Free Dragons and Destiny by Candy Rae Page A

through though not often. Zawlei speaks Standard.”
    “Well, he
would, wouldn’t he? He’s a blue stripe, his rtath’s in Vadath; to
the north of here. Most Lind, from what we call the home packs
learn both. It’s good, means that you should find Lindish easy to
pick up, more time to catch up on everything else.”
    “Thought I’d
finished with lessons. My sister Hilla, she’s with the Garda, she
expected more but when I left the schoolroom I certainly
didn’t.”
    “Hilla your
sister? Older or younger?”
    “Older, by a
bell,” grinned Rilla.
    “Twins
then?”
    “Believe it or
not, triplets. I’m the middle one. Hilla went to the Garda three
months ago. She’s an Officer Trainee. Zilla’s the youngest. She’s
still at home.”
    “Triplets,”
marvelled Shona. “I’ve never met a triplet before. Are you all
alike?”
    “Not really but
everyone who meets us says that there is a likeness. Hilla’s
pretty, she’s strong too. Zilla’s the really attractive one. An
absolute mane of wavy blonde hair and even if I am her sister, a
complexion to die for. Hilla’s hair is a curly dark red. Mine, as
you can se, is vuzy brown, almost black and as straight as a die.
The Plain Jane of the family, that’s me. Even Tala is prettier and
Zala is another edition of Zilla.”
    “Gracious. How
many of you are there? Never mind, I’ll find out later and okay,
you’re not exactly beautiful but I can’t see that you’ve much to
complain about. You’re no worse than many and much better than
some. Fastia for example. Now she’s a ‘Plain Jane’ and would be the
first to admit it if asked. Her sisters are the same. It’s strange
because her brothers are handsome. She says that it’s a good thing
that her Xlei paired with her else she would have become an old,
unmarried maid with nothing to look forward to at all.”
    “Is she a
cadet?”
    Shona laughed.
“Absolutely not. She’s the Vada Weaponsecond. You’ll meet her soon
enough. She’s awfully strict, more so than Weaponsmaster Jilmis and
he’s got a reputation. Tough as old boots he is, has to be with all
us cadets to train.”
    Rilla gulped.
She had been beginning to feel more at ease and this information
brought her nervousness back to the fore with an almighty leap of
her stomach innards.
    “Are all the
trainers like them?”
    Shona
considered the question and gave an honest reply.
    “Pretty much
but the Junior Ryzcka is very kind. She’ll not have much to do with
you and Zawlei though, not even when you exchange your wide stripe
for the three.”
    “How many are
there? Older like me?”
    “There’s never
many, I think you make eight. You and Zawlei get intensive riding
and weapons classes, one to one if they think you need it and
you’ll be slotted into other classes as the timetables allow. Don’t
panic, others have done it and it’s just a matter of application
and practice, lots of practice.”
    Rilla was not
convinced.
    “Now,” said
Shona. “Here is our barracks.”
    The door swung
easily on its hinges so that the Lind could open it easily. Rilla
was to find that most doors in the Stronghold were multi-hinged,
had no handles or locks and could be swung open by pushing from
either side. “You’re on the ground floor. Me and Danei are
upstairs.” She led the way about half way up the long central
corridor to a room on the left hand side. She pushed it open and
Rilla noticed in passing that a square card on which were written
her and Zawlei’s names had already been slotted into the nameplate
holder.
    The room was
small and overfull with furniture. A narrow bed was set in the
corner, beside it a small table and chair. The mattress had been
flattened out and Rilla was to later find out that Shona had done
this for her knowing that she would be tired after her long ride. A
clothes press and desk with shelves above sat against the opposite
wall. Under the window was a low divan affair with a thick rough
spun mattress. Shona saw her