I cast another look at the tiny dog. "Yeah, she looks the type who follows protocol. See you this evening, Kailin."
15
KAILIN
The 25th Day of the Third Month
Year 11668 of the Dragon Pact
Year 3389 Post-Division
It's time, and I'm ready, even excited to embark on the pilgrimage, mostly because I'm about to see Alar again. I should guard my heart and treat him just as a friend, but it's so drakking difficult when he is so perfect in every way. If only he were Elucian or if both of us made it to the Dragon Force…
—From the journal of Kailin Strom
Ichuckled as I closed my journal. So now I was hoping to become a dragon rider because of a guy?
I was being ridiculous.
After stuffing a thin layer of foam into my socks, I pushed my feet into the pilgrimage-approved boots and laced them up. Hopefully, that would save my feet from developing new blisters and wouldn't be considered an unfair advantage.
Standing in front of the full-length mirror in my room, I winced at how padded I looked in the fatigues we'd been issued. They were comfortable and practical, designed to blend with the mountain terrain rather than flatter my figure or complexion. I looked pale and washed out in the cream and brown camouflage design.
Oh well, I was going on a trek, not a date, and looking good was not a priority.
That was such a blatant lie that I felt compelled to lift three fingers to my lips. "Elu sees my heart's truth," I murmured to counteract the falsehood of my thoughts.
I wanted to look pretty when I met Alar again, but regrettably, I wasn't one of those girls who looked good in anything they wore. Girls like Shovia. Tall, thin, and dark-haired, she probably looked great in the ugly fatigues.
With a sigh, I zipped up my backpack and gave it a final pat, satisfied that everything was securely in place. The weatherproof coveralls were rolled tightly and strapped to the bottom of my pack along with my sleeping bag, ready for quick deployment if the weather suddenly took a turn for the worse.
The advantage of making the trek while fasting was the lightness of my backpack. I didn't need to carry food. I had two canteens strapped to my belt, which were filled with water as per the instructions we'd been given. This water would have to last me until I could refill it again, and we were warned to conserve it in case we took longer than planned to get to the refilling spot.
"Don't forget your gloves," my mother said from the doorway.
"Already packed them." I held up my hands, showing the lighter gloves I was wearing. "These are just for tonight. The insulated ones are in my pack for tomorrow."
We would be sleeping on the ground at the base of Mount Hope tonight, but it wasn't as cold as it would be at the higher elevations.
Chicha trotted restlessly behind my mother, her nails clicking on the wooden floor as she crossed from the doorway to the window and back again. She'd been agitated all day, probably picking up on the nervous energy around her. My entire family was anxious about the ordeal I was about to face.
The only time today that Chicha had been her usual upbeat self had been during Alar's brief visit to Gran's apothecary. She'd taken an immediate liking to him, which made me trust him more. Dogs in general have a better sense about people than humans, and Chicha was particularly good at sniffing out the not-so-nice ones.
If she thought that Alar was a good guy, then I could allow myself to think that too, and not berate myself over falling for a handsome face and a killer body.
Not that I was falling for him.
We were just friends because that was all we could be to each other.
My mother walked into my room and pulled me into her arms. "Are you sure that you are ready for this? There's no shame in getting a waiver given your problem."
My family and Shovia were aware of my fear of heights because it was impossible to hide it from them, but no one else was, and I intended to keep it that way. Requesting a waiver from the pilgrimage was never an option.
In moments of weakness, I had thought of faking an injury or exhaustion as a way out in case my fear became paralyzing, but I knew that I would push myself to finish the drakking pilgrimage even if I had to crawl to the top.
I stepped out of her embrace and smiled, hoping it conveyed confident reassurance. "I'll be fine, Mom. I'll keep my eyes on Shovia's backpack and won't look down."
My father walked in behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. "Our girl is made of strong stuff, Milly, and Dylon will be there to help her once she gets to the Citadel. He might even be one of the riders picking up the new recruits from the Circle of Fate."
