot wield

I know she’s right, there isn’t enough power left to pull from, but I don’t relax my stance as Brennan stands between me and the door.

“Are you,” Brennan gives me a once over, “doing okay?”

“I’m fine.”

He moves to take a step towards me “you don’t look—“, and I fling the dagger towards him, clipping his ear.

His hand immediately moves to cover his, now injured, ear.

I move the second dagger to my dominant hand, flipping it, readying it to throw.

“Okay,” he puts his hands out, “you’re fine.”

He stands there for a moment, taking me in, seemingly waiting for something.

“You can’t wield, can you?”

I reach once again down my parent’s beach, desperate to pull power.

You will not! Dealaigh cuts me off, blocking me from her power through the bond, and I watch as the tendrils of power dissipate from my parent’s beach.

Panic starts to curl up my body at being blocked from my bond. Dealaigh opens the bond again, just enough for me to tug on and reassure myself we are still connected.

“Andy—“

“No, you don’t get to,” I pause, taking a shaky breath, attempting to push down my emotions, “you lost any right to ask about me, my wellbeing, anything, when you decided you’d rather stay here, like a fucking coward, instead of coming home.”

He moves out of my way, as I push past him towards the door, trying to ignore the hurt that flitters across his features.

I’m just as much a coward as I accuse him of being

It’s alright to not feel able to face him. The betrayal you feel, the anger, that does not make you a coward. Knowing when to quit running, and continuing to do so, that’s when we reevaluate

Emily is there again tonight as I head into the kitchen. I am grateful I at least got a somewhat adequate amount of sleep before being awoken by my nightmares.

She’s not quiet tonight, as if sensing that I don’t want to speak but need a distraction, she rambles at me. Helping to pull me out of the panic that always comes with my nightmares.

I decide on coffee this morning, instead of tea, since it’s late enough to start my day once I’m finished, and ask her “how long have you worked at Riorson house?”

The question earns me a brilliant smile, “I started about eight months ago. Sarah needed the extra help, my parents decided they didn’t want to rebuild their bakery and semi-retire instead so when Sarah asked them if they had any suggestions for the position, they pointed her to me.”

I take another sip of my coffee before responding, trying to decide how to ask the next question I had. “I haven’t really looked around Aretia since I arrived, has a lot been rebuilt?”

Emily gives me another smile, smaller but just as bright as the previous one. “It’s been slow, it took quite some time for people to come back after the Apostasy, if they came back at all. But over the last two and a half years it’s picked quite a bit. We have markets, an apothecary, of course the farms, a pub, when you are able you should look around. I try to go to the weekly markets; you are more than welcome to join me. I would love the company. And then I can show you around, introduce you to some people.” She pauses for a few beats and then continues cautiously “I think it might do you some good to get out of this house.”

I give her a small smile, “I think I would like that.” I finish up my coffee, but instead of getting up I stay, “I wasn’t able to bring a lot with me, just necessities, if there’s a place I could get a few clothing pieces, so I don’t only have my uniforms I would like to see what’s available.”

Emily gives me another bright smile, “I know exactly where to go!"

After spending most of the day with Aarya preparing the intelligence we currently had access to for the first battle brief set to take place in Aretia, I finally make my way up to my room, not bothering to stop by either the kitchens, or the main hall for dinner.

There’s a light knock on my door just after midnight.

I crack open the door to Violet standing in the hallway, “Xaden’s gone, and I can’t sleep alone. Can I stay with you?”

“You know you can,” I open the door wide enough for her to slip in. “Make yourself comfortable, I’ll be right behind you.”

She snuggles under the covers as I turn off the mage lights and crawl into bed next to her. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Violet wasn’t like me in this regard. She always needed to talk through her nightmares and thoughts. Needing to analyze everything in her brain. She didn’t always need responses, speaking through the logic seemed to be what grounded her in reality.

She rolls over to face me, “being alone is hard. I keep seeing—“ she pauses, trying to control her breathing “I keep thinking I’m still at Basgiath and if no one is there when I wake up I can’t always pull myself out and remember I’m not.”

I pull her into my chest, rubbing her back in soothing circles, “you can always stay with me. You remember I told you that right?”

I feel her nod against my chest. “I know, but you aren’t sleeping well either, and I know it’s been, it’s harder for you being here than everyone else. I didn’t want to intrude if it made things harder.”

“You are never an intrusion; you can always plan to stay here with me. Riorson put me next door for a reason.”

Violet nods against my chest “love you” she yawns.

“Love you too. Go to sleep, I’ll be here if you have another nightmare.”

When I wake in a panic a few hours later, feeling the oppressive darkness from my memories and can’t seem to pull myself out of it, I don’t leave my room to find comfort in the kitchens. Instead reaching out to make sure Violet is still asleep next to me, letting the rise and fall of her chest ground me, staring at the ceiling until it’s time to dress and get ready for the day.

I walk with Violet after their formation, to meet her squad for breakfast, “could you just grab me a mug of coffee?” I ask her, I hadn’t gone into the main dining hall since I had arrived, and I’m not sure I want to start today.

Violet gives me a look before nodding, “do you want it now? Or we can stop by your office on our way to Battle Brief?”

“That’s fine,” I give her a quick kiss on the cheek “I’ll see you soon.”

Sarah intercepts me as I make my way to my office pulling me away from the crowd of cadets, handing me a mug of coffee and a plate of food, “I’ve informed the Assembly that now that we have to prepare meals for the cadets we can’t have anyone come into the kitchen during prep time. No one will bother you in the kitchens.”

She looks me up and down before nodding at the plate in my hand, “you make sure you eat that.” Sarah pulls me into a soft hug, “you’ve taken care of everyone else. You let me take care of you.” As I sink into her warmth I wonder if this is what it’s like to have a mother hug and care for you

Your mother would have done the same, if she had been able

A riot approaches

I rise from my desk, grabbing my flight jacket from the hook next to the door as I make my way into the hall and towards the courtyard.

Do you recognize any of the dragons?

Teine and Aodh lead the riot, they are heading to the courtyard as the others go to the newly established flight field. Sgaeyl is in the rear, too far to reach to converse, but I suspect her rider fetched a few allies.

I smile as I run through the hall, seemingly entering the space quicker than almost all the riders responding to their own dragon’s warnings, and down the marble steps to the courtyard lawn.

Violet is standing at the bottom of the front steps, Tairn with his jaw around the neck of Teine, “For fuck’s sake, Violet!” I hear Mira’s voice carry from her seat.

I reach Violet just as she states, “dismount peacefully and Teine lives!”

I place my hand on the small of her back, as Mira dismounts, along with another rider behind her. “It’s fine Violet, I told them to come. We were expecting this, Xaden’s behind her with Sgaeyl.”

Violet nods but doesn’t take her eyes off of her sister as Mira makes her way across the courtyard.

I hear the crunching of gravel behind me with the arrival of the other riders and guards, and lock eyes with the rider behind Mira, giving him a grin, “Captain Halstrome.”

“Major Sorrengail,” he holds up a bag.

I step away from Violet, as I pass Mira I grab her arm quickly, giving it a squeeze, projecting so the courtyard can hear me “glad to see you made it.”

I continue moving to meet my executive officer “any issues leaving?”

He shakes his head, “Generals Melgren and Sorrengail just let us go. Told each outpost the truth and said we had an hour to decide whether we were staying or not.”

“They just, let people leave?”

Nathan shrugs, searching my face, and then looking over me with a critical eye. “Ma’am you look like shit.”

I ignore his comment “how many came?”

“We had a brief discussion, at Samara, and then when Riorson gathered the separate riots. We have a total of eighty-three riders from all outposts on their way, thirty-eight of whom are additions. The rest of the riders decided to stay behind and continue from within the ranks.”

I nod, “good, so we should still have access to intelligence from inside Navarre. Was there any indication they knew where you were headed.”

He shakes his head, “no, and no one followed us. I made sure to continuously check as we flew here. There is a possibility they figured out what we did years ago, and with Riorson being involved, Aretia is a logical place for them to look. But, they don’t have the troops to cover up the mess you made and come after us while keeping everything contained. Also, you are their focus. Not the cadets, or the riders who left.”

I nod, "don't share that last tidbit of information with anyone else here. Especially not the Assembly."

Nathan gives me another look, placing his empty hand on my shoulder to look directly into my face, “Andy, are you okay? You look like you haven’t slept in days.”

