When I woke up the next morning, we were unofficially at war.

Dammit, I thought as I trudged into the mess hall, my limbs still heavy with exhaustion. I’d slept the entire morning away, which normally would have been fine since it was the weekend, but I’d been planning on going down to the shop to help Carina out and fill her in on everything. She probably heard the cannon fire last night and was out of her mind with worry. The morning was gone now, along with it the busiest time for us on Sundays, but maybe I could still go down and hang out with her for the afternoon.

“No can do,” Rhia said as we ate lunch together. “There’s a lockdown on campus right now. No one gets to come or go without permission from the headmaster himself.”

"Of course there is," I groaned, not at all surprised. I'd have to send a letter to Carina, and she wouldn't be happy about that in the slightest. But after what happened last night, I couldn't blame the academy for being concerned.

Trying not to feel too trapped by the new restrictions, I went for a walk in the garden, trying to sort out my thoughts. I wished Jallis were here so I could talk to him. I wondered how he was doing at the camp. Had they put him on border patrol, so close to the Zallabarians and those nasty cannons? I shuddered at the thought of him and Kadryn being shot down by one, like poor Ragor and Ullion had been yesterday. I was so thankful that they’d merely been injured, and that they’d both make a full recovery. If they had been permanently crippled, or killed…

“Zara!” a fellow dragon rider cadet yelled as she rushed by. “The headmaster’s summoned all rider cadets to the training room.”

Tension dug into my shoulders as I jogged after her. The training room was a smaller, separate building from the academy, where cadets came for combat and physical fitness training. Major Falkieth and the headmaster both waited for us inside, and the other eight cadets were already lined up. I was pleased to see that Ullion was with us, looking relatively healthy—they must have gotten the same mage who healed me to treat him last night, for he didn’t look like he was favoring his injured leg, or in pain at all. I gave him a quick smile as I lined up with the others.

“Cadets,” the headmaster addressed us once we were all standing at attention. “Last night was a trying ordeal for all of us. For the first time in a century, a foreign power crossed into our territory and attacked our capital. If not for the actions of Miss Kenrook and Miss Thomas, we could have lost many lives last night. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their quick thinking and decisive action.”

The headmaster inclined his head toward us, and the other cadets burst into applause, whooping and cheering. But they quickly quieted when the headmaster and Major Falkieth stood in silence, and the mood grew somber again.

"While neither side has officially declared war, last night was the opening salvo, and the ten of you participated in your first battle. As of right now, you have all been put on active duty, and have the rank of Private, First Class.”

No one said a word, but tension and excitement rippled through the ranks. I gritted my teeth. Of course they were going to put us on active duty rather than protect these cadets and their not-yet-grown dragons. I’d known that, and though in my heart I knew I’d do whatever it took to protect my friends and family, I hated that others were putting their lives on the line.

Lessie’s consciousness rubbed up against my mind. “You have to remember they signed up for this, Zara,” she said. “When they enrolled in the academy, when they went to the hatching ceremony and laid their hands upon those dragon eggs, they knew this day might come.”

“Despite these grim circumstances, there is some good news,” the headmaster said, drawing my attention back to him. “Quoronis has decided to sit out the conflict, which means that we will only need to deal with Zallabar and Traggar, whose alliance still holds firm.”

Yes! I crowed mentally, and I could feel Lessie’s elation as well. Lord Tavarian must have successfully convinced Quoronis to back down. Did that mean he was coming home soon? I could hardly wait to see him.

"However, Zallabar alone is a formidable opponent, especially after the demonstration last night, and there is no telling what might happen next," Falkieth butted in. "For all we know, the ship that attacked us last night was Traggaran, and they were using cannons given to them by Zallabar. I would not be surprised in the slightest if Traggar agreed to ally with them simply for a chance to get their hands on that technology."

Right. I’d never been to Traggar myself, but from what I understood, theirs was an isolationist, almost barbaric culture, and largely reliant on their navy. They were also hostile and bloodthirsty, more than happy to get their hands on any new weapons that would help them continue to conquer other countries.

“Clearly, we need more information, and that is where you will come in handy,” the headmaster continued. “The ten of you will be departing for the border in stages—four of you will be sent to patrol the channel, and the other six will be patrolling the Zallabarian border. You will have two days to prepare and say goodbye to your loved ones.”

