Chapter 6 - Multiple POVs

Xaden - 

I rose from my chair as the bells rang, signaling people to get to morning formation, and ran a hand over my face. I hadn't slept well since the execution, and today was no different. I tossed on my sheaths, and exited the room, grabbing my rucksack, and saw Allani leaving her room, pack slung over her shoulders, her black hair up in a braided ponytail, like how she usually kept it. 

I trailed her, unable to pull my gaze away from her. Her dragon relic was barely shown, but her rebellion relic was on perfect display. It's not like anyone would dare to challenge her anyway. Her reputation was even more feared than mine, with her success in her first year being built on a foundation of bones. 

Pancheck started to read off the death roll once everyone gathered in the courtyard, but I tuned him out. I felt another gaze on me, and my eyes drifted over to Violet's, who was whispering with her friend. Everybody started moving, and I set into motion, realizing the death roll was over. 

We all filed into the sparring gym for challenges, and Allani moved to stand near Sorrengail's squad. Ridoc immediately started talking to her and trying to coax a reaction out of the ruthless and emotionless wing leader. 

"Nightrain and Oakwald." Emetterio called. 

Allani pushed off the wall, stepping onto the mat. Oakwald stepped forward on the other side. He was a tall man and had the advantage of size against Allani. I knew her well enough that she could fight off multiple people with her fighting style though. She didn't earn her rank for nothing. 

"You ready to lose, Nightrain?" Oakwald taunted. 

Even with her reputation, the anti-Tyrs would still taunt her. They always ended up dead, or seriously injured, of course, but that didn't stop others from coming at her. At this point, I was convinced half the quadrant wanted to fuck her, and the other wanted to kill her. 

Oakwald lunged forward, reaching out to try and grab her, but she twisted, ending up behind him instead, leaving him to grasp at empty air. She waited until he turned around, then grabbed his arm as he punched, flipping him even though he must've had a couple of inches and multiple pounds on her. He ended up facedown on the mat, with Allani on top of him, wrenching his arm back, twisting it until I heard a snap. 

"Yield," she said, not even a question, her hands already on his other arm, pulling it back in preparation to snap this one too. 

"I yield," he said, his voice muffled from being facedown. 

Allani rolled off of him, then onto her feet in a fluid motion, like a snake, and walked back over to her spot near Sorrengail's squad, her arms folded over her chest. Half of the room now had their eyes on her, and the other half was looking anywhere but her. 

What a display, little viper. 

"You do know one of these days, you're going to have to decide whether you want the Silver One or the Ruthless One," Sgeayl commented. 

I ignored her, building the wall that keeps her out of my mind, and securing it in place. 

Nothing was going on. Especially with either of them. Right?

Violet - 

"That was hot," Ridoc whispered after Nightrain rolled off of the man. 

Half of the gym seemed to agree with him, eyeing the wingleader, while the other half was looking anywhere but Nightrain. 

"She would probably kill you if you tried to make a move," Rhi commented.

I was about to respond when Emetterio called the next match. 

"Violet Sorrengail and Oren Seifert," he shouted.

I stepped onto the mat, nerves eating at me, even though I knew that I would win, if I did everything right. 

Hopefully, I did. 

Allani - 

Sorrengail stepped onto the mat, but I noticed something was off with her opponent. He had a greenish tinge to his skin, as though he was sick... or poisoned.

Smart woman, poisoning her opponents. She must know by now that she is at a physical disadvantage, but her scribe training could help her survive if she knows how to use it.  It seemed like she did, which was good for her. 

I watched the fight, and Violet pinned him, vomit covering the mats as he heaved again. 

"He yields," Emetterio called, a disgusted look on his face. 

Sorrengail got up, avoiding the pools of vomit on the mat. Malek, if she didn't start poisoning her opponents less obviously, then she would be caught. 

"That was good," Matthias said from beside Sorrengail. 

Sorrengail shrugged. 

"I was lucky. He was sick." Sorrengail said. 

Lucky? It's more like smart. 

"Careful there, Ruthless One. People might think you have a soft spot for the youngest little Sorrengail." Athana teased. 

"I just have an invested interest in keeping her alive. If she dies, who knows what General Sorrengail will do? Xaden's entire deal with her is built on this little petite thing." I reminded my dragon. 

She let out a mocking hum, and I slammed up my shields. Dragons are so fucking annoying. I felt mock hurt flow past my shields. 

"I guess they're sarcastic too," I added to my earlier thoughts.

I scan the gym, blocking Athana out before she can respond, and looking at all of the sparring matches. I picked apart the strategies that they all seemed to use, and found so many different problems in them. Fluidity, speed, strength, some of the people weren't taking these factors into account, and relying solely on one or two when they could've used others. 

"Not everyone has been training the moment they were able to," Athana said, breaking past my shields easily.

I've never really tried to block my dragon out, though some dragons would think that if their rider blocks them out, they should stay out. I shot the last thought to her, pushing it down the bond so that she could hear it. 

An offended growl shot down the bond, and I smirked before I started moving, heading to my next class. Violet was smart, but that could only get you so far in real life. It's not like the venin are going to accept a cup of tea before draining you.  

I would need to step in soon, but first, I would see how this turned out. Who knows, it may be entertaining. 

I'm finally able to start posting again! Sorry for the wait, but my teachers don't seem to understand the concept of free time. What did you all think of this chapter?