Page 499

"Where's Corvell?"

"Council."

"Chief Corvell signed this?"

"Ask Mara."

"Rhyven has the western maps."

"Get him."

"Corvell!" Again. Again. Again.

At some point, it becomes funny. Not actually. But close enough that when Cassian says "Do you think they know there are other competent people at this Academy?"

I laugh. "Apparently not."

"Maybe they're trying to kill him before deployment." Nyra adds.

"Efficient." I say.

Cassian points. "You're doing it too."

I glare. "Shut up."

We sit in the common room for an hour. No cards. No Dax. No Soren. No Maelis. No Caelen. No Rhyven. Just us. First-years. The people staying.

Cassian eventually produces cards anyway. Of course.

"One round." Nyra says.

"No."

"One."

"No."

"National security." She stares. He smiles. She takes the cards. We play. It's not the same. Nobody says that.

At twenty-two, I go upstairs. Room 305 is empty.

Still. I shower. Change. Sit on my bed. Read three pages of a book. Understand none. Start again. Still none. Close it. Nyra sleeps at twenty-three. I don't.

Twenty-three fifteen. Voices outside. Not theirs.

Twenty-three forty. Dragon wings somewhere distant. Midnight. Nothing.

I lie on my back. Look at the ceiling. Tomorrow.

I could go downstairs. Find Rhyven. Find Caelen. Help. Something. Anything. No. They're working. They don't need another person asking for them.

At twelve thirty-eight, footsteps enter the corridor.

Two sets. I know both. Ridiculous. Low voices.

Caelen first. "Four hours." Rhyven answers something I can't hear. Keys. Door. Then Caelen again. "You eating?" Silence. I almost smile. Good. Not only me. Rhyven says something. Caelen laughs once. Quiet. Door closes. They're home. For tonight. I sit up.

Look toward my door. I could go over. They're awake. Probably. I could knock. Caelen would open. Rhyven would be there. We could talk. About nothing. Maybe play cards. Maybe steal coffee that doesn't exist at midnight. Maybe sit on the floor. Anything.