I nod, “I’m fine. Just a lot going on over the last few days.”

He narrows his eyes at me waiting a few beats before shoving the bag he’s carrying into my arms, “I grabbed the rest of your things, since you couldn’t fully clear out your room or office.”

I look down, thinking of all the sentimental things that I had chosen to leave behind, things that didn’t implicate anyone else in the work I was doing, but were important to me. I shake my head as tears start to press against my eyes and drop the bag as I throw my arms around the younger man and pull him into a tight hug. “Thank you” is all I can manage to get out.

He catches me, pulling me in tightly, rubbing my back for a moment, and I melt into the hug before he tenses and releases me. “Ma’am, little Sorrengail,” he shakes his head, realizing the nickname for Mira at Samara wouldn’t work here “Mira, just punched someone. He is also actively glaring in our direction.”

I turn and roll my eyes, seeing the eldest Sorrengail sibling holding his nose, blood spilling down his chin, glaring darkly in our direction. I didn’t hear what Mira said, but this is exactly the reaction I expected from her. “That’s Brennan.”

Nathan swings his head towards me, giving me a questioning look. After a beat he asks “wait, Brennan? Like, your Brennan?”

I nod, watching Violet drag Brennan back towards the house, Mira glancing towards me before following. “Come on, I should probably be present for whatever happens next.”

I grab my executive officer’s arm, and we follow the three Sorengail siblings into the fortress.

✦ ✦ ✦

Chapter Text

“Major Andromeda Sorrengail has deserted her post within the Navarrian military and has been branded a traitor.” -Correspondance from General Augustine Melgren to His Majesty King Tauri the Wise

I drop Captain Halstrome off in my office, instructing him to wait for me, leaving the bag of my things next to the door, before heading to the office that has been repurposed for history classes that the siblings had decided to occupy.

I see a crowd of cadets and commissioned riders crowding the hallway, listening to the fight happening within the office.

Using lesser magic I project “clear the hallway, go back to Battle Brief or your duty stations.” Every single individual, outside of the guards who were supposed to be in the hallway, scattered.

I lean against the door frame as Mira shouts “Family? Family doesn’t let each other think they’re dead for six years.” Mira locks eyes with me, Violet standing in between her and Brennan, “the only family in this room is Violet, Andy and me.”

Ulices makes his way to the door, I move slightly to allow him through, “Lieutenant Colonel?”

“Lieutenant Colonel?” Mira exclaims, folding her arms across her chest, “at least playing dead for six years earns you rank.”

“I’m fine. Everyone can relax. I’ve had worse injuries sparring.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time I broke his nose.” Mira smiles at Ulices

“Mira,” I give her a look, “knock it off.”

She stiffens briefly, “yes ma’am.”

Another guard squeezes past me into the room, handing Violet something wrapped in cloth.

“Deploy every rider currently not scheduled to scout the Tyrrish outposts as quietly as possible,” Brennan orders. “We need to know if other riders are deserting, or if they’re surging here in preparation to strike.”

“Captain Halstrome confirmed that a majority of the riders heading this way are mine, there should be no need to send additional riders.” Brennan and Ulices both turn to face me. Violet taking advantage of the momentary lull in fighting to wave the ice in the cloth in Brennan’s face. “Feel free to send a recon team, to calm any lingering anxieties, but no need to send every available rider.”

“Who is Captain Halstrome?” Brennan growls, shooting a slight glare in my direction.

Mira answers, with the same sickly-sweet smile she had given Ulices moments before. “Nathan is Andy’s executive officer. Andy put him in charge before she got caught committing treason.”

“Riorson told me to let those who needed to desert to come to Riorson House. There are a total of eighty-three riders, with thirty-eight of those being riders who decided to leave when the option was given to the outposts. I had previously instructed Nathan and the others to not fly a direct route, and to stagger arrivals. Captain Halstrome confirmed that his group was not followed, and there is no indication that anyone knows where they were headed.”

Ulices and Brennan both give me an incredulous look, I nod to Mira “If you need to check, the riders who were a part of my effort will each have something that shows I vouch for them.”

Mira pulls the sealed missive I had given her before I left out of her flight jacket pocket and throws it towards her brother.

“I’ll will also vouch for the additional thirty-eight. Once they’re settled, I’ll work with the Assembly to integrate, as we agreed.”

Ulices gives me a curt nod and then looks between Brennan and Mira “You’re sure–”

“I can handle my own sister.” Brennan responds

I move out of the way so Ulices can exit the room as Mira states “Don’t be so sure about that.”

I stay in the doorframe, positioning myself so I can watch the interactions between the three siblings in front of me and monitor the hall behind me.

“I can’t believe you hit me, do you know how hard it is to mend myself? You? No problem. Doing it for myself? A giant pain in the ass.”

“Oh, do cry for me, big brother,” Mira mocks “you know, the way we cried for you.”

I glance at Violet, who has retreated into herself as her two older siblings continue to hurl angry words at each other.

I tilt my head and raise an eyebrow towards her. She just shakes her head towards me as Mira shouts “Understand? Understand that you let us burn your things?”

Violet finally interjects “I’ve already had this fight with him.”

Mira ignores the interruption “let us watch our mother become a shadow of herself? Let us watch our father’s heart give out because your death broke him? While your widow held our family together?”

I stiffen as Brennan’s eyes lock with mine at those words.

Violet mutters “Maybe I didn’t go quite that far.”

“Our father would understand what I’ve been doing, and as for our mother, I hope my death haunts her every damned day. She was so willing to sacrifice my life for a lie.”

I feel someone approach behind me, I glance over my shoulder and see Riorson. I move over slightly, but instead of going into the office he stays next to me in the door frame.

“You weren’t killed!”

“Neither were you! You hid up here like a coward instead of coming home when we needed you!” Mira gestures around the room “You chose complete strangers over your sisters, over your wife.”

Brennan flinches at that, “I chose the good of the Continent!”

Violet finally explodes “Oh for fuck’s sake! Stop it!” She pushes the iced cloth towards her brother “Mira, he was a brand-new lieutenant, and what’s done is done. Brennan, put the fucking ice on your face before you stain the floors, you stubborn ass.”

I smirk as Brennan stares at Violet like he’s never seen her before.

Mira throws her hands up, “Andy was also a brand-new lieutenant, and she came back when she had no obligation to stay with us.”

“And to think, I used to wish I had siblings.” Riorson finally speaks.

Violet makes her way towards him, and I step into the office, trying to get out of their way as they have their moment.

Mira looks at me, “You forgive him Andy?”

“She threw a dagger at my head.”

Mira grinned at me, a true smile not the fake sweet one she had used earlier.

“I think this is also the longest she’s willingly been in the same room as me.” Brennan mutters under his breath, then noticing Riorson and Violet kissing “Seriously? Right in front of me?”

“Oh, this is tame for them, wait until they decide to basically climb each other in a public place.”

“Or you catch them coming out of the gym shower soaking wet and haphazardly dressed.” I add to Mira’s comment; she looks at me and snorts.

“You can’t burn that shit out of your head.”

Mira sidles up to me as Riorson breaks the kiss, looking at the four of us, “so what are the Sorrengails going to do now that you are all reunited?”

“We’re going to beat the shit out of our brother.” Mira responds, then looks at me “or husband” she amends.

“Survive,” Brennan supplies.

Violet looks towards me, and I shrug, not answering so she states, “I need the blood of the six most powerful riders.”

“Ever? Or living now?” Riorson asks, either knowing exactly what Violet is referring to, or without questioning it.

“Why?” Brennan asks.

“She’s figured out how to raise the wards.”

Violet nods, “In residence I think,” she responds to Riorson’s question. She then turns to her siblings and to me, “Like Andy said, I think I’ve figured out how to raise the wards.”

As Riorson, Mira, and Violet make their way out of the office, Brennan reaches for my arm, but pulls back before making contact. “Andy, can I please talk to you?”

I sigh, “fine.” I continue walking towards my own office, tracking as he follows me down the hallway.

I catch one of the guards in the hall, “can you grab someone who can get lodging for the riders who arrived today? And send them to my office.”

He nods and scurries down towards the common area.

I open the door to my office and realize that Captain Halstrome is no longer alone in the space. Both Nathan and Garrick Tavis jump to attention as I walk in.

