Chapter Text
The following text has been written down by Violet Sorrengail Duchess of Tyrrendor and faithfully transcribed from Navarrian into the modern language by Jesinia Neilwart, Curator of the Scribe Quadrant at Basgiath War College. All events are true, and names have been preserved to honor the courage of those fallen. May their souls be commended to Malek.
Conscription Day always meant a new chance in a marked one’s life. Or it could mean it’s the end of our story. We don’t have the privilege of choosing our quadrant. There are always two options; go through the parapet and wait what the next day brings or fall to our death. Everyone wants to see the next sunrise but hope is a fragile thing. The parapet is a death factory. Not everyone can make it to the other side to try their luck in the Riders Quadrant but I’ll. I won’t die as a traitor’s daughter like my sister did two years ago. Anah wasn’t skilled enough to cross the parapet but I am. I have been training for this since Lilith Sorrengail executed our mother after the rebellion. Anah always said she doesn’t need to train to cross a bridge but she was so wrong. She wouldn’t have made a good rider, she was too egoistic to be one of the elite. We never had a good relationship but Conscription Day brings out the best of everyone. Anah never had a good word to me, but before she died she hugged me tighter than our mother ever did. She promised me when I’ll see her again she’s gonna be a rider, the best the world had ever seen. I knew her better. My first thing today was bringing some flowers to her grave where they buried her after the first gust of wind pushed her into the abyss. She wasn’t steady enough but I am. This is not the day I’m gonna die.
As I am watching the others hugging their loved ones for the last minute before Zihnal decides their faith, I get overcome with bitter grief. I never really liked my family, my mother was too arrogant and so was my sister but at this moment I would give everything to hug them one more time. I never knew my father, he disappeared before I was born but my mom always said he was an angry man. She didn’t like me because I got my father’s features and temper.
I sigh and pull my leather shirt’s arm lower to hide my Rebellion Relic. A painful reminder of what my mother did after she joined Fen Riorson’s army. Of course I hated Lilith Sorrengail for what she did to my family but I wouldn’t have done differently if I were in her place.
“Name?” I suddenly turn my head to the girl who is writing down the applicants' names. I didn’t even realise I spent so much time wondering about my life that all those 30 people passed by before me.
“Ehm… Yeah… my name.”
“Don’t you know your name?” somebody behind me snorts, my face starts burning with embarrassment.
“No, of course I do. Elara Nyx.” I answer quickly.
She writes it down and nods.
“Good luck.” she points at the stairs that lead to the parapet. To my death sentence. No! I’m gonna see the next sunrise. This is not the day I’m gonna die.
The weather is shit. It is already raining and the wind is stronger than I ever experienced before. Lilith Sorrengail got up on the wrong side of the bed today. I thought she might get easy on us today since I heard her youngest is gonna cross the parapet today as well. So I was wrong after all. Maybe she’s challenging her. I heard the little Violet is not her favourite, she’s short and weak. She spent her whole life in the Scribe Quadrant with her father and she was about to become a scribe but Lilith decided differently. She thought a scribe would tarnish the reputation of the Sorrengail name. But as far as I know, the General’s husband was also a scribe so maybe it’s just a painful memory if the youngest would go to the same quadrant.
While I am thinking about this I almost reach the top of the stairs. From here I can already hear the screams from the ones who couldn’t make it to the other side. I don’t want to think that I might be the next one who will be buried in the war school’s graveyard because I can’t die like this. If I die in the following years I’m gonna die as a rider, with a title, not as the daughter of Fen Riorson’s lover. Cus yeah. Besides being a traitor, my mother was a whore. That would define just enough what I think of my family.
“Next one!” with that I reach the top of the stairs, even though I tried really hard not to walk too fast. I wanted to enjoy my last moments as just a girl or alive. “What’s your name?”
Oh you gotta be kidding me…
“Elara?” somebody kill me please.
I force a smile and I look up to my “step-brother”. He isn’t really family since our parents never married but they were about to but they got executed before the wedding. I never had a good relationship with Fen Riorson’s son. He was cold and a pain in the ass. He always wanted to train on the mat. I’m not a big fighter myself and I hated every second of his trainings. He was double my size back then when I was a kid and he could easily beat the shit out of me. But now, he looks like a bull. I don’t think he grew more but he’s definitely more muscular.
