Moki, apparently sensing that our meeting was drawing to a close, stretched lazily in my lap before hopping back onto Saphir's desk. He gave me one last long look, projecting a sense offarewell-but-not-goodbye, then returned to his perch on the back of the shaman's chair.
"Well, Cadet Strom," Saphir said, rising to his feet. "I look forward to working with you. I suspect that you have much more to offer Elucia than just your ability to communicate with dragons, which is in itself a tremendous gift."
I stood as well, feeling light-headed.
In the span of a single audience, my entire future had shifted on its axis. I wasn't just a cadet anymore or even just a potential rider. I was something rare and coveted by friends and foes alike, and it was terrifying.
"Thank you for your guidance, Shaman." I inclined my head and turned to leave.
"One more thing, Kailin," Saphir called after me.
I paused, looking back over my shoulder.
"The path of a shaman can be lonely at times, but you are fortunate to have a group of good friends. Nurture those relationships."
With all the secrets that I was being forced to keep, that was easier said than done.
63
ALAR
"Trust is a currency paid in secrets, a bridge built on exposed vulnerability."
—From the journal of Commander Moira Langston
What was taking so long?
Kailin wasn't back yet, and the weapons training class was drawing to a close.
While my meeting with the shaman had lasted about an hour, Kailin had been with him far longer than that. She'd been called away after an hour or so into the class, and the three-hour session was wrapping up.
Was it connected to what she was doing with Commander Ravel and why she'd been singled out from all other cadets chosen from our pilgrimage?
When the class finally ended, I snapped the manual shut, put it inside my backpack, and joined the line of cadets heading out.
I was relieved when I spotted her heading my way. "Kailin," I called, waving and heading toward her.
Her expression brightened when she saw me. "I hoped I would make it back before the class ended, but those damn stairs took forever." She rubbed her thighs. "My legs hurt."
Next to me, Shovia chuckled. "I heard that next week's conditioning will be running up and down those stairs."
"Sadists," Codric murmured behind her. "Let's go eat, people. I'm starving."
"Are you alright?" I asked Kailin, fighting the urge to put my arm around her, and taking her hand instead. Her fingers were warm against mine.
"I'm fine," she said in a hushed voice, glancing at the cadets passing by us on their way to the mess hall. "It was a good talk. Strange. But good."
I wanted to ask more, but the corridor was too crowded for a private conversation. "Let's talk over lunch. We could take our trays and eat on one of the terraces."
Her eyes widened. "Is that allowed?"
"There was nothing about that in the rulebook, and the fresh air would be nice after breathing gunpowder for three hours."
The privacy would be even nicer, but I didn't say that aloud.
Kailin hesitated, then nodded. "Sounds like fun."
Frankly she didn't sound enthusiastic about eating on the terrace, and given her fear of heights, the terrace was probably not the best choice, but it was private and big enough so we could sit far from the edges, right next to the doors leading inside.
