No eggs and no spaceship wreckage.
Besides, even if there had been a spaceship, nothing would remain of it after thousands of years of erosion. It would have turned to dust a long time ago.
If the Elucians knew about an ancient alien landing, they weren't telling. Their civilization had kept written records from its inception, but they guarded them zealously.
Their xenophobia might be well justified given their enemies and having been nearly wiped out of existence more than once, but I had a feeling that they would have been just as reclusive even in the absence of the fanatical Shedun threat.
Part of my secret mission was to find out as much as I could about what the Elucians were hiding, and there were only two places that might contain that information. One was the Dragon Force Citadel, and the other was the famous Podana Academy, but getting invited to attend the academy was even rarer for an Elurian than becoming a dragon rider.
Anyone with a drop of Elucian blood in their veins had a hypothetical chance of becoming a rider, but only scholars of great renown were invited to the academy, and neither I nor Codric qualified as such. We could have faked our credentials, but we couldn't cover up our lack of achievements or knowledge. The Elucian Secret Service would have discovered our subterfuge with minimal effort. But even as good as theywere, they couldn't untangle the complicated web of the upper echelon of Elurian society and figure out that our identities were fake.
"You haven't tried the bed yet." Codric pulled me out of my musings. "I think I will use my sleeping bag to cushion the damn mattress."
I sat on the other bed and stretched my legs in front of me. "Conditions on the trek will be much less comfortable."
Codric sighed dramatically. "I guess it is all worth it for the chance to soar through the sky on the back of a dragon."
"That's right." I leaned my back against the wall.
"Have you given any thought to what would happen if we actually get accepted? The service is for life, and you have other obligations." Codric shifted on his bed to face me. "I'm disposable, but you are not."
I waved a dismissive hand. "First of all, you are not disposable, and secondly, my other obligations, as you call them, are dismal. The family will fume and fuss and pressure me to return, but they can't force me."
Since my father knew where I was and what I was planning to do, the fussing would only be for show. He didn't believe I would succeed and thought that I was foolish to attempt it, but he also agreed that it was worth a try. There was very little downside to my plan and a lot of possible upside.
Codric arched a brow. "They could forward a demand to the Elucian government to return us. We were accepted under false pretenses."
"True." I lowered my voice. "If it is discovered that we lied, both of us will be expelled. Elucians are very strict about their adherence to the precepts of Truth, but I'm counting on our family wanting to avoid a scandal. They wouldn't want to tarnish the family name by publicly admitting that their scions lied and cheated to get into the pilgrimage. They would support us."
"Are you sure about that?"
Of course, I was. Codric didn't know that my father was well aware of where we were and what we were attempting, and it had to stay that way.
"I'm pretty sure," I said. "I also have a contingency plan."
Codric smiled. "Of course, you do. You're such a clever bastard. You always have plans within plans."
I smiled. "Naturally."
That was only partially true. There were many things I hadn't figured out yet, but what was the point of planning every detail when there was no guarantee that either of us would get accepted, and if we were, that we would graduate and live to tell the tale.
9
KAILIN
I should be focusing on purifying my mind and soul in preparation for the pilgrimage, but instead, I'm going to the lodge to mingle with a couple of Elurians because Shovia insists, and I can never say no to her.
—From the journal of Kailin Strom
Idrew a quick sketch of Chicha guarding the house from her perch on the ledge of the living room window, observing the foot traffic outside. It had nothing to do with my journal entry, but she'd just looked so adorable, and the image had stayed with me. I had to commemorate it.
Sometimes I wondered if she remembered that horrible night five years ago as clearly as I did, and if she was dreaming about it when I heard her whimpering in her sleep.
"Kailin!" Gran's voice echoed through the house. "Shovia is here!"
The soft click of tiny claws on wooden floors preceded Chicha as she trotted into my room, her gray-flecked muzzle showing her age, but her dark eyes still bright and alert. She settled on my bed, watching me as I smoothed an invisible crease in my skirt. I had sewn it a little over a week ago and had been quite proud of the unique design, but I hadn't worn it yet for lack of opportunity.
Now, I wasn't sure it was suitable for a night out.
