Page 35 of Feathers of Ash and Hope

“I told you Summer is behaving oddly. Now, I know he is not a safety risk, or at least Cassius doesn’t seem to think so.”

“You’re turning paranoid,” Jared comments.

“I got things left to do before I go,” I answer.

“What Mom said the other night—” Jared starts.

“Leave it,” I snap. When Jared opens his mouth again, I shake my head. “I mean it, Jared. Leave it,” I say softer now. He grinds his teeth but stays quiet.

It’s already late into the next day by the time we make our final camp. Quizzing our runners throughout the march showed that some are ahead, clearly prepared by their parents or instructors before coming to the Aerie. Others seem clueless and will have to make up for it.

Everyone is tired from the long walk. Some even look ready to topple over, and their heavy packs are not helping.

Once again, Summer sticks out of the crowd. He’s not fidgeting, and while he looks as beat as the others, he’s smiling and joking with Ilario instead of grumbling and brooding or falling asleep sitting up.

I’m not the only one watching him. Cassius sits a few places to my right, and his gaze is also fixed on the two.

“Okay, everyone.” I clap my hands. “I know you’re tired and hungry and ready to drop, but during Picking, you will have to provide for yourself with the things you find out here. Gather into your flights, please.” They do, and their squadron leaders take charge.

“Who is well-versed in edible plants?” A few hands are raised at my question. “Well, enough not to poison us by accident?” A few laugh at that question, but we soon establish that the two flights of squadron five are up for the job.

One flight of squadron four is going fishing, and the other one will look for game. The squadron leaders head out with them.

Jared and I stay back at the camp.

“You’re heartless to make them look for food now. They’re ready to collapse.” Jared grins and shakes his head. “We could have used provisions tonight.”

“Why didn’t you take on a leadership position? Then you could have coddled them.” I raise my eyebrows at him.

“Nah, if I would’ve wanted power or responsibility, I’d have made you keep your position and make me an adviser or something,” Jared drawls.

I snort out a laugh. “Yeah, right.” I don’t know what’s funnier, envisioning him in such a position or thinking he could have somehow made me stay. He grins at me.

“I’m not interested in authority or responsibility, you know that. So I stick with what I do best, let you shoulder the burden while I throw in my five copper whenever I feel like it,” he says.

“I don’t know.” I look at him thoughtfully. “You showed excellent leading qualities while you talked me into at least half the shit we did as kids. I don’t know how I earned that nickname from Nan instead of you,” I tease.

He snorts out a laugh. “You caused even more trouble on your own before they let me join you in those boring functions.” He grins.

“I just knew how to play it right.” We both laugh at that.

When Summer’s flight gets back from the stream, the tension between him and Cassius is nearly visible. Summer is no longer smiling but stomps around, growling like someone insulted his mother or something, and Cassius is in a huff too.

“Cassius, get over here,” I call.

“Centurion.” He stops in front of me, his brows drawn, his muscles tight with tension.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“Nothing, Centurion.” The denial is so dissonant it hurts my ears.

I raise my brows. “Don’t insult my intelligence here. You couldn’t be more obvious if you waved a red flag.”

He huffs. “Summer pulled some risky moves over at the stream. I called him out for it.”

Truth.

“It can be hard to command someone you’ve known since childhood,” I say, curious if he will open up. Cassius takes a deep breath, and when he releases it, some of the tension leaves his body.

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