“Is it a race?” I asked, blinking. Akhane was smaller than most of the other Flameborne dragons, but that also meant she was more agile, and in many situations she was faster, though she tired more easily as well.
“Not exactly. The judges are looking for confidence and strategy. They want to see you assessing the field, just as you would in battle, and entering the fray in any way you believe will give you the best chance of success.”
“I still don’t understand why this is difficult if the banners aren’t hard to get off the ropes?”
Ronen and Gil looked at each other, then Gil answered. “Because you’re all going to be given permission to thwart your fellow Flameborne,” Gil said quietly
I frowned. “Thwart how?”
“Anything short of violent harm. Your dragons will be instructed not to flame. And you Flameborne will be checked for weapons. You only use your bodies and skills. But within that, there are no rules. If you can causeanother dragon to divert from their path, or you can unseat another rider, do it.”
“Why would I want to do that?!”
“Because this is war, Bren. It’s what we do. It’s better to know now that a Flameborne doesn’t have the stomach to defeat another rider, or doesn’t have the seat to ride out a battle, than to put them against an enemy and learn then. The trials are all designed to test you. So, be tested. And don’t flinch. This is your chance to show those bastards who were aiming for you in the assessment that you won’t be an easy target.”
“But, if they’re gunning for me with those battle dragons—”
“Akhane is a battle dragon.”
“But she’s still growing!”
“That gives her better agility. You know how it goes, all the things we’ve been practicing. Use them. And if you see an opening to thwart someone else—put Akhane between them and the rope on their approach so they’re forced to evade, or come up on their dragon when they’re distracted so they spook and maybe unseat their rider, or any of a million things that can happen in the air. Do it.”
I chewed on my lip and thought about that. I was torn. Part of me loved the idea of getting in Faren’s way and slowing him down or frustrating him. Or his sidekick Lorr, both of whom continued to whisper things about why a female Flameborne had even been allowed.
But the other half of me wanted none of that. I just wanted to do my flying, show them I was capable, and pass the trial…
“Gil and I disagree somewhat on this, which is why I wanted him to give his opinion first,” Ronen said quietly. I looked at my Wing Captain, curious. His tone was a little reluctant. “Gil is a fighter, through and through, Bren. It’s what he and Runar were made to do. He’s always looking for the attack, and no matter what anyone tells you, he’s fucking good at it.”
I grinned. Gil shrugged, but I saw the hint of a smile.
“I’m a little more strategic, and I’d like to offer an alternative option,” Ronen continued. “We don’t know your true skills yet, or where your purpose will be in the Wings. So that’s why we’re offering you multiple perspectives. It’s up to you to choose what you think best suits you and your dragon.”
“But don’t make a choice out of fear,” Gil muttered darkly. “If an approach suits your skills and ways of thinking, that’s great. But don’t choose an option you think will be easier because you’re afraid to fail.”
“What options?” I said frankly. “You just said that the others will be encouraged to thwart me, so I should thwart them if I can.”
They both nodded.
“But your other option is to evade,” Ronen said carefully. “While some of us fight best in frontal attack, others are more stealthy, or strategic. Or to fight from a distance. You have an opportunity in this exercise to show your intellect and planning. Instead of creating chaos for youropponents, you can choose to focus solely on your task, and strategically avoid conflict with others. It’s an entirely acceptable approach, and one that’s very useful for certain parts of our battle strategy. You won’t be marked down if you approach the Banner Seize as a problem to solve, rather than a fight to pick. As long as you show that you’re thinking. Make your goals clear and achieve them.”
I gave that some thought too. “You’re saying, either fly aggressively and upset the others, or stay out of their way and get through it quickly?”
“Exactly,” Ronen said, smiling.
“But make the choice based on your skills and intellect, not what scares you,” Gil added with a nod.
I wished I wasn’t too far away from Akhane to reach her mind. I would have liked to know what she thought was the best approach for us.
“You can do this, Bren. I’m certain of it,” Ronen said quietly. “When the time comes for the Banner Seize, follow your instincts. Choose your path and stick to it.”
“Ignore their words,” Gil growled. I looked at him and he grimaced. “The most common weapon in the skies are mind games. Most men use taunts and insults to get you riled up so you’ll make bad choices. My advice is to fly as if none of them are there. And if they get in your way, go straight through them. They already know you aren’t scared to do that. It’s an advantage you have. Use it,” Gil said with what was possibly the nastiest smile I’d ever seen.
I gaped at him for a moment, trying to adjust. Gil was quiet and steady. The kind of man who came alongside others when they were upset and tried to keep the peace. I’d heard my brothers talking about his ruthlessness in battle, but honestly, I’d assumed it was a joke. He was so calm.
But now, as he leaned towards me, his eyes bright with intensity, and his teeth slightly bared when he spoke, I saw it.
As they moved on to outlining the points system, how each of the trial segments would be graded, and what I could do to give myself the best chance of a good mark, I tried to focus, but my mind kept coming back the mental images of the flights I was about to take, and whether Akhane and I were better suited to an offensive strike, or an evasion strategy.
