"So, we are not in Vedona, and even there, complimenting a superior officer on her appearance would have gotten you in trouble."
He grinned. "Trouble is my middle name."
Codric was incorrigible, but he wasn't wrong about our instructor's beauty. She was tall and willowy, had impressive high cheekbones, full lips, and a coffee-hued, smooth skin that was practically glowing as if she'd smothered it with oil.
We found places in the second row, with Shovia and Morek sitting directly beside us. I noticed that Shovia left an empty seat on her other side—probably for Kailin, who wasn't done with Commander Ravel yet.
I was mad at myself for not thinking about saving her a seat. If I were to be her partner in any meaningful way, I really needed to do better.
The thing was that I knew next to nothing about how normal couples interacted. The court ladies who had pursued me had never expected to sit next to me. I'd never had a partner who was my equal before, and as I was finding out, the learning curve was steep.
As more cadets filed in, I observed the dynamics among the three groups. The twelve from the first two pilgrimages of theyear carried themselves with more confidence, while our group was still finding its footing.
Commander Kestrel stepped up to the podium just as the clock on the wall indicated the start of class.
"Good afternoon, cadets." Her voice was clear and authoritative. "I am Commander Nyla Kestrel of the Fury Wing, and I will be instructing you in military tactics and strategy for the duration of your training at the academy."
The door at the back of the classroom burst open, and Kailin rushed in, looking breathless as if she'd run the whole way, which she probably had. All eyes turned to her, including Commander Kestrel's, whose expression hardened at the interruption.
"I apologize for my tardiness, Commander," Kailin said quickly. "I was speaking with Commander Ravel, and we didn't realize how late it was getting."
The mention of Ravel's name seemed to soften Kestrel's expression. "Take a seat, cadet, and try to work on improving your time management. Punctuality is tactically vital."
"Yes, Commander." Kailin hurried to the empty seat Shovia had saved for her.
As she settled in, her eyes met mine briefly across the row of cadets between us. I offered her a smile, which she returned before focusing her attention on Commander Kestrel.
"As I was saying," Kestrel continued, "tactics and strategy will be among the most vital skills you will develop here. Dragon riders are not merely navigators or fighters—they are aerial tacticians, capable of assessing battlefield conditions and making split-second decisions that can determine the outcome of engagements."
She activated a projection device at the podium, and a map of Elucia's mountainous terrain appeared on the wall behind her.
"The Dragon Force operates primarily in environments that conventional military units either can't get to in time or at all." She gestured to the projected landscape. "High mountains, steep valleys, dangerous passes for the most part, these make up our theater of operation. Understanding how to leverage these environments is essential to your success as riders."
I'd received extensive tactical training at the Vedona Academy, but it had focused primarily on ground operations, urban warfare, and intelligence gathering. Aerial combat tactics were a new territory for me, and what I hoped to learn here.
"Today, we'll cover the fundamental principles of aerial combat doctrine," Kestrel said, changing to a projection that showcased a formation of dragons soaring between mountain peaks. "The Dragon Force employs five primary tactical approaches, each suited to specific scenarios and objectives."
She began detailing each approach: the Thunder Strike, a swift, overwhelming frontal assault; the Dragnet, an encirclement maneuver; the Shadow Glide, a stealth approach using terrain for cover; the Sunburst, a diversionary tactic using a dragon's flame to blind enemies; and the Tempest Scatter, a defensive dispersion pattern.
Each description was accompanied by a detailed projection showing the formation in action.
"The key to effective aerial tactics is understanding the unique capabilities of dragons. They can hover for extended periods of time, change direction in an instant, and execute acrobatic maneuvers that can potentially leave their riders dizzy and disoriented or even unconscious." Kestrel swept her gaze over the cadets' faces. "You will learn all about those maneuvers and how to avoid them unless there is no other choice. Sometimes it's better to pass out and let your dragon bring you to safety than to worry about losing control. You just need toremember to be strapped in properly, which is an entire class on its own."
I thought about the way we had been flown to the Citadel and the straps that hadn't been adequate at all. Perhaps things were different when strapping in for battle.
"Dragons have limitations," Commander Kestrel said. "Despite their remarkable endurance, extended high-altitude operations can strain both dragon and rider. Additionally, while dragfire is devastating, it depletes quite rapidly and requires recovery time to regenerate."
This was new information to me. I'd always thought that dragon fire was as natural to dragons as breathing and, therefore, limitless as long as they were alive and well. Apparently that was a misconception, and it was shared by most of Eluria's military strategists. I took note of this vulnerability.
"Now, let's discuss integration tactics." Kestrel shifted to a projection of a battlefield with both ground and air units. "Even though dragons are solitary creatures and hunt alone, dragon riders almost never operate in isolation. The smallest unit is a Flight, which includes five dragons and their riders. Occasionally, a Flight will lose a rider and will only have four until a replacement can be trained. Typically, you will be supporting ground forces, coordinating with other wings, or executing specific strategic objectives within a larger operation."
She began outlining various integration scenarios, emphasizing the importance of communication, timing, and positional awareness. The complexity of the operations she described impressed me. They were far more sophisticated than anything I'd studied at Vedona, and I was sure that it went over the heads of most cadets attending the class.
I understood the tactic of giving them an overview first and then diving into the details, but she was overwhelming her students.
Commander Kestrel highlighted a mountain valley where ground troops were engaged with an enemy force. "Who can tell me what would be the optimal response from a squadron of five flights in this scenario?"
Several hands went up, and Commander Kestrel pointed to a cadet from the second pilgrimage group.
