Page 4 of Power of Draken

Ellie flashes a dazzling smile showing off all her perfect teeth. "What do you say, will I fetch good coin with the combat boys?" she asks, summoning a puff of air to make her red curls flounce provocatively. She is an aeromancer, controlling the wind to help with reconnaissance or clearing smoke and gas. Lately, she’s been practicing using it to guide her arrows as well. And, apparently, to flounce.

I slap her shoulder and she snorts, both of us dissolving into laughter.

"What's so funny?" Collin asks, sliding in beside us, his brows furrowed.

“Nothing,” Ellie and I say together. She snorts.

Collin huffs. "Can you two act a little more dignified? Squad assignments are being worked out even now, at least some of us are trying to make a good impression."

“Well then you should have put meat on your tray,” Ellie waves her spoon at Collin’s salad. “I hear Grayson and the gods of combat like protein.”

“Really?” Collin glances back at the meal line.

Ellie rolls her eyes. “Gods, get the stick out of your ass, Chambers. You really think anyone cares what you eat for lunch? Or that I bothered finding out what Grayson eats?”

Color rises in Collin’s cheeks and he stabs his salad with a fork.

I shake my head at Ellie and touch Collin’s forearm, feeling the tension radiating from him.

“I’m sorry for making light of selection,” I say quietly. “I know it’s important to you.” Not just to him, either. Collin Chambers comes from a prominent family with a long history of service in Eryndor's military, and their expectations weigh down every step he takes, every test he studies for. And he’s worked hard for everything, from his grades to the muscle that now covers his otherwise gangly frame.

“It should be important to you too, Ro,” Collin shoots back. “The way my career tracks affects both of us.”

“Only if she decides to marry you,” Ellie says.

I hide a cringe. I love the girl, but she has zero tact. Yes, Collin does tend to act like our marriage is a forgone conclusion when it isn’t, but there is a time and place for that conversation. A time and place that will be of my and Collin’s choosing, not the middle of the mess hall on the first day of fusion year.

"Ah, if I've not found myself a whole table of red shirts." A stocky man in combat black and Brady on his uniform plops down beside Ellie. Grabbing a piece of bread from Ellie’s tray, Brady stuffs it into his mouth. He looks at us while he chews. "So," he says, his mouth still half full, "tell me what you all can do, and why I’d want you in my squad.”

Ellie flashes me a quick toothy smile and I choke on my water until she has to pound me on the back.

Brady frowns at me.

"I'm Collin Chambers," Collin says quickly, extending his hand. "Healer track. Top ten percent of the class in all areas except combat—I'm in the top five percent there." He grins, laying on his charm. "So I can fight beside you and save your ass when you take a shot. Twice the benefit for one meal ration."

Brady nods his head in consideration. With how thick his neck is, it looks like half his body nods along.

"I come as a pair, though," Collin puts his hand around my shoulders and pulls me toward him. "Ro here is an alchemist. She might not be much in a melee action, but without enchanters like her, the whole war would suffer. Protecting her is a responsibility that I for one take very seriously, and any squad leader should too.”

"There is that," Brady admits.

I try to slide out of Collin's arm but he holds me tighter. I know where he is going to go next, and I really don't want him to. I kick him under the table.

"Want to know something else?” Collin drops his voice low, ignoring my kick. “Her name tag may read Lexington, but that’s her middle name. Want to know her real surname? It’s Ainsley. As in Commandant Ainsley and Queen Ainsley."

Brady's brows rise, his gaze weighing me with new interest. "Well, that is goodto know." His attention focuses on something on the other side of the room and stands. "I'll consider it. Ainsley. Chambers." He nods to Collin and me, ignoring Ellie, and leaves.

"Stop telling people my last name," I hiss at Collin, pulling his arm off me. "When I want them to know, I'll tell them myself."

"What's with you?" Collin snaps. “I’m bending over backwards here, trying to help you, so maybe cut back criticizing my every word? Unless you imagine you can last a week without me putting you back together, how about a little more gratitude and a lot more effort? Right now, we have to sell ourselves to the squad leaders. Get assigned together. I don’t like this process any more than you do, but the alternative is you getting hurt.” Collin straightens suddenly, jumping to his feet. “Sir. Good afternoon,” he says to someone behind me. “It’s an honor to meet you.”

My skin prickles with unease as I sense the piercing gaze burning into my back, and know immediately who is about to join us.

Unfortunately, I’m right. Pulling a chair out for himself, Kai Grayson sits at our table and takes us in silently. He has nothing but a cup of coffee in his hands. Plus at least a dozen daggers sheathed though various uniform loops. The lone thigh sheath at formation must have been a downgrade for the ceremony.

The awkward silence stretches, until Collin finally clears his throat. “Thank you for giving us your time, sir," he says, taking his seat again. His hand drums his thigh under the table, but his voice is steady. Smooth. "My name is Collin Chambers. I'm a healer, in the top ten?—"

"That puts a whole tenth of the class as better than you, by my calculation," Kai says, cutting Collin off. "Not interested."

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