In the best interest of preserving peace within Navarre, no more than three cadets carrying rebellion relics may be assigned to any squad of any quadrant.Addendum 5.2, Basgiath War College Code of Conduct
In addition to last year's changes, marked ones assembling in groups of three or more will be considered an act of seditious conspiracy and is hereby a capital offence.
Addendum 5.3, Basgiath War College Code of Conduct
~
Liam waited at the bottom of the stairs, his familiar, easy smile breaking the tension Thana carried in her shoulders. The moon hung low, casting silver light across the grounds, dancing over the strong currents of the Ikabos River. It was after curfew, a time when the silence of Basgiath's grounds felt more ominous as if the very stones beneath their feet were holding their breath.
Thana walked down the stairs, her boots silent on the cold stone, her black cloak barely stirring in the breeze. Liam's grin widened as she reached him, offering a low, "Ready?"
She nodded, and together, they walked in step toward the line of ancient oak trees that stretched along the riverbank, their shadows long and tangled like dark fingers reaching out across the ground.
"Challenges start next week," Liam remarked, glancing at her. "How's training been going with Garrick?"
"Brutal," she scoffed, "But I can feel myself getting stronger."
"Yeah?" Liam's tone lightened. "You've already won both your sparring matches. Honestly, I don't think anyone is lining up to face you in combat. You don't have anything to worry about."
Thana smirked, nudging him with her elbow. His sincerity meant more to her than she could sayâhe had always been her biggest supporter, steady and unwavering.
They continued walking, the sound of the river accompanying their footsteps. Thana's mind wandered to the gruelling hours spent with Garrick. His tough-love approach had pushed her past limits she hadn't even known existed. Yet, despite the difficulty, she knew it was working.
As they rounded the bend, the murmur of voices drifted toward them. Xaden, Imogen, Garrick, and nearly two dozen other marked ones stood in the clearing under the oaks, their faces lit by the moonlight.
Xaden straightened as Thana and Liam joined the group. His eyes swept over them, sharp and calculating. "Remember, gathering in groups larger than three is an act of conspiracy," he warned, his voice low but clear. "We need to be careful."
He paused, scanning the group. "Everyone okay? Anyone need anything?"
A mutter came from somewhere within the group, "I want to go home." It was Seraphine, a fellow first-year who simply wasn't cut out for the Riders Quadrant. Thana had grown to like Seraphine. She was determined even when the odds were against her. They shared a bunk and when Seraphine struggled to fall asleep at night, she'd tell Thana about her life. About how she wanted to become a healer like her father, how her mother tried to hide her and her siblings during the rebellion, and how she was scared that she wouldn't be here to see her younger brother cross the parapet next year.
Then there was Lily who had a way of popping up at odd moments, always with a quiet question or a nervous smile, looking to Thana for reassurance. They weren't friends, but Thana had started to care for her in a way that surprised her. She'd caught herself instinctively stepping in to shield Lily during sparring matches and was the first to calm her trembling hands when they held a sword. She admired Lily's bravery, even if the girl was clearly terrified.
Another voice, barely audible, "Death would be a mercy."
Xaden ignored them, his jaw tightening as he addressed Garrick. "Any updates on the death roll?"
Garrick's expression darkened. "We've lost Sutherland and Luperco."
The words hit Thana like a blow to the stomach. She felt sick, her heart twisting in her chest. Before she could steady herself, Liam's hand found the small of her back. She didn't need to look at him to know he understood the weight of each name.
Imogen's voice cut through the grim silence. "Like it or not, we're going to have to stick together if we want to survive until graduation."
A first year, someone Thana didn't know, raised their voice timidly. "What if they find out we're meeting?"
Xaden leaned against the nearest tree, his gaze as hard as steel. "We've been meeting since second year, and they haven't found out. They won't unless one of you tells. And if you do, I'll know."
There was no mistaking the threat in his voice, but beneath it, Thana heard something elseâa flicker of fear, barely contained. "Like Garrick said, we've already lost two first-years to their own negligence. There's only 41 of us left in the Riders Quadrant, and we don't want to lose anyone else."
His eyes softened, just a fraction, and for a brief moment, Thana saw the vulnerability he tried so hard to hide. "Every other Navarrian is looking for a reason to call you a traitor or force you to fail."
Silence settled over the group like a dark cloud until Xaden broke it, his voice firm again. "How's everyone doing with training?"
Four students spoke up, admitting they were struggling, each recounting how their sparring sessions had left them bruised and humiliated. Xaden's gaze flicked to Thana, and to her surprise, he offered her a rare compliment. "Follow her lead," he said, nodding toward her. "Ask for help. Do extra training. Spar with each other. Get the practice in."
Garrick stepped forward, his easygoing demeanour offering a sliver of relief to the tense atmosphere. "I'll help where I can."
Xaden smirked at Garrick. "There's no one better to teach them."
A voice from the back piped up, praising Xaden's own fighting skills. Imogen, never one to let an opportunity for sarcasm slip, muttered, "Xaden's certainly our dirtiest fighter."
