the 9th16307

I blinked a bit, in surprise. “I had heard there were other attacks but I didn’t realize that there was an attack everywhere. Just how bad were they?” It had been a test of course, but did they realize it, and change the response system?

Steven said. “From the reports none were as bad as the ones at Exlatra. However a lot of testing sites were hit, and most had injuries. It was clearly a check of defenses. However there has to be a reason they picked that date. The reports said that your site was in the middle of a test when it started, and that there were Rypers. A few others had one.”

I shuddered a bit and nodded, though the Ryper had been easy compared to the Drake. It was a nightmare. Rick said, as he moved a bit closer to me. “It was a mess, luckily it was third years that were in the air when the alarms went off and they were in full gear. The first wave was just litter flyers, but there was at least three full swarms. Still those in the air managed to hold well until the rest of us joined them. Still it was the test so only those taking part had their gear do to the truce flag all are under. So that meant the students made up most of those first in the fight. We all did a good job of forming up, given that most had never even seen a demon before. Like you said they were a rare sight in Glacer and that is where we were. Even few of us there from Alanta had not seen any of the big ones, and these were full grown flyers. Talk about leaning by fire. Still we were doing fair when the Ryper appeared. The older ones moved to it, and kept it from the crowd there to watch the games until the vets were there. Then we got hit from behind, where the alarm had not light and no one was watching. None had thought to check, sadly. One of the units just taking off broke and headed the way they had come from, as the other moved to face them, and half in the air moved to meet them. It was a disaster, but for being green we only lost ten pairs there, the rest are all in service, but it did take close to a year for a few. The back. Well they had the rest of the big ones, so they lost more, even though it was vets that raced that way. It would have been worse for everyone had there not been some out there. Mostly nonbonded people, some were just home guards, so didn’t even have full armor and should have taken cover. Yet they put up a fight and that saved us.”

I said. “I never even thought about hiding, but then I knew there was no point in it. Being from a boarder, as I was, not that I really took time to think. I didn’t even think of the air tests or I would never have been out there. I was in academic studies, history and archive management, in an Altanin university. My advisers had tried to get me to take the tests for the more advanced programs the year before, but I had refused. Yet the classes were getting worse not better. It was take the test or be stuck in intro classes for subjects that I could take the master level class without a struggle. So I went to the tests. I had nothing to do with the military and I avoided dragons. I did know by then that they wouldn’t eat me, but well I had witnessed a Drake attack when a child. After that I wanted nothing to do with anything that flew.” I shook my head a bit, look at the field not the people. “A few there had said that there were some old Glaint ruins on the back end of the field. I just couldn’t believe it was right and found myself with nothing to do that day. So went to see, not even thinking to take a knife or anything. After all the area was cleared and it was the tests. No one attacks test sites, not even a petty thief, or so I had been taught.  I just wanted to find out what the ruins were and why that peson was so sure, for all it was imposable to find Glaint ruins that far north.” That got some chuckles, for there were some ruins of theirs higher in the mountains. “Yes I was a bit of an argent jerk, but I was right as they are Colten, but there are some Glaintin artifacts in them and the influence is in the buildings shape. I was having fun and learning a good deal from the writings that could be made out, not paying attention to anything but the ruins. After all it was still part of the test site. Still the alarms would have been noticeable, had they worked. As it was I went around a post and ran into a shimmer, an adult one. I am just lucky I scared it as badly as it scared me. That let me get off a stun spell and run into the house. I knew enough to know the spell wouldn’t hold and it wasn’t there alone. So called my weapons and armor, such as was. I was home guard from a border town, but never expected to be front line. Still I was skilled with blade and bow even then, for all I did not put in real effort I could hold my own with the first and second year. Thank goodness I had kept up work outs, I was not dedicated but would be in the gym at least three a week, more than most academic students. I was ready when the shimmer found me and then its friend. I likely should have screamed then, but didn’t think of it until the Flyers were over head. I don’t know how but I did manage to shot a couple. Luckily my screaming alerted a team of dragons that was practicing in the area. When they started fighting I p shooting, not wanting to hit them, but soon had another target as more Shimmers and other walkers were coming at me, I still am not sure what all was in that force. It was a mess.

Devan looked at Ryder. “So you weren’t boned yet? That must have been terrifying. I don’t know that I would have been able to fire on the flyers. They could have turned on you if the dragons hadn’t have come.”

I shrugged and smiled a bit. “I was just acting, thought came later.   Those first moves I just did, but I did realize that being on the ground was putting me at a disadvantage.  So I made a move to a building that had a good stair case to second fool that still had some walls for cover. That was when I realized that there were others in buildings fighting it was just the dragons that were there. Later I learned some had heard me and some had found the demons as I had. Right then I was glad to see I wasn’t as outnumbered as I had thought. Still it was bad, I think that wave of flyers was killed. The dragons then laned and started doing what they could to help us with the ground. By that point I had taped a node and was fling fire as well, for all I knew it was reckless. They just kept coming. I was sure some were illusions, but there was to much distortion to tell. So I stopped the fire balls and started a wall. Something I had been told never to do, for the risk of burn out is high. Yet I saw no other way. One of the dragons joined in and we started pushing them back. It was working, holes appeared as the illusions disappeared. That was when the next air wave showed up, with two Rypers. I looked at the dragon and knew it was going to go fight them, never mind it had no chance. So I did the craziest thing in the world and jumped on his back. I don’t know, now looking back just what possessed me. It wasn’t the bond. There was nothing there yet. I just had to do something. He scared me by speaking, telling me to shift a bit and asking if I knew what a Hikes maneuver was. I had no idea that dragons ever spoke, but instinct had me tell him that yes, but I had never flown. Only done it on raised platforms. Ryder said he was glad that I had done more than just read of unit, as he was hoping. For that was going to be our best chance. We just needed to hurt them badly then the others could finish. So away we went. I think it was as we were attacking the second one that the first bond set. I know I was aware of him when the Drake appeared. We both knew it was suicide to try anything, but we agreed we had to. It was during that fight that the trained troops showed up, but there was more than the Drake and well there was only so much they could do to help, besides yelling instructions. I still don’t know how we killed it or how we lived. We were both torn up. I did have some Winter flower juice and dumped over us, others add what they had even some dried petals. Still the wounds were too bad, I am sure I told them to stop and worry about those that could be saved. I remember doing so anyway, but then I am not sure of much of anything. I don’t remember the medics or the next three months, for that matter. When I woke I discovered that we had shared blood, not too surprising but still it meant my life had completely changed. Also that I was now enrolled at, and on the campus of, the Glacer Crown University, not that I would be taking classes for a few more months.”

