Page 14 of Fly to Fury
What story had Fieran been telling? Oh, right, the mattress sliding story.
He launched into it again, but he couldn’t call up the previous excitement he’d had for the telling. His heart sank even more as he reached the battle for Dar Goranth, having to talk about the losses, the sunken surface ships, the destroyed airships, those moments when he thought Rokyd and Lucien might have been killed.
He quickly glossed through getting his medals and promotion and instead spent more time describing Pip’s invention for shielding Dar Goranth. Dacha, of course, asked lots of technical questions. Fieran would have to tell Pip how impressed his dacha was.
If Fieran could just get Pip and his dacha talking about inventions, perhaps they wouldn’t freeze up so much next time.
“So, anyway, that’s everything that has happened since I left home.” Fieran lounged more comfortably in his chair, shifting his feet beneath the table to find a spot not already taken up by his dacha’s feet. “I’m looking forward to having access to telephone calls home again.”
“They will be glad to hear from you.” Dacha began carefully stacking their dirty plates.
Fieran waited, but Dacha wasn’t forthcoming when it came to telling stories of what he’d been doing since he’d been stationed at Fort Defense.
He could guess. Dacha had likely been using his magic to avert bombing attacks on the fort. Perhaps he’d even led a few raids through the Wall into Mongavaria to harass the enemy.
After the dishes had been neatly stacked, Dacha studied Fieran. “Will you join me for morning practice?”
“I don’t have my swords.” Fieran refused to squirm. It wasn’t like he could have taken his swords with him.
Bending down, Dacha pulled something long and slim out from where it had been leaning in the shadows against the wall by his desk. He held it out, and Fieran took it, already knowing what he’d see before he unwrapped the canvas coverings.
His practice swords in their sheaths.
Fieran raised his eyebrows. “You sent for these the moment you heard I was coming to Fort Defense, didn’t you?”
“Yes.” Dacha didn’t even try to hide his satisfaction with that.
There would be no getting out of practice. Not that Fieran minded. He’d missed the practices with his dacha, and he’d learned how important such magic and sword practice was.
“I won’t be able to come every morning, as I will be on duty at times. But I can tomorrow.” Fieran ran his hand over his swords’ hilts. The grips rested comfortable and familiar beneath his hand.
“Good.” Dacha gave a sharp nod, as if he wasn’t sure what else to say. After another pause, Dacha gestured toward the south. “When you do have time, I have constructed a place to fill magical power cells in the mountains. I have been keeping Fort Defense supplied, but it would help the overall war effort to have your magic stored as well.”
Fieran nodded, his gaze dropping to the swords in his lap. “I’ll find time.”
It would be difficult to take time away from thesquadron. If Fort Defense were attacked, Fieran would be several miles away from the hangar.
But filling magical power cells here would relieve some of the pressure on Louise back in Aldon. Between Fieran and Dacha, they could supply the Escarlish war effort, even if they only filled power cells about once a week.
Something twisted inside him, and he worked to keep his face blank. Fieran had joined the army and taken to the skies in part to get away from the monotony of working at the AMPC.
Yet here he was, right back where he’d started. Filling magical power cells.
He shoved those thoughts aside. How could he resent being asked for this—something that was so little effort and only a mild hassle to him—when men and women were dying? How could he say no to anything that would help win this war all the sooner?
Besides—now he was trying to suppress a smile—he could take Pip along. Filling magical power cells would give him the perfect opportunity to show off at something that would involve magic and mechanics in a way Pip would find fascinating.
Sure, he probably shouldn’t be thinking of ways to impress her. He was the one who had decided they couldn’t be more than friends.
Still, he couldn’t quite banish the idea. Besides, she had the right degree. He could show her how to run the machine to fill the magical power cells. It would be beneficial, after all, to have someone other than Merrik with that knowledge.
Dacha eyed him, and Fieran worked to stuff his grin away. Hopefully his dacha wouldn’t be able to read too much into his expression. He was not ready to go into the whole not-relationship thing with his dacha.
Chapter
Five
Fieran fumbled around his tent in the darkness of the morning, not yet used to the space enough to get dressed and ready for the day by feel. His cot stretched along one canvas wall while a small table and chair were tucked against the corner on the other side. His footlocker with his clothes and personal items sat beside it, leaving only about a foot of walking space down the center of the tent. Even at the tent’s tallest point, he couldn’t stand fully straight.
