Chapter Ten - Allura

27 Griev 10.075 Z.C., Afternoon

Can’t a girl get a moment to unwind? Lilla’s anger rose as she struggled to catch her breath, rushing out of the squire’s barracks as a sergeant barked directions to the cadet’s quarters. She glared at them, but obeyed. She didn’t even get to test out her new cot. Whatever, it looked uncomfortable anyways. And sleeping in that tiny room, with nine other sweaty recruits? She already missed the Wastes - there you could at least move your bedroll to a different campfire if someone’s feet stank.

Nevertheless, she followed the other squires of unit one as they ran to meet their cadets. She cursed Rugilar, he was definitely going on ‘the list’ now. Lilla couldn’t help how good her ideas were, probably thanks to Vlodim’s wise teachings. They earned her a place in the clan’s command tent, closer to her goal of killing Boulder Tooth, but also Rugilar’s envy and ire.

Now he sent her here, to remove her as a threat to his influence among the Gravel Hide. Feeding the clan Legion intel would get her some prestige, but not as much as serving close to Boulder Tooth. Lilla wanted to stay close to that menace, within dagger’s reach. She needed a really big score, or a better idea...

Calculating her next big-picture move, she spaced out watching the bobbing backs of the squires ahead. She cleared her mind, as Vlodim taught her, to make room for something new. Suddenly, inspiration struck.

What if I drop the clan a fake tip, and have the Boros take care of them for me? Lilla smiled. It would take time, and careful planning. She would need to give Boulder Tooth a few good leads on secret supply drops and equipment caches, to make sure everyone trusted her. Then, she could set up a big raid, and tip off the Legion.

The Boros’ unmatched zeal and strength could be a huge asset in taking down the Gravel Hide Clan. She imagined an angel descending into the fray, impaling Boulder Tooth with a flaming greatsword. No! Not Boulder Tooth, she thought to herself. I’m going to kill that horrid little goblin myself.

Turning a corner, Lilla watched the other squires split up and knock on different doors. This must be where the cadets live, she realized. Scanning the painted numbers on the doorframes, she picked out her cadet’s quarters and gave the polished bronze an impatient knock.

Silence. No one answered. Lilla sighed, knocked again, and waited. Still no answer. Lilla lifted the handle and found it unlocked. She hesitated, glancing around the empty corridor. She knocked one more time, paused, then opened the door and slipped inside.

Lilla didn’t know the dimensions of a single bedroom in a typical garrison, or in the city for that matter. These comfortable quarters offered sufficient room for a neatly-made bed, a cluttered desk, a chest of drawers, an armor stand displaying Legion leathers, and a sparse bookshelf.

Lilla examined the parchment on the desk; they appeared to be research papers and notes. A common name jumped out from the top of many papers, Allura Pendragon. Lilla didn’t understand any of the material, just a bunch of weird numbers; but based on the doodle of a diving roc in a margin, she guessed she’d been placed with a skyknight cadet.

She turned her attention to the bookshelf and scanned the assembled works - academic offerings to a spine. A framed photo caught her eye, obscured behind a large book. Lilla reached for it.

A beautiful high elf, dressed in the green and white armor of the Selesnyan Conclave, promised mischief with a coy smile. The wind swept her blonde hair into a rakish style. The elf’s prominent nose and strong chin indicated a strength of personality Lilla didn’t attribute to the Selesnyan life-churchers, yet there she stood with the stylized symbol of Vitu-Ghazi, the life tree, emblazoned on her chest. Looking closer, Lilla noted a torn edge on the photo, like someone ripped it in half. Odd.

The door’s handle clicked behind her.

Lilla almost dropped the picture before slapping it back onto the bookshelf. She clasped both hands behind her back and spun around to face the door. The blonde from the photo walked in, her hair wet, dressed in slim leggings and a tight-fitting bodice, a towel thrown over one shoulder. The photo fell forward onto the shelf as the door clicked shut. The elf raised an eyebrow and the two regarded each other in mutual silence.

Lilla felt cobalt heat sting her cheeks. How embarrassing, caught red-handed rifling through her cadet’s personal belongings.

“I’m guessing you’re my new squire,” the woman drawled, tossing her towel onto the back of the chair without breaking eye contact. Steam rose from her hair and body, filling the room with the pungence of soap and leather. Lilla took a deep, steadying breath.

