Alar hadn't forgotten, though, and he wasn't happy about Ravel escorting me.
"A commander shouldn't be tasked with ferrying a cadet." He'd paced our room in agitated circles. "Even if that cadet is the Hero of Elucia."
"It's probably for security reasons," I'd said, touching the handgun concealed at my waist, a reminder of the explosion at the Circle of Fate three days ago. "They still haven't caught anyone."
The investigation was ongoing. Ravel had warned us that the traitors might try again, which was why all five of us now carried weapons at all times. The weight of the gun was still unfamiliar, sometimes catching on my uniform when I moved, and it wasn't reassuring either. The Citadel was supposed to be the safest place in Elucia, and knowing that there were enemies within its walls was deeply disturbing to me and everyone else.
That was why a squadron commander was escorting me to a medical appointment, but Alar wasn't thinking with his mind. His jealousy had reared its head again and was clouding his reasoning.
I didn't like that side of him, but I couldn't really blame him for feeling that way. If he were spending a lot of alone time with an attractive female commander, I would have been jealous too, even if there was nothing between them and they acted professionally.
It was the potential of something that might happen because of proximity, because of shared interests, because compatible males and females who were spending a lot of time together were vulnerable to the forces of nature.
Now, I stood in the hallway with Alar by my side as my other friends were leaving for conditioning.
"You'll be fine." Shovia squeezed my arm, careful to avoid the spot where my gun was holstered. "They'll figure out what's wrong with you and fix it."
Codric just smiled. "Good luck, Kailin. I hope they find a way to help you."
Morek just gave me a thumbs up before following them down the corridor.
Alar walked me out to the landing platform. "It's telling that Saphir thinks you can't walk to the medical wing on your own and sends Ravel with Onyx to take you there."
"I think he did it for security reasons, but he could have sent some junior rider like my brother. He shouldn't have bothered Commander Ravel. I feel bad about that."
"He's worried about you." Alar pulled me close. "And so am I. You shouldn't be this weak so many days after Podana."
I leaned into him, drawing comfort from his solid body. The explosion had shaken all of us, but my fatigue had persisted long before that. "I hope they'll find out what's wrong with me and will know how to fix it."
He kissed my forehead. "I'll come check on you after conditioning."
"I hope to be back by then."
He held me a moment longer, then released me reluctantly. "Good luck."
"It's a medical exam, not a battle."
"Everything is a battle." He held me to him again. "We're always fighting for something. Right now, you're fighting to get your strength back." He seemed reluctant to leave me.
"Go." I pushed on his chest. "You'll be late for conditioning."
Alar glanced at the sky, no doubt searching for Onyx, but he couldn't wait out here with me, or he would get in trouble for being late.
"Go," I said again. "I'll be fine out here for the next few minutes." I patted my holstered gun. "I'm armed, and I know how to use it."
Letting out a breath, he kissed my forehead once more and ran inside. He would have to rush up the stairs, taking two at a time to avoid being late.
I turned toward the sky, searching for Onyx's distinctive black scales against the morning light.
He appeared moments later, descending in a graceful spiral, dragon and rider forming one formidable unit.
Landing with barely a sound, Onyx folded his wings and turned his golden eyes on me. "Good morning, Little Warrior."
"Good morning, Onyx. Commander Ravel."
Ravel dismounted and approached. In the early dawn light, his features looked carved from stone—sharp cheekbones, strong jaw, those dark eyes with their peculiar golden flecks. He wore his fatigues with the same confidence he wore everything else, whether it was a dress uniform or civilian clothes.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
