Page 69 of Feathers of Ash and Hope

Have I offended him somehow?

“Wait, I just wanted to thank you for having my back like that,” I say.

“It’s the least I can do, considering what you did for me, isn’t it?” he replies, his voice harsh. Yes, he’s angry.

“Listen, if I did—”

“I will get the patrol schedule to you by tonight.” He interrupts me. “And I expect you to be up and in the weight room at the fifth hour tomorrow. See you then.” He walks off without a backward glance.

Okay then, I guess at least one of us is not happy to see more of the other.

I make my way back to our room, ignoring the looks and whispers I receive on my way there. Damn, I have to work on keeping my head down. Otherwise, I will blow my cover long before Picking.

Or I will be dead by then.

The latter seems more likely at the moment.

I only let my shoulders slump once I step through the door of our room and find myself immediately enveloped in slender arms and lots of red hair.

“Gray! Thank Elet, you’re all right.” Calix's voice booms through the room before he throws his arms around Mariel and me and squeezes until we both gasp for air.

“I’m not sure it’s for long, though,” I tell them once I have detangled myself.

“Vega thinks I got Gorgon killed on purpose,” I say, unable to meet their eyes.

“What?” Calix shouts.

“But the stupid bird flew into the wall,” Mariel says. “You didn’t make him do that.”

“He really did?” My eyes go wide. “I just thought the wall would slow him down so the Strix could escape.”

“It’s not your fucking fault,” Mariel seethes. “Putting that on you is unfair!”

The rest of my flight seconds that thought, and their outrage about the accusation makes me feel better, especially since the stares in the hallways have been less than friendly.

I brace myself to share the real news. “Janus banned me from flight classes. I’m assigned to Ta— Kyronos's flight for training, exercise … everything.”

“You mean while here at the Aerie, right?” Mariel asks.

I shake my head. “No, I get the patrol schedule tonight.”

There is only shocked silence.

“Shit. Well, we have your back, Gray,” Calix declares.

“We can help you make up the classes you’ll miss,” Mariel joins in. Every runner in the room nods in agreement, and my throat closes up. They are unbelievable.

The followingmorning starts early for me, and while the time is nothing new, the amount of training I undergo by the time we stand in formation is staggering. I’m ready to go back to bed.

My flight surrounds me while we attend Gorgon’s funeral, a friendly barrier against all the hostile stares. If I had any doubt left about his father’s position, it’s moot now. The funeral for Gorgon is far more elaborate than anything we have had so far.

It is definitely more than just saying a few words and giving us time to slip into the temple between formation and the start of classes.

Even the start of classes has been delayed for half an hour, and they expect us all to attend. I stay in the back of the temple, far from anyone close to him, like Livia.

I’m still not sure how to feel about Gorgon’s death. It’s not like we were friends or he was a likable person at all, but was it my fault? Am I to blame for his death?

Livia stands in front, right next to Gorgon’s decorated body. Tears keep pouring down her face, and she sniffles. I have seen her and Gorgon together, but I didn’t know it had been that serious between them.

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