"Don't underestimate the challenge of the Gauntlet, Mira. It's designed to test your balance, strength, and agility. The times don't matter for shit, only that you make it to the top. Reach for the ropes when you have to. Coming in last is better than coming in dead."

—Page forty-six, the Book of Brennan

The gaunlet, a hefty piece of machinery, roars up the side of a damning cliff like a wild beast clambering its way up a towering tower. It's not all that even sees on the side of the cliff where I stand, my heart pounding with an unsettling rhythm. I know that beside me, Violet is having second thoughts, but she's come this far we both have there are no way we're backing down this. And this is also just for training. We will do it and we will do it together.

"Well," Rhiannon swallows, her head tilted just as far back as mine as we stare at the menacing obstacle course that's carved into the front of a ridgeline so steep, it might as well be a cliff. The zigzagging death trap of a trail rises above us, climbing in five distinct switchbacks of 180-degree turns, each increasing in difficulty on the way to the top of the bluff that divides the citadel from the flight field and the Vale.

"Amazing," Aurelie sighs. I chuckle and share a look with Violet and Rhiannon. "You said something at last I got no words for this shit." I said.

"I've been awaiting this moment for years!" Aurelie exclaimed, her usually stoic obsidian eyes dancing with elation in the brilliant morning sunlight. She rubbed her hands together feverishly, shifting her weight from one toned, athletic leg to the other, barely containing her glee. "My father—he was one of the elite riders until his retirement last year—used to construct obstacle courses like this all the time for us to practice on. Chase, my brother, always said this was the most exhilarating aspect of being here before the Threshing. A real adrenaline rush."

"He's with the Southern Wing, correct?" I inquired, my gaze fixated on the imposing obstacle course snaking up the face of a towering cliff. It appeared more akin to a merciless deathtrap than a rush of adrenaline, but I supposed a positive outlook wouldn't hurt. Aurelie nodded solemnly, "Yes, he is, but your parents..." Her brow furrowed as the unfinished question lingered between us.

I shook my head, a melancholic weight settling over me. "I don't know. I've been with the Sorrengail family for as long as I can recall." Violet reached out, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze, as Sawyer's pitying eyes found mine. Steeling my resolve, I tore my gaze from their sympathetic expressions, refocusing on the foreboding gauntlet lying ahead.

"Still not sure why they call it the Gauntlet," Ridoc remarked from my right, cupping his hands and blowing into them in an effort to stave off the morning's persistent chill. Though the sun had yet to breach this secluded crevice, its radiant beams bathed the uppermost quarter of the formidable course.

"To ensure only the strongest dragons continue gracing Threshing by weeding out the weaklings," Tynan sneered from Ridoc's other side, folding his muscular arms across his broad chest as he cast a pointed, disdainful look in my direction.

I shot him a withering glare, then forcibly shook it off. He'd been insufferably pissy ever since Rhiannon had handed his arrogant ass to him during the assessment match on the mats.

"Knock it the fuck off," Ridoc snapped, his uncharacteristic outburst immediately commanding the entire squad's rapt attention.

My eyebrows lifted involuntarily. Never before had I witnessed the usually jovial Ridoc lose his temper or fail to defuse a volatile situation with his trademark humor. I shared a look of surprise with Violet, whose own eyes widened in response to the unexpected tension. Tynan whipped his head toward Ridoc, pure, unbridled spite burning in his eyes. "What's your problem?" he snarled, shoving a thick strand of raven hair from his eyes as he pivoted, posturing as if to stare Ridoc into submission. However, his attempt at intimidation fell laughably flat, considering Ridoc towered over him by half a foot and outweighed him by twice the muscle.

"My problem?" Ridoc challenged, his deep voice rumbling with restrained ire. "You think because you've ingratiated yourself with elitist pricks like Barlowe and Siefert, you have the right to berate and demean your own squadmates?"

I sighed heavily and finally hissed, "Oh shut it, both of you. We're supposed to be squadmates, not a flock of hungry, snapping hyenas prowling the savanna." My snarky remark effectively silenced the bickering boys as Violet and Rhiannon struggled to stifle giggles behind their hands. I smirked, satisfied.