“Tavis, what are you doing in here?” I ask as I wave them both out of the position of attention they jumped to. Knowing, with Brennan behind me, I wasn’t the one authorized to do so, but doing it anyway.

“You told everyone to clear the hallway so the Sorrengails could have their family spat.”

I bring my hand to my forehead, “I didn’t mean for you to come into my office.”

Brennan makes a noise, Tavis eyes darken into the glare he’d given Brennan every time he’d seen him over the last few days. “The entire quadrant knows you’re a Sorrengail, sir. That was made very clear by all the violence, and yelling.”

“Tavis.” My tone sharp, leveling my own glare at him.

“Ma’am, I was just keeping Nathan company while he waited for you!”

“Nathan this is Lieutenant Colonel Aisereigh, Brennan this is Captain Halstrome.” I gesture between the two men, picking up the bag I had deposited next to the door and making my way behind the desk, not resisting opening it, to see my mother’s silk skirts right at the top, I blink back tears at the thoughtfulness of my executive officer and drop the bag next to my chair behind my desk.

Nathan has his arms folded in front of his chest, and has joined Tavis in glaring at Brennan, Brennan returning the glare.

I roll my eyes at the three men.

“Nathan.” He turns to me, “someone will be coming by momentarily to show you quarters for yourself and the rest that arrived with you. Make sure there’s enough for everyone you are aware is making their way here, plus some extra if any additional riders defect, we may end up needing to double up.”

My executive officer nods.

“I assume it was just riders who were given the option to leave?” I see movement from Brennan out of the corner of my eye but refuse to acknowledge it.

“Yes ma’am.”

I tap my left hand on my desk, “we’ll set up a time to meet once everyone is settled. I’ll talk to the kitchen staff about getting some food sent up to the rooms. Once everyone gets some rest, and we get an accurate count, we’ll work on integration and resuming efforts.”

There’s a knock on the door; Brennan opens it and a rider I don’t recognize walks in. “Ma’am I’m here to escort the riders who arrived today to their quarters as requested.”

I nod, “thank you. Captain Halstrome and Lieutenant Tavis will come with you and then assign the riders their rooms. Could you also inform Sarah that we may need some meals sent to them?”

The rider nods, but Nathan looks between me and Brennan, “ma’am, are you sure–”

“I’m fine, captain.”

Nathan turns to Tavis, but I interrupt their silent conversation “nope, that was for both of you. Since you wanted to make sure Captain Halstrome had company, you can keep him company while he follows my orders.”

Both men exchange a look before Nathan reaches down grabbing his pack and turning towards the door, “Nathan” he turns back to me, “thank you for bringing the rest of my things.”

“Of course, it was the least I could do.”

I give him a soft smile “I am really glad you’re here.”

He throws a warning look at Brennan before giving me his signature grin, “again, it was the least I could do.”

Once the door shuts, and I am alone with Brennan for the first time in six years, I gesture towards the chair across from me, sitting down behind the desk.

As he sits, I try to get my breathing under control, pushing down the nausea that has been present every time I’ve been in the vicinity of my dead husband over the last few days.

I can do this, I’m not afraid of Brennan

While I agree that fear is not the feeling you have with the Mender, it is fine to be afraid Warrior; fear is a useful thing. How you use fear is far more important than if you feel it at all

After a few beats, Brennan finally says “you kept the ring?”

I resist the urge to reach for the beveled sapphire as I glance down to his left hand, “you still wear yours.”

He doesn’t resist reaching towards his pewter ring, twisting it as he responds, “I wasn’t ready to let you go by taking it off.”

Waning sapphire tendrils start calling me from my parent’s beach beckoning me to pull them, but there’s not enough power for them to be used, so they settle around my ankles on the beach.

I pull my hands from my desk and put them in my lap.

“I was watching for you, that day.” I know what day he’s referencing, and brace for the emotional onslaught that always accompanies remembering that day.

“I tried to keep track of you, and I saw–” he takes a deep breath “I saw you fall on that field. I hoped I was wrong, but then I heard Dealaigh mourning you. I wanted to go to you, but Marbh told me you were gone, and with everything else going on I just couldn’t.”

He takes a shaky breath before continuing.

“When I got hit, and Naolin tried to save me, I begged him not to. If you were gone, I didn’t want to survive without you.”

Brennan closes his eyes, and it takes all of my willpower to not reach out to try to comfort him in this moment of vulnerability he’s showing me. With that look on his face, he looks exactly like the cadet who I fought with extensively, who made me fall in love with him, who convinced me that we could work.

“When I woke up, unwillingly pulled from death, with both Naolin and you gone, and I found out the truth, well I thought maybe I could do something good here. I blamed my,” he takes a breath “the General for your death. I couldn’t go back.”

We’re both silent for several minutes. Him out of breath, me not able to breathe.

“Andy, I know you’re upset. You have every right to be upset, and if I had known, I’d like to think I would’ve made different choices, but I can’t go back and change what happened.”

He meets my eyes, and I can see the tears he’s holding back, before continuing “just, let me try? Now that I know you’re alive, that you made it out of that, don’t make me live in a world where I have to let you go?”

My ribs constrict, and I clench my hands in my lap, but before I can think of how to answer him, if I want to answer him, there’s a knock at my door and then it swings open.

Suri peaks her head in, giving both of us a calculated look, “we’re ready for you both.”

Brennan turns, “we’ll be right behind you.”

I push my chair away from my desk, standing to follow Suri out of my office, Brennan holding out his hand for mine, “Andy?”

I look at his hand and then push past him into the hall.

Cadet Matthias appears at my office door, slightly out of breath. “Ma’am, I think I need to tell you something?”

I look up, “come in cadet.”

She closes the door behind her, and fidgets for a few moments before blurting “I promised not to say anything, but” she pauses, “Violet is going to go to Cordyn tonight with Brennan and Mira to get a luminary?”

Dealaigh?

Marbh, Tiene and Tairn are still here

Let me know when they move

“Thank you, cadet.”

“I promised to cover for Violet, but if she felt she needed to ask Brennan for help to go around Xaden, I thought maybe she might be in over her head? Anytime she goes off on her own something bad happens.”

“Try not to worry, I’ll take care of the Sorrengail siblings.”

Chapter Text

“I wore this dress just so you could take it off.” -Wedding note from Andromeda Dirgel to Brennan Sorrengail

“And what exactly do you three think you’re doing?” I ask wielding off Dealaigh’s back as she lands next to Tairn, keeping a noticeable distance from Marbh

“Andy—“

I send the youngest sibling a look, silencing Violet, “you decided, together,” gesturing at the three Sorrengails in front of me “that it was a good idea to fly off to Cordyn, informing no one except Cadet Matthias, thinking no one would figure out you were all missing?”

Mira starts to answer, “no, that wasn’t a question that requires an answer. I just want you to hear how stupid that plan sounds.”

“We have a plan.”

I turn to Brennan, “oh really?” I cross my arms “I’d love to hear what exactly your plan is.”

A brief look of shock crosses Brennan’s features, followed by silence.

I raise my eyebrows, waiting a few heartbeats before continuing “well you’d better be able to articulate the plan you most definitely have by the time we land.”

“You’re coming with us?” Violet asks, uncertainty in her face. “But you aren’t supposed to leave?”

“I’m not allowed to leave to patrol or assist in Navarre, we’re going to Corydn. With a spokesperson from the Assembly.” I nod to Brennan.

Brennan gives me a sheepish look, meaning he doesn’t have the permission of the Assembly for this either.

“So yes, I’m coming.”

As we enter the airspace near Cordyn we receive an escort of gryphon fliers. Do we recognize any of them?

No

Well, that’s unfortunate

As we land, I wield off of Dealaigh’s back, landing to face the fliers who accompanied us, appraising them as my dragon sends a threatening puff of steam in their direction, before she takes off into the sky.

Mira and Brennan make their way to Violet, putting her in between the two of them. I wait until they catch up to where I’m standing, situating myself next to Mira.

“They’re expecting us,” I hear Brennan note “there are at least a dozen people watching from the balconies above, and there’s another group behind the gryphons, they were waiting.”

Likely because Sgaeyl beat us here

I clear my throat, trying to hide my snort of laughter, all three siblings turning to look at me. This is going to be a show

“Andy?” Violet questions.

I shake my head, “I hope you have that plan ready.”

