"So, what do you all think about the academy?" he asked.
Morek slid next to him with a plate piled nearly as high. "The course load is intense. Commander Langston wasn't kidding when she said we'd barely have time to breathe."
I chewed and swallowed a spoonful of stew. "We should go over the dragon etiquette rule book before we head out. I don't want to offend any dragons and make enemies. If they trulynever forget an affront, we need to be super careful with how we act around them."
While the other cadets only needed to worry about what they said, I had to worry about what I thought as well. That was going to be so difficult because my overactive brain kept thinking all those things it shouldn't be thinking.
"Good idea,” Alar said. “I found the tactics class impressive, but I was surprised by how technical and extensive it was for our first lesson. It was a bit overwhelming, and I struggled to absorb all the information. It's definitely a challenging approach to teaching and learning."
I doubted he had a problem with any of the material, and I wondered if feigned modesty was something Elurians did. It certainly wasn't an Elucian custom since feigning anything, even if it was to spare someone else's feelings, was considered dishonest.
"You didn't seem to have any trouble with it," I said. "I was duly impressed."
Alar seemed uncomfortable with my praise. "It's just basic strategy. The sun is always a factor in any tactical consideration. Everyone knows that."
"I didn't," Morek said.
"Me neither." Shovia waved her spoon. "There was nothing 'basic' about that analysis. You sounded like you'd been planning military operations your whole life. Is your father in the military?"
"He and Codric are from the merchant class," Morek said, turning to Alar. "You don't serve in the military, right?"
"Actually, getting at least some military training is more common than you think," Alar said. "Many choose to get basic training." He smiled. "The ladies seem to like men who know how to defend them. Some take to it more than others and decide to stay a little longer." He looked at his cousin. "Codric'srate of success with the ladies had gone up so much that he insisted we stay on to complete a more advanced course."
Alar was obviously teasing Codric, but I couldn't help but think about his own experience with the ladies upon completion of his stint at the Vedona Elite Academy. I was willing to bet that he'd become even more popular than his cousin.
Codric was fun and charming, but Alar's brooding intensity and aura of secrecy were alluring. He was a mystery I was eager to unravel.
"I, for one, am happy to be done with classrooms and move to the fun stuff." Morek tore a big chunk off his bread and smothered it with butter. "Who else is excited about an actual flight practice?"
My stomach twisted, and this time it had nothing to do with hunger or even thoughts about Alar with Elurian ladies.
Flight practice. Talk about terrifying.
During my first flight atop Onyx, I had been still half-drugged from the ceremonial tea and distracted by Ravel's proximity and hearing the dragon talking inside my head. But now I was sober, and the prospect of being thousands of feet in the air with nothing beneath me but dragon's scales and a whole lot of empty space had my fear of heights flare up with vengeance.
While Shovia, Codric, and Morek launched into an animated discussion about how exciting their flight to the Citadel had been and how they couldn't wait to experience that exhilaration again, I tried to hide my rising panic and keep my expression neutral, but Alar must have noticed.
He leaned closer to me. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah." I stuffed another piece of bread into my mouth and started chewing vigorously.
With my mouth full, I didn't have to elaborate on what I'd meant byyeah.
Alar pushed his plate away. "Tell me about your flight over here. Was it as terrifying as you thought it would be?"
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Is this one more attempt to interrogate me about Commander Ravel?"
"Not at all." He raised his hands in a pacifying motion. "I just want to help. We helped each other on the trek, and it was nice."
There was no accusation in his voice and demeanor, no jealousy, just genuine concern. I relaxed, leaning back in my chair.
"It was terrifying at first," I admitted. "I kept my eyes closed until Commander Ravel convinced me to look. And then..." I paused, searching for the right words. "It was still terrifying, but I managed my fear." I chuckled. "Not to the point that I actually enjoyed the view, but I didn't barf all over Onyx, so I could count it as an achievement, but I think that the ceremonial tea was still affecting me, so it might have been the reason I wasn't as panicked as I would have been."
"Everything considered, it's still a great achievement. You were very brave."
I made a face. "I appreciate the pep talk, but let's not get carried away. Managing not to throw up is not bravery."
"Fear is natural, but if you fight it and don't let it control you, that's a win." Alar leaned so close to me that our noses were almost touching. "You like to win, don't you, Kailin?"
