‘No, Bren. I only withhold from you in wisdom—never in fear, or malice. At times the Creator cautions me. All of us must walk our paths through this life. That is all.’
I knew it was true that the dragons had foresight we didn’t share. Donavyn had spoken of it often—but also cautioned me not to press my dragon if she chose not to share. That their wisdom was trustworthy. Yet, while I enjoyed the rest of the flight with Akhane, I found myself slumped when she turned back towards the Keep.
I felt like she carried a weight I didn’t share, and that felt wrong.
But then I remembered a conversation Donavyn and I had after I’d been pinned and led the ranks back to the enemy camp.
Akhane had seemed unsettled that night as well, and when Donavyn and I were finally able to reunite in his chambers, privately, I raised it with him.
“She seems upset, but tells me not to worry. Does she think I can’t handle it? Does she know things about the camp, or—”
“Don’t let it worry you,” he’d said, pulling me into his arms where I sighed and rested on his chest. “At times, Kgosi retreats in his mind—never for long. And never in anger. The dragons are just sensitive,” he said gruffly. “Both to our feelings, and each other’s.”
“But they’re so strong and wise, usually it seems like nothing bothers Akhane. Is this just part of her heat wearing off?”
Donavyn stared at the ceiling and stroked my hair. “I don’t know, obviously. But, you’re right about them being much stronger than us. They have to be, Bren. Can you imagine? They don’t only perceive what’s obvious, but also what isn’t. They are compassionate and loving—and they see us hurting each other, walking towards war, threatening… They know they’ll likely meet other dragons if we clash. They feel everything so deeply. But, I’m learning that it takes far more strength to feel pain and endure through it, than to break under it and lash out. My dragon—and yours—are an example to us in that.”
I thought about it, holding him tightly. “I’d like to be that kind of strong,” I said after a time.
Donavyn nodded and kissed my head. “Me, as well.”
I pushed up on my elbow to look down on him. “But, you are!”
Donavyn stared deep into my eyes then, as if he wasn’t quite sure what he saw. He stroked my hair back from my face and shook his head. “No, Bren. I’m not.”
I tried to insist—to remind him of all the ways he’d kept it together when I was breaking apart. But he quieted me with kisses, and soon, I couldn’t remember what I’d been upset about.
Because, whether he realized it or not, laying in his arms made me stronger.
And before I slept that night, I prayed the day would come that I’d be able to offer him the same.
20. Prepare the Boy
~ DONAVYN ~
Now that we were under readiness mandate, I was required to report to the king daily. After visiting the Eeyrie with Bren, she returned to training, while I hurried to the castle where Alexi received me in his personal office.
He hunched at his desk, dressed in the full finery of a court audience, reviewing papers. He looked up as the guards ushered me in, but waved them off and returned to the papers. I was relieved to find him alone.
“Report quickly, Donavyn. Progress. I need progress.”
“Yes, Sire. The best news is that our Furymaster believes we have a potential Speaker among the stableboys. A young man he’d intended to bring into his sphere in a year or two, when he’d grown. But under the circumstances, he’s suggested we take the boy with us. If you approve, they’ll give him the broad strokes, test him a little over the next few days, and he’ll come with us—utterly unaware of the political conflicts brewing. He’ll believe he’s merely being sent as a test for his future role.
“We’ll use him to speak with the unbonded dragons in the herd. Which will establish the credibility of our mission, but also offer insight into the Fyrehold ranks. It’s both a practical solution to tempting dragons to join us, and a useful tool in the event ofconflicts.”
The king looked up from his papers, brows high. “A boy? Who can speak to the dragons? But I thought any riders could do so?”
“We can all speak with our bonded dragons. And yes, the dragonfuries will link with anyone in the event of emergency. But there are some people with a gift—like Barak, our Furymaster. He believes Benji possesses the gift also, and Kgosi affirms him. He’s still a child—fifteen, though he looks twelve. But if our dragons have accepted him already, I believe he’d be an asset in the field with strange dragons.”
“Fifteen? And he shows this aptitude already? Fascinating. Are you certain he won’t be a Furyknight?”
“He may well be Chosen at some point—but that won’t stop him working with the herd.”
“And you think he has the fortitude for this kind of mission?”
I smirked, remembering Benji’s question on the day Bren was Chosen. “The boy speaks boldly, and asks the questions everyone is thinking. I think he could be useful to us—and perhaps more importantly, this is an opportunity to hone him. I believe he’ll be an asset. And he won’t know enough to betray us.”
To my surprise, Alexi dropped his papers to the desk and sat back in his chair, rubbing his chin. “An incredible time in a young man’s life, when he goes about his humble business only to be plucked from among the numbers for a truly great purpose.”
