Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
“Nothing that comes to mind,” she responds.
Here we go.
“Let’s make this quick,” the Duchess of Morraine snaps in a high-pitched voice from the right, a giant ruby jostling along her collarbone when she heaves a sigh. “We have three days to save these negotiations and need every hour of it.”
“I couldn’t agree more—” I start.
“We’ve been briefed by General Melgren and conferred with the king,” the Duke of Calldyr interrupts directly across from me, stroking his short blond beard. “As of this moment, you will be assigned to a—” He glances at Melgren. “What did you call it?”
“A task force,” Melgren supplies, sitting eerily still as he studies me.
“Task force,” the duke repeats. “Which will embark on a quest to find and recruit the seventh dragon breed with an aim to increase our numbers and hopefully provide insight into killing the venin.”
I reach into the pocket of my uniform and pull out two folded pieces of parchment. I hold up the first. “Should we agree to participate, this is a list of Andarna’s demands.”
The Duchess of Elsum raises her dark brows, and the Duke of Luceras recoils.
“You are not in a place to make demands,” the Duchess of Morraine admonishes. “While we owe your mother a debt of gratitude, you are still considered a deserter.”
“A deserter who saved this college, our wards, and our kingdom, not to mention took on multiple venin within these walls a few hours ago, all of which I’ve done without falling under Navarrian chain of command.” I tilt my head. “Makes it hard to assign me to anything, as none of you commands the Aretian riot. And they’re not my demands, they’re hers.”
“The return of our riot is a matter still in negotiation.” Melgren glances down the table at Lewellen. “This assignment is being made in good faith, with the understanding that the riot will remain at Basgiath. Lewellen, seeing as you’ve secretly represented Aretia for years—which is a separate issue this council has yet to address—perhaps you’d be willing to read her demands.”
The rebuke has most of the aristocrats shifting in their seats.
Lewellen holds out his hand, and I give him the folded list. Step one, complete. A smile tugs at the corners of his lined mouth as he reads. “Some of these are quite…unique.”
“As is she,” I reply, launching into step two. “I will take six riders—”
“You will take no one,” Melgren interrupts. “You are a second-year cadet who will only be allowed to participate because we need your dragon. It has already been decided that Captain Grady will lead the task force, due largely to his experience behind enemy lines.”
My stomach sinks. “My RSC professor?” No, no, no, this is not how this was supposed to go. I grasp the list that has Mira’s name inked at the top.
“The same.” Melgren nods. “He’s been made aware, and you can expect to hear from him once we’ve settled the Poromish alliance and its requirements and he’s configured the squad of his choosing.”
His choosing. Power rises within me, simmering in my blood. “Which will at least include Lieutenant Riorson, correct?”
The aristocrats all look to Melgren.
“Riorson’s involvement will be at Grady’s discretion.” Melgren stares back at me, unflinching.
“Tairn and Sgaeyl can’t be separated,” I argue.
“Which would suggest Riorson will be among his selections,” Melgren states with about as much emotion as a tree. No wonder Mom liked him so much. “But again, it’s at the captain’s discretion.”
Captain’s discretion. My blood hums. “Determining the members of the squad is one of Andarna’s demands.” In every scenario I’d thought through, Andarna’s compliance had always been the card I’d mentally played.
“Then it’s one that won’t be met.” Melgren folds his hands in his lap. “It’s a nonnegotiable military operation, not a class field trip.”
“We won’t go,” Tairn states.
“We have to go!” Andarna argues, her voice rising.
The parchment crumples in my hand. “She’s right. We have to go.” Andarna deserves this, first and foremost. But if there’s any chance they know how to defeat the venin or how to cure Xaden, then we truly have no choice. “Every possible path.” Which means we have to give.
“Shall we consider the matter settled?” the Duke of Calldyr asks.
Absolutely the fuck not.
“It is,” Melgren states.
“Only if you meet the rest of Andarna’s demands.” I lift my chin. “I think both she and Tairn have shown they’re more than willing to walk—if not fly—away from Basgiath.”
Melgren’s nostrils flare, and I bite back a crow of victory. “We will consider approving her other requests.”
“Then it’s settled,” the Duke of Calldyr announces. “Excellent. This development should help smooth negotiations.”
“At least letting the fliers enter the quadrant would help,” I add, frustration burning in my chest.
“When they can’t even wield to protect themselves?” Melgren scoffs. “The riders will eat them alive.”
“Isn’t that one of Poromiel’s arguments against leaving those additional forces with us?” the Duchess of Morraine asks, and Melgren nods.