ALAR
"What divides us runs deeper than blood, yet what binds us runs deeper still."
—An Elurian proverb
Post-Division Era
The cacophony of voices and clinking glasses that welcomed Codric and me as we entered the bar felt like a warm embrace. Other than the rough-looking furniture and lack of professional decor, the place smelled and sounded like any of the bars we had frequented in Vedona.
The main difference was the way people looked at us.
As we made our way to an empty table in the corner, I could feel the stares of dozens of eyes upon us; some were just curious, but many were openly hostile.
"Not exactly a warm welcome, is it?" Codric murmured, his easy smile masking the tension in his voice.
I shrugged, pulling out a chair and settling into it. "We're outsiders, and they regard us as competition for the few available spots."
It was idiotic, given that everyone who possessed the gift was accepted into the training program. After that, it was up to each cadet's ability and luck to survive the training, pass the tests, and get into the Dragon Force.
"I think it's more about them being suspicious of foreigners," Codric said. "They are not used to seeing Elurians in these parts."
A serving girl approached our table, her expression carefully neutral. "What can I get for you?"
"Two of your finest Elucian ales, please." Codric turned on the full force of his charm, with a honeyed tone followed by a bright and friendly smile.
To her credit, she didn't so much as blink. "Coming right up," she said, turning on her heel and disappearing into the crowd.
I leaned back in my chair, taking in our surroundings. The bar was a large hall, with many round wooden tables and chairs that were an assortment of empty barrels, roughly chopped tree stumps, and even some large empty cans. It was built for scale with no regard for aesthetics. The idea was to accommodate the mass of Elucians who arrived from all over the country for the pilgrimage, and not to wow them with fancy decor.
"You know," Codric said, his voice low, "I'm starting to think that we should order a meal and take it to our room. These people really don't want us here."
"We need to make a stand." I scanned the bar. Most of the patrons were pointedly ignoring us, but a few were shooting us nasty looks. "We're not here to make friends. We're here for the dragons."
Well, that wasn't entirely true. If I wanted to learn the secrets of Elucia, befriending some people was actually a good idea. The problem was that making friends had never been something I was good at. Codric was better, but then he wasn't very discriminating about who he befriended.
As our drinks arrived, I wrapped my hand around the cool glass, more for something to do with it than from any real desire to drink.
Codric, on the other hand, took a long swallow and grinned. "Not bad, though it's a far cry from Elurian ale."
I was about to remind him to keep his voice down when two men walked toward our table, and from the way they were looking at us, they were not coming over for a polite chat.
The men were tall and broad-shouldered, with the kind of muscle that came from hard work rather than vanity.
The taller of the two inflated his chest and sneered. "Well, well. What do we have here? A couple of Elurian lordling hopefuls? Dreaming about riding dragons?"
Next to me, Codric tensed, but he kept his expression friendly and humble or as humble as my cousin could manage to act. "Just two pilgrims, here to hear our fate from the famous Saphir Fatewever."
The other guy snorted. "You're wasting your time, Elurians, and taking spots from deserving Elucians. Go home to your comfortable beds and secure cities. There is nothing for you here."
I took a slow sip of my ale, watching the exchange with outward calm, but beneath the table, my free hand had curled into a fist.
Codric leaned forward, his green eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and challenge. "Is that so? And here I thought Elu's truth illuminated the path of all mortals who sought it. Or did I misunderstand the teachings?"
The tall guy's face darkened. "You misunderstand a lot of things, Elurian. Like thinking you belong on the Dragon Force. You have no idea what it's like to live with the constant threat of Shedun attacks, to lose family and friends to these demonic monsters. Are you ready to become our defender, to pledge your life to Elucia and its people, or are you here just for the fame and glory?"
I saw Codric's smile falter for just a moment, and I knew he was thinking of the stories we'd heard on our journey here. The raids, the tunnels, the ever-present danger.
"We may not have lived it," he said, his voice softer now, "but we've heard the stories. We respect the sacrifices your people are forced to make. I won't lie. Alar and I dreamt of riding dragons since we were young boys, but we will be honored to defend Elucia and its people against the savage barbarians who seek to annihilate its people and erase dragonkind from existence."