“Xaden.” I give him a nod. I don't want to talk to him before I cross the parapet. I knew he was here, of course I knew. Where would he be since he’s also a marked one? Also he became one of the strongest and greatest riders of his age. It was ironic. His father always hated riders since he thought they’re arrogant and dangerous and voila. Fen must be turning in his grave.
“I didn’t know this year was gonna be yours.” he says while he crosses my name out.
“Well, it’s not surprising, I just turned 20 this june.”
“Happy-late-birthday.”
“Save it.” I wave him off then turn to the narrow bridge. “As I see, I have a parapet to cross. Goodbye Xaden. See you later or not.”
“Be careful Elara, the wind is really strong today.” he almost sounds like he’s worried about me but I know better. Xaden never cared about anyone except himself and nowadays maybe his dragon. He is just trying to be the hero of the day who saved his pathetic step-sister.
I step onto the parapet and throw my hands out for balance. There’s no comeback. The only way out of here is the other side or the abyss which can welcome me anytime if I’m not careful enough. Small steps, keep your balance. I was training for this for six years since the new rule which said every marked child must apply to the riders quadrant when they turn 20. I’m better at this than my sister was three years ago. I was training for this every damn day. This is not the day I’m gonna die.
I keep my eyes on the bridge as I am taking my careful steps but I’m really trying not to look down. I can be more or less 300 meters from the valley. If I would fall, I wouldn’t scream and it wouldn’t hurt since it’s almost half a kilometer from the ground. My remains would be only some bones and bloodstain. There is no way I would feel anything.
The boy who snorted behind me now steps onto the parapet to start his journey. Just please don’t push me down. I never thought pushing somebody down is fair, especially if it’s somebody double your size so you don’t have any chance to fight back. The next gust of wind hits me hard in the side but I don’t lose my balance. I stop for a second to make sure my legs are steady and I continue walking.
“I had a dream, I had a vision” I start singing my favourite song to distract myself. “I had to work for this, and you didn't.”
I almost reach the middle of the parapet when I hear the steps of the boy coming closer and closer to me. Oh god, is he about to throw me off? I’m not that small but that boy was around 190 cm pure muscles.
“I had to bleed, still got the stitches” I start singing louder so maybe he’ll think I’m mad and he leaves me alone. “I learned to swim from all your burned bridges.”
“Are you really singing?” he asks from behind. I know he’s close but as I look over my shoulder for a second, I see he’s not even within arm’s reach. He keeps distance. I’m just slow, that’s why he’s behind me.
“It helps distract me from my situation.” I answer while I continue my way to the other side of the bridge.
“I don’t think you should forget where you really are. You might get so into it that you start dancing and fall over.”
Now it’s my turn to snort. He’s right. I have to be here mentally to cross this death factory. So from now on I shut up and continue my walking. Sometimes I hear screams from behind from the boys and girls who won’t see the next sunrise but I ignore them. If I panic, I die. It’s this simple. When I was a kid I was sitting and walking about the Riorson mansion’s roof. I never had a wrong move and my balance is really good because of that.
But the wind is pretty strong and I can feel myself getting tired. I continue walking towards the other side while I am still praying for the boy behind me not to push me down. He doesn’t seem like a bad person from that one look I exchanged with him, when he asked me why I am singing. He could’ve easily pushed me since he is so close to me but he just waits patiently to cross the parapet. I appreciate that.
From here I can already see the gates to Basgiath War College. I see the cadets who already crossed this deadly bridge and they’re all cheering and chatting with each other.
I’m almost there.
I’m trying to calm my heart down while I can feel the water from the rain getting through my clothes and wetting my whole body. My boots are completely full with water, it’s like a disgusting aquarium and my feet are the only fish in them. I’m sure I’m gonna get sick after this. The rain mixing up with the wind is freezing even though it’s august, so it is supposed to be warm.
Slowly I take the last careful steps until I basically jump into the courtyard. My legs are shaking as I look back to the parapet to see more unlucky people disappear into the valley. I made it. I take some deep breaths and watch the boy behind me also get down from the bridge. He smiles like he just won the lottery.
His brown curls now are wet and dipping with water. As he walks his boots make a funny splashing sound. His clothes are also soaked from head to toe. This rainstorm was something else. Hopefully the General’s youngest survived the parapet and didn’t get killed by her own mother.
