Chapter Text
Conscription Day began on a sunny note. Lilith Sorrengail watched the rising sun from the back of her dragon. She had slept badly, as she had for days. When she couldn't stand it any longer, she had gone out for a morning flight with Aimsir. Her brown dragon was actually a morning grouch, but he had sensed how she felt. Violet would be crossing the Parapet today. Even though Lilith was aware that she had made this decision, it didn't make it any easier. Despite months of training with Major Gillstead, her daughter had hardly put on any muscle. According to the Major, she was quick with a knife, but the fact that she couldn't hold a sword was a disadvantage. Then again, Lilith shouldn't have been surprised, as delicate and fragile as Violet was.
"At least the name fits her,“ Aimsir said in her thoughts. "She's as delicate as a flower. And so small, too."
Lilith sighed. "That's why we named her that. Although it was more my husband's idea."
"You got to choose Mira and Brennan. It's only fair that he got to decide for once." He paused for a moment and then asked, "Are you sure you want to do this? You could send her to the scribes quadrant after all."
"And then what? She will never be more than what she is. And she has to be more. You know that."
"But you don't want her to cross the Parapet, Lilith. You know how dangerous the college is. Cadets far stronger than Violet die every day. I'm not even sure a dragon would bond with her."
He had a point there. The dragons that could be considered for Violet weren't exactly many. Red dragons had too short a fuse, orange ones were unpredictable. There probably wouldn't be a blue dragon willing to bond this year, as in previous years, but they were too aggressive anyway. Especially with Violet's sarcasm, that wouldn't work. The only black dragon was Tairn, but he wouldn't choose a rider.
Violet's best chance was to bond either a green or a brown dragon. Green dragons were particularly intelligent, which would suit Violet well. Mira and Teine, for example, were made for each other, but on the other hand, Violet and Mira were also very different.
Brown dragons, like Aimsir was, were perfect for leaders. Lilith knew that Violet‘s intelligence could make her a great leader one day, if only she wanted it. But there was also the fact that some breeds were unsuitable for Violet. Scorpiontails were out of the question, and Morningstartails even less so.
Aimsir snorted, and it almost sounded like a laugh. "If I follow your train of thought, then a good seven dragons should be suitable for Violet. At most."
Lilith's head pounded. "Stop that. I already feel sick anyway."
"I don't care how long we've been together, Lilith. If you throw up on my scales, I'll throw you in the nearest lake."
That had been his favourite threat for a good thirty years. He had never realised it. Still, she knew he meant it.
Lilith took a few deep breaths. The air was crisp and clear. A perfect morning for Conscription Day, but dark clouds were gathering on the horizon. Briefly, Lilith wondered if they were a harbinger or if her mixed feelings were the reason for the approaching storm. "Do you think Violet has a chance?"
"Would that change your mind?", Aimsir asked.
"If you tell me now that she has absolutely no chance, then I'll let her go to the scribes quadrant today."
He waited a moment before answering. And chose his words carefully: "You know I can't tell you how we choose our riders. But I can tell you one thing: Violet has a chance, yes. And she's smart enough to figure out how to prove herself, both to the other cadets and to the dragons.“
She sensed that there was something else on his tongue, but he didn't want to say it, or wasn't allowed to. Still, his words were reassuring enough that she breathed a sigh of relief, easing the nausea somewhat. "Then it's decided. I'm sending Violet across the parapet.“
Violet. Her youngest. Her fragile little daughter.
When Lilith had fallen ill during her pregnancy, she had wanted nothing more than for Violet to survive. At one point, when the fever had been so high that the healers had been at a loss for words, Lilith had almost not cared whether she made it herself or not. But Violet ... she had fought so that she had a chance, a future.
And today she would risk it all. For her reputation. And the truth, which neither Violet nor Mira knew anything about.
"They'll find out eventually anyway," Aimsir said. "It's better if they're prepared and have dragons on their side when the time comes. You've always said that."
Only both of her daughters had to survive long enough to find out the truth. Lilith had done everything she could to prepare them. Mira with training and Violet with literature. Her father had taken care of the latter.
Aimsir turned and headed back towards Basgiath. The college stood out as a black silhouette against the morning sun like an approaching threat.
Aimsir snorted. "It looks like you have a visitor."
She followed his gaze, but his sharp eyes were far better than hers. "What do you mean?"
"I can see Teine. He's landing right now."
That meant that Mira had come. Lilith knew her older daughter well enough to know that she wasn't here to visit her mother. No, she was going to ask her not to send Violet to Basgiath.
"I can turn back,“ Aimsir offered.
"No." She leaned forward. "If I can't justify myself to Mira, I can't justify myself to Violet."
"You don't have to justify yourself to them at all. You're far superior to them in rank."
In rank, yes. But as a mother, that was different. Even if Lilith hadn't exactly gone to much trouble to keep those two things separate. Sometimes it surprised her when her daughters called her "Mom". She heard her title as General so often from the mouths of others that she sometimes forgot that there were other people for whom she wasn't just the General. Since her husband had died, Violet had called her "Mom" less and less often. On the other hand, Lilith had also gone to great lengths to avoid her. It wasn't because of Violet herself. Sometimes Lilith simply couldn't bear to look at her because she reminded her so much of her father. Violet had his eyes, with the same intelligence in them, and had the same expression when she was pensive. But what hurt Lilith the most was the smile. It was identical to her father's. He had often given her a smile when she had come home late at night. Sometimes it had made up for a bad day.
But Violet didn't smile as often as she used to. And Lilith knew she was one of the reasons why.
“We're landing,“ Aimsir said. "Are you ready?"
No, she was not. Neither for the confrontation with Mira nor for sending her youngest child to the Parapet.
Before she could change her mind, Aimsir landed next to Teine. The green dragon looked relaxed, but regarded her attentively.
Lilith dismounted and looked around. Mira was nowhere to be seen. She had probably already gone inside.
"Good luck. You'll need it," Aimsir murmured before taking to the skies and flying off towards the Vale.
Lilith Sorrengail exhaled, tightened her uniform and made her way to her office.