I frowned at this. I needed to talk to Flea and Jez as soon as possible. Being my friends would put a target on their backs. Can you get a message to them after first lesson? I said to Miazydar.
So, I’m a messenger pigeon now?
No one wants us to succeed here. If they’re going to find a patsy to take the fall, it's likely to be us. What was the name of the guy who came by for Jez again?
Oh yes, harder, Greig? Yes, yes, just there, Greig? Not sure he would have had time to plant incriminating evidence, he was too busy planting his seed in Jez.
Still, they need to know what’s up. So, yes?
Of course, I am ever your slave.
We had a quick breakfast and then all the riders got to their feet. “We need to get our beasts ready for the morning class. Ours aren’t quite so portable,” Alden said. Miazydar just looked at him, giving him the dragon equivalent of a smile. “Go through the common area in the teaching building. There’s a door at the end that opens onto the training field.”
I nodded and drank down my now lukewarm coffee. “See you there.”
By the time I got there, several dragons were beginning to circle in the air above making ready to land and another few were waiting patiently on the field. There were a couple of dragon riders standing together and chatting, but one peeled off and came towards me. I knew it was a guy, the skin-tight wetsuit-looking uniform made that plain. He was fit too, the wide span of his shoulders clearly outlined, as were a lot of other things. I let my eyes trail down as he ambled over, jerking them back to his face when he pulled off his helmet. Fuck! It was bloody Keel and his smile made it evident he’d seen what I was doing.
“Morning, ready to see how you fare on dragon back?”
“No, not at all. I trained to fight with a sword, I have no training whatsoever fighting on a dragon.”
“Well, you won’t be doing much with him at that size. I’ve never seen a shape-changing beast before.” Miazydar snorted and then changed until he was considerably bigger than his usual form. He looked over his shoulder as if to say “see”. “That’s a lot more workable. Now, we need you in uniform. Did you bring yours?”
“No, I don’t have one. I just wore my usual clothes and a pair of safety goggles to protect my eyes when we flew.”
Keel’s eyebrows shot up and then he shook his head. “Maybe you’ll need to sit this one out until we can get you kitted out.”
“Absolutely not.” We both turned to see VC Bhechro had arrived. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking up at the dragons as they landed. He finally deigned to turn towards us. “She completes all tasks as the other riders do, or she does not pass this course and forfeits her dragon.”
“She’s never fought on dragon back. We would never jeopardise a young rider and their beast like that during basic training.”
“This is not basic training, this is the most premier university on the continent.”
“What seems to be the problem?” another rider said. They had all walked over now, pulling off helmets. There were two women and one man standing there, but a woman with her blonde hair twisted up into a tight bun was the one asking the question.
“Cadet McKinnon needs to perform at the same level as all other students at Lorikham or be expelled.”
“I’m sure she will, when she has time to be taught the requisite skills. And with all due respect, Vice-Chancellor, the university has no authority over the ADC, its tutors or its curriculum. We come here to prepare your students as a courtesy.”
“Maybe so,” he replied, “but assessment does fall within my purview. Teach her as you will, but she must perform at the upcoming war games at the same level as the other riders.”
“But Alden’s been at this since he was five years old!” Keel said, but the blonde shook her head at him. Her eyes flicked back to Bhechro.
“And where’s her uniform?” she said.
“All students are instructed to bring their own equipment at the beginning of term.”
“So where is it, cadet?” the blonde woman asked me.
“I was sentenced to appear at the university two days ago and was given no time to buy anything. Can I get one from the village?”
The woman’s long sigh made it clear that wasn’t going to happen.
“Remember our work-health-safety requirements, Captain Keya,” Bhechro said with a smirk. “All students are to wear the correct safety gear at all times or risk expulsion.”
Well, fuck.
More games to try and separate us.