Devan shook his head and was just stared at me. Stewert said. “A drake? But there are none here. You are sure? I just. We have seen none so how? There are no signs that any are awake.”

I nodded. “I want to believe that I am wrong, but I grew up in on the border and the chart was posted in the house and we were drilled on it in class. The only thing I am not sure of is the grade it was. If one here can tell by scars then I can prove it easily. I do see why it is imposable. If those failed what else is awake that we missed?”

An older man came over moving with a care that spoke to his years of fighting. “So it does, and I do not doubt your ability to identify what you saw, child.” He shouldn’t as he had tested her often after that first time. Said that as much of a mage as she would be she had to be ready without thought. For power attracted trouble. “This news is troubling in a lot of ways. We need to know. Others here are qustioing and will soon be loud in those questions. So I do need to see some of those scars. For they will trust me where they foolishly are not you.”

He was looking at someone behind me. Making me fear just who was there. I had just wanted Devan to know what he could be getting into. What the friends he was speaking for were risking. I shrugged and hand my plate to Oliver and then pulled my shirt out. “I fear that Riders scars are hard to see now. The ones that were not covered by new scales are laid over by newer ones. Therefore it will have to be the ones I have. That means taking my shirt off, but all here are fighters so should not be offended by that.”

He said. “No they had best not but it seems to be making you’re a bit upset so we could move it inside.”

I shrugged. “Then they would just block the doors and scare people more. They are a bit jumpy do to whatever they were told when I was out of the room. Besides the others here need to see them as well, for all they respect you. It is too big of a claim to take anyone’s word for.  Hence the reasons I meant to wait, but that felt foolish once I heard everyone had an attack. Guys there is nothing to worry about. Even should the alarms fail the spotters won’t. There is no risk of anything coming unseen.” With that I took my shirt off, ignore the gasps. The long one down the center of my back is like the best, but most of them are from that attack. I think that a few are from the Rypers, but most it was the Drake. Like I said we were not expected to live.”

He said. “It is wonder you did. Likely only the face it was a new bond and you soul blended as well that let you. That was an A class, nothing less. I would bet royal. You two get targeted now? These are all full healed so you had skilled people looking at you. No taint left at all, that is hard to do. You can get your shirt on, everyone has seen enough to be upset.”

Max said. “They don’t seek them out, but if they are on the field the demons will go after them over easier targets. There is debate among our vets as to if it is due to the Drake or one of the Rypers. There are some that think that saw the battle that say it was the death of the last Ryper that caused the Drake to attack. That until then it was just watching and showed no indication of getting involved, others say it attacked when it got there which is how her Highness remembers it. Either way they are clearly known to them.”

He nodded. “I thought so and it could be. The Rypers were full grown, so that would have got the attention of the Drake, but killing one of them gets all of their interest. You two are doing right by staying involved. You might not have wanted this life, but you are doing well with the hand you were dealt. See she gets a mug of red mead, for all she will frown. She needs it after going there.”

I shook my head but smiled. “Oliver bring him one as well, and some of pepper coated steak. I spent six months training with the Highlanders.  You don’t need to test me. Trust me Glacier’s service has not lost its step a bit. We might not get tested as much in country, but all do rotations in allies that do. The test to make rank there is every bit as rough as yours. It starts at dawn and goes past midnight.”

He shrugged. “Your air, you could be asleep and still make the route. No doubt you did sleep, no one could tell. Most do.”

I laughed. “Come now, you know full well that is nonsense. Well alright, so if not in battle I might, but there is too much going on in a fight to balance if you are asleep. You know one did when they fall. Sides who said I was taking of Air test. I made rank on the ground, and before I had any titles tied to me. It was that or train with the babes that didn’t know what side of the blade to use.” Devan and Stewart looked at me and my father coughed, which is when I realized he was there.

Daren said. “In truth she marched up to the arms master and said he was nuts if he thought he could put her with those fools. That she had been at the damn test to get out of the idiocy not get to take more. He told he that as she new everything she could be there at dawn. Then tried to tell her to go away when she showed. She never had another weapons class at the university after that day. He still hides from her. General they just brought out some alagien peppers and jerked chicken I had to get you some.” He hand the plate to Oliver. “Now don’t you try it, you know I tested it, and those are hot. Commander I brought you some of the chicken to try, I do think even you will like this. The flavor is not that different from that stir fry with the little round nuts.” He handed the plate to Robert.

Devan shook his head, but bowed. “Now I am completely confused. I do think I should have checked in before now. I didn’t think I had been gone that long. Just why are you deferring to them Highness? And not hand it to her, yet tell the servant you tried the food so it was safe? Shouldn’t you have the taster? I mean I thought it odd that you moved to guard her, but waiting on her. I just am missing something.”