“There, you see? G’lornie wants you to have it,” the courier said. “You go on and finish it now, lad. I’ll pack up while you eat.”
“Well, thank you, er…” I hesitated awkwardly, not sure what to call him.
“Oh, I’m Jorn,” the courier said to me, smiling. “I guess I never really introduced myself. Not much use, seeing as how once we get back to the Academy, we’ll be moving in different circles. You’ll be with the new cadets and I’m always off flying, dispatching messages and gathering candidates. Still, maybe you’ll remember old Jorn once you’ve Impressed yourself a Silver or Gold-wing.”
“I’ll never forget your kindness,” I said and meant it.
“Oh, go on with you.” Jorn made a shooing gesture and his weather-roughened cheeks grew a bit red. “I’ve a lad myself, just your age and entering the Academy this year. I wouldn’t want him going hungry—just treating you the way I’d hope someone would treat him if your circumstances were reversed.”
I wondered if Jorn’s son looked anything like him and pictured a boy about my age with an enormous poufy mustache. The mental image made me smile.
“Well, we’d best get moving if we’re going to get you to Receiving Day on time,” Jorn said. “Finish that bread and let’s head out.”
As he stamped out the fire and packed up his gear, I hoped and prayed that the other men I met at the Academy would be as kind as Jorn and all the dragons as sweet as G’lornie.
I had no idea how soon my hopes would be dashed and that all my prayers would go unanswered.
5
AURORA
Receiving Day, to hear my father tell it, was one of the most important days in the Academy calendar, superseded only by Hatching Day. It was less important and much less private than the various Mating Flights that happened roughly once a month and were restricted to the inhabitants of the Academy only.
But Receiving Day was treated as a celebration. I saw families gathered around their sons—members of other Great Houses, I was sure—at least to judge by their dress and mannerisms. All of them looked proud and happy and excited and they were all wearing their best clothes.
The aerial view was spectacular, but I was glad we were finally at our destination. Riding dragonback was thrilling of course, but after the initial thrill of being hundreds of feet in the air wore off, I became very aware of how cold I was. The freezing air bit through my clothes, chilling me to the bone. It was even worse since I had no fat to keep me warm. I envied Jorn’s flight leathers which insulated him from the biting cold.
G’lornie landed us at the edge of the crowd that was gathered in the vast stone bowl, which was located in on the lowest ledge of the enormous dormant volcano where the Academy was located. “the Old Drake” the cadets all called it—or so my father had told us—though it had a more formal name in the Ancient Tongue.
Looking up at the higher ledges, I could see the enormous heads of full-grown dragons poking out of their caverns, looking down curiously at the gathering of humans.
Other couriers, some riding common Blue drakes and others on common Greens—none with any gold or silver or bronze markings on their wings—were landing on the perimeters of the crowd as well. I saw boys about my age slide off their backs and then the couriers took off again.
“Well, this is where I leave you, lad,” Jorn said, twisting in the saddle to look at me. “Just jump down now.”
“All right but where am I supposed to go?”
I looked around at the crowd in confusion. It was the most people I’d ever seen all together in one place. Aside from the Noble families and cadets, there were food vendors hawking their wares, a few scribe-priests in long white robes, and older boys and men dressed in the uniform of the academy with the golden dragon stitched on the left sleeve. All of them moved with purpose, as though they knew exactly where to go.
I, on the other hand, felt suddenly completely lost. How could I possibly belong in this hustle and bustle where I didn’t know a single other person? How could I pull off my deception among so many sharp eyes?
Jorn gave me an awkward but comforting pat on the knee.
“I know it seems overwhelming, but you’ll find your way. Don’t worry—they won’t let everyone mill about like this for long. In a little while one of the older cadets will come call all the new recruits and take you where you need to go.”
“All right. Er…thank you,” I said and started to slide off G’lornie’s back.
But Jorn gripped my knee tighter, stopping me.
“Wait, lad—there’s something I must say.”
He had a troubled look in his mild brown eyes that made my heart start pounding. Did he know my secret? Had he found me out?
“What?” I asked bluntly. If he was going to call me out, he’d better do it now.
But his next words surprised and confused me.
“Be careful during the Mating Flights,” he said to me. “Try to make yourself scarce, if you can.”
