28- The Scroll

The walk was awkward..long and awkward. Just an hour ago I thought we could maybe be friends given the circumstances, now I wonder.

I've only read a few things about the Tyyrish rebellion, it was always so dark, even for a person like me, the conversations were just as dark so I avoided those also. But I can see why he got upset.

One day your at home drawing, then the next your watching your family and your life slipping away right infront of you, only to be sent to the deadliest Quadrant and see if you survive.

And now... You need to watch a Sorrengail, daughter of the Commander who did all that messed up shit to you, you need to protect me because that also means protecting Xaden. Who they all seem to love. Somehow.

I can see how that's a damn hard pill to swallow and I understand, the only thing that I could be upset about is him mentioning Brennan, but that happened 5 years ago..

" Look.. I'm sorry-"

" It's ok Liam your not the one that should be apologizing..."

He sighs and we continue walking, " Riorson trained me when we werw fostered together, I never saw anyone fight quite like him, he helped train basically all of us." Liam says trying to make conversation.

" I've noticed he takes care of his own. That is one thing that's admirable about him." I say simply still walking.

" Your one his own now. Your one of us." Liam states.

" Am I?" I question looking back at him.

Without a beat he nods.

I scoff shaking my head, " Your only here because I'm a liability, everyone here knows that. My survival is key to his, none of you truky give one shit about a Sorrengail and I don't blame you."

I walk a little faster just wanting some space, but I hear Liam's pace increase as well as he gets closer. " Your not wrong. I'm doing this because he asked and I owe him everything."

" So every one with yours marks owe him everything? That's why you all decided to all of the sudden be nice and do whatever he says?" I snap my gaze behind me looking at him, he stands there only shrugging, " Exactly."

A scroll tumbles from the cart unrolling, I go to pick it up seeing it's an incident report on the southern boarder. " You shouldn't be looking at things like that." Liam warns, I look up at him " Going to tell Mairi?"

He clenches his jaw, " What does it say?"

I chuckle, " It's.." I trail off.

All along the mountains..there's been attacks.. I flip the scroll over seeing if this was classified. It wasn't. " I thought we had a trade deal with Promel?"

" We do.." Liam says slowly, " Why what does it say?"

I throw him the scroll, " Moutain attacks."

He reads through it, his brow furrowed. " Maybe they'll say more about in Battle Brief." He rolls up the paper tucking it back onto the cart.

" Yea, maybe."

I only got maybe 10 steps before he decided to speak again, " So... you didn't start channeling did you?"

I shake my head, " Obviously you know my whole schedule. Are we in Signet class?"

" Look, you don't need to get all bitchy again, I said I'm sorry."

" And I said don't worry about it. Can you just walk faster so we can get this stupid job done and get to class?"

He mock salutes as we walk faster, dropping off the cart and heading towards Battle Brief. We get into the domed room finding a spot I sit, Liam sitting next to me making me sigh in annoyance. Liam spares a look at me looking straight again, I see Hetta and wave her over with Ridoc and Sawyer, they all come and sit, Hetta on the other side of me.

" Liam." She greets.

" Mouse." He grins making her eyes roll.

" Mouse?" I question.

" It's nothing-" Hetta begins but Liam intterupts her, " Me and Xaden always called her mouse because she was so quiet all the time." He now grins. " Right mousey?"

" Your not funny Liam.." She mutters, her voice quieting..just like a little mouse.He simply laughs looking straight again. I see Xaden walk in, he eyes us purposely walking where we were sitting to get to his spot.

" How's the first day?' He asks Liam..not me, not even sparing me a look.

" Take him back." I spit.

" Better then I expected." Liam grins sounding lighthearted not missing a beat with my comment. I swore I saw the corners of Xaden's lips curl up for just a second as he looks at Liam, then looking at me with his stern expression. " I thought I told you to behave."

" And I thought I told you I didn't need a bodyguard." I snap back.

" I don't give a damn what you say."

" Just like I don't give a damn to listen to you." I smile.

He glares turning his body to face me fully, " Do we need to go over why you need Mairi?"

" Because Amber put a sleep spell on me..one time.. And look where she is.. floating around in the air somewhere.."

" And what about her dragon trying to kill you?"

" He's floating in the air as well..Rhys made sure of that."

" And at Threshing?"

I shrug, " That was..normal Threshing activity.."

" And all the people you pissed off? The main one being Jack Barlowe?"

" I think he knows better now."

Xaden gives a annoyed chuckle, " And what abotu that conversation we had about people being stupid..they will still try.. And you don't do yourself any favors trying to get people to like you."

