"Thank you," I whispered. "That's so incredibly thoughtful."
"You should thank Onyx." Ravel lifted his head to look at his dragon. "He can be quite persuasive when he wants something, and he likes you. Besides, you are still recuperating, and you need Alar to take care of you." He turned to Alar. "Kailin is Elucia's most precious asset. Make sure nothing happens to her."
An asset.
I swallowed, fears and speculations returning in force.
Wasn't it strange that they were letting me go home to visit my family after acknowledging my importance to Elucia?
Giving me the medal was like painting a target on my back, and sending me home was like inviting the predators to a race of who would get to me first.
3
ALAR
"The most dangerous enemy is the one hidden within."
—From 'Principles of Strategic Defense'
By General Harven Blackrock
The fact that they were sending Kailin home with her brother and me only reinforced my suspicion that this vacation was less about rewarding her and more about flushing out traitors by dangling her in front of them while still keeping her protected.
Did Dylon know the game plan? Or was he also an unwitting pawn?
I wished I could get him alone for a private talk. "Can your dragonia take all three of us?" I asked him.
He shook his head. "The saddle can only accommodate two riders, but if you are okay with Jagura carrying you between her talons, I can ask her if she's willing to take you."
I wasn't keen on riding that way, but I needed to be with Kailin. "I'd appreciate it."
"I'll take you," Ravel offered. "I have some business to attend to in Skywatcher's Point."
For a moment, I was stunned speechless by the offer, but then it dawned on me that Ravel was another layer of protection for Kailin and that she was the business he needed to attend to in Skywatcher's Point.
I kept my expression neutral as I dipped my head. "Thank you, Commander."
"You have half an hour to pack," Ravel said. "Dylon and I will meet you at the landing platform next to your dorms." He walked away.
Was I jumping to conclusions?
I had a hard time imagining the decision makers purposefully risking their most valuable strategic asset to flush out possible traitors. Perhaps they really believed that the secret of Kailin's ability was contained in the Citadel, and that it was okay to reward her with a visit home.
But if that was the case, Ravel's offer to take me must have had a different motive.
A squadron commander in the Dragon Force didn't just offer lifts to first-year cadets who hadn't done anything to distinguish themselves yet.
Hopefully, he wasn't planning on dropping me from his dragon's back and claiming it was a tragic accident. I saw the way he looked at Kailin, and despite his professional conduct with her, I knew that he wanted her, and I was in his way.
Not that I truly believed that Ravel would sink as low as murdering me to eliminate the competition, especially since itwould create a major diplomatic incident between Elucia and the Elurian Federation, even if it was deemed an accident. Perhaps he just wanted to give me a speech about treating Kailin right and threaten me with bodily harm if I didn't. She was, after all, an extremely valuable strategic asset, and since I was her chosen partner, Ravel might want to ensure that I knew it was my duty and privilege to protect her.
"Come on." Kailin tugged on my hand. "Those stairs take forever to descend, and we still need to pack."
"This stinks worse than Codric's socks," Shovia muttered as she followed us.
"Hey." Codric pouted. "That was uncalled for. My socks don't stink that bad."
"Yes, they do." Shovia fell in step with Kailin and me as we went down the stairs. "I can't believe the higher-ups are dumb enough to announce to the entire Dragon Force that you can predict Shedun attacks and then immediately send you on a vacation."
