The ground trembles as the first roar splits the sky.
Violet Sorrengail steps forward despite her shaking knees, her leathers barely fitting after weeks of malnutrition and sabotage. Rhiannon grips her wrist from beside her.
“Remember,” Rhi whispers, “Dragons choose who stands their ground.”
Violet nods, even as her legs threaten betrayal. Her eyes scan the sky—looking for movement, watching for colors.
Across the field, Jack Barlowe smirks at her. “You’re dead the second the barrier drops, Sorrengail.”
“You keep saying that,” Violet mutters, “and yet… here I stand.”
Behind Jack, Oren Seifert—all sharp angles and cruel amusement—adjusts his gauntlets. “Maybe Sorrengail will be lucky and a dragon will roast her fast.”
“Shut up,” Liam Mairi growls from beside Violet, his presence steady as stone. “No one’s touching her.”
Ridoc Gamlyn elbows Sawyer Henrick. “Five gold says the little tyrant’s favorite stooge gets toasted first.”
“Which stooge?” Sawyer asks.
Ridoc shrugs. “Either or. They come in a two-pack.”
Rhiannon snorts.
A massive deep blue blur drops first, the sheer force of her landing knocking several first-years off balance.
Sgaeyl. Storm-winged. Deadly. Loyal to no one but herself—and Xaden Riorson.
Second-year Xaden is already waiting at the base of the ridge, expression unreadable as he watches her sink her claws into the earth. His shadows curl faintly around his boots, as if answering her energy.
Sgaeyl’s voice rumbles across the minds of every student present:
Next lands Cath, Dain Aetos’s dragon, red and arrogant with wings like blood crimson. Behind him, Glane, Curth, and Cuir thunder onto the earth, forming a loose semi-circle.
The air smells of fire and challenge.
The dragons begin to circle.
A young first-year breaks rank and sprints toward the trees.
Cath’s head swivels. His jaws open.
One breath of flame— One scream— And the field goes still.
No one runs again.
A smaller green dragon—sleek and quick—lands near Rhiannon.
Everyone tenses.
The dragon bends low, inspecting her with intelligent amber eyes.
<Clever. Fast. Fear that does not own you.>
Rhi swallows, shoulders square.
<You.>
Rhiannon gasps as the bond snaps into place like a warm tether. She laughs through the shock. “Her name… it’s Feirge! She said—she chose me!”
Violet beams, even as adrenaline spikes through her veins.
Sawyer whoops. Ridoc whistles. “Alright, Rhi! Show the rest of us how it’s done!”
Jack Barlowe steps forward as a crimson male dragon stomps near his group.
“Finally came for the strongest, huh?” Jack taunts, puffing his chest.
The dragon regards Jack for all of three seconds before turning away in complete dismissal.
Ridoc nearly collapses laughing. “Rejected! By a guy who eats rocks!”
Jack’s face reddens. “It’s not funny!”
Oren Seifert steps toward the same dragon, confident. “You just have to show dominance. Dragons respect assertiveness.”
He gets closer—
Too close.
The dragon’s tail whips out.
Oren pinwheels through the air and lands hard on his back, groaning.
The dragon snorts smoke and walks away.
“Oh yeah,” Sawyer deadpans, “they clearly respect you.”
Dozens of dragons begin landing all at once—silver, ash-black, jagged-scaled, storm-scaled, ember-eyed creatures of every shape and temperament.
One, a massive red dragon with a daggertail, drops directly in front of Liam Mairi.
The ground splits beneath its weight.
Everyone goes silent.
Liam doesn’t move.
The dragon lowers its head until its molten eyes are inches from Liam’s.
<Steady. Loyal. You will guard what you claim.>
A pulse of light binds them.
Liam sucks in a breath, chest heaving. “Him… his name’s Deigh.”
Violet’s heart swells. “Liam, that’s incredible—”
The air shifts again.