Saphir should have suspected his compulsion had no power over me, but he didn't seem to, and some sense of self-preservation warned me that I shouldn't alert him to the fact.
It was an advantage, so even though it bordered on dishonesty, I wanted to keep it to myself for as long as I could.
The prophecy listed one of the seven as having an impenetrable mind, and I had automatically assumed that it was Shovia because she'd been the least affected by the hallucinations during the pilgrimage.
But what if it was me?
Shovia could be the one who connected.
There was no doubt that Morek was the one who moved as fast as light, and Ravel was probably the tracker, but it still wasn't clear who was the one who sensed, and who was the one who detected. One was Alar and the other Codric, but who was who?
And what gift belonged to the mysterious seventh?
2
KAILIN
"Glory is a double-edged blade. It lifts you for all to admire and paints a target on your back for all your enemies to aim at."
—Elucian proverb
We found the rest of the first-year cadets in the lounge, a sea of deep blue and silver. As we entered, a hush fell over the room, and people scooted away from me as if I was carrying a contagious disease.
I cringed, but then I realized everyone was looking at someone behind me, and as I turned, I saw Captain Odinah,resplendent in her dress uniform adorned with rows of ribbons and medals. She had so many of them that perhaps I had overestimated the importance of receiving one, and it wasn't such a big deal after all.
"Good morning, cadets. Proceed to the roof in formation." Her gaze swept over us, lingering on me for a heartbeat. "Line up in rows of four."
The climb to the roof was just as difficult as I'd anticipated, my exhausted body protesting the eleven-floor ascent, but I kept pace, focusing on the rhythm of our synchronized footsteps.
When we finally emerged on the roof, I was stunned by the transformation it had undergone for the ceremony.
Temporary stands had been erected along the mountain-facing side, already filling with riders and support staff. A raised platform dominated the center, draped in Elucia's colors, silver and blue, with the golden dragon emblem prominently displayed. Above, dragons were perched on the various ledges and outcroppings of the aviary.
I hadn't expected them to take part in the ceremony.
Well, I knew that Onyx would be there because he'd told me, and Nyxath because she was the queen of the dragons and Saphir's bonded dragonia, but the others were a surprise.
The dragons' combined presence pressed against my mind with a low hum, not quite a communication but an awareness of their attention. I checked to make sure that my mental shields were up, and none of them could read my thoughts.
Now, more than ever, it was crucial for me to maintain that shield.
We took our assigned positions, cadets arranged in neat blocks facing the platform, and senior riders filling the stands.
A familiar presence touched my mind, warm and amused, and I opened a private channel to allow Onyx in.
"You look dashing, Little Warrior,"he said.
I looked up and smiled.“Thank you for being here for me.”
"I wouldn't miss it."
Commander Langston addressed the assembly, droning on and on about all the previous Heroes of Elucia and what an honor it was to be awarded that highest of medals, but I was too anxious to actually pay attention to what he was saying.
"Cadet Kailin Strom," I heard him address me. "Please, come forward."
As my legs moved of their own accord, carrying me up the steps of the platform, the figures standing on top of it seemed far away and too close at the same time.
Reality was warping around me, time and distance taking on impossible properties, and I suddenly found myself standing before Commander Langston and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Elucian Forces, General Soren Bardaky, the Chief of Staff of the Dragon Force, General Lesten Zorian, and Deputy Chief of Staff, General Elyse Tarnat.
