Page 49 of The Bond That Burns

Professor Amina Hassan stood behind the desk, her back ramrod straight, her cane gripped tightly in one hand. Her expression was as severe as ever as she looked at me.

“You’re late,” she snapped, tapping her cane against the stone floor as she walked towards me. “Sit down.”

I knew I was a few minutes early if anything, but I didn’t bother arguing. There were low stone benches arranged in rows and I took a seat on one.

I glanced around, realizing the room was still empty. And if I was supposedly late...

“Where is everyone else?” I asked.

“There is no one else. This is a private session.”

I stiffened. “A private session. Why?”

“You’re a very privileged girl,” Hassan said, her lips curling in a way that told me she thought I was spoiled and arrogant. “Lord Drakharrow has arranged this class for you. He believes you require special instruction.”

I felt my stomach drop. “How kind of him. But I really don’t think that’s necessary.”

“That’s not for you to decide,” Professor Hassan said.

“But...”

“Headmaster Kim has approved your course of study. Would you like to take it up with him?” she snapped. “Or perhaps you’d like to return to the Tribunal?”

“The Tribunal?”

“Yes. It’s my understanding that Lord Drakharrow had your timetable approved by the other members of the Tribunal Panel.They all agreed this course was essential for a dragon rider of Sangratha.” She smiled thinly.

I knew when I was outnumbered. Balling my hands into fists in my lap, I watched as Professor Hassan began to pace back and forth across the cavern-like room.

“This class is to teach you the history and purpose of dragon riders. To ensure you understand your place in the hierarchy of our world. Riders have always been subordinate to highbloods. You are a tool, Miss Pendragon, and so is your dragon.”

My jaw twitched. “I don’t think Nyxaris would agree with that assessment.”

Hassan narrowed her eyes. “Nyxaris is an animal. He is an asset. He exists to serve. As do you.”

“He’s not a tool. He’s intelligent. Wiser than we are. And he doesn’t serve anyone,” I shot back.

Professor Hassan gave a tight-lipped smile. “If that is really true, you will find yourself in a great deal of trouble this year, Miss Pendragon. Youwilllearn to control him. To command him according to highblood wishes. That is your duty as a rider.”

She moved to stand by one of the sandstone pillars. “The Tribunal—and by extension, the four regents—expect you to prove your worth to them this year. You are here not simply to learn but to show results. You are here to show them that your dragon can be controlled. Do not forget it was you who made that claim in the first place.”

With a sinking feeling, I knew she was right. I’d done it to buy time. Could my time be up already? “I thought the Tribunal hadalready made their decision. My life was spared and I was to attend Bloodwing again.”

“Yes, but their decision was not an end but a beginning.” Hassan’s lips twisted. “Do not delude yourself, Miss Pendragon. You are still under intense scrutiny.”

My heart hammered. She was blatantly admitting they were spying on me now?

“Failure to meet the Tribunal’s expectations will have serious consequences,” she finished.

“What kind of consequences?” I asked warily.

“For one,” she said, her voice hard. “Your freedom. It is conditional. If the House Leaders feel you are not making adequate progress with Nyxaris, your movements will be restricted once again. You will be confined to your quarters. Your access to anyone outside House Drakharrow will be limited. You’ll be allowed out only for essential reasons.”

I tried to force myself to stay calm. “What exactly are they expecting me to do?”

“You’ll demonstrate you have control. You’ll summon the dragon when you are commanded to do so. You’ll practice and execute specific maneuvers.”

Military ones, no doubt. I could only imagine where this would lead. If they had their way, I’d be a tool to hunt and kill and so would Nyxaris.

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