"Onyx." Dex chose his words carefully. "He performed well this morning. Significantly better than the older juveniles."
"He did," Morholt confirmed. No inflection.
"I understand we shouldn't coddle him. He's a dragon, not a pet, regardless of what those two think." Dex paused. "But the laps. The reprimand."
Morholt's expression didn't change.
"Why the harshness with her?" Dex asked. The question was direct, Commander to Colonel.
"Orders from King Tiberon," Morholt answered. "Given while you were in Orosia. After training her, I see why."
Fin stepped forward, arms folded. "What does that mean?"
Morholt looked between the Commander and the Alpha King, two of the most powerful men on the continent, both asking him the same question with the same protective edge in their voices.
He was either unintimidated or too disciplined to show it.
"It means, Frostborne is the most creatively disobedient trainee I have encountered in twenty-three years of military service."
Dex blinked.