Brennan starts “Be careful what you say in here. Tecarus will hold us to whatever deal we make. He doesn’t take kindly to broken words. And keep your shields up, though I’m not sure they’ll do much good.” He looks over his sisters' heads at me, “fliers might not have signets, but most of their lesser-magic gifts involve mindwork, and it’s one area where they have the upper hand on us.”

Brennan speaks to one of the fliers in Krovlish, starting to introduce the group of us when he is interrupted by the taller flier.

“We know who you are.”

The group in front of us is assessing threats, focusing on Violet. Mira moves to place her hand on the hilt of her sword; I position my hands near two of my daggers for easy access as Brennan responds, “and you speak Navarrian.”

The flier in the center responds “Of course. Not every kingdom thinks theirs is the only language that should be spoken.”

The third flier interjects “give us one truth, and we’ll allow you to meet with the viscount.”

Violet blurts out, “you’re a truth-sayer.”

He seems offended when he responds, “unlike riders, we do not label ourselves by our abilities, but yes I have the gift of telling when someone is lying.”

His gift is closer to yours than traditional rider truth-sayers, although not quite the same Dealaigh informs me.

So not based on sensing bodily function fluctuations

Correct

“Seeing as you’ve arrived without invitation, we require you have honest intentions before traveling further.”

Violet starts, “I’m here to wield lightning in return for asking your viscount for help.”

The flier cocks his head towards Brennan, “I’m here to broker a deal for your luminary in return for weaponry.”

Mira sighs “Make one wrong move towards my sister, and I’ll gut you like a fish. That goes for everyone in this city, how is that for honest?”

“Damn it, Mira” I hear Brennan growl.

The flier gives Mira a smile “I can respect that.” And then looks at me expectantly, waiting for my truth to enter.

I look at him, double checking my mental shields before I respond. “I’m just here because these three need a chaperone.”

He furrows his brow looking at Brennan’s rank on his flight jacket, and back to me “you need to chaperone a lieutenant colonel?”

I give him a sweet smile, “did I lie?”

“No.”

“I think that answers your question.”

Mira sidles up to me as we are led through the lawn, “you knew Xaden was here?”

“Not before Dealaigh told me, that’s how they knew we were coming before he made his presence known.”

“Is that a pool?” Mira asks, eyes wide as she takes in the surroundings of the palace around us.

“You get used to them,” Riorson calls over his shoulder “just be careful if you’ve been drinking, no railings.”

“We won’t be here long enough to drink.” Brennan states.

“I don’t know, maybe we should, Andy will flirt her way to getting anything she wants.”

As Mira throws that barb towards her brother, I watch as a group of approximately a dozen individuals descend the staircase in front of us, ignoring any exchanges between the siblings.

“Viscount,” Riorson addresses one of the men. “This is Cadet Violet Sorrengail, her sister Lieutenant Mira Sorrengail, and their sister-in-law Major Andromeda Sorrengail. I believe you and Lieutenant Colonel Aisereigh are already acquainted.”

“We are,” the Viscount responds, and he pauses, throwing a smile in my direction “Sorrengail? Andromeda Promachos, that’s a new name for you. Lovely to see you again, especially without your normal escort.”

I tilt my head, ignoring the burning gazes of my companions, and give the man a smile “Viscount, why would I use my married name in Poromiel, when that name is Sorrengail?”

That earns me a nervous laugh, “Now, your sister-in-law has me most curious Andromeda,” he turns to Violet, addressing her directly. “Is it true that you call lightning directly from the sky?”

“I do.” She responds.

Tecarus clasps his hands in front of his chest “how wonderful!”

“Shall we–” Brennan starts.

“It’s poor etiquette to discuss business until dinner. You know the rules, Riorson.” He pauses “did you inform your companions to bring suitable clothes?”

There’s no chance to answer before he continues “Don’t worry if you didn’t bring anything fit for the occasion, I took the liberty of having a selection of clothing pulled from my best collection once Riorson told me you were inbound.” He gestured towards a young woman in the entourage “my niece will see you properly attired, won’t you, Cat?”

“You’re Promachos? We’ve heard of you, but Ulices was convinced it was a group from either the Isles or deep inside Poromiel.”

I shrug, “there is an extensive network that we built throughout both Navarre and Poromiel. Because of that network I have had the pleasure of meeting the viscount twice.”

Brennan falls into step next to me as we are led through the maze of hallways, “Promachos isn’t your maiden name.”

“My maiden name is easily associated with me, I used another name close to me, but one that couldn’t be easily connected to me if I was caught.”

“Did he ever try to collect you?”

I glance at the man next to me, “No, my main contact in Poromiel wouldn’t allow him to try.”

“Fuck Andy, you really were busy over the last few years, weren’t you?”

“Six years is a long time to get things done, adapt to changes. Change as a person even.”

Violet and Mira chose gowns that the Viscount had provided them, working with the lady’s maid to get dressed.

I, however, pull a dress out of my pack, one that was in the bag Nathan brought me. An emerald green slip dress, made of fine silk, with a slit up to my mid-thigh. I made sure to strap a few daggers underneath the dress, knowing the slit would cause at least one of them to be visible.

Mira watches as I step out of the ensuite and whistles, “damn Andy, is that what I think it is?”

I give her a smile, as Violet steps out from behind the dressing screen she had been getting ready behind. My eyes widen at the sheer silk and lace gown, “Wow, you look beautiful, my flower.”

Violet gives me a radiant smile, her eyes darting between the two of us “look at you both. Mira, I don’t think I’ve seen you out of uniform since you graduated.”

Mira smooths the skirt of the black velvet gown, “well, it’s black, so close enough.”

As Violet moves to look at herself in the mirror, Mira complements “you look gorgeous. Seems like you and Andy are both waging a war tonight, and neither of you are playing fair.”

Violet catches my eyes in the mirror and gasps, “I’ve always loved that dress, you haven’t worn it since—“

There’s a knock at the door, and Cat stands on the other side, eyes locked on Violet “You went with black?”

“I’m a rider,” is the only response Violet gives.

“Of course,” the niece to the viscount tilts her head, observing “I just would have chosen something more colorful. Xaden always laments how… monotone everything is at Basgiath. There’s still time to change if you would like.”

“Xaden doesn’t lament anything and are you capable of having a discussion that doesn’t revolve around him?”

“Sure, if it makes you more comfortable, we can discuss how your mother has perpetuated a lie that’s cost thousands of Poromish lives, some of which your own sister is responsible for taking.”

I step in between the two, “girls, that’s enough of that.”

Mira mutters behind me “Fuck it, we don’t need a luminary.”

“Stop being a wretch, Cat.”

I take one last look around the room, making sure I have what I think I’ll need for this dinner, hearing Violet say “Syrena, this is my sister Mira, and my” she pauses for a moment, looking at me “this is Andy.”

This is going so well

What did you expect, dining with the enemy?

I’m not the one who thought this was a good idea

“Dining amid hundreds of fliers that root for your deaths, and you all choose to wear gowns? Where is the shrewd judgement I’ve heard so much about?”

“I can kill just as easily in a gown as leathers. Want to see?”

“Mira.” I inflect my voice to let her know it's not her sister speaking to her, but her commander.

She shoots me a look, while Syrena gives me an appraising look from head to toe.

I return her look, “I crossed the parapet for the first time in a skirt, and have participated in combat in gowns before, I think I’ll be okay.”

Mira muses, “your wedding really was a disaster, wasn’t it?”

I shrug, gesturing towards the hall.

I walk in front of the group next to Syrena, half listening to the conversations going on around me, trying to concentrate on getting ready for this dinner. This is going to be a battle on multiple fronts, when I hear Cat shoot “If you don’t already know that he’s not the kind of man who gets flustered or loses control, then there’s really no hope for–”

I stop short, and I can’t help the snort as I try to stifle my laughter. Syrena throws me a questioning look, and I can’t hold it in. I slap my hand over my mouth, and double over in laughter. Mira and Violet both staring in shock.

I don’t believe they’ve ever heard you giggle. I’m not sure I’ve heard you giggle

“I’m sorry,” I wave my hand, but I can’t stop long enough to breathe, much less compose myself.

Mira finally pinches my arm “Andy?”

I let out a breath, “I’m sorry,” I repeat, still trying to get my laughter under control, “but, have you met Riorson?” The giggles come back momentarily before I school my face.

