Chapter Five

“Whoa,” gaped several cadets as they flew toward Arch Valley upon the back of the great hawks. The city was built upon a large floating island, caused by an unknown anomaly. It sat a few hundred feet from the cliff edge of a giant mountain. The ground below the island was so far down it disappeared under a layer of thick misty fog. The island itself was about fifty miles long, filled with small mountains with huge trees. Covered with small streams, rivers and meadows filled with large grazing deer. To the south was a small city, homed to families and graduated riders of the great ones. On the far east side of the island stood the beautiful sight of Arch Valley. Rows of earthen huts lined the northern side of the academy. The academy was a sight to behold in itself. Massive buildings, large enough for the great ones to occupy, to comfortably come and go, were elegantly built with skillful hands. Craftsmanship of wood and stone. In the center of the fort rose a huge structure crafted entirely of elven stone work was the great eyrie. Square cutouts for entrances spiraled upward all the way to the top where a domed roof sheltered them from the elements. The entrances started about thirty feet off the ground. Great raptors flew in and out of them at a steady pace making it look all the more majestic.

“This is amazing,” commented Jessica as the hawk flew in between two large statues of the great ones to the entry of the city. Her heart raced with anticipation and excitement.

Jeremiah agreed with a smile, almost more amused at her reaction than what was around them.

The great hawk, and several more behind him, landed in a giant courtyard. Around them more elven structures stood, each one had murals etched into the sides of great ones and riders performing heroic acts.

“Come, this way cadets!” a feminine voice called in excitement. She stood there in the evening sunlight with her blond hair hanging freely down her back. The woman called again waving with a hand. “New arrival cadets this way!”

The twins and those with them, hoisted their packs on their backs and hurried over to the woman calling for them.

“Now, now come on! We must get moving,” she chided to the remaining stragglers. “This way. We have a lot to see and little time. But, first, I am lady Valindrei, the keeper of the roster here at Arch Academy. You will all undergo a strict training regimen and be tested in ways you never thought possible. Our enemies are testing us in the same way so you must keep an open mind here. Now follow me!” She started to move off toward the largest of the structures. It was shaped like a honeycomb with multiple entrances. A stout roof held off the rain and heavy hail storms that sometimes blew through.

“Over there is the armory! Everything you need for your training will be from there. If you brought your own armor or weapons they will be kept in there for now. Your quarters are assigned inside the academy itself,” she went on to explain. She came to a set of huge oak gates that held an eagle in flight as though it would glided right over them. The gates parted splitting the carving right down the middle. Lady Valindrei smiled waving them inside. “Welcome to Arch Academy!”

At that moment a massive shadow crossed over them darkening almost the entire parade ground. Moments after this phenomenon a loud and long roar echoed across the city. A huge beast flew far above them. Many great birds circled him cawing out challenges of their own. They kept him surrounded on all sides but made no move to attack. Several of the new cadets screamed in fright as they lowered themselves slightly to the ground. The only one standing fully, seemingly unafraid, as Jessica. On the contrary. Her heart beating fast with a moment of anticipation and wonder.

As those near her trembled where they stood, her anticipation turned to excitement. She smiled amazed. It was the first dragon she had ever seen. She had no idea she’d be seeing one at Arch Academy, let alone one that seemed to allowed. It was quickly noted that older students paid no mind to him. Jeremiah stood next to her closely trembling. “How are you so calm,” he muttered.

“It’s it beautiful,” she said smilingly.

Jeremiah looked away from the dragon giving his sister a peculiar look. “Are you mad?” he asked shocked.

Jessica giggled. “Lady Valindrei,” she said with a wave of her hand getting the woman’s attention.

“Yes?”

“Is that an ebony?” She asked sounding excited. Libby and Ralph eyed Jeremiah noticing her excited tone. Jeremiah just shrugged at them.

Valindrei rolled her eyes upward with annoyance. “Yes, that is Drael. The only dragon we have living here. You have a good eye to recognize him. Great ebonys are rare to be seen. You’ll all meet him and his rider, Kennar, later. Come now,” she urged hurrying off, leading them deeper into the grounds.

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Jessica looked up one more time before moving on. A dragon rider… here? Her smile brightened. She was excited to meet him. Her brother tugged on her jacket with a look of concern. She peeled her eyes away from Drael and giggled again at Jeremiah’s reaction. “Relax brother,” she laughed. “He’s obviously friendly enough.”

Jeremiah hummed uncertain. He glanced up at the beast cautiously before following the others.

The center of the academy was a wide parade ground left open. To either side stood massive structures like that found in the city. Lady Valindrei marched them straight into the center. “Okay, now your quarters are right by the eyrie,” she pointed to the great tower that could be seen from where they landed, “go over and find your bunks. Your uniforms are waiting. Now hurry! You have ten minutes to dress!”

