Chapter 32 Friendship make up
RAIHN
I hadn't been to Feylen camp despite insistence from my family to train here before I got into Drakmor. My father had wanted me to come here instead of the Dragon Keep. He believed training in a war base was better than “wasting my time with other children”.
I was glad I hadn't listened to him. Because after what happened today, I wasn't sure I'd ever set foot here again.
I tightened my cloak around me and stared at a distance. I couldn't see anything past the thick fog and the cover of the night, but I knew there were soldiers hiding in the darkness.
After Eloise was attacked, Commander Mairi had tightened security at the base and put more soldiers on patrol. But I was still not convinced. There had been thousands of soldiers crawling this place, and yet a Hollowborn had managed to sneak in without any of them noticing.
Some soldiers they were.
I wasn't going to take any chances again, I wasn't going to neglect my duties. Which was why I had taken position in front of our assigned tents, guarding my friends as they slept.
My friends. I hadn't thought I would use the word for anyone aside from the three people I grew up with, but somehow, I was now using it for a werewolf and a Fireborn I had met less than a month ago.
But that's what they were. My friends, who didn't kiss my ass and wouldn't hesitate to call me out when I stepped out of line, who had risked their life to save me. Even Aeron, Aeron who hated me after Kathryn, was now my friend too. That had been the only good thing that came out of Feylen.
“You know you don't have to freeze your butt out here when there are soldiers patrolling about.” I heard Aeron's voice as he took a seat beside me.
“I don't trust them.” I responded truthfully.
“You don't have to, but you should listen and stay in the tent like they asked. We're first years. If an attack were to occur, there's only little we can do with our training. But these are seasoned warriors. I don't think another Hollowborn could sneak past them again.”
What he said was logical, but we were way past logic now. Even if I went back to my tent, I wouldn't be able to sleep with the knowledge that a Hollowborn could sneak in.
“And yet you're outside too.” I smirked.
“I couldn't sleep.” He sighed and leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knee. “I meant what I said, Raihn.”
The words we exchanged during our recent conversation echoed between us. I knew exactly which words he was referring to. The words I'd longed to hear for two years.
‘I don't blame you’.
Aeron stared at me to make sure I understood. I dipped my head slightly and he turned his face away.
“I blame myself.” I whirled towards him in surprise. Those weren't the words I expected him to utter.
“Aeron, it's not–”
“Allow me to explain.” he cut in and took a sharp inhale.
“That night, after you left and before the attack, I drunkenly told Kathryn about my silly crush. She'd laughed and told me it was just a phase that would pass. I was heartbroken, but I pushed it aside and enjoyed the party. It was only when the attack started that I realized why she rejected me so viciously. Why she put herself in danger to search for you.”
I found myself holding my breath as I stared at my friend. I had an inkling where the conversation was going, but I didn't want to accept it. I couldn't. Because Kathryn had been my…my best friend. She had stood by my side since the day Byron took me to the Keep.
“I saw my feelings mirrored in her eyes that night, only they weren't for me. They were for you.” He swallowed.
“I could have stopped her that night, talk some sense into her, but I had been so mad and heartbroken that I had let her wander into danger alone. My moment of hesitation had cost her life.”
“It's not your fault, Aeron.” I said softly. If anything, it had only showed me how much at fault I was. All that had happened because I had gotten drunk and wandered off to get laid by a dragon I didn't even remember.
Aeron shook his head. “I spent a lot of time convincing myself of that, blaming you for that night, but when I finally realized my own fault, you had left for Azehar.”
My blood went cold as he mentioned the mistake I had made two years ago. After Kathryn was pronounced dead, I had left the Keep and went back to my home for the first time in seven years. Only, Azehar didn't feel like home anymore. Not even the sight of my family could erase my longing for the Keep, for the friends I left behind.
I had returned two years later to enroll in Drakmor, but nothing was the same anymore. So I had donned my mask and perfected it. But beneath the mask, the boy that had ran the hallways of the Dragon Keep with his friends still lived. Azehar hadn't erased that part of me, though my father had tried. He hadn't succeeded.
“I really missed you, brother.” I said.
“I really missed you too.” he smiled.
We clapped each other on the back. It felt like a huge burden that had weighed on me for the past two years was lifted off. It felt good to let my mask slip for a while.
“So does that mean you will be in our squad?” he asked.
“I thought you were against me joining your squad.”
“Well, that was when I thought you were an asshole. I mean, I still think you are one, but physical challenges start in two days and The Binding is in three weeks. We only have three members in our squad instead of five.”
A laugh tore out of me at his tone. “Well, I'm honored to be presented with such opportunity by your lordship.” I rose and gave him a slight bow.
“Your appreciation is accepted, Subject. You may rise.” He ordered.
We stared at each other and burst out laughing. A soldier on patrol paused in front of us and glared. “Aren't you supposed to be in your tents? Or has the events of the day not scare you enough?” he snarled.
I waited until he disappeared into the dark before I turned to Aeron, a knowing smirk on my lips.
“No.” Aeron said firmly before I could say anything.
“Shadow race?”
“No, Raihn. We're in detention for Hearth's sake. Do you want to land us in another weekend of this place?” his brows furrowed.
“We won't be punished if we don't get caught.” I shrugged. “And what other way to best end the night of our beautiful reunion than with a game we've loved since childhood?” I grinned.
I could see wheels turning in his head as he contemplated my idea. He let out a resigned sigh.
“Race to the gate and back. No cheating, Wesley.” I didn't give him a chance to prepare before throwing my shadows over myself and taking off.
“Wait! I wasn't ready.” he yelled after me, but I didn't slow.
I couldn't see whether he had taken off or not. The sky was so dark that my patch of darkness had blended with it. His must have too. I didn't slow my pace until I got to the gate.
The soldier at the gate frowned at the thud on the metal gate. I had no doubt Aeron had crashed into the gate. I laughed and turned towards the direction of our tent.
Only when I got to the platform we sat did I let my shadows fall. Aeron's fell to reveal him panting heavily. I tipped my head back and laughed at him.
“Do you. realize. how hard it is to run in the snow while holding your shadows at the same time?” he panted. I only laughed some more.
We sat back on the raised platform to catch our breath.
“To Kathryn never leaving us.” Aeron said.
I stared at my friend and smiled. “To us.” I responded.
The hair on my body prickled as a gust of wind blew. If the other side and
spirits were real, I had no doubts Kathryn was staring down at us now, and she delighted in our reunion.