Catriona throws a glare my way, and in that moment, I remember the agreement Riorson’s father made for the viscount’s support during his attempted rebellion. I can feel her attempting to work her way into my mind, I’m not sure what her mindwork ability is, but all that happens to me is reinforce the absurdity of her previous statement and make it more amusing.

“You think Riorson doesn’t get flustered, or lose control? With Violet? I can’t—.” And then I lose control over the laughter again.

As we make our way into the dining room, my eyes automatically find Brennan sitting with Riorson, both the only two men wearing black in the room. His gaze finds mine, eyes widening as he stands and follows Riorson towards our group.

He stops in front of me, raking his gaze over my body, and reaching towards my forearms before thinking better of it and dropping his hands to his side.

“Gods, Andy.” His eyes are both soft and lustful as he catches the glint of the dagger through the slit of the dress.

I roll my eyes half-heartedly and give him a tight smile, almost annoyed that I'm still able to read his every movement and facial expression after all this time. “Are you going to offer to escort me?”

He gives me a boyish grin and holds out his arm.

We follow the crowd out of the dining room and into the night air, when I freeze, I can sense something running through the crowd.

Brennan stops with me, giving me a curious look as I tighten my grip on his arm, “something’s not right.”

He nods, removing his arm from mine, reaching for his weapon, as I move my hands to my daggers, my eyes scanning the crowd finding Violet, Mira and Riorson. I grab Brennan’s hand on instinct pulling him with me down towards the arena floor.

We approach as Mira pushes her way towards Violet “I’m coming, it’s not like I have anything to do with her signet.”

Tecarus puts a hand out in front of me, “you and Riorson have the same deal. You don’t step foot in the arena, and she strikes the target, once she does that, we’ll negotiate for the illuminary.”

I exchange a look with Riorson, “she already made the deal.”

“Of course she did.”

I watch as Mira and Violet make their way towards the chest, gripping Brennan’s hand, and reaching towards Riorson’s.

He allows me to pull his hand in mine; I turn to him and whisper “it feels like something is off.”

I get a small nod, but no other response.

As the chest doors spring open my breath constricts.

“Violet!” I hear from Riorson next to me

“Fuck” both hands tighten in mine

Venin, they want her to fight Venin.

Riorson stares at the arena floor, gripping my hand as Violet tears her dress to use the fabric to get her hair out of her face.

“She needs daggers.” I know he means the alloy hilted ones. I pull both my hands from the men beside me grabbing the dagger from my thigh, flipping it on its end, gripping the tip.

Riorson gives me a look, and then silently hands over his own dagger. I take a few moments to calculate and throw both towards the ground, landing less than a foot behind Violet’s heels.

“You throw daggers” he stops, “she throws them like you.”

I give the younger man a tight smile, “someone had to teach her.”

The venin throws the chest towards Mira and Violet, the younger sibling pulling her older sister towards the ground as a dagger pins Violet's dress.

In that moment I feel frantic movement next to me. Brennan shaking slightly as he moves to his sisters.

Pure carnal panic engulfs my body, “Brennan!” I lunge for him, my hand clasping around his wrist, trying to grab him and pull him back towards me, not sure I can handle watching him join Mira and Violet.

He grips my arm, pulls me in for a quick, rough, kiss, and pushes me into Riorson.

“You keep her here.” Riorson wraps his arms around my waist, my shock at the kiss preventing me from doing anything but watch as the three Sorrengail siblings battle a fucking venin.

As the shock fades, I start to pull on the sapphire power, struggling desperately against Riorson’s grasp, but my dragon interrupts.

They can do this, they need to do this on their own. Let them

Riorson doesn’t loosen his grip as I sag into his arms against his chest. His shadows pulling in tight around the two of us “This is my fault.” He whispers, the same terror in his voice that I heard in my office back in Samara.

The darkness from his shadows drags me back into that memory. Not here, I can’t do this here, not in enemy territory, and not when Brennan, Mira and Violet are all facing down a venin for entertainment.

I shake my head, desperately trying to displace the memory, digging my nails into Riorson’s arm as I watch Mira being pulled off the arena floor by Brennan.

Tairn’s on his way, we all are

I can’t see the arena anymore, Riorson’s shadows losing control around him.

As his shadows continue to pull in tight around the two of us, I can feel my own panic rising, despite my efforts to push it down. This isn’t just darkness, it’s heavy, oppressive. It’s exactly like that day in the field of Aretia.

The control I have on my mental shields start to crack, I can’t breathe, can’t tell if my heart is beating or if I’m still bonded to my dragon.

“What the fuck is she doing?” I hear next to me, momentarily pulling me out of my spiral.

I try to turn to look at the lieutenant, noticing that Brennan and Mira are back on the stone of the amphitheater, off of the arena floor.

He doesn’t loosen his grip on me until after the bright strike of lightning and we see Tairn pick up Violet.

I find the bond to my dragon pulling on the tendrils from Dealaigh, seeing her, Sgaeyl, Teine and Marbh in defensive positions on the scaffolding, and wield myself and Riorson to where the viscount and his higher ranking nobles are watching.
Riorson lets go of me as we land, reaching for my hand to give me a tight squeeze as he lets go of his shadows and directs them towards Tecarus.

Chapter Text

“I don’t think I ever really came home, I don’t know that I left Aretia. I have to try to feel any emotions, because tapping into that innate human feeling drags me back to the overwhelming blackness.” –Journal of Captain Andromeda Sorrengail

I’m clutching Brennan’s hand as the group of us make our way back to our assigned lodging, having been given an hour before negotiations for the luminary were to commence.

Mira pulled away from my grasp as soon as we filed out of the dining room, once I had checked over both her and Violet inside the hall away from prying eyes.

Each turn is a blur, a buzzing filling my ears as the group comes to a stop. I’m focused on my breathing, just waiting to make it behind the locked door of the en-suite in our assigned room. The panic on the edge of my vision pulsing quicker and pushing against containment.

I feel Brennan lean away from me, and I tighten my grip on his arm, unwilling to let go of the only thing that seems to be anchoring me.

I hear a muffled voice “she’s barely holding together. Take her.”

“I’m fine.” It comes out in a breath, so small I’m not sure anyone would be convinced by my statement.

I’m guided into a room, feeling the door shut behind me. I flinch slightly at the noise, and feel warm hands cup my face.

There’re muffled words that I can’t make out.

After a few moments, Brennan grabs my upper arms and I immediately twist out of them, “don’t fucking touch me.”

“Andy,” he reaches for my arms again, but I take a step back, trying to maneuver myself out of his range.

Anger had always been the easiest emotion to focus on when I started to spiral. With Brennan being the current bystander, I grasp onto every angry thought I’d had since Riorson told me he was alive.

“No, you don’t get to do this. You don’t get to abandon your family, abandon me, and then act like the last six years didn’t happen; you don’t get to try to—“

Is this really how you would like to handle this?

I ignore my dragon as I feel my breathing becoming rapid, desperately trying to get air in my lungs, but something is coiled tightly around my ribcage, my eyes darting around the room, looking for something, anything, to ground myself.

“I didn’t choose to wake up in Aretia after thinking I was joining you in death! I didn’t know you survived. I told you, I saw you hurt, I heard Dealaigh mourn you!”

Truth

I hadn’t realized I was wielding, but I can’t center myself enough to throttle Dealaigh’s power.

He’s reacting in anger, Good, I want a fight

Do you?

“I was a professor at Basgiath, I was a regiment commander at a border outpost, gods Brennan, I wasn’t hiding the fact that I survived!”

He takes half a step towards me, his face hardening in anger, pain, and confusion.

You can butt out

“Do you know how disorienting it is to be pulled back to life?”

I place both hands against his chest and push, “yes!” He stumbles back a step not expecting either the push or the answer.

The feeling of darkness and heavy weight of Riorson’s shadows continue to coil around me, even with the physical manifestation gone.

“I died Brennan, my heart stopped, and my bond was severed. So yes, I know exactly what it feels like to be yanked back to life. But I didn’t hide, I held together your family.”

I’m shaking, too many emotions swirling through me, making it a struggle to focus and ground myself in just anger. Feelings I’ve kept shoved down for years finally bubbling to the surface. Every bit of control I’ve had over myself, my power, my emotions are gone.

