Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 126358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 505(@250wpm)___ 421(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 505(@250wpm)___ 421(@300wpm)
My appetite roared to life, but my pride rebelled. I was a daughter—now a son—of a Great House. We had no need to beg.
“Thank you but I’m not hungry,” I said loftily.
Of course, my stomach chose that very moment to growl loudly in angry contradiction.
“Oh, come now, lad.” The courier shook his head. “There’s no shame in being in need.”
“There’s not?” I asked doubtfully. To hear my father rant and rave about our dwindling finances, there was nothing more shameful than poverty.
But the courier shook his head again.
“Course not. I wasn’t raised with much myself, you know,” he said. “Barely had enough Noble Blood to get myself into the Academy—my father owned a farm. Not exactly a going enterprise, you understand.”
“Why are you telling me all this?” I asked blankly.
“Well, because…” He frowned, as if trying to think how to continue. “I’ve heard about what happened to your father—we all have,” he added sympathetically. “It makes sense that you wouldn’t have much to eat with the main breadwinner of your family gone. Your cheekbones are sharp enough to cut glass, and I can practically count your ribs right through that coat.”
I felt a rush of shame that heated my cheeks in an uncomfortable blush. Death by suicide was a black mark on a family’s name—especially when both rider and dragon went together. It usually meant madness and there was nothing worse than that. I wished he didn’t know about it and hoped he was wrong about the rest of the Academy knowing as well.
“I…um…” I didn’t know what to say.
The courier didn’t wait for me to finish. Using a long-handled fork, he fished one of the toasted slices of bread from the pan and handed it to me.
“Here—eat up, lad. As I said, it’s not good to fly on an empty stomach. Can’t have you fainting mid-air.”
This time I took the offered food without complaint. It was hot enough to singe my fingertips but I held onto it anyway and brought it to my lips.
The first bite was pure bliss—crispy and crunchy and salty and slightly greasy from the bacon fat. The toasted bread crunched between my teeth and melted on my tongue, making my stomach growl again with hunger.
I finished the bread in no time. Though I tried to be mannerly about it, I’m afraid I wolfed it down. Grief for Auren had allowed me to ignore my hunger up until now but having real food in my mouth dispelled all other emotions.
“Good, that’s good.” The courier nodded approvingly as he watched me eat the bread. “Would you like another slice?” he added, forking up the second piece and holding it out to me. “I’m full myself,” he added. “I was just going to give it to G’lornie, but the little glutton’s already had a whole goat I bought him down at the village last night, so he doesn’t need it to fly.”
“Oh, I shouldn’t,” I said, even though my stomach was still growling. I took the toasted bread instinctively anyway, but made myself hold it out to the little Brown. “G’lornie should have it—he’s going to take us all the way to the Academy,” I said, trying to make myself believe it.
But the little brown dragon nosed away my hand. Instead of inhaling the piece of bread, he pushed my palm back towards me and there was an anxious look in his golden eyes as he did so, as though he could sense how hungry I was. I could feel his worry for me and it melted my heart.
“There, you see? G’lornie wants you to have it,” the courier said. “You go on and finish it now, lad. I’ll pack up while you eat.”
“Well, thank you, er…” I hesitated awkwardly, not sure what to call him.
“Oh, I’m Jorn,” the courier said to me, smiling. “I guess I never really introduced myself. Not much use, seeing as how once we get back to the Academy, we’ll be moving in different circles. You’ll be with the new cadets and I’m always off flying, dispatching messages and gathering candidates. Still, maybe you’ll remember old Jorn once you’ve Impressed yourself a Silver or Gold-wing.”
“I’ll never forget your kindness,” I said and meant it.
“Oh, go on with you.” Jorn made a shooing gesture and his weather-roughened cheeks grew a bit red. “I’ve a lad myself, just your age and entering the Academy this year. I wouldn’t want him going hungry—just treating you the way I’d hope someone would treat him if your circumstances were reversed.”
I wondered if Jorn’s son looked anything like him and pictured a boy about my age with an enormous poufy mustache. The mental image made me smile.
“Well, we’d best get moving if we’re going to get you to Receiving Day on time,” Jorn said. “Finish that bread and let’s head out.”