a moment, he hesitated. Then he reached for Leyra, and gently, very gently, tucked her against his chest.
The whole room stilled. Even Leyra seemed to quiet down, staring at Emilian with large eyes.
Emilian’s expression was difficult to decipher. Tender. Longing. Catria stood and rubbed his shoulder, and he tore his gaze from the dragon and smiled at her.
Tauran understood how he felt. Emilian had lost his dragon in the battle, just like Tauran had. He had been alone, facing off against Horan and his lightning-fast statera, the only dragon Tauran had ever seen who could nearly match the speed of a swiftwing. Roric had tried to reach Emilian, but hadn’t made it in time. Horan’s dragon had crushed Kalesta’s spine with a single bite to the back of her neck.
“She’s beautiful,” Emilian murmured, putting Leyra back on the floor when her patience ran out and she started to wiggle. Sadness lingered in his gaze.
Leyra stomped over to Tauran, scratching at his leg, no doubt smelling the bowl of chicken on the table an assistant had brought up for her. Tauran chuckled and picked her up. “All right, Chickenbane,” he said, foregoing the tongs and picking up the first piece between two fingers, dropping it into her open mouth. She smacked her jaws together.
“It’s good to see you this happy, Tauran. Really,” Catria said.
Tauran glanced up, keeping Leyra from clambering onto the table with a hand against her chest. “I don’t know if I’m happy, I’m just...” He frowned. Was he happy? He had been stuck in his bubble of misery for so long that he hardly remembered what happiness felt like. But he had been smiling an awful lot, recently. He huffed. “Thanks, Cat. Any news on the recruit who failed the death drop?” He winced, the nickname suddenly a little too fitting.
“Salvani had a dislocated wing, but he’ll recover quickly. Tirys...” Catria hesitated and glanced at Emilian.
Emilian continued. “Tirys suffered a fractured spine. His pain is managed, but... he won’t walk again.”
Tauran swore. “So what happens now?”
“Salvani will be passed to a different recruit,” Catria said. “Who knows, maybe another round of basic training will be good for Salvani’s temper.” She clearly tried to sound optimistic, but didn’t quite manage.
“Poor kid,” Tauran said, quietly. Tauran knew how he must feel. Broken and battered, tied to a hospital bed. Losing the dragon he’d spent so many months bonding with to another rider. At least Salvani wasn’t dead. He tossed Leyra another piece of chicken.
Leyra babbled and sat back on her tail, swallowing the chicken whole and opening her jaws for more. She really was cute, her presence lifting some of the gloom.
“I’m guessing Falka won’t be happy about losing a graduate rider,” Tauran said. “Any news from Irades?”
Catria and Emilian exchanged a long glance. Something passed between them that Tauran couldn’t read.
Emilian spoke first. “They’ve closed their border, but I think they’re waiting for us to make a move.”
Tauran frowned. “If they’re not engaging us, maybe there’s a chance to stop a war.”
“Only…” Emilian seemed to consider whether to continue. “Last week, another council member was murdered. He was the biggest advocate for peace and alliance between Irades and Kykaros.”
Tauran plucked a piece of chicken from the bowl and tossed it to Leyra. “Falka told me about the rebels killing council members for Andreus’s cause. But what do they get out of encouraging a war?”
Catria and Emilian shared another glance. Tauran didn’t miss the uncertainty passing between them, as if they were afraid Tauran would crack again if they involved him too much in the guard’s problems. It stung more than it ought to.
Catria shook off the discomfort and gave Tauran a gentle smile. “When does politics ever really make sense?”
Tauran huffed. “True.”
Leyra emphasized the statement with a snarl, clamping down on Tauran’s sleeve and pulling hard.
“I should be heading back,” Emilian murmured, and pushed away from the wall. He smiled at Tauran, the first smile Tauran had seen from him since returning to the city. “Thank you for this, Tauran.”
“Any time,” Tauran said. “Seriously. Come take her off my hands whenever you want.” He pulled his sleeve from Leyra’s grip when the fabric threatened to tear.
Catria laughed. She patted Leyra on the head, earning her a tiny rumble. To Tauran, she said, “I’m looking forward to seeing you in black and silver again.”
Tauran groaned. “Please don’t make a fuss at the initiation ceremony. I’d actually prefer if no one shows up tomorrow.”