Page 85 of Under Restless Skies

The drawing shows a top view and bottom view of a dragon, with some circles.

She points at them. “Eyes, of course. They’re soft, and blinding them can be very helpful.”

My stomach twists. I picture Ava and Vos, their eyes so full of innocent trust.

Celine continues, oblivious. “The tip of the wings is good too. You’d think you should try to cut the whole wing, but the upper part is thicker. The tips are thinner, and you can mess with their flight. Tails are the same. Now, the scales are hard, and you won’t be able to do much, but if you can hit the dragon, the part between the head and the body is what you want—closer to the body.”

This talk twists my stomach as I think about the hatchlings and the dark dragon, but I force myself to listen. If I ever face the enemy’s beasts, I’ll need to know where to strike.

I swallow. “You sound as if you had killed dozens of dragons.”

She shakes her head. “Frankly, I hope I only see them dead. That, I’d like to do: dissect them. Learn some more.”

Unease settles over me at the gruesome image that flashes through my mind, and I try to change the subject.

“How hard are their scales? Like iron?”

“I’d say more like wood. Still not something you can simply cut through with a sword, but a ballista projectile can pierce them.”

“Do we learn what happens during the invasions? How many dragons enter our skies, how many are killed?”

“That’s for when you truly join the Sky Guard, after the second year. For now⁠—”

A bell rings. A bell I know well, and my body stiffens. Unless this is something else. “Is this…”

Celine’s eyes widen and she straightens on her chair. “Yes. We need to return to the dorm.”

“The dorm? That’s what we do during an attack?” The idea feels bizarre. I thought the academy would take the opportunity to instruct us.

Celine nods. “If we’re not assigned anywhere, yes, unless we’re too far. The castle is sturdy and well protected.” She gets up. “Let’s go.”

Another bell rings, and this time it feels even louder, igniting the vivid memory of me shaking with fear, having to comfort my brother. But this castle is a hundred times sturdier than the Grease & Spice, so I should be safe. I just hope Kaio is indoors and that they have time to bar the windows.

We walk out of the room in calm steps, and Celine says, “Whenever there’s an attack, one thing we cannot do is run. If we’re caught running…”

“Let me guess. You get expelled.”

She cocks her head. “Or spend some time in prison. It’s weird that they’re attacking during the day, isn’t it? It hasn’t happened in what? A few years, I think.”

My body chills all at once, and I pause. There is something different this time. Something they want in this castle.

The hatchlings.

“I have to go somewhere else,” I mutter.

“You’re not supposed to.”

“I’m sorry.”

I find the closest stairs to me and rush down the steps, descending quickly, but not fast enough to get expelled for running if someone sees me.

In the basement, guards are pouring in, and my breath comes easier. No rider yet. The hatchlings are protected. Still, I need to see the little dragons.

I show the guard by the door my brooch, but he shakes his head.

“Nobody goes in or out. Not while the attack’s happening.”

I want to complain, convince him to let me through, do something, but then I consider the number of guards protecting the corridor, Mallor’s words telling me that this is a trap, and figure that the little dragons are protected. Plus, opening the door could expose them.