Her enthusiasm kept my steps quick as I trotted out of the stable—only to draw up short at the unexpected sight of a dirty, puffy-eyed Benji stumbling up the aisle.
“Blessings on you, Bren! I know you can do it!” he said, rubbing a hand through his hair, which only made it messier.
“Thank you, Benji. I’m sorry, I can’t stay and talk, I have to go to a meeting.”
“Oh, I know. I just wanted to tell you good luck before you left. I have a bet with the other boys and I’m going to win coppers!”
I blinked, then mumbled what I hoped sounded like gratitude, and hurried out of the stable and up the path to the Academy building where Ronen had told me to meet him.
It was strange to be out at this time. The pre-dawn air was chilly and it was still black as midnight. But I knew the sky would turn gray in an hour, then pink just minutes later. And then I’d take the first real step towards becoming Furyknight.
I have a bet with the other boys and I’m going to win coppers!
He’d win—if I did—because the others didn’t think I could do it.
I set my teeth.
The first trial was the flying trial and would apparently be far more intense than my assessment a month ago. But if I passed, it would prove that Akhane hadn’t been wrong to Choose me. That I had at least part of what it took to be a Furyknight.
My mind conjured an image of myself flying in full uniform—confident, sure, on a mission, and with no question in my mind that I was capable to meet it.
I wanted this so badly, nerves danced up and down from my belly to my throat.
My hands still shook when I reached the main Academy building and found the room on the first floor that Ronen had directed me to.
What I hadn’t expected was to find Gil, and platters of breakfast there as well.
I stepped inside and they turned from where they were discussing a map on the wall. I stood to attention and saluted them both. There was a moment when both their faces were so serious I wondered if I’d somehow already gotten this wrong. But then Ronen smiled and said, “Come eat. It’s the day, Bren!”
I blew out a breath and hurried to the table where there was a platter full of fruit, flaky pastry, and dried meats.
Even though I wasn’t hungry at all, I made myself dig into the food, knowing this would be a long, exhausting morning, and I’d need the sustenance before we were done.
First Ronen checked that I’d already harnessed Akhane and was ready to fly, then he sat me down to outline the three segments of the trial that I hadn’t been allowed to know before today. Gil took the seat next to me chiming in now and again.
“…The first phase is similar to your assessment, though more advanced. You’ll have to mount, clip in, and launch with the squad, then fly any formation I call—and I’ll call a lot, Bren. All the things we’ve been practicing. The judges want to see that I’m not going easy on you, and that you can take different positions in the squad.”
I nodded. That made sense, though I hadn’t known my brothers would fly with me today. I couldn’t decide if that made the morning less scary, or more.
If I failed them…
“…after we’ve all landed together—that’s an important part because we’d have to do it in travel, or under fire, so you’ll be expected to know how to navigate landing among other dragons—then you’ll launch again, but alone this time. The assessors will take you and Akhane through everything from landing on difficult terrain, to dives and spirals. Anything they ask of you, you must do without question or hesitation, Bren. Do you understand? That’s critical. If you take more than a few seconds to prepare, they’ll mark you down for disobedience, or lack of courage.”
I had a flash in my mind of that first flight, when I’d just been acknowledged. Of standing on that net, telling them all to go fuck themselves.
I grinned. “I understand.”
Ronen smiled, but Gil looked a little worried.
“Once you’re told to return to the launch hollow, you’ll be given a short rest. Akhane will be watered and fed if she wants it, then it’s the Banner Seize. Once that whistle blows, you’re in the air and you don’t come down until you have all five of your flags. No matter how long it takes, no matter how tired you are, you do not give up, do you understand?”
I nodded. “I mean, I understand what you’re saying, but what’s the Banner Seize?”
Ronen looked at Gil who sighed and leaned in. “Banner Seize is a war game. It’s meant to simulate similar circumstances you might face in the air during battle. The goal is simple: there will be five dragons in the air, circling, each with a long, weighted rope dangling beneath it. And those ropes will have banners for each Flameborne’s squad tied to it. You have to find each of the ropes, tear your banner off it, hold onto them and not land until you have all five.”
I frowned. “That doesn’t seem too hard. I know it’s probably hard to get to the rope with the flying, but—”
“The banners can be tricky to reach, but that’s just perseverance,” Ronen affirmed. “The hard part is that the other Flameborne will also be trying to reach their Banners at the same time. And, just as in battle, you’re encouraged to be as aggressive, or strategic as necessary to make certain you’re the one who gets your banners first.”
