Falling for the Ashfather

Sweat beaded on my forehead as I twisted and turned, sparring with Konrad, One of the strongest in this year’s dragonet class, and my best friend. He was working just as hard as I was, his own face soaked with sweat and his brow creased in concentration as he countered my attacks. We didn’t often spar together, our teacher wanting us to work with others, but when we did, we both took it seriously. We wanted to be the strongest fighters we could be, and we were both turning eighteen in the coming week, which meant, we would be graduating soon. And once we graduated, all we had left was placement. And we both wanted the same placement. There was no honour greater than becoming Drakesworn, the elite guard who protected and fought for the Ashenfather, King of all Dragonkin. They accepted only a handful of graduates each year from all of the tribes, and Konrad was just as determined as I was to be picked. Our town wasn’t large. Very few of our people even made it into the town guard. Most of them were here only because the training was mandatory. And on the night of The Ashwalk, the final test that would place us in our respective roles, most of our classmates would barely be looked at. Maybe that was why our teacher was finally letting us spar against each other. Konrad blinked, starting to look tired, and I took a chance in that instant, stepping forward, forcing him to stumble back, then tackling him to the ground. I had my dagger at his throat in an instant, and we froze, both of us panting and staring at each other with the cold eyes of rivals. Then the teacher cleared his throat, and I had to force myself back into who I was when I wasn’t fighting. Remind myself that I was more than just the hunt. With a grin, I moved off of my friend, flipping my knife in my hand and stashing it in it’s holster before holding out a hand to Konrad. He glowered at me, but took my hand and let me help him up. “Good fight,” he said grudgingly as we headed to the benches where we both had towels and water waiting for us. “I thought I had you, there.” I snorted. “When? When you were lying on your back, my knife at my throat?” I grabbed my water and chugged it, knowing I should sip it more slowly, but my thirst was more demanding than that. “Tahlia,” Konrad said, a warning in his voice. I broke off my drink and looked at him with a raised brow. “Did you really think you were going to beat me? Listen, neither of us needs to be the top. We just both need to be chosen. I think we can do it. Don’t you?” Konrad sighed, brushing his soaked hair off his forehead and sat down on the bench, dropping down so he was resting his elbows on his knees. “I don’t know. We aren’t exactly from the prime setting to be chosen. You know the Drakesworn usually come from the capital.” “Well, the capital needs to be training even harder than they usually do if they want to take us down,” I told him. “Where is all of this coming from, anyway? I thought you were confident that you were going to be chosen. Isn’t that what you said last night?” “Last night I was filled to the brim with cinderbrew and you know it. I always boast when I’ve been drinking. Today…” he hesitated and looked up at the sky. “Well, today I’m worried. What if I can’t shift. What if I never get my dragon. You know I can’t be a Drakesworn if I don’t get my dragon.” I was quiet as I studied my friend, then sat down beside him. “I didn’t know you were worried about that. You never said anything.” “Yeah, I try not to think about it. But, you know as well as I do that something is going on with the dragonkin. More and more dragonets aren’t getting their dragons every year. My brother didn’t get his, and now he just sits at home most days, high on sparkblood and a burden to my parents. I don’t want to be that.” Leaning against his shoulder, I rested my head on him. “It’s not going to happen. If there’s anyone in this world destined to have a dragon, It’s you Konrad. And, even if you didn’t get a dragon, you wouldn’t be like your brother. You would never do that to your parents. You would go find a way to support them, even if it wasn’t with the Drakesworn. I know you would. And you do, too.” He sighed, then let his head rest on mine. “What about our mates? If I don’t get a dragon, I will never find my mate. I’m going to be alone forever.” “No you won’t. Because I will always be here with you,” I told him. “You know that. Even if we aren’t mates, you are half my soul and always will be. Don’t you dare forget that. Got it?” Konrad grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “Thank you, Tahlia. You always know the right thing to say.” “Of course I do,” I retorted, and he snorted out a laugh. “Now, come on. You know I need to get my chores done before dinner, and you know Kami won’t have done any of them.” “Why would she? Then she might have to do something,” Konrad muttered, but he stood and held out a hand to me to help me up. “Let’s go. I’ll help you with your chores before I head home. At least then I won’t have to watch my brother stare at nothing while my mother goes out of her way to make sure we’re all taken care of.”