I back myself up until I hit a wall desperately grasping towards the anger. “I was burnt out, and you weren’t there because you chose Naolin. I was never going to make it, being pushed the way I was. I shouldn’t have survived.”

I register his arms bracing the wall around me, “gods Andy, I didn’t choose Naolin!” I flinch at his voice.

Lie.

That lie pulls the last illusion of control out of my reach.

I sense Brennan pulling away, maybe from my reaction, but I can’t see anything but that field, my lungs unable to draw air.

I feel myself sliding down the wall.

“Andy?” Brennan’s voice sounds as if it’s muffled through water, drowned out by the sound of dragonfire and the clanging of metal and battle around me.

Someone grips my shoulders, and I tense, waiting for the pain of the blade, trying frantically to reach for the blade at my ribs and finding nothing there.

You aren’t there! Breathe!

Dealaigh, I reach for my parent’s beach, but I can’t seem to find it, I can’t find the bond between me and my dragon.

Breathe, you are alive, you are not in Aretia, you are not on that battlefield

I feel hands on my face “Andy, look at me.”

I can’t see anything past the darkness, but that voice isn’t the gravelly one I’ve come to associate with death.

One of my arms is pulled away from where my dagger should be and placed against something hard and warm “breathe with me Andy, follow my breaths, okay?”

I feel a rise and fall, and I try to mimic it “there you go. Keep breathing with me.”

I don’t know how much time passes, but I can feel the air in my lungs again, the wall against my back, the floor beneath me. I’m no longer stuck on that field. I plant my feet in the sand on my parent’s beach, finally able to ground.

There you are, Dealaigh sends tidal waves of comfort down the bond.

I open my eyes, and see amber ones staring back at me, both hands cupping my face “you back with me?”

I nod

Brennan places his hands on my cheeks, wiping my tears with his thumbs, kissing my forehead before letting go.

I pull my knees to my chest, Brennan adjusting himself across from me, holding my calves and rubbing circles into the muscles as I fully come back into my body.

“How often do those happen?”

I shrug, focusing on my knees, “they started back up when we came to Aretia.”

I place my head on my knees, trying desperately to keep the tears at bay and my breathing under control; knowing I cannot afford to go into another spiral right now.

He tightens his grip on my calves, pulling me into him, my legs around his waist, his legs curling around my ass.

I’m pulled into his chest, his hands running up and down my back in a soothing motion as I breathe in his familiar scent of leather, mixed herbs and smoke.

“That’s why you aren’t sleeping or eating properly? Having issues with your wielding?"

I nod against his chest, focused on grounding and the bond between myself and my dragon, assuring myself it’s still there.

Once my breathing feels normal, I pull back from Brennan, sliding myself away from him.

“I’m fine.”

He looks like he wants to argue, but after a beat of silence he stands, holding his hand out to me, “Mira gave me your pack. Let’s get changed and ready to discuss the luminary.”

I take his hand and allow him to pull me to my feet.

He gives me a sad smile, “I’ll even braid your hair for you once you get washed up.”

Once we’ve changed into our flight uniforms and had food delivered to the rooms, we find ourselves back in the dining hall, sitting across from the viscount, Syrena, Catriona, half a dozen other nobles and one general.

Brennan sits himself next to me, hand placed protectively on my thigh, instead of pulling away, I surprise myself by letting him keep it there, using it to ground myself.

Mira looks at Brennan's hand placement, then back at me, raising her eyebrows.

I roll my eyes in response and wait. Tecarus breaks the silence, unable to keep from tugging at his collar, the red welts put on display to the room. “May I present my offer first?”

Brennan tightens his grip on my thigh and responds, “you may.”

Tecarus continues, turning his attention to Violet “your power is…astounding, and you’re still untrained, just think of what you’ll be a few years from now, or even one.”

I lean back, pulling a hand from the table to clutch Brennan’s hand.

“That doesn’t sound like an offer.” Violet responds, an almost imperceptible waiver in her voice.

Brennan turns his hand over, lacing his fingers through mine as Violet narrows her eyes on the flier cadet “stay out of my head or I’ll start wielding inside.”

I reach for the tendrils of power, reveling in feeling the bond with my dragon as the viscount continues “I have a gift for knowing what it is people want, what motivates them to give up their treasures.”

Truth

I quickly push back the tendrils of power out towards the beach. While I find comfort in the connection, reading the accuracy of information during deal brokering never went as intended based on past experiences. People would lie, concede, hide truths, anything to give them an edge and it just muddied the waters of the negotiations.

“And what do you think my wildest dreams are?” Violet retorts

“Peace. Not for you of course. That’s not what motivates you. Peace for the people you love.”

Riorson stills, and Tecarus picks up on it “Peace for him”

My grip on Brennan’s hand tightens with the response “I’m listening.”

As the offer is presented, my grip loosens, and I relax deeper into the chair. While it would be a tempting offer to someone, it isn’t for Violet. Not only can I see it on her face, but I know her well enough that she would never run to the isles.

“Running away from the Continent to whatever land you’ve secured from Deverelli isn’t going to help the people I like or the ones I don’t even know. It’s just that– running away.”

I give her a small smile as she glances towards me, Tecarus’ gaze glancing in my direction, before focusing on Brennan.

“Even if I give the luminary to Tyrrendor? Word spread quickly that Navarre let your cadets go without so much as a drop of blood spilled. Though I do wonder why that is, don’t you?”

“No” I respond as Brennan answers “Dragons owe you no explanation.”

Every set of eyes at the table locks on us, waiting for an explanation or elaboration. I refuse to elaborate my answer, pushing Brennan to continue. “My sister just earned the luminary. Or are you going back on your deal?”

I dig my nails into Brennan’s hand and struggle to not turn and give him a withering look at that statement.

Sister? So much for keeping his alias. That one word gave Tecarus leverage

“I would never break my word, everything we know about the dark wielders.” The general slides a book across the table towards Brennan, no one moving to grab it, “but I never said I would give you the luminary if she wielded. I said we would enter discussions.”

“Then let’s discuss. What do you want in exchange for us leaving with the luminary today? Weapons?” Brennan’s jaw ticks, and his hand twitches in my lap, “because that’s what we’re offering. The luminary is useless here, but we’ll put it to use supplying your drifts with the weapons they need for the venin you can’t capture.”

“Weapons are a good start.”

He needs something else, this isn’t about just a deal

“And for you to take the hundred flier cadets I’ve given shelter to after their academy was destroyed back to Aretia with the luminary.”

I pull my hand from Brennan’s, placing my elbows on the table, interlocking my fingers and resting my chin on them. There it is

The school is yours, this is now your deal to make, not the Assembly’s

Riorson starts “And what–” I shoot him a look, shaking my head, silencing him.

“The schooling and the cadets in Aretia are my responsibility. Not the Assembly’s.” I verbalize what my dragon had pointed out, leaning back in my chair, folding my arms across my chest with a smirk. “So, that deal will have to be made with me, not the lieutenant colonel.”

Brennan’s grip on my thigh tightens, I cross my legs, pulling it out of his grasp momentarily before he settles it once again.

“Andromeda–”

“Major Sorrengail, viscount.”

He startles at the correction, “my apologies, Major Sorrengail. I thought you were working with The Assembly in Aretia.” His eyes flicking briefly to Brennan at the comment.

He caught Brennan’s slip, and realized what that means

I give him a cold smile “I have an alliance with The Assembly. And part of that alliance is that I am in charge of the schooling and the cadets in Aretia. So, if you would like the hundred cadets who you have given refuge to be trained under my tutelage, you have to make that deal with me.”

This has been his goal since he was made aware of your arrival and purpose in coming. He requires someone to continue to train the cadets now that they no longer have their academy. Tread lightly Warrior, but you have the upper hand to push him

“Gryphons don’t fare well at altitude.” Riorson offers when no one else at the table responds.

“They’ve never been given the chance to adjust.” He is desperate, angry even

He locks eyes with me, “educate them as you are educating the rider cadets. Keep them safe, teach them to work together so we might have a chance of surviving this war. We’ve seen riderless wyvern patrolling the skies, no doubt reporting what they see instantly to their creators, in the last few weeks. Our reports say they’ve ventured as far west as Draithus. It won’t help the fliers to stay safe here in the south– not when they want to fight. And who better to teach fliers how to kill wyvern than dragon riders?”

