I smiled to myself. I had heard other instructors say the same thing, but had never really found them to be as complicated as most others did. Connecting to the dragons the way I had made patterns easier. There was something tied to my cycle and the connection I had to the dragons—something that was different from what most of the other students had within the Academy.
It was something that I appreciated.
“He always pursued the threat of the Vard. Almost single-mindedly, if you ask me.”
“I didn’t realize that.”
“He claims the Vard destroyed his home,” he said.
“Did they?”
“Who’s to say? The king doesn’t talk about Vard attacks, and we won’t learn about them until we are dragon mages. By that time, it won’t matter. We’ll be called into action and asked to serve . . .” He looked up. “I suppose that you’ll be nearing your testing.”
“I don’t really know what’s involved in my testing.”
“Well, they ask you to demonstrate certain control over the power. Each instructor offers an opportunity for you to show what you’ve learned, and if you pass each instructor, you’re given autonomy as a dragon mage.”
“And what does that mean?”
Ames laughed. “You got to be kidding me, right?”
“Let’s just say I’m not,” I said.
“Well, then you’re asked to serve the king however he sees fit. You’ll be given your assignment, and you’ll do what he needs. If the Vard are attacking, then you would probably move to the south, patrolling there, or perhaps there’s action along the eastern border, or maybe you’ll even be sent to the north.” Ames regarded me for a long moment. “But then again, considering that it’s you, you might be asked to go and venture across the Wilds.”
“I didn’t realize he sent dragons out to the Wilds.”
Though I knew Manuel and the Hunters went into the Wilds, I didn’t know the dragons spent much time traveling there.
But if I were given that opportunity, it would give me a chance to go past Berestal, and maybe to visit my home.
I hadn’t been away so long that I was truly homesick, but it would be nice to see my sister and my family, and it would be nice to see Joran and his family.
“More often than you realize. I think he sends dragons everywhere, so long as it’s with a dragon mage. I doubt he’d send any riders. Those are mostly used to keep the peace, show strength—that sort of thing.” Ames leaned closer to me, and he chuckled. “It’s why I’m glad I was always more talented than a rider.”
The voices down the bottom of the stairs had trailed off.
If I wanted to know anything more about Brandel’s father, now was the chance.
Which meant that I would have to go after him and chase him to figure out where he was going.
If I knew where Brandel’s father lived, then I could keep tabs on him more easily.
“I need to get moving,” I said, flashing a smile at Ames. “Can we talk again later?”
“I would love to study with you. Given how much time you’ve been working with Thomas, I imagine you have techniques that I haven’t even considered. Those would be marvelous to learn.”
I nodded absently and waved, hurrying down the stairs.
Once I reached the main part of the Academy, dragon lanterns glowing brightly on either side of the room, I saw Brandel heading down one of the halls, but he was alone.
It wasn’t Brandel I cared about at this point.
I stepped outside and saw his father walking along the road away from the Academy.
I glanced behind me, not wanting Brandel to know that I was following his father, and tried to find a way to trail after him while staying hidden.
When he passed the dragon pen, he gave me an opportunity.
I darted forward, moving toward the dragon pen, then jogged toward the main road leading into the city itself.
Then I waited.
I didn’t have to wait too long.
He was making his way carefully but he wasn’t looking around, as if he were completely unconcerned about anybody coming to him.
Maybe he wasn’t concerned.
I didn’t really know. It was possible that he wasn’t involved in anything.
As I hurried after him, I stared and considered that maybe I was reading far more into this than I needed to, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel as if perhaps there were something going on.
I raced ahead.
I wanted to be able to keep tabs on him, and I wanted to see what he was doing, where he was going, and maybe even see who he was meeting.
But as I hurried along the road, I didn’t see anything.
He had gone.
I paused, frowning.
How had he disappeared?
I looked to the trees off to the side of the road.
Could he have gone there?
I approached the forest, moving carefully and slowly, focusing on the cycle of the dragons.
I could feel the energy coursing through me, a heat that glowed, and could practically count the different dragons that were a part of my cycle, even if I couldn’t see them. They were in that cycle, a part of me now, and healed, especially when compared to where they had been before.
Some were flying, some were resting, and a few were simply awake, waiting.
It was almost as if some of the dragons were trying to decide what I was going to do.
At this point, I didn’t even know.
I turned to the forest.
I saw a figure moving in the trees.
And I followed it.
2
There was a certain smell to the edge of the forest where I stood, a
