Page 45 of Forcing Fate

“What’s her name?”

Willhelm looked down at me as if my age was showing again. Yet, something as personal as one’s steed had to have a name, didn’t it?

“We don’t all have our own horses, Avyanna. That’s a luxury afforded to few. I ride a mare that is shared between me and two other Sergeants.” He rubbed at his chin. “We’re not on the front. We have no need for our own steeds. Here the horses are used for training, and we don’t schedule horsemanship training at the same time.”

“I see.”

That made sense, didn’t it? Surely she still had a name, but I wasn’t about to ask again and be thought of as immature.

The next morning, I was getting dressed when a knock sounded at my door. I paused, lacing up my dress to stare at the solid wood door as if it would show me who stood beyond it. Frowning, I finished my lacing and padded over to open it.

“Avyanna,” Master Elenor greeted sharply.

I plastered a smile on my face, eyes darting down to the package she held.

Surely not.

“Good morn, Master Elenor. What can I do for you?” I asked as pleasantly as possible.

“You wanted a job to earn coin, did you not?” she arched a single, stern eyebrow.

I was certainly on her bad side this morning. “Yes, ma’am…” I started.

General Rafe did this. I just knew it.

“If you ask for a job to earn coin, then you’ll take the coin that is given you.” Each word was clipped in agitation. “You do not get to insult people by making them charity cases.”

I clenched my jaw, angry at General Rafe, and yet fearful of offending Master Elenor. “Master Elenor, if you’ll let me explain–”

“There’s no explanation needed. Simply do the job, or let me know you don’t need extra coin.”

Dread slithered through me. If I told her I didn’t want a job, she would be sure that I received none at all. Beggars couldn’t be choosers. I needed that extra coin. I was already wearing out my beige dress, and the heat of summer was fast approaching, which would make my boots impossible to wear.

“Yes, Master Elenor,” I said with a note of resignation. I wanted nothing to do with this General, and yet here he was, offering me the one thing I needed.

“Good. Now that we have that established, here is another mending to be done.” She peered over my head into my room. “See that you tidy up as well. I’ll not have you living in a pigsty.”

She handed me the package, and I took it, holding it gingerly as if it contained a thousand serpents. I glanced behind me, where my blanket sat folded on my bed, and the rest of my room bare and spotless.

Looking back at Master Elenor, I plastered on a tight smile. “Yes, Master.”

With a satisfied nod, she spun on her heel and walked down the hall.

I closed the door and placed the package on my bed. Inside was the same black thread, needle, and one of the sleeveless tunics I knew so well. I laid the tunic out, glaring at the two gold pieces underneath.

The man was infuriating.

I snatched the coins, muttering to myself about the stubbornness of men, and shoved them in my coin pouch.

Chapter Thirteen

Summer Year 896

The season passed quickly, and before I knew it, I completed my assignment with the Masters. I learned as much as possible, hoping it would give me an edge when I started my training as a Dragon Rider.

General Rafe continued to send me his clothes, though it faded to one mending a week. He still overpaid me, and I bought myself two new dresses and a pair of sandals, then saved the rest. It built to a hefty amount, and I considered buying myself a nice riding outfit once my dragonling was old enough to ride.

I was given two weeks before Hatching Day to rest and relax. I spent the majority of the time studying. I immersed myself in reading everything from the anatomy of a dragon to battle tactics on the front lines. Most of what I read was beyond my grasp, yet I hoped that by inundating myself with the information, some of it would sink in. Even if something made little sense to me now, it would when I needed it to.

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