Page 54 of Progeny of the Cursed Egg
“Time’s up,” I call out, my tone firm as I refuse to glance back at them. They both settle into their seats, and I direct the class’s attention to the coded markings along the edge of the board. “Anyone want to tell me who wins according to how it’s set up?”
A heavy silence falls over the room as I scan their faces. Finding no volunteers, I furrow my brow and start drawing decisive lines, methodically crossing out units. When I step back, Mina’s defense still stands. I face the class again and announce, “I need someone to double-check me.” Two nervous students approach the board, their footsteps soft against the worn linoleum, and they inspect my work meticulously.
Satisfied with their validation, I turn back to the class. “Can anyone tell me why Mina’s defense held?” The room stirs, and after a moment of hesitant glances, another male student rises and approaches the board.
He explains, “Brennen tried overpowering the defense. He didn’t account for the tank-like formation of the black dragons on the front line. The blues in the secondary line could volley their attacks over the black dragons, while the black dragons maintained an acid cloud that halted both land and air assaults.” Zac finishes his explanation and returns to his seat with a self-assured nod.
I add, “Sometimes the best offense is a well-set defense. Know the strength of your troops and move them accordingly. Sometimes the old ways aren’t always the best.” I erase the board, the chalk dust billowing briefly in the cool air, and catch Mina’s gaze as she’s absorbed in a page of her book.
“Moving on,” I continue, “we’ll be hitting the simulators on Thursday. So study up on the species guide and the guide to the flora and fauna of the Aurelian Isles.” I draw a large circle on the board, dividing it into three distinct sections with swift, clean strokes. “Next class, you will find a bucket with numbers in it at the door. Take one as you walk in. When we move to the simulation room, these numbers will correspond to the circle to assign you to a station. The color will indicate offense or defense.”
I notice Mina tilting her head slightly as she processes the instructions, her eyes narrowing in thoughtful challenge. I already know that later we’ll be discussing who she wants on her team. After graduation, if she decides to serve as she originally planned, she’ll need a team. As the top student in her class, she has the right to pick her base team.
The bell rings, its shrill tone mingling with the murmur of departing students, and I watch as the class files out. Mina slowly packs her books, and several classmates drift over to talk to her. She lingers bythe board, animatedly explaining her changes and the reasoning behind them.
While she’s distracted, I slip away to join Balor. We lean our shoulders against the cool, rough wall at the back of the room, our eyes following Mina’s animated interactions. I lower my voice and ask, “Going home or heading to your next class?”
“My class for a bit then home,” he replies quietly, his gaze never leaving Mina as she uses a pointer stick to further illustrate her choices.
I lean in, barely loud enough for him to hear over the low hum of the emptying classroom, “Why does she seem off tonight?”
Balor’s response is measured, his tone laden with concern: “Cora laid an egg as her dragoness this time.” The simple statement carries the weight of unspoken worries. I know Mina’s attention shifts subtly toward her friend—someone her own age who is finally nurturing the family she desires.
I sigh heavily, running my fingers through my hair. “It’s not safe … We all want that full nest, the little ones scampering around everywhere.” The thought leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
Balor continues softly, “Mina wants to go see the eggs. She’s curious to see how much bigger they are than the one she helped Cora deliver.” His eyes drop to his feet, avoiding mine as if the truth is too heavy to face.
I rest a hand on his shoulder, my voice tentative. “You think she’s going to push for eggs next cycle?”
He meets my gaze, his expression hardening as he speaks, “I think she’s going to use her nest as bait to lure her father out. She’s clever enough to know he won’t surface until he believes she’s defenseless. I know she craves eggs, and I know she’ll manipulate her own nest to lure him out. And I know she’ll destroy him utterly if he dares comenear her children.” His words are cold, and a chill runs down my spine at the intensity of his conviction.
I whisper, almost to myself, “A dragoness is at her most dangerous when she’s protecting her nest…” and steals another glance at Mina.
Balor nods slowly, his voice low, “Exactly. According to Klauth, a dragoness changes when she’s about to lay eggs—their scales harden, their talons sharpen, and their temperament turns volatile.” He shivers, glancing at me before shifting his gaze back to Mina.
“What about their breath weapon?” Even now, the mere thought of it sends a shiver through me—Mina’s breath weapon is the most dangerous I’ve ever seen.
Balor adds, “A hundred times worse … Klauth said that Mina’s is much stronger than it ought to be for a dragoness her age.” At that, he freezes mid-sentence, then offers a tentative smile over my shoulder.
Mina slides between us so that her back brushes lightly against my chest. She asks playfully, “What did I miss?”
Balor stammers, “Um…” before I interject quickly, “We were talking about dragon breath weapons.” I try to mask the full depth of our conversation.
Mina turns to look at me, her eyes knowing all too well that I can’t hide the truth. “And?”
I confess in a low voice, “Eggs—and how dangerous a dragoness becomes when she’s defending her nest.” Mina nods slowly and sighs, the weight of unspoken worries lingering between us.
“I’m going to visit Cora after class,” she announces, her voice steady despite the underlying tension. “She and Warwick dug a small nest at the base of the mountain within the compound. It’s just big enough to shelter Cora completely, and Warwick is going to be forced to shift and settle outside it to shield her from the elements.”Shaking her head as if in resignation, she gathers her things and leaves the classroom. Without missing a beat, Balor turns and runs after her, clearly troubled by something more.
I stand there in the fading light of the classroom, the echoes of our conversation mingling with the scent of chalk and distant footsteps, wondering how much more dangerous our world can get when the stakes are as personal as a nest.
Mina waitsfor me at the end of the day, her silhouette outlined by the fading light, and leads us out to the flight field. The cool evening air carries the scent of damp earth and distant wood smoke as Balor approaches from Malivore, his arms burdened with well-worn leather bags.
When we reach the field, Mina smoothly hands off Thauglor’s carrier before beginning her shift. Gone are the days when her transformation seemed slow and unnatural; now it’s fluid and swift. I watch, mesmerized, as she rises gracefully, every muscle rippling beneath her skin, then lies down and stretches out, inviting us to climb onto her back. Her scales shimmer in hues of emerald and silver, now edged with a jagged armor that catches the last glints of sunlight. I gesture to Balor, urging him to take a closer look. We agree, her scales have changed.
We settle ourselves by leaning our backs against her frill, feeling the subtle vibration of her power under our hands. “All set, Mina!” I shout at the top of my lungs, my voice echoing across the open space. Slowly, she rocks to her feet, unfurling enormous wings that beat against the cool air and propel us farther away from the academy with each powerful stroke.
Up ahead, the colossal red form of Klauth dominates the sky—a blazing silhouette against the twilight. Mina roars, a deep, resonant sound that vibrates through the air and shakes her very form. Balor and I cover our ears instinctively, startled by the force of her call. Klauth answers with a thunderous roar, then slows to a smooth glide. When Mina catches up, she emits a series of low rumbles before wobbling in mid-air and finally landing on his massive, scaly back. With a graceful roll of her shoulders, she signals that it’s time for us to dismount. I cling to one of the tall spines along Klauth’s back as I watch her shift back.