"It's called the Gauntlet because this is the cliff that guards the Vale," Professor Emetterio's voice rang out as he approached from behind, his shaved head glinting in the intensifying sunlight. "Plus, actual gauntlets—armored gloves made of metal—are slippery as hell, and the name stuck about twenty years ago."

He cocked a questioning brow at Tynan and Ridoc. "Are you two done arguing? Because all ten of you have exactly one hour to reach the summit before it's another squad's turn to practice. And from what I've witnessed of your agility assessments on the mats, you're going to need every last second."

The professor's no-nonsense tone and stern expression made it clear he brooked no further squabbling. An hour to scale what appeared to be a vertical deathtrap? My pulse quickened as I exchanged apprehensive looks with my squadmates. Gauntlet indeed - this merciless cliff face would surely prove to be one hell of a challenge.

"As you know, hand-to-hand challenges are on hold for the next two and a half weeks before Presentation so you can focus your efforts here," Professor Emetterio stated, flipping a page on the little notebook he carried. "Sawyer, you'll go first to demonstrate since you're already familiar with the lay of the land. Then Pryor, Trina, Tynan, Rhiannon, Ridoc, Violet, Aurelie, Emberlyn and Luca."

A rare smile curved the harsh line of his mouth as he finished calling out every name in our squad. We obediently filed into the ordered line. "You're the only squad to remain fully intact since Parapet. That's incredible. Your squad leader must be immensely proud." His eyes glinted with approval before he added, "Wait here for a moment."

The professor then strode past us, waving at someone stationed high up on the cliff face, likely a watchman. A shiver ran down my spine as realization set in. Someone needs to watch over us in case we plummet to our deaths on this supposed "training" course. I sighed heavily, my apprehension mounting.

Violet must have sensed my trepidation as she looked at me, her warm eyes shining with concern. "You okay? Or are you just, I don't know, maybe a little nervous?"

I snorted derisively and gave her a light jab in the side. "Shut it," I retorted, putting on an air of nonchalance to mask my internal dread over what lay ahead.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

The Parapet had been almost nothing in comparison to this brutally challenging Gauntlet. Sure, navigating the Parapet course required skill and agility, but at least there you could catch yourself more easily if you slipped. Here, even the slightest misstep could prove catastrophic.

Three times already I'd nearly lost my footing - once when I had to duck precariously low to avoid cracking my skull on a protruding stone ledge, and twice more while attempting to scamper across decrepit, worm-eaten logs. Yet somehow, by some miracle, I'd managed to persevere and remain on the course.

Hard? Yes, undoubtedly one of the most arduous physical trials I'd ever faced. But it would be even harder to scale the immense, rippling foreleg of an actual dragon in order to mount its back during the Presentation. This Gauntlet was surely just a warmup for the monumental challenges still to come.

My calves burned and my hands stung from the endless gripping and climbing, but I couldn't afford to dwell on the pain. I had to push forward, clear my mind, and remain focused on the dizzying path ahead. One misstep, one lapse of concentration here could mean the difference between life and death. Drawing a fortifying breath, I wiped the sweat from my brow and pressed onward, determined to conquer this sadistic Gauntlet.

Soon enough, I hauled myself over the final obstacle and collapsed onto the grassy summit, my body craving the chance to rest. Just as I plopped down on my backside, the first fat raindrops began pelting down from the ominous clouds looming overhead.

Violet didn't quite make it all the way up with me. Not for lack of tenacity, but she couldn't muster the explosive leg power required for the last harrowing leap - the one where you had to launch yourself high enough to grab onto the jutting ledge that punched out from the cliffside. I didn't know if that ledge was supposed to simulate grabbing onto a dragon's back or something, but I had a feeling the real thing wouldn't prove quite as arduous when the time came to mount our beasts.

Still, my muscles burned and my lungs heaved from the merciless exertion of conquering this sadistic Gauntlet. As the rainfall gradually intensified into a steady downpour, I leaned back on my hands, tilting my face towards the heavens to allow the cool drops to sluice over my flushed skin. The sting of the chilling rain intermingled with the fiery ache thrumming through every fiber of my being. Yet instead of discomfort, I reveled in it - a defiant embrace of the unique duality of pain and triumph that defined the life of a dragonrider.