A frail-looking first-year stepped forward, their voice trembling. "I... I can't stand the brutality. I want to go home."
Xaden's expression hardened instantly, and he barked, "Then don't waste my time."
Bodhi, Xaden's cousin, frowned. "That's a bit harsh, cousin."
Xaden's gaze didn't waver. "I can't save everyone."
Garrick tried to break the tension with a quip, "Damn, Xaden. Way to give a pep talk."
But Xaden was dead serious, the weight of his responsibility clear in every word. "I can't help people who don't want to be helped. Now, give me a problem I can solve."
The group hesitated before a few voices chimed inâquestions about Battle Briefs, history, weapons. Xaden fielded them all with his usual efficiency, but when one of the second-years asked when they'd get to kill Violet Sorrengail, the air grew tense.
Xaden's eyes flashed, and his gaze found Thana's. "I'll handle her when the time is right." His meaning was clear, and Thana forced herself to agree through gritted teeth.
When the questions died down, Xaden commanded them to disperse. "Return in groups of three. No exceptions."
As the group began to disperse, Thana lingered near Liam and Bodhi, waiting for their time to head back. Xaden caught her eye, giving a subtle nod before motioning for her to step aside.
She walked over, her boots crunching softly on the dirt as they stood beneath the shadow of the oak tree. Xaden's usual mask of steely confidence faltered for just a moment, his voice lower than usual as he asked, "Are you alright?"
Thana blinked in surprise. She studied him for a moment, noticing the tension in his jaw and the weariness in his eyes.
"I'm fine," she replied softly. "Are you ok?"
Xaden's eyes flickered, a brief glimpse of the weight he carried for all of them. He looked away, his shoulders stiffening again, but Thana knew the vulnerability was still there, just beneath the surface.
"Yeah," he muttered, barely audible. Without another word, he turned and strode off, his leader's facade snapping back into place.
Thana rejoined Liam and Bodhi, and they fell into step together, moving silently through the woods. As they walked, Bodhi slung an arm over Thana's shoulders, showing off his cheekiest grin. "So, Thana, about that blonde you sit next to in history..."
Thana shot him a deadpan look. "That would be Liam."
Bodhi's laughter echoed in the night. "Will you introduce me to her? I'm lonely."
"You're horny," Thana replied.
He left his arm draped over her shoulders and they walked back past the river's edge. As the moonlight lit her face he took her in fully for the first time in a long time. An old friend. "I've missed you," he said with a kiss on her temple.
As the three of them approached the Rider's Quadrant, Thana allowed herself to breathe, there was a sense of camaraderie that she hadn't felt in a long time. It felt normal even as danger lurked around every corner. But for now, they had each other. And that would have to be enough.
As they made their way back toward the dormitories, their quiet conversation was abruptly interrupted by a figure stepping out from the shadows of the nearby corridor. Dain Aetos stood there, arms crossed over his chest, a smug expression plastered across his face.
"What were you all doing?" Dain's voice dripped with arrogance as he looked the three of them over. "You shouldn't be out past curfew. You should know better, Durran."
Thana stiffened, already bristling at the sight of him. Bodhi rolled his eyes but said nothing, while Liam, ever the diplomat, forced a polite smile. "Just heading back, Dain."
Dain raised an eyebrow, his self-satisfied smirk widening. "You're lucky it's me and not someone else. You know the rulesâgathering in groups of three is considered a conspiracy for you people. If anyone else caught you, there'd be more than just a reprimand."
Thana clenched her jaw, resisting the urge to snap back. She hated the way Dain talked down to them, like he was somehow above it all, as if they were a different breed. His self-righteous attitude was suffocating.
"Don't worry," Bodhi chimed in with a lopsided grin. "We'll make sure to scatter before we plot our grand rebellion." Thana swallowed a laugh.
Dain didn't even acknowledge Bodhi's sarcasm. His gaze was fixed on Thana, as if sensing her growing disdain. Thana's blood boiled, but she bit her tongue. She could feel Liam's hand gently press against her back, a subtle reminder to hold her temper. Dain's condescending tone grated at her like nails on a chalkboard, and the way he looked at Liam and Bodhi, as if they were beneath him, only pissed her off more.
"We're fine, Dain," Liam said, his voice calm but firm. "You can continue with your patrol."
Dain's smirk didn't falter as he gave a mock salute. "Suit yourself." He turned on his heel, disappearing into the night with an air of superiority that made Thana's skin crawl.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Thana exhaled, her hands balled into fists at her sides. "I can't fucking stand him," she muttered, her voice thick with frustration.
"Join the club," Bodhi said with a dry laugh. "That guy's had a stick up his ass since first year. As if anyone fucking cares who his father is."
Liam sighed, shaking his head. "He's not all bad, just... a bit too by-the-book."
Thana didn't respond. She couldn't shake the bitterness Dain left behind. His constant need to remind them of the rules, of their placeâit gnawed at her. As they continued walking toward the dorms, Thana's loathing for Dain Aetos solidified, the sharp edge of it settling deep within her.
If he ever thought he was better than them, she'd prove him wrong.