I lean forward, waiting a few more beats before responding. Mira cutting in “There’s no way to fly them to Tyrrendor.” I hold up my hand, silencing her, while Riorson counters “there is. But there’s no guarantee they’ll survive it.”

I send him a look; he leans back muttering a quick “sorry.”

“We’ll need additional professors to assist with the flier cadets.”

Tecarus nods, as if expecting that stipulation.

I wait a beat, “I want every single report from your fliers.”

“Done.”

He’s realized that you’ve realized you have the upper hand

Good

“I want full access to your library. Every title you have, not just that one” I nod towards the book on the table.

He pauses, waiting in the thick, palpable silence before responding “done.”

“I would also like you to apologize to my sisters” I pause, glancing at the man next to me, who’s already blown his alias, shooting him the withering look I had previously refrained from giving him, before adding “and husband for the danger you decided was appropriate to put them in tonight.”

Every single person at the table stiffens at my last demand, I just raise my eyebrows and tilt my head at the man in front of me, waiting. Silence is a wonderfully effective negotiation tactic in most circumstances.

He nods, attention flitting between Mira, Violet and Brennan, “Please accept my sincerest apologies for surprising you with a dark wielder before dinner this evening.”

“So, the agreement for us to take the luminary with us tonight back to Aretia is, the Assembly will provide weapons forged with the luminary to Poromiel,” I turn to Brennan, who gives a curt nod, “Poromiel will provide all of their intelligence and war reports to us, along with ready access to your library.” I wait for the nod of agreement from Tecarus before continuing “and I will take the hundred cadets and their gryphons, along with their professors, that you have given refuge to and fold them into the Aretia Academy, with the understanding that there is not a guarantee that they will all be able to make it into Aretia.”

“It’s a deal.” Tecarus responds.

A cold satisfied smile spreads across my face, “perfect. We’ll get the luminary prepared for transport, and I’m sure your cadets and professors will need a few days to prepare for the move. So, we will have our cadets meet them,” I pause, looking to Riorson.

“Just west of Draithus, at the bottom of the Cliffs of Dralor.” He supplies.

“We’ll meet them at the Cliffs of Dralor for the attempt to get the gryphons into Tyrrendor in four days? Is that enough time?”

I get a shocked nod from Syrena.

I reach for the book on the table, palming it as I push my chair back and stand, Brennan, Mira, Violet and Riorson following me out of the room.

“Major Sorrengail” the viscount calls, I pause, but don’t look back. “I see why you were handpicked to take over the Navarrian military. I believe our cadets will be in wonderful hands under your mentorship.”

Chapter Text

“The only signet more terrifying than an inntinnsic is a truth-sayer, and yet we let them live.” -Major Afrendra’s Guide to the Rider’s Quadrant Unauthorized Edition

Against my wishes, but aligned with my, and my dragon’s, best judgement based on the continually waning power reserves, and the distance from Cordyn, I fly the entirety of the way back to Aretia with Riorson and the Sorrengail siblings.

Early morning light spreads across the valley, with Tairn and Sgaeyl landing at the flight field first, dropping their riders off at the flight field before turning to head towards where Brennan must have directed them to place the luminary. Dealaigh, Marbh, and Teine follow shortly after.

Dealaigh had stayed back during the flight, taking her time and keeping distance between us and the rest of the group. When she lands and I wield off her back, landing between her front legs, Brennan, Mira, Riorson and Violet have already dismounted and are waiting for me before heading back to Riorson House.

“You’ll need to inform the Assembly what happened. I’m sure they’ll want to meet, my preference would be after we’ve gotten some rest, but I’m sure it’ll be sooner than we would like.” I direct towards Riorson, noting a figure coming from the house to meet us at the field.

“Take Violet and get as much rest as you’re able, I’ll see if I can switch your next patrol to accommodate planning and the Assembly.”

Riorson nods, and continues on to the house with Violet as Nathan meets us, out of breath halfway down to the field “Aodh informed me you were in range,” he gives as an explanation handing me a thick piece of parchment. “I thought you would want to see that right away.”

As I glance down, I see that it appears to be a copy of a private missive.

Major Andromeda Dirgel Sorrengail has deserted her post and is charged with treason against Navarre. Capture by any means necessary. Execution by fire is authorized —General Augustus Melgren

I feel Mira trying to peer over my shoulder to read the document in my hand, I hand it over to her asking Nathan, “who received that?”

“Every border outpost commander.”

I nod, “well, we haven’t seen a public notice yet. They’re trying to keep this quiet. If it only went to the border outposts, it seems as if they are keeping everything pretty close hold even throughout the higher ranks”

Brennan holds out his hand, but before Mira can fully hand it over to her brother I rip it out of her hands with a shake of my head.

“I’ll need to see you in my office after the cadets first formation. We can discuss that, and some incoming intelligence we will need to incorporate.”

Simply ignoring him isn’t going to work

I start walking with Nathan, ignoring both my dragon and my husband, Nathan falling into an easy, practiced step on my left side, Mira trailing behind.

Brennan falls into step on my right side, which is proper protocol, as he is technically a higher rank than me, even if he didn’t get his rank in a traditional manner. Nathan notices him attempting to fall into step with the group, and shoots me a look, asking if I need him to switch sides.

I give him a smile and shake my head, continuing the conversation “can you have someone look at the patrol roster? Riorson is on it, but I’ll need his help over the next few days. We’ll be hosting flier cadets.”

We continue down the hall towards my office, Mira peeling off towards the stairs, Nathan continuing to head towards the kitchens “can you grab me a mug of coffee please?”

As I move to shut my office door behind me, I hear Brennan call out from down the hall, “Andy?”

I meet his eyes through the cracked door. “I know it’s not worth much, but I am sorry. I don’t think I could have ever realized that… well, I’m sorry, I would change it if I could.”

Truth

I shove the tendrils of power down my parent’s beach as I shut the door. I drop the missive ordering my execution on my desk, and note the gold ring, with the sapphire on my left ring finger.

For the first time since Brennan put it on my hand I pull it off, opening the top drawer of the desk, and drop it inside.

Three days later I’ve issued a command to the cadets, through their leadership, to prepare for a three day mission, and to get a good night’s sleep tonight with first formation being at four o’clock the next morning.

Lieutenants Riorson, Tavis, and Captain Halstrome join me in my office as we go over the finalized plan for the next morning, making sure we have every gryphon trap mapped out, and confirming where cadet leadership, and commissioned riders, would be stationed to ensure every flier cadet made it into Aretia.

I look at the clock on the wall across from my desk, “I think we’ve gone over this as much as we can before tomorrow. Thank you all for your help.”

I watch as two of the three riders leave my office, but Riorson stays behind, shutting the door behind Tavis as he gives his friend a look.

Riorson sits back down, “I just wanted to apologize to you.”

I lean back in my chair, “what do you think you need to apologize to me for?”

“I–” he takes a deep breath, collecting his thoughts, “a few things I think, that I didn’t realize.” He locks his dark eyes with mine, “I’m sorry for the shadows in Corydn. I didn’t realize the reaction they would cause.”

I stand up and move to sit in the chair next to him, placing my hand on his knee as I sit.

I know that he is some version of an inntinnsic, or something similar, and that my mental shields dropped during the panic attack. I don’t know what exactly he knows, but I know what I saw and felt under his shadows.

“You lost control, outside of the wards where wielding can be unstable and unpredictable, because of an extremely stressful situation. My reaction to that wasn’t your responsibility.”

The shadow wielder looks down at his lap, and I move my hand, getting ready to stand to open the door when he speaks again, “I’m sorry you're stuck here in Aretia. Sarah told me you aren’t sleeping, and that you–” He pauses again, not looking up from his hands, “I knew you were at the Battle of Aretia, and I didn’t think how hard it would be for you to be stuck here unable to leave.”

I blink, “well, that’s not your fault either.”

He looks up, anger flashing momentarily in his eyes before he schools his features, “but it is. I’m the one who caused you to be caught in a resistance. It was my plan.”

I shush him, “Xaden,” he perks up at the use of his first name. “This was the best option given the situation. Do not bear the burden of my past, my demons are mine.” I give his shoulder a squeeze, both standing to head towards the door.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, but thank you.” I pause momentarily, making a quick, likely rash, decision before opening the door. “You know, I have a theory. I believe inntinnsics can sense each other. Hard to test since inntinnsics are supposed to be put to death, but–” I open the door, not waiting for a response, not sure I want one yet from the younger man, and walk out into the busy corridor.