"You did well, Cadet Nightshade," Professor Emmetrio's gruff voice rang out as he patted my head, his imposing silhouette haloed by the misty outline of the falling raindrops.

Sawyer soon joined us, settling down at my side with an easy smile. "You've got some serious guts, I'll give you that," he said, his words carrying a genuine admiration.

I returned his smile, though it was tinged with an undercurrent of melancholy. He had clearly tackled this Gauntlet before, mastering it with the same tenacity he exhibited in all his training. Yet despite his incredible skill and determination, no dragon had chosen to bond with him. It was utterly baffling, really. What reason could a dragon possibly have for rejecting such an exceptional candidate?

As the invigorating downpour washed over us, I couldn't help but ponder the enigmatic, mystical connection between dragon and rider. If sheer grit and prowess weren't the deciding factors, what invisible force ultimately drew the two together as eternally bonded partners? Sawyer deserved that sacrosanct pairing more than anyone. I could only hope the elusive beast that was his perfect match materialized soon.

Rhiannon soon joined us atop the summit, with Violet trailing not far behind, having taken an alternate route. Despite the drenching rain, the girls beamed as they plopped down beside Sawyer and me. In that moment, surrounded by friends and squadmates who had just conquered this formidable challenge together, I felt a swell of warmth and camaraderie.

Even the more prickly members of our squad, like the ever-abrasive Tynan, didn't seem quite so insufferable after collectively surmounting such a harrowing trial. We had persevered, pushed past our limits, and emerged victorious as a unified team.

However, the euphoric sense of accomplishment was tempered by a sobering pang of loss as the realization hit me - Aurelie hadn't made it. I clearly remembered witnessing her plummet away from the course at the fifth obstacle. Tipping my head forward, I felt Violet lean hers against my rain-soaked, bare shoulder.

"I can't get used to people dying on us like this," she muttered, voice thick with mournful disbelief. "The whole squad might be ecstatic over conquering the Gauntlet for now, but it's just not as fun when one of your squadmates dies in the process."

Professor Emmetrio crossed his bulking arms over his barrel chest. "That is the way of the riders, Quadrant. You must live with it. I won't ask you not to feel sadness, for you may never grow accustomed to such losses. You simply grow strong enough to carry on living with the grief."

His gruff words landed heavily upon us, a sobering truth piercing our rain-soaked reverie.

"Now, all of you did well, no matter how arduous the trial. Even though we lost a cadet today, you are dismissed for the rest of the day. Go, shower off, freshen up, and get some rest."

I rose with a grunt, feeling the strain in my overexerted muscles, but walked off with Violet and Rhiannon nonetheless. Sawyer joined us, looking a bit unsteady on his feet from the relentless downpour, but was kind enough to accompany us toward the shower facilities.

"I'll be waiting," he said, giving my shoulder an affectionate brush with his hand. "You did really well today, Emberlyn. I'm proud to have you in my squad."

I smiled up at him, warmed by his words of praise and acceptance. "Thanks, Sawyer."

Then Rhiannon, Violet, and I made our way into the women's hall, peeling off our soaked training clothes and tossing them into the laundry bins to dry. We grabbed towels from the storage closets before heading into the tiled shower room.

The blessed heat of the cascading water sluiced over my aching body as I stepped under one of the streams, instantly seeming to leach the lingering tension from my battered muscles. I closed my eyes and tilted my face into the cleansing deluge, allowing the rhythmic pounding of the liquid heat to wash away the grime and exertion of our Gauntlet conquest.

Nearby, I could hear Violet and Rhiannon's soft laughter and murmured conversation as they likewise reveled in the simple pleasure of a hot shower after such a grueling morning's work. Despite the harrowing loss of Aurelie, I felt an overwhelming sense of contentment envelop me in that moment - triumphant, exhilarated, and profoundly bonded to my squadmates through our shared trial by fire.