I frowned. “And I am?”
Voski’s sly expression turned delighted. “In the right ways,yes.”
It was clear he meant it as a compliment. But I wasn’t sure how to take that.
15. Hone Your Blade
~ BREN ~
Half an hour later, stomach finally full, I sat at the table with Voski, Gil, and a couple Shadowfang, staring at my empty plate and trying to get motivated to move, while they laughed about something stupid.
I needed to get to my feet, get to the stable and harness Akhane again. I’d left her to rest while I went to class, but we were supposed to bring our dragons to this session, though I couldn’t figure out why, since we’d be inside the hall. Their heads didn’t even fit in the windows. But orders were orders.
I took one more minute to look at my brothers, Voski and Gil in particular. Gil had a mischievous grin on his face as he leaned over to steal something from one of the other men’s plates.
Voski sat back and observed more than spoke. But his eyes were sharp.
Neither of them looked tired. Neither of them seemed worried about the training still to come.
They’d been doing this work for years, so I supposed they were both used to it by now. But still… I was exhausted. My body felt a little shaky with weariness, though that had improved since I’d eaten. I hadn’t seen Donavyn since I’d gotten out of bed in the early hours this morning, and I wouldn’t be back in the apartment until it was already late.
My body dragged as I pushed out my chair, excused myself and weaved between the tables in the dining hall towards the exit nearest the stable building.
When I was halfway through the hall, it occurred to me that I wasn’t drawing the stares I used to. Since I’d been pinned, I’d enjoyed a level of acceptance that hadn’t existed before. I still caught some of the Furyknights staring at times, and my brothers still reported whispered questions from men I hadn’t worked with. But overall, everyone seemed to have at least accepted that they’d see me in the ranks.
Yet, as I pushed out of the heavy door and trotted wearily down the path towards the stables, I was nervous. Ever since the sick dragon appeared, everyone was on edge and moving faster, even in their normal duties. Like his appearance heralded more bad news. Which was probably true, I supposed. But I couldn’t help noticing that the Furyknights never seemed to tire.
Was it only me whose limbs felt heavy, and who ached for her bed?
Was this a normal pace?
I prayed my body would adjust and I’d keep up. Because I grew up on a farm and was accustomed to hard work. But this pushed me to my limits.
Then I remembered Donavyn’s gaze, intent and certain, his resolute tone telling me I was meant to be here, and Akhane’s assurance reminding me I had a purpose. I pushed my shoulders back.
This training session would drag. But then I could be with Donavyn again and sleep. Even if it was only for a few hours…
I swore as, yet again, my attempt to be sneaky and bring a knee up on my brother unexpectedly, was blocked with an arm that felt as hard as a tree-branch. Something in my knee moved in a direction it wasn’t supposed to, and instead of droppinghimto the mat, I was the one who fell.
“Keep moving, Sister!” Gil called from across the floor as Ioofedto the boards. Again. “If you can’t take him down, get the fuck out of there.”
With a hurried nod, I rolled and pushed to my feet, sprinting as fast as I could with a noticeable limp, pushing for the door, and outside to where the dragons milled on the grass.
Akhane whistled when she saw me emerge from the building again.
With a huff, I flattened my hands to blades andran,trying to ignore the pain in my knee.
We were practicing deflection and escape. Akhane was instructed to lumber ahead, leaving me to run and grasp the mounting strap, haul myself up onto her shoulderas she broke into a run,with the goal to get myself to her back and strapped in before she launched.
I hadn’t landed a blow on a brother yet, but flee and launch? Turned out, I was pretty good at that. At least, I’d managed it every other time. But I hadn’t hurt my knee before. And now, as I caught the lashing mounting strap and swung up to Akhane’s side, instead of bracing against her upper leg and riding out her strides while I hauled myself up to her withers, my knee wobbled, then gave.
With a screech of frustration, my feet went out from under me. I lost my grip on the mounting strap and tumbled to the ground—giving the sore kneeanotherjolt.
Akhane called, pulling up from her gallop and trotting back to where I sprawled in the grass on my back, cursing at the sky.
I wasfuriouswith myself—and a little alarmed by the singing pain in my knee. To give it a moment, I threw a fist into the grass and swore again.
Akhane’s sweet face appeared over me a moment later, blocking my view of stars beginning to peer out of the twilight overhead.
