Someone snorted. "They wouldn't torch us. We are valuable. There aren't enough riders."
Ravel shook his head. "It's true that riders, with the emphasis on riders, not cadets, are valuable to Elucia and to dragonkind, because we protect both. But if a cadet or a rider is dumb enough to insult a dragon, they have no place on the Force, and dragons will rightfully conclude that they need to be disposed of."
I swallowed.
I'd never heard of a dragon eating or torching an impudent rider, and I wondered whether it had ever happened or Ravel was using scare tactics to drive the point home. He hadn't actually said that dragons incinerated cadets or riders; he'd just implied that they might.
Letting out a breath, I leaned back in my chair and smiled at him to let him know that I was onto him and he hadn't fooled me.
His expression hadn't changed, perhaps because he hadn't noticed my smile or misinterpreted its meaning. Had he even heard my conversation with Onyx?
I wondered if dragon-to-human telepathic communication etiquette would be covered as well. Onyx had abruptly left my mind without saying goodbye, and I didn't know whether that was normal dragon behavior or if I had said something wrong.
I thought I'd been polite, but perhaps dragons didn't appreciate being told what to do by a lowly cadet.
"Second principle." The commander lifted another finger. "Use polite and respectful language when you are talking about dragons, even when you are not around them. Their hearing is exceptional, and contrary to what some believe, they understand human speech perfectly. They also have very long memories, especially for slights. They are famous for keeping grudges."
I hoped no dragon had ever heard me saying that they were ugly, and now that dragons could tap into my thoughts, I needed to be much more guarded about the way I thought of them.
They were majestic creatures. That was how I needed to think about them. Their scales were beautiful, and so were their eyes.
"Third." Ravel lifted three fingers. "Dragons love admiration and flattery, but it needs to be genuine. Be truthful in your praise."
I could do that. I admired dragons for many reasons, but chiefly for their protection of Elucia. Without them, there would have been no Elucians left.
"Fourth," Ravel continued. "Never touch a dragon's wings without explicit permission. The membranes are highly sensitive. Think of it as you would an inappropriate physical contact with another human."
Shovia nudged me and whispered, "I bet Tall, Dark, and Handsome would let you touch his wings."
I shot her a warning glare, acutely aware that Alar might have overheard. To my relief, Commander Ravel continued without pause, either not hearing or choosing to ignore Shovia's comment.
"Fifth: respect a dragon's territory and personal space. Each dragon establishes a zone they consider their own, whether it's their sleeping area, a favored perch, or their rider. Entering this space uninvited is considered a challenge or a threat."
The words echoed in my mind. Did dragons consider their riders as territory? As possessions? Or was it more complex, a partnership where each protected what was theirs?
Commander Ravel detailed more rules—proper greetings, and how to ask permission each time before attaching a harness. One-time approval didn't mean ongoing approval.
Then there was the whole hierarchy of dragons and how to address that.
Dragon society was more nuanced than I'd imagined, with codes and protocols as intricate as any human culture.
The class continued for nearly two hours, with Commander Ravel distributing the books that contained all that information and much more for us to memorize. It wasn't too complicated, but I was going to study it very carefully, especially since dragons could communicate with me telepathically.
"Finally," Ravel said, "remember that while these guidelines will serve you well with most dragons, individual personalities vary significantly. What pleases one dragon may irritate another. Like your interactions with humans, observation and respect will be your best tools in building strong relationships."
He glanced at the timepiece on the wall. "That concludes today's lesson. Are there any questions before you're dismissed?"
Several hands shot up, and the commander patiently addressed queries about specific scenarios and exceptions to the rules he'd outlined. I used the time to gather my thoughts, knowing what I needed to do next but dreading it all the same.
As Ravel dismissed the class and cadets began filing out, I steeled myself and approached the front of the room.
"Commander Ravel," I said, keeping my voice steady despite the nervous flutter in my stomach, "may I have a moment of your time?"
In my peripheral vision, I saw Alar hesitate at the door, looking reluctant to leave me alone with the commander. Codric, bless him, grabbed Alar's arm and practically pushed him through the doorway.
Once the room had emptied, Ravel turned to me, his expression shifting from the formal mask of an instructor to something more personal. "What is it, Kailin?"
"Onyx spoke to me during class," I said without preamble. "He sensed that I was stressed and reached out to ask me why I was troubled. Did you hear our conversation?"
