“It’s Kierion. Apparently, he told them all that if they helped in the kitchens, they had more chance of being chosen as trainee dragon riders.”
“That scoundrel.” Lars laughed.
“Is it true?”
“It had crossed my mind that those who accepted responsibility for that prank might have enough integrity to become riders.” How had Kierion guessed his intentions?
As if reading his mind, Benji said, “I tell you, that one’s ahead of the bunch. It’d be good to harness some of his excess energy.”
Lars gave a wry smile. “I trust you’ll keep him busy enough to stay out of trouble. How’s tension between the sword fighters and the archers? Are they spitting at each other over the cauldrons?”
“Kierion gave them a pep talk. Told them it’s tharuks they should be fighting, not each other. Said he’d been a fool to hide their arrows. Now they’re working hand in glove.”
As Lars was shaking his head in amazement, someone knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Lars called.
Jerrick, master of archery, came inside. “Lars, did I miss something? Has the council instigated a new training schedule?”
“Why?”
“This morning, the trainee sword fighters turned up for extra archery practice. And my trainee archers have doubled their sword practice, fighting the … ahem, blade thrusters, as they call them.” Jerrick shrugged. “A wise move. They could all do with extra cross-training, but I just wasn’t aware it was happening.”
Neither was Lars. Must be Kierion’s work. Inventive indeed. That young man had leadership potential. Benji winked. He knew it was Kierion, too. Lars cleared his throat. “Yes, I’ve assigned Kierion to train the blade thrusters and arrow flingers to work as a team.”
“That irresponsible cur that hid all of our arrows?” Jerrick blustered. “Why he’s—”
“Effective?” Lars asked dryly. “A brilliant leader?”
Jerrick stopped in his tracks. His open mouth broke into a grin. “Effective. If he’s the one behind this, he’s sharding amazing!”
§
Adelina patted Erob’s blue scales and rose from sitting between his front limbs. Worry had gnawed at her stomach, keeping her awake. As dawn’s early rays had crept onto the ledge outside the infirmary, she’d faced the wan sun, hoping it would warm her, but nothing could melt the chill inside her.
Except Roberto’s return.
He’d been her anchor for so long. Protecting her when Pa had wanted to beat her. Taking beatings for her, hiding her from Pa. Even diving with her in Crystal Lake to wash her fear and worry away. Then there was that awful year when her father had kidnapped Roberto and given him to Zens. Her skin still crawled at the thought of her father willingly giving her brother to that brutal monster. Roberto had come back changed. Nightmares had plagued him. Anger had stalked him. But when Pa had broken Ma’s back, Roberto had loved her and nursed her until she’d died.
Since then they’d only had each other—and Erob.
Adelina had been awake since yesterday morning. A whole day and night of knowing Roberto was in danger, and doing nothing. If Erob was well enough, they’d fly off and search for him. Although his belly wound was mended, he’d lost a lot of blood. It could be days until he’d have the strength to fly.
There was a whump and a flurry of snow on the ledge as Liesar landed with a goat’s haunch in her jaws. Handel and Liesar had agreed to take turns hunting for Erob.
Watching dragons eat might put Adelina off her own breakfast. She stamped her frozen feet. She’d head to the mess cavern. She wasn’t going to be any use to anyone cold and hungry.
“Hi, Adelina.” Mara and Leah were coming past the infirmary, so she fell into step with them. A few years younger than her, they were both orphans too. “What was it like?” they asked, eyes wide. “They’re saying you’re a real hero now, because you fought tharuks and rescued a dragon.”
“A hero, huh? Says who?”
“Kierion.”
Adelina rolled her eyes. “Since when did you two take anything he says seriously?”
The girls giggled. They all went into the busy mess cavern. Happy chatter from the kitchen punctuated the hum of conversation and the clatter of people eating.
Mara leaned in. “Since Kierion’s prank with the arrows, it’s so jolly in the kitchen because everyone’s helping.”
Worry about Roberto had driven Kierion’s hoax from her mind. “So I heard. You two find seats and I’ll get breakfast for us.” Adelina lined up and served dollops of porridge into three bowls, and then grabbed jam and fresh bread. Taking her laden tray, she threaded her way through the crowded tables to join the girls at their table in a corner. Thank the Egg, Mara and Leah had left her a seat that faced the wall. The last thing she felt like was plastering on a smile for the world.
Leah spread jam on her bread roll.
“How’s it going?” Adelina gestured at Leah’s hand. Tharuks had nearly severed her finger when Septimor had brought her to Dragons’ Hold over two moons ago. Ezaara had had to finish the job.
Leah flexed her remaining four fingers. “Great. It’s strange. Sometimes my missing finger gets itchy or tingles, but apart from that, I manage just as well with four. I’m lucky it wasn’t my thumb. You know …” Leah’s face was pensive.
“What is it?”
The girl blushed. “Well, you and Ezaara did such a good job of healing me from limplock that I wanted to ask you whether you’d teach me more.” Her eyes shone.
“I can’t teach you much, and Ezaara is probably too busy.”
“Oh.” Leah bit her lip.
“You should ask Master Marlies, the healer,” Adelina said. “She’s looking for a new trainee.”
“Me?”
“Yes.” Adelina nodded. “I know you’re young, but you have a keen mind, good hands and you work hard. I bet you’d learn really quick.”
“Good hands?” Leah stared
