Gryphon Rider Academy: Year 4: Wild Flight (A Young Adult Fantasy) by Elise Hennessy

Author:Elise Hennessy [Hennessy, Elise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Flutterbye Trail Press
Published: 2023-12-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Paragon’s Visit

A few days later, I ate breakfast with my little flight of cadets, trying to talk them up right before the next monthly competition. I pretended it was because they were just that nervous, but in reality, I needed to hear these words of encouragement too.

Paragon Brekwell was coming back to the fortress today. He’d given us less than a fortnight to institute the list of improvements he’d left on Father’s desk. Many of them were impossible, like suggesting Wild Flight participate in midday PT so they weren’t lazing around in the sunshine.

It was unfortunate that he was so out of touch about wild gryphon habits, because now I was present and in the unenviable position of being the one to explain said behaviors to him.

“We’re going to be first this time. I promise,” said Cadet Geisel. Her strong form fit her uniform well. I couldn’t help but wonder if I needed to take her aside and introduce her to some stormsinger eggs once Revna Linked.

Was she a volta? Would she ever tell me if she was? The academy clothing may cover her clan tattoo, but she was clearly Rathi in appearance and—reportedly—ferocity. She and Cadet Runar were two of our best fighters. Unfortunately, that had not won them many friends amongst the Altarian boys and girls around them.

“Don’t go promising anything,” Cadet-Commander Hanover muttered.

“Don’t you want to win too?” she countered and cleared her throat when he raised a brow her way. “I mean, sir.”

“There’s nothing wrong with wanting to win,” I said. The tension between the two of them was so thick it could be sliced with a bread knife.

The bell rang to summon them all outside. I slapped backs and wished them good luck. They’d be lining up for a pass in review shortly. In the meantime, I gathered up my gryphons and headed outside at a more leisurely pace. Novali had wanted to come along today, which meant I carried her while Ari and Sunset followed us.

I looked down at Novali, who was snuggled into the crook of my elbow. She released a happy peep, unaware of the nerves rising in my belly. We’d see Brekwell on stage for the pass in review, where all instructors, the Commandant, and important visitors like him amassed to watch the cadets.

“He’s going to love you,” I said, pressing the pad of my finger to the top of her beak. Her twittery giggle had me smiling as I walked the rest of the way to the Green to meet this important man face to face for the first time.

“You know, I’ve always wondered where the gryphons go while the humans stand on stage,” Sunset commented to Ari.

“In front, right?” he guessed.

It was a detail I’d often overlooked as well. The last Commandant would stand toward the front of the stage with his gryphon. He and Night had a kind of magnetism, a presence that was impossible to ignore. But as I drew near the stage now, I saw

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