After Nyxath's presence faded, I sat for a moment in the comfortable silence of my office. Moki had settled into a tight ball on my desk, apparently satisfied that I'd included Ravel in the plans. Outside the windows, dragons launched out of the aviary, and as always, I was mesmerized by the beauty and grace of their aerial dance.
I must have lost track of time because it seemed like Ravel arrived mere minutes after I ended my talk with Nyxath.
After my assistant announced him, the commander walked into my office, his dark eyes, flecked with those curious golden traces, fixed on me with curiosity. "You wished to see me?"
"Yes. Please, sit." I motioned at the chair in front of my desk.
He did as I asked, sitting with his back straight and his hands on his knees, like the Dragon Force commander he was, and waited for me to proceed.
"I rescheduled the first-years' field trip to the temple ruins," I said. "It will take place this afternoon rather than next week, and I'd like you to accompany us."
His eyebrows rose. "Why is my presence required, if I may ask? I'm not one of the first years' regular instructors."
I leaned forward, leveling my gaze at his eyes. "Kailin's safety is paramount. Captain Odinah is excellent, but if there's trouble, she can't handle a dangerous situation while also managing two dozen first-years. After the assassination attempt, I don't want to take any chances with Kailin."
Something flickered across his face. "With all due respect, Shaman, Captain Odinah can ask any number of riders to accompany the cadets. My time is better served elsewhere."
"I have a feeling you'll be needed." I smiled. There were advantages to being a shaman. "I'm sure you agree that a shaman's instincts shouldn't be ignored, Commander."
His jaw tightened, and his expression darkened. "I hope this is not about Cadet Strom's relationship with the Elurian."
Ah. Interesting deflection. "Why would you think that?"
He lifted a brow. "Your matchmaking is legendary, Shaman, and having Elucia's best line of defense snatched by an Elurian must be rubbing you the wrong way."
I had great hopes for Alar, and I didn't mind the youthful romance between him and Kailin. It was beneficial to them both. Still, Ravel wasn't entirely wrong. I would have much preferred for Kailin to choose an Elucian, and if I had to make a list of likely candidates, the fearsome and handsome commander would have probably topped it. But I was well aware that nothing of that nature could happen while Kailin was still a cadet and Ravel was still a commander.
Pretending innocence, I lifted my hands in the air. "I don't know where that rumor comes from. I'm not engaging in any matchmaking."
"Interesting." A hint of dry humor entered his tone. "Half the bonded pairs in the Dragon Force claim that you nudged them toward each other."
It might have been a little more than nudging, but those pairings were within the same ranks. Cadets with other cadets and riders with other riders.
"I have a good eye for things of that nature," I admitted. "I know which personalities fit well together, and I don't usually keep my opinions to myself, but I would never encourageinappropriate pairings. There is a time and a season for each love."
Ravel shifted in his chair, suddenly looking uncomfortable. "So, you want me to accompany the first years purely because of security concerns."
If I answered in the affirmative, it would be a lie, and I preferred not to transgress unless I absolutely had to.
"Security is a concern, but that's not the only reason I want you to be there. I can't say more right now, but all will be revealed in the Circle of Fate. We depart in two hours." I picked up my pen, making a show of returning to my work. "I appreciate your cooperation, Commander."
Two hours later, I stood on the roof with Moki perched on my shoulder, watching the departure preparations. Twenty-four first-year cadets were lined up against the back wall, waiting for their rides to arrive.
The truth was that the temple ruins' trip should be done at the end of the year, after the cadets bonded with dragons and could fly on their own. On the other hand, the more instruction they got before riding solo, the better.
Kailin stood with the rest of her quintet, looking a little better than she had the day before. Some color had returned to her cheeks, but the shadows under her eyes remained, and from afar she looked even thinner than she'd looked in my office.
"Something is wrong with the girl,"Nyxath's voice entered my mind as she descended toward the platform, her sapphire scales brilliant in the midday sun.
"I know," I sent back. "I don't understand it.She should have recovered by now."
"Unless the depletion continues." Nyxath landed on the roof with her usual grace. "What if she opened a channel that won't close?"
The thought chilled me. "Connected to what?"
"To every creature that she touched during that dream,"Nyxathsaid. "Part of her might still be scattered across many consciousnesses."
"Then we need to teach her how to gather herself back together."Not that I knew how to do that, but if I couldn't help Kailin figure that out, who could?