The twins looked at each other. Jessica was beaming. It almost made Jeremiah smile. They gave each other nods before separating and hurried off to their separate bunk rooms by gender. Jessica quickly placed her pack down on the edge of her bed. Excitement rose in her as she saw her uniform. Without hesitating, yet keeping her eyes averted from the other female cadets in the room, she dressed down and got into her uniform. She wore her father’s necklace under her clothing. For the uniform, she wore a pair of dark pants and a light blue tank top with a dark blue jacket, light in weight, to go with it. Just above her left breast was the crest of Arch Academy. She looked at it proudly.

At the base of the beds was a trunk to which she quickly placed her pack and clothes and rejoined the others where lady Valindrei waited with another man dressed in a higher rank uniform beside her. Her brother joined her shortly after she returned with Libby. Ralph and several other boys followed out in a steady pace.

When all were assembled, lady Valindrei nodded. She then gestured to the stout man at her side. “This is Sergeant Macfie. He will be your physical instructor. Today we need to asses you in terms of fitness. Now I ask that you look around you,” she paused to let them do so. After a moment she spoke again, “This is only a quarter of the number we normally accept in new applicants. This year we have raised our standards in what to expect in our school. What your performance during training is will determine if your accepted as a full rider. Sergeant, I leave them to you.”

Sergeant Macfie nodded then stepped forward. “You fledglings drop and give me thirty push ups!”

Valindrei’s comments brought great pride to Jessica as they all dropped and gave Macfie what he order. It was even harder to get in then before and she and her brother were still accepted. Because of their parent’s doubt and displeasure of wanting to be a rider they both worked hard during their career education. Wanting to be best and keeping the promise they made to themselves and their family, doing thirty push ups was an easy task. They understood they would be tested against their limits and pushed themselves before they got there.

Once they were complete they all stood back up at attention. Macfie lumbered up to a cadet with his shirt untucked. The sergeant was a gruff looking man with a bushy beard that completed his displeased scowl. “You dress for the first time?”

“No?” the young man answered confused by the accusation.

Macfie grabbed his shirt. “It’s ‘No Sir!’,” he barked briskly. “All of you give me twenty more! And tuck in your shirt,” he added shouting at the man.

“Yes sir!” cried the cadet as they all fell back down and gave him twenty more push ups. He walked around with his hands behind his back until they stopped and rose again. Whey they rose he stopped at a tall young woman with long dark hair. “Only five women in his group,” he declared. “All of you, front and center!” He pointed toward the center of the parade grounds just in front of the class. The tall woman, Jessica and Libby hurried to the front with the other two in tow.

Libby looked nervous and pale as the sergeant walked in front of them and continued. “You know, it takes guts to fly a great one so I’m going to see you all have any!” He turned to the class again. “I don’t care what your story is but I will say something to you fine boys. These girls are probably going to walk out of here on their own. A lot of you will follow. Might even leave with them. Now, show me your guts! All of you! Run around the academy! After me!” He took off running at a quick pace to go the whole of the academy.

Jessica gave herself a small scoff. Looks like I have another man to prove I have what it takes, she muttered to herself. The tall woman at her left took off quickly after Macfie. The rest quickly followed.

****

Meanwhile inside the eyrie Kennar watched the cadets from far above and sighed heavily. He longed to be a part of it. Something about doing hard work made him giddy with excitement. He was interrupted from his thoughts when he heard the soft pad of leather shoes coming up the stairs. He turned to see Lady; Valindrei nearly to his level. “There you are!” she stated sharply.

“Here I am,” Kennar answered. He felt a small pang of apprehension at what she was about to say.

“You were to be riding with Drael today! Why are you here?”

Kennar bowed respectfully before answering. “The eyrie doesn’t clean itself my lady. Drael is perfectly capable of teaching by himself. I am no more than a weight on his back anyway.”

Lady Valindrei found his answer all the more irritating it seemed. “You two are supposed to work together, yet it seems you’re nothing to him!”

“My lady, you go too far! Is this about his being over the city today? Why is that such a thorn?”

She stopped, blinking for a moment. “He scared the cadets! They ducked in fright when he roared so loudly. To make it worse it seems he’s over intimidating the trainees! They think he’ll kill them if they act wrong in the new flying course!”

Kennar smiled broadly. “He does have that effect doesn’t he?”

“It’s not funny Kennar! He doesn’t stay where we ask him to and he changes his goals daily. There is nothing we can firmly put on paper for what he’s trying to teach. It’s maddening!”

Kennar shook his head to clear the mirth he felt. “He’s frustrating, but my lady you do remember he is a dragon? Unlike the great raptors, dragons take riders that are capable of mutual stubbornness. He doesn’t want my input and I don’t want his. Unless we ask for it. He agreed to join me on coming here because we’re friends. Close friends.”

Lady Valindrei was deep red at this point. “What of his overbearing attitude?”

the care taker spoke with a controlled breath taking a firm stance. confrontation is overbearing and ever changing. Drael declared he would leave when your cadets mounted a challenge. unless you wish to force us out Drael will continue his peaceful lessons.” He turned walking higher into the erie. Lady Valindrei was left there feeling embarrassed and yet still even more frightened for what they could be facing very soon. Maybe perhaps too soon

Bright Eyes from high on his perch gave out a loud screech as if in agreement.