I woke up early this morning, I decided to start unpacking in my new room. I had been appointed wingleader by others in my year. I was assigned to fourth wing, and today I would be getting the new first years in my wing. Only five minutes after I started, I had finished unpacking all my belongings. I looked at the clock across the room, I suppose I could head down now. Being a wingleader naturally I was assigned to supervise parapet crossings.
After finishing my breakfast I headed towards the parapet to oversee the first years crossing. I met up with other wingleaders and a second year who was in charge of writing names. I easily crossed the parapet, knowing my shadows would keep me from falling. Another wingleader, a wind bender crossed after me. Neither of us in fear of falling, our abilities would catch us if we lost balance. Taking up my position, I waited for others to do the same. We waited for barely a minute before the line of candidates started arriving at the top of the stairs.
I watch person after person step on the parapet, seeing a few fall. I push away any remorse or empathy for those who fall, it's not my fault any way. I watch the next candidate step on to the parapet,
"See you two on the other side!" He calls out to the two women behind him.
I barely have time to glance at them before the other rider next to me talks. "Ready for the next one, Riorson?"
I nod my head in agreement. I turn my head back to the women the blonde boy had called out to. Both have braids in, the one with dark brown hair has a full head of braids falling down to her shoulder, the other has a single braid wrapped in a crown around her head.
"You ready for this, Sorrengail?" The brown haired girl asks the other. Sorrengail as in Violet Sorrengail? That's not right, she was supposed to enter the scribe quadrant. Brennan is going to kill me. The wind picks up threatening rain to fall at any moment.
"Oh, Shit," she whispers, barely audible as another gust of wind blows. I step up closer to her, she looks up at me. Brennan was right she really is small, she doesn't even reach my collarbone.
"Sorrengail?" I say, not sure if I'm asking for confirmation or just stating her name.
"Violet?" The brown haired girl asks. So it is her, Brennan's sister, Violet Sorrengail.
"You're General Sorrengail's youngest." I say, not mentioning Brennan's name.
"You're Fen Riorson's son." She counters, lifting her chin slightly.
I take in a deep breath remembering what her mother did to my father. Jaws flexing twice I respond, "Your mother captured my father and oversaw his execution." My voice is lined with accusation as I talk. She tenses up, enraged.
"Your father killed my older brother. Seems like we're even." She says, pictures of Brennan flood over me. Remembering everything I've done with him I respond, "Hardly"
I investigate her noticing the flight leathers she already wears, despite not being a ride yet.
"Your sister is a rider. Guess that explains the leathers." I say, remembering Mira. Brennan had talked about her, and I had met her once when she came to the last threshing. I continue to hold her eyes with mine, almost like a staring contest.
"Guess so." She replies.
"You all right?" The brown haired girl asks, looking between me and Violet. I look at her.
"You're friends?" I ask.
"We met on the stairs." She replies.
I take in her now too, I notice her mismatched shoes. Looking over at Violet, i see that she also has mismatched shoes.
"Interesting." I can't help saying. They swapped one shoe, each of them has one more worn out flat shoe that is terrible for the parapet. They each also have a new shoe still clean with plenty of grip, they switched so that one of them would have a better chance of getting across. Clever idea whoever's it is. Tired of our conversation, I try to find a way to end it, but Violet has other ideas.
"Are you going to kill me?" She asks, lifting her chin higher. Suddenly rain begins to fall, everyone turns their heads towards the parapet intime to see the blonde boy slip. He catches himself his feet dangling in the air, the wind making him sway.
"Pull yourself up Dylan!" Violet's friend shouts, but it's obvious he doesn't have the strength, holding on for another few seconds the wind and rain gets the best of him and a scream rips out of his throat as he plummets, disappearing from view. Before I can feel anything sound floats out of my mouth,
"Why would I waste my energy killing you when the parapet will do it for me?" I say, a wicked smile curving my lips.
"Your turn." I add, gesturing towards the parapet, that now has no one on it.