I’m antsy as the day comes to an end, so I head down to the basement gym to try to clear my head.

The gym is empty when I arrive, which doesn’t surprise me. While it isn’t late, the early morning formation for the cadets seems to have deterred any additional training for this evening.

I start my usual warm up, trying to determine what I want to do to work out the anxiety, and hopefully get some rest tonight as I need to be able to wield tomorrow, when I hear the door creak open.

I look up, and see the one person I would rather not be alone with, “couldn’t sleep?”

Answering Brennan, going back to my warm up, “just wanted to work out some excess energy before going up to my room.”

After a few beats of silence, “Do you want to go for a round?”

“You actually want to fight instead of running and hiding like you’ve run from everything else the last six years?”

Brennan places himself in a lazy defensive stance at the edge of the mat. “Considering this is probably the only way I can talk to you after Cordyn, yes Andy I’ll spar you.”

I make my way to the other end of the mat, and move my feet to a fighting stance, “If we’re sparring Aisereigh, I’m not talking, show me if you’ve kept up with your skills and actually earned that rank of yours.”

Brennan waits for me to make the first move, truly only on the defensive.

He dodges my first punch, blocks my second and steps away from my first kick, not attempting a single move against me.

My anger starts to flair as I move into his space, and throw a left hook towards his cheek, this one landing and he steps out of my range rather than make a move against me.

“Fucking fight me” I throw my forearm to his nose and he catches the move, pushing me towards my end of the mat.

“Andy” he tries to wipe the blood from his newly split lip, ending up just smearing it across his face.

“No, I told you, we’re not talking. You either fight me, or one of us is leaving this gym.”

He throws his first punch, I dodge but miss the block on the second. I stagger slightly with the force, adjust my feet and send a kick to his chest.

Brennan catches my foot and uses the momentum to force me to the ground pinning me to the mat. “You said in Cordyn that you died during the Battle of Aretia?”

“I said we aren’t talking.” I hook my leg under his knee, grabbing his arm for leverage, and pushing up with the opposite leg to try and flip myself on top of him.

Brennan uses his weight to his advantage, pushing me back to the mat pinning my hands above my head, moving his weight to his hips pinning me down, his full weight pressing against me.

I suck in a breath, using this moment to study the man in front of me, not really sure what exactly I’m looking for. Struggling for a moment to get out of his grip, I finally feel the anger bubble out and I spit at him “you lied.”

That seems to throw him off, shock and confusion written on his face and I attempt to use that shock to pull my hands out of his slackened grip, but his grip tightens and he shifts his weight to keep my hands pinned to the mat.

I feel power charge and spark beneath my skin, I attempt to ground, and find my parent’s beach sparking with a gold power, intertwining with the sapphire power from Dealaigh.

I can’t seem to hold in the words anymore, “I couldn’t throttle or control Dealaigh’s power during my panic attack, and the one thing I never wanted to know for sure, never wanted to confirm–”

I readjust my legs, hooking my legs again and attempting to flip us back so I’m in the dominant position, but am unable to adjust his weight to flip out of his hold.

I watch as understanding crosses his features. “Andy,” he presses his weight down, lowering himself closer to my face. “I–”

“You lied when you said you didn’t choose Naolin.”

Brennan jerks back at that, moving to stand, holding his hand out to help me up. I immediately miss the feel of his weight on me, eyeing his hand, taking it and allowing him to pull me to my feet, but he doesn’t let go of my hand when I get to my feet.

He tightens his grip on my hand, “can you wield right now?”

I nod, glaring at him.

“Then read me now.”

I don’t need to pull any power, the sapphire tendrils tinged with gold sparks already ready, those gold sparks of power unable to be contained.

“I never chose Naolin over you.”

Truth

“I was told the only way I could be on the field during the Battle of Aretia was if I worked with Naolin’s squad.”

Truth

I feel my brows furrowing “but—“

“I’m not done. I cared about Naolin, loved him even, and I followed him more than I probably should have.”

Truth

“So yes, that day I did choose Naolin, but not over you. Because I was told I didn’t then I couldn’t be on that battlefield, couldn’t be near you if you needed me. And then it didn’t matter, because I couldn’t get to you when you—“ he cuts himself off

Truth

“Gods Andy, I’m sorry. I’m sorry I left you, on that field, in Navarre, with my mother, feeling responsible for my family. And I’m sorry you always felt second to Naolin, because for me you never were.”

Truth

My left hand feels like it’s burning, and pull it out of Brennan’s hand with a snap, the power that had been crackling dying out. I stare at my hand for a moment, Brennan rubbing the palm of his own hand.

He looks down at his palm confused, my eyes follow his noting a scar I hadn’t cataloged yet, one that looks suspiciously like a rune.

I stop breathing, a slight shiver running down my spine.

“Come on Andy, you need to rest, let me walk you to your room?”

The Mender is right, if you want tomorrow to be successful you need to try and sleep

“I can make it to my room myself.” I make my way towards the gym door.

“I know you can but–”

“This talk doesn’t mean I forgive you.” I pause, already trying to determine if I’m going to regret the next words out of my mouth, “I don’t know if I can forgive you for the last six years. But,” I take a deep breath “just because I’m angry at you, just because I don’t know if I can forgive you, doesn’t mean I haven’t missed you.”

“I don’t think I expect you to forgive me, I thought you were dead, I'm just happy that you’re still alive. If that means I have to work to prove that I still love you, Andy I’m willing to do that if you’ll let me.”

“I’m not the same person I was–”

“I know,” he reaches for my hand, and I think I surprise both of us when I let him take it. “I know we’ve both changed, but I never stopped loving you, and I’m willing to start over if you are.”

I awake with a start a several hours later, looking at the clock, realizing that I made it through most of the night without any nightmares for the first time since arriving in Aretia. I get ready for the early formation, pulling on my uniform and boots, and make my way to the kitchens.

I have just over an hour until the cadet’s formation, and I can use that time for some coffee and a last minute look over the plans to make sure everything is set for the day.

I give a light knock on the doors to the kitchen before pushing them in, giving Emily and Sarah a small smile, “good morning.”

Sarah looks at the clock before giving me a warm smile, “Sleep okay last night?”

I nod. “I’m just going to grab some coffee and head to my office before we leave.”

Sarah gestures to the seat at the counter, “I’ll get that coffee for you, Emily get her something to eat. You know she won’t unless you force it on her.”

“I’m just not a breakfast person,” I argue sitting down as Sarah begins to pour some coffee.

She sets the mug in front of me, “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”

I sit in silence, sipping on the coffee as Emily places a plate in front of me, “thank you.”

There’s another light knock on the door, Sarah bustling to answer it. “Good Morning Lieutenant Colonel, can I assist you? We are preparing for the early morning for the cadets.”

Brennan responds, “I was just hoping to grab a quick cup of coffee before formation, if that’s fine?”

I turn towards the door as Sarah turns “I’ll grab that for you, wait here.”

As she goes to close the door on Brennan, I tell the kitchen matron, “it's fine, he can come in.”

She glances at me, appraising me before opening the door, “you can come in sir, while we get that for you.” Brennan stands awkwardly for a moment in the doorway, before spotting me sitting and grinning, “good morning.”

He makes his way to me, grabbing my coffee mug taking a sip as he sits down next to me.

“Good morning to you too.” I say, taking the mug out of his hand, sliding the plate of food in front of him. “I don’t share coffee.”

Emily gives me a knowing smirk, before turning back to her work. Sarah placing a second mug of coffee in front of Brennan as he starts eating, pushing the plate back towards me “make sure you eat some of this too. It’s going to be a long day.”

I roll my eyes, but take a few bites, Sarah huffing “at least she listens to someone.”

“I listen to you.” I exclaim, taking another sip of my coffee.

Sarah makes a noise, watching as I take a few more bites of the food in front of me, before shoving the rest of it towards Brennan and standing to refill my mug.

“I’m heading to my office, I’ll bring this back before we leave with the cadets.”

Sarah shoves three of the packed lunches into Brennan’s arms, “one of these is for you, you make sure she eats.”

He nods, maneuvering his own coffee mug and standing to follow me.

“She’s to eat both. Don’t think I haven’t noticed your eating habits Andromeda.”