“I liked the song by the way.” he smiles and shakes his head like a dog. “You gave the whole valley a concert.”
“I was trying for sure.” I smiled back. “I’m Elara Nyx.” I reach my hand out to shake his hand but with that my leather sleeve rolls up and shows my relic.
The boy looks at my hand and humms.
“Cool relic. My name is Ridoc Gamlyn.” he shakes my hand and doesn’t give a damn about my relic. “If you excuse me.”
He splashes away to a bench and takes off his boots to spill the water out of them. Not a bad idea. I do the same but it doesn’t really help how much I’m freezing at that moment. After the adrenalin rush fades away I can clearly feel how cold I am.
“After I survived the parapet I’ll have to fight with the flu.” Ridoc doesn’t seem so thrilled about this. He’s right. We just survived the deadliest entrance exam and from now on we’ll have to deal with sneezing and probably fever for two weeks.
“Maybe this is the whole point.” I shrug. “I mean every two cadets survive the first year so I think this is also to weed out the weak.”
“I don’t think my ma would be so proud of me If I’d die from the flu.”
“I don’t think your ma would be proud If you’d die.”
He doesn’t respond, just nods then gets up from the bench where he was sitting. Now I have time to examine the courtyard. The walls are ten feet thick and at least eight tall. I feel like I'm in a huge cage for hamsters. And I’m one of the hamsters. I didn’t have too much time to learn where is where from the map I got before I came here so I have actually no idea where I suppose to go after the formation. I hope we’re gonna get some food cus I didn’t eat anything for breakfast since I was worried that I might throw up from anxiety.
While I am looking around I suddenly see a girl holding a knife to a blonde dude’s balls. The girl is half of his size and she really looks like a stronger gust of wind could break her half but she’s fierce. I like that. The boy on the other hand doesn’t look so thrilled about the knife between his legs. He must have really upset her.
“It is unlawful for a rider to cause another harm. While in a quadrant formation or in the supervisory. Presence of a superior-ranking cadet, as it will diminish the efficacy of the wing. And given the crowd behind us, I think it’s clear to argue that it’s a formation. Article Three, Section—” she manages to split out the rules from the Codex. It sounds like she knows it by heart.
“I don’t give a shit!” the blonde moves, but she holds her ground, and the dagger slices through the first layer of his breeches.
“I suggest you reconsider. I might slip.” I smile. I like her already.
“Name?” the rider asks next to her. “You’re pretty small for a rider, but it looks like you made it.”
“Violet Sorrengail. And before you ask, yes, I’m that Sorrengail.”
My stomach drops. Sorrengail’s youngest. Looks like she made it past the parapet and she kinda acts like her mother. All my goodwill toward her vanishes. Although I would never hurt a single soul, I kinda get why the blonde looks like he’s about to rip her head off. Although the blonde doesn’t have the rebellion relic so maybe he’s just an asshole.
“Jack Barlowe.” the boy says but he doesn’t get his eyes off Sorrengail. He cannot kill her here right now but I’m sure it’s gonna be his first thing tonight. Sorrengail should not sleep from now on.
“Well, Jack,” the male rider on Sorrengail’s right says slowly. “Cadet Sorrengail has you by the actual balls here, in more ways than one. She’s right. Regs state that there’s nothing but respect among riders at formation. You want to kill her, you’ll have to do it in the sparring ring or on your own time. That is, if she decides to let you off the parapet. Because technically, you’re not on the grounds yet, so you are not a cadet. She is.”
“And if I decide to snap her neck the second I step down?” Jack growls, and the look in his eyes says he’ll do it.
“Then you get to meet the dragons early,” the girl answers, her tone bland. “We don’t wait for trials around here. We just execute.”
I see Ridoc on my side who’s watching the conversation like he just won the first seat at a concert. I can tell he loves the drama.
“Do you think she’s gonna kill him?” he asks, whispering. I can't decide who he’s rooting for right now.
“I don’t think so. She doesn’t seem cruel.” I answer while I’m also watching the exchange.
