Bloodwing Academy, #2
The Bond That Burns
by Briar Boleyn
Contents
CHAPTER 5 - MEDRA
Overview
The Tribunal convenes to decide Nyxaris’s fate and Medra’s status. Lady Avari claims the dragon by heritage, Viktor claims it through Medra’s betrothal, and Lord Mortis demands both rider and dragon be destroyed. Lysander urges peace and Medra’s autonomy. Avari proposes Kage as new archon, but Viktor cites Blake’s feeding bond. Medra publicly rejects belonging to any house.
Summary
On a cold morning, Headmaster Kim escorts Medra to the Black Keep’s Tribunal Chamber, packed with highblood onlookers. The permanent house leaders—Viktor Drakharrow, Lord Garrick Mortis, Lady Elaria Avari, and Lysander Orphos—preside with four minor nobles. Medra notes Blake, Theo, Kage, and tensions among attendees, including Regan Pansera’s brazen approach to Viktor and Lord Pansera’s role as Arbiter.
Proceedings begin with Lady Avari asserting House Avari’s historical claim: Nyxaris is a Duskdrake once bred solely by Avari. Viktor responds that Medra, a rider by blood, is betrothed to Blake; therefore Nyxaris awakened through that bond, making dragon and rider Drakharrow’s by right. The gallery murmurs approval, while Medra seethes at being reduced to property.
When invited to propose resolutions, Lord Mortis abandons earlier pragmatism and declares both Medra and Nyxaris must be destroyed to prevent destabilizing power and possible rebellion. Uproar follows; Blake and Theo protest, while Kage and Elaria remain composed. Lysander then counsels restraint: one dragon does not herald a resurgence, no house should control such power, and Medra should be free to choose her path.
Mortis and Viktor deride Lysander’s proposal as naive, but the argument exposes deep fractures. Lady Avari seizes the moment, indicting Viktor’s consolidation of power and arguing Medra’s Drakharrow betrothal was coercive. She proposes allowing Medra to choose a new archon, nominating her grandson Kage, igniting further chaos.
Viktor shuts the idea down as impossible, revealing Blake’s feeding bond has “solidified” Medra’s tie to House Drakharrow. The disclosure reframes Avari’s challenge as too late. In response, Medra rises and publicly asserts, “I don’t belong to anyone,” demanding a voice in decisions about her fate and Nyxaris.
Who Appears
- Medra PendragonRider of Nyxaris; brought before the Tribunal; rejects all claims over her and asserts autonomy.
- Viktor DrakharrowHouse Drakharrow leader; claims Nyxaris via Medra’s betrothal and feeding bond; opposes Avari and Lysander.
- Lady Elaria AvariHouse Avari leader; claims Nyxaris by heritage; proposes Medra choose Kage as new archon to counter Viktor.
- Lord Garrick MortisHouse Mortis leader; demands Medra and Nyxaris be destroyed to prevent destabilizing power and rebellion.
- Lysander OrphosHouse Orphos leader; advocates peace and Medra’s right to choose her path, opposing house control.
- Lord PanseraArbiter of the Tribunal; presides with apparent bias; struggles to maintain order amid escalating clashes.
- Blake DrakharrowMedra’s betrothed and feeder; erupts at Mortis’s death proposal; implicated in the binding feeding bond.
- TheoBlake’s cousin; supports Blake during outburst; watches Tribunal anxiously from the gallery.
- Kage TanakaLady Avari’s grandson; proposed as Medra’s new archon; remains stoic under scrutiny.
- Headmaster KimEscorts Medra to the Tribunal; disengaged once proceedings begin.
- Regan PanseraFlirts publicly with Viktor before proceedings, flaunting access and provoking Medra.
- Marcus DrakharrowBlake’s brother; seen charming Lunaya Orphos, unsettling Lysander.
- Lunaya OrphosLysander’s sister; engages with Marcus in the gallery, drawing Lysander’s concern.