“Yes, I’m Lilla,” she confirmed, pleased her voice came out firm. Practice from speaking in Boulder Tooth's command tent, where stutter and hesitation were shunned proved useful. Regaining her composure, Lilla held out a hand. The cadet returned the gesture with a firm shake, her grip strong and warm, hands calloused from hard work. Not unpleasantly so.

“Pendragon,” she paused, drawing back and heading for her bed. “Let me be clear, I don’t particularly want a squire. I prefer to be left to myself, and appreciate my privacy.” Allura gave the vedalken an accusing look. Her delivery hit home; Lilla glanced away, chagrined.

“However,” she continued, her voice softening, “neither of us have a say in the matter. So let's make the best of it.”

Lilla nodded, eying the woman with renewed curiosity. Allura sat on the bed, stretching her arms and legs before lounging.

“Do your job effectively, without getting in my way, and we won’t have any problems. I’m not one to set weird rules or give you extra hoops to fly through. Just prove you’re not a waste of my time, and I’ll recommend you for graduation.” Allura stopped, studying her squire. When Lilla didn’t say anything, she cocked her head and continued.

“I expect breakfast ready for me at 0600. Sharp. You better get to the mess early - you’ll see what I mean. After that, you will tidy my room and clean, maintain, and repair my clothes, weapons, and armor. These need to be ready before lunch; I have combat training in the afternoon. You will meet me here with my lunch at 1130. I may occasionally need you to run an errand after that. Then just serve me dinner at 1900 sharp, and we’re golden.”

Lilla schooled her expression as Allura outlined her demands, refusing to let this test upset her. She would do this, and she would do it well. As demeaning and discouraging as these demands sounded, as long as Allura spoke true and graduated Lilla fast, she wouldn’t be a problem.

Lilla gave a sharp nod. “You got it, cadet,” she accepted with a salute.

Allura grimaced. Then she smiled and saluted back before sweeping her arm toward the door. Lilla detected something malevolent about the grin, but followed the obvious dismissal and left, resisting the urge to look back. She didn’t know what it was, but Lilla found something about the elf magnetic.

Starting off to return to her own barracks, Lilla turned the first corner and realized she didn’t remember the way back. She stepped aside to think. I’ll just get in trouble if I wander around looking for the way back. She turned toward the cadet’s quarters as she considered asking Allura, and then dismissed the idea almost as she conjured it. The elf didn’t want to be bothered by simple things, she made that clear.

About halfway down the hall, one of the cadet’s doors opened, and a young human woman stepped out. Lilla smiled, relieved when she recognized the girl’s uniform as one of the squires’. If she played it cool, no one would know she forgot the way.

The squire started down the corridor toward Lilla.

“Hi, um- I’m Lilla Arven,” she introduced with a rehearsed wave. The other squire gave Lilla a warm smile and exaggerated salute, her dark curls bouncing.

“Stoutheart. Nadine Stoutheart,” she responded. “And you should really get into the habit of saluting, not waving.” Even though she corrected Lilla, the girl’s ardent brown eyes and expressive face relaxed her. Lilla surrendered a nervous laugh and saluted back.

“Right, my bad,” Lilla replied, looking down the hallway. “Glad you came out when you did. I didn’t want to walk back to the barracks alone, in case an officer yelled at me for moving too slow,” Lilla explained. Nadine nodded, buying the lie, and walked along. Lilla looked at her with admiration, hoping the girl would take the bait and lead on.

To the vedalken’s satisfaction, Nadine piped up, “Smarter to stick together, right?” and led them to their barracks. They picked up the pace as a group of uniformed soldiers marched by, slowing again when they’d passed.

“I saw you earlier,” Nadine continued, “just didn’t have a chance to say hi. We’re both in unit one,” Nadine explained, leading Lilla through the yellowed granite halls. “How did you like your cadet?”

With a pensive shrug, Lilla shared, “She seems nice,” considering her interaction with Allura again.

Nadine snorted. “I’ve heard they always seem nice the first day, but it’s usually a test. They want to lull us into a false sense of security, then see what we’re made of when all Rix Maadi spills loose tomorrow.”

Lilla hesitated, unsure how to respond. It didn’t matter though, because Nadine added, “Mine seemed fine too. I just hope they don’t have any last-minute requirements. I don’t know about you, but I want to start the real training as soon as possible.”

Lilla nodded, and before long they arrived at their unit’s barracks. Nadine glanced and gestured to the door, waiting for Lilla to open it. The shouts of their instructing sergeant, chiding some other poor recruit, echoed through the metal.

Better them than me. She turned to Nadine and smiled, opening the door and motioning for her to enter first.