Ridoc looks disappointed. Now I can decide he wants to see Sorrengail cutting Jack’s balls off. But he’s not the only one who’s staring. All of the riders and cadets are watching the show now. Even the boy behind Jack, who’s trying to cross the parapet, is glancing over Barlowe’s shoulder to see if Jack is gonna be eunuch or not.
“Are you going to follow the rules?” she asks. She still keeps the dagger out.
“Guess I don’t have a choice.” a corner of his mouth tilts into a sneer, and his posture relaxes as he raises his hands, palms out.
She lowers the dagger but keeps it palmed and ready as she moves sideways. Jack steps down into the courtyard, his shoulder knocking hers as he walks by, pausing to lean in close. I cannot hear what he’s saying but I’m pretty sure he won’t follow the rules after this day.
Ridoc sighs and sits back to the bench like he just lost a game. Jack Barlowe looks at me and winks. It sends a chill down my spine.
“Hey blondie!” he says but maybe cus Ridoc is sitting next to me he doesn’t come any closer, just walks towards the other cadets. The boy behind him finally can finish the parapet and says his name to sign him up.
A few hours passes and now every cadet had finished the parapet. We’re standing in formation after we were assigned to the wings, sections and squads. I’m in the Fourth Wing, flame section, second squad like Violet Sorrengail and also Ridoc. Sixty-seven people couldn’t make it here. More than last year. After Panchek welcomes us, our wingleader, Xaden Riorson turns to us. Just my luck.
“You’re all cadets now.” Xaden’s voice carries out over the courtyard, stronger than the others. “Take a look at your squad. These are the only people guaranteed by Codex not to kill you. But just because they can’t end your life doesn’t mean others won’t. You want a dragon? Earn one.”
Everybody starts cheering but I know better. He’s planning something. He’s not the kind of person who gives an inspiring speech to others. His eyes say ‘you should be grateful to be here you little shits’ so I keep my mouth shut.
“And I bet you feel pretty badass right now, don’t you, first-years?” more cheers. “You feel invincible after the parapet, don’t you?” Xaden shouts. “You think you’re untouchable! You’re on the way to becoming the elite! The few! The chosen!”
Another round of cheers goes up with each declaration, louder and louder. I still remain quiet because I hear something other than cheers. Something like…
A riot of dragons flying straight for us at speed. They stop, the gusts of wing-made wind so powerful that some people fall back as they land on the outer semicircular wall. Their chest scales ripple with movement, and their razor- sharp talons dig into the edge of the wall on either side.
A few cadets start screaming while the dragons are examining us. The blue one is standing right behind Xaden. Sgaeyl for sure. Xaden sometimes wrote to me after his first year and he mentioned his dragon, Sgaeyl. The most cruel of all. Blue dragons are the most dangerous ones. I’ve heard that Sgaeyl almost killed Xaden, even though she chose him.
The dragon lowers her head and she lets her golden eyes wander over us. Her eyes stop at Violet Sorrengail and she leans forward. I don’t wanna see a dragon eat her.
Suddenly a cadet from the Third Wing bolts out, screaming as he makes a run for the stone keep behind us. We all turn to look as he sprints for the giant arched door at the center. The dragons also whip their heads and a red one starts growling. It opens its mouth and the next second the cadet is a pile of ashes. Sweat is trickling down my back. Oh my fuck.
Some other cadets try to escape but their fate will be the same.
“Does anyone else feel like changing their mind?” Xaden shouts, scanning the remaining rows of cadets with the same shrewd gaze of the navy-blue dragon behind him. “No? Excellent. Roughly half of you will be dead by this time next summer.”
The formation is silent except for a few untimely sobs.
“A third of you again the year after that, and the same your last year. No one cares who your mommy or daddy is here. Even King Tauri’s second son died during his Threshing. So tell me again: Do you feel invincible now that you’ve made it into the Riders Quadrant? Untouchable? Elite?”
No one cheers. Yeah. This is the Xaden Riorson I have known since I was 5. He did this on purpose. To make us scared. To realise we can die in every second.
“Because you’re not untouchable or special to them.” Xaden points toward the navy dragon and leans forward slightly, like he’s letting us in on a secret as we lock eyes. “To them, you’re just the prey.”
“He’s just kidding right?” Ridoc whispers into my ear and I shake my head. Everything Xaden said is true. The death rate and especially about the dragons. Time is ticking to give our soul back to Malek.