Two days? I thought, alarmed. Would Tavarian be back in two days? And what did he think of this? Did he know that Lessie and I were being sent to the border, even though we weren't even close to finishing our training? I was almost sure he would object if he were here, since he was not fond of using dragons during wartime to begin with. But he wasn't here, and I would be forced to comply.

Major Falkieth, sensing the unease rippling through the line, addressed us again. "Don't look so grim, riders," she said, her normally rough voice softening a bit with encouragement. "This is a fairly safe mission, or at least as safe as anything can be in wartime. Heroics are not only not required of you, they are actively discouraged. Your duty will be to observe any incursions of airships or troop movements and report them to the regional headquarters where you have been assigned. They will send out regular forces to deal with the enemy. Your smaller dragons are ideal for the task, since you will be able to hide more easily in the clouds, and you will help save countless lives."

The cadets seemed to relax a little at this, and I could feel Lessie’s excitement through the bond. “Finally, a chance to be useful!” she exclaimed. “We are going to be good at this, Zara.”

“I know we will,” I said, smiling inwardly at her. I loved that she always seemed to find the silver lining, the positive outlook, no matter how dire the situation. And in truth, I was happy we were given a task that would keep us out of harm’s way while still allowing us to help with the war effort. We could survive for a week or two, until Lord Tavarian returned. I was certain he’d call us back once he realized what was going on.

The headmaster dismissed the rest of the cadets but ordered me to stay behind. “I wanted to let you know I received word from Lord Tavarian,” he said. “He should be returning to Dragon’s Table in a week’s time to report to the council.”

"Good." I figured he would be, but hearing it out loud still filled me with relief. "Is there any way that I can wait until he comes back? I'd like to speak to him in person before I go."

Major Falkieth shook her head. “Unless you can give a compelling reason as to why you have to stay back, there's nothing we can do. The general will be very unhappy if you don't arrive with the others, especially since you have firsthand experience with the guns."

“That’s why we’re sending you out there,” the headmaster admitted, looking rather guilty. “Normally we would have had you and Miss Thomas stay behind, but you are the only two riders who’ve dealt with these cannons up close and personal, so you are needed. Miss Thomas will be going to the Zallabarian border, and you’ll be headed to the channel.”

“We’re being separated?” I asked, my stomach plummeting. “We can’t both go to the border?”

“I’m sorry,” the headmaster said. “But that’s where you’re needed.”

I clenched my jaw, my insides a mess of roiling emotions. First Tavarian, then Jallis, and now Rhia. My friends were being stripped from me, one by one. But there was nothing I could say, so I forced my protests back and beat a retreat to the stables so I could cuddle with Lessie for a bit and feel sorry for myself.

Every girl needs a good sulk now and again.

“I’m not even going to be able to see Jallis,” I grumbled to her as I leaned against her side, the two of us curled up in the hay together. “He’s in a camp by the border, not at the channel.” I hadn’t heard from him at all since he’d left, and by the time he got around to sending me a letter, I’d be long gone. "I'll be surrounded by strangers."

“You’ll have me,” Lessie reminded me, nudging me with her snout. “Besides, it’s not as if you don’t know how to make friends. You didn’t know anyone when you came to Dragon’s Table, either.”

“Yeah, but we’re going to a military camp,” I said. “We’re going to be with a bunch of stuffy riders and stubborn soldiers who think they’re invincible. That general may have asked for me, but that doesn’t mean the others are going to take me seriously. Most of them will probably think I’m just some stupid ground-dweller.”

“Not when they see you riding in on my back,” Lessie growled. She lifted her head so she could toss it. “It will be impossible for them to look upon me without basking in my magnificence.”

I snorted with laughter, and she grinned, flashing her dragon teeth at me. “I knew that would make you laugh,” she said, nuzzling me. “Cheer up, Zara. At least we’ll be flying together, and the more time we spend in the air, the harder it will be for Salcombe to get us if he ever gets free of the Zallabarians. And even if he does come to find us, we’ll be surrounded by soldiers most of the time.”

“True,” I said, though I was dubious. While Salcombe wasn't stupid enough to attack a military camp, he was desperate and very clever— a dangerous combination. If anyone could figure out how to snatch me out from under the army’s nose, it would be Salcombe. I’d have to let them know that he was still hunting me so proper precautions could be taken.

“They must really want me,” I said to Lessie as I stretched my legs out in the sand, “because as far as I can tell, you and I are two walking, talking liabilities.”