" I don't need people to like me." I snap.

Xaden only smiles, " And that's why you have a bodyguard."

" Having a bodyguard is overstepping on your part Riorson..."

He seems to be enjoying this and it makes me all the more livid, " You think I'm overstepping?"

" YOu seem to have a tendency to, yes."

He hums taking another step closer, leaning down on my table looking down at me. " Overstepping would be me assigning Liam to sleep in the same room as you. That's overstepping."

" I wouldn't mind-" Liam tried to joke but I hit him in the chest makign him chuckle as I still glare at Xaden, he tilts his head " Now I'm not going to tell you again Fury..shut up and behave."

" And if I don't? What the hell are you going to do? Can't kill me." I push, making the surrounding area close to us all fall silent.

Xaden's jaw ticks before he takes a slow deep breath, " Like I told you.. No one else is allowed to hurt you..but I sure as hell can I pretty soon I will. I need you alive, not still fully assembled. Keep it up.. and your damn tongue will be cut out before you could even think about calling for Rhys."

" Tell him to try it.." Rhys voice grumbles making me smirk.

" We both invite you to try."

He leans a little closer and I needed to fight like all hell not to pull back, " Careful what you wish for."

Professor Markham was just starting as Xaden saunters off.

" Even I was scared shitless." Sawyer mutters.

" I think Sorrengail has bigger balls then all of us..how can you talk to him like that?" Ridoc says quietly.

" Not even I would." Liam chuckles, " And I think of him as a brother."

" Well I think he needed a couple more swift kicks in the ass when he grew up.." I mutter looking ahead to hear Markham talk, he always does current events first, that would be the rampages I read about on the scroll..

I wait and wait but it doesn't come.. Instead we learn about the ' Gryphon Peak Battle' which was one of the first battles between gryphons and dragons. As I write I accident;y drop my quill, a dark shadow wrapped around it about to hand it to me before it pulls away.

Damn it Xaden...

I try reaching for it but his shadow pulls it away once again... If only I could tell, or throw my notepad at him.. I snap my head behinf me to where he sits, looking bored- but right at me, a lazy perfect smiling crawling on his face.

" Stop." I mouth.

He only gives me a confused expression before it melts back into one thats amused. I hear Liam chuckle beside me and I send him a glare as well. " Come on.." He whispers looking in Riorson's direction, finally he gives me back my quill, but not before running it across my cheek letting the ink stain my skin.

Asshole. An complete asshole...

I wrote my notes, and class by class Liam was always at my side. At lunch everyone seemed to stare at us, I already heard one say they think we're dating...

Liam cranes his head lookign at the two blondes that said it as we walked from our last class now laughing, " Man word travels fast about us.. the two top cadets..in love.."

I elbow him, " That's not even funny, or remotely amusing in any way, shape, or form."

Liam scoffs, " You would be embarassed to be with all..this.."

He mentions to himself, " Do you know how many options I have and here I am..with you..who doesn't even appreciate me.."

I laugh, " You have so many options?"

He nods, " I do, I practically need to fend the ladies off with a stick."

" I can see why you and Riorson get along so well.. Your both cocky as hell."

" Why should I be humble when I'm good at everything and have the looks to go along with it?"

I roll my eyes once more as we approach my door, " You know..I'm surprised he actually doesn't make you sleep on my floor.."

" Why would I? Your door is warded."

I stop abruptly, " My door is what?"

Liam pauses, his mouth forming almost like an 'O' like he wasn't supposed to tell me.

" My door is WHAT?" I say once more.

" Warded." Liam admits.

" What does that mean?"

His face relaxes a little, " Calm down it just means only you and Riorson can open it.. Another one of his safety ideas."

I look at my door then him, " So..you can't go in my room?"

" I can still go in, if you or Riorson open the door. It's like a lock, but if I try forcefully opening it.. He'll know, you'll know and the dragons will know. Plus I heard it burns like hell if you try hard enough."

I hum, " When did he-"

He was in my room last night.

I sigh, " Nevermind.. I'll see you tomorrow."

" I'll be knocking!" He grins. " See you tomrrow."

He stands there, as if waiting.. " Yea?"

" Technically I can't leave until your securely in your door.."He says leaning on the wall. I chuckle going in my room peeking out. " And what if I try to escape and go off without you?"

He still grins, " There's a hidden alarm that lets me know when your door opens."

My face drops, " No there isn't."

He simply shrugs, " See you tomorrow."