post 14

“Hello,” Archia said stiffly to their half sister.

“Hello, Archia – oh, Pixies” Diamantia said softly as she noticed Cassia and looked her up and down.

Honey let out a throaty bark halfway between a growl and a laugh. Diamantia smiled. “You must be Cassia.”

“You – you must be Diamantia.” Cassia gulped. Diamantia’s eyes narrowed slightly as hers did when she was hiding a laugh.

“Yes, I –”

“What are you doing here?” Archia demanded sharply. Her face had gone pale and taut, as if she knew exactly why Diamantia was here, but she wanted to give her trouble in spite of Diamantia’s purpose.

Diamantia gave Archia a cool, level glance, and turned to address Cassia. “Atropos wants me to take you to the flats.”

“Flats?” Cassia echoed.

“Our –”

“Training grounds,” Archia finished. “Have my mother and father approved?”

“Yes.” Diamantia finished. Her eyebrows knitted together slightly as she stared Archia down. Archia glared back, not hiding any of her dislike.

Honey whined, tugging at the edge of Diamantia’s spring green dress with her teeth and snapping both girls out of their silent battle. Archia studied the floor; Diamantia’s eyes flicked to Cassia’s. “Shall we go?”

Cassia looked at Archia, her hands still trembling. Diamantia strode out, followed by Cassia, followed by Honey.

“Ever since your family has arrived, I have heard much about you, Cassia.” Diamantia said casually as they followed a narrow walkway that wound around close growing trees. Cassia was unable to do anything but stare at her. Diamantia’s – and her – wavy brown hair. Diamantia’s grew in a shimmering veil to her waist, while Cassia’s was cropped just below her shoulders. They had the same, triangular eyes, bladed nose, and crooked mouth. “I thought that perhaps it was all an exaggeration. But I can see now that it was no exaggeration.” Diamantia faced Cassia and smiled. Cassia shivered. They had the same smile – but even on Diamantia’s identical face the smile was alien, as if there was a hidden edge behind the warmth.

They pushed past closely grown branches to enter a wide platform, supported by many trees, and bare to the sun. Elves were blurred in constant motion. Honey burrowed close to Cassia’s ankle. They paused at the edge of the flats, away from the training elves.

“Atropos!” Cassia felt relieved to see a familiar face – one that was not her own.

“Hello again, Cassia.” Atropos looked faintly disconcerted as he took in both Diamantia and Cassia standing side by side. Diamantia stepped away from Cassia to Atropos’s side, her eyes, Cassia’s yet foreign, never leaving her half-sister’s face. There was a moment of silence when Diamantia pulled Atropos’s face towards hers for a kiss. Cassia felt odd, as if there was an invisible line on the wooden platform with she and Honey confronting Atropos and Diamantia.

Atropos smiled at Diamantia warmly, then cleared his throat, avoiding Cassia’s uncomfortable gaze. He turned around and beckoned. An elf stepped forward, seemingly appearing out of the entropic mass of lithe bodies. He was tall, though slightly shorter than Atropos, and he walked forward with controlled footsteps. He flashed Cassia a quick smile and took a casual stance, his narrow golden eyes sweeping over Atropos, Diamantia, Honey, and Cassia. “This is Step.” Atropos placed a hand on Step’s shoulder. “He’ll be in charge of your training.”

Cassia blinked. “What about you?”

Atropos glanced at Diamantia. “The Brotherhood wishes me to do some scouting work…” he said vaguely, “…and I have some business to tend to.” Atropos nodded first to Step and then Cassia. “Train well.” And with that, Atropos took Diamantia’s hand and left.

Cassia looked at Step, who regarded her carefully. “Follow me.” He said simply. He strode off, ignoring the battle cries and the clash of weapons as he crossed the yard. Cassia wondered if Step had simply grown used to it. She flinched as a dagger flew past her ear to thud into a wooden practice dummy. She hurried to catch up to Step.

They entered a low building that Cassia had not noticed until Step opened the door. The walls were as rough and weathered as the surrounding bark. The interior was stacked with various swords, daggers, spears, and arrows. The small space was dimly lit by crystal jars filled with a liquid, with a daub of light suspended in the middle. “Um…Step, what are those?” Cassia asked, glancing at him sidelong.
Step’s narrow eyes flickered to the bobbing light. “Those are aether lights. They don’t need air to burn, so they can be kept in the crystal. Candles are extremely dangerous in Laddinley, since the entire network of trees can burn within minutes.”

“How do you know?”

“It has burned before. Sometimes by enemy hands, sometimes by a careless member of the Brotherhood. Of course, that was long ago, before the location of Laddinley became secret and the Brotherhood discovered aether lights.” He turned away and reached into the shadows, lifting a box of dully glinting weapons. “So I’m told that your household has received training.” Cassia nodded. “Well, those that had already arrived in Laddinley are already being trained; however, you arrived late, due to your errand. You are your father’s child, which makes you a more appealing target, and also, of your siblings, you are most likely to be engaged in combat.” Cassia smiled wanly. Padrig was only five – he could barely lift a dagger, let alone fight with it. Her sister was pregnant, and Thad had never shown a great interest in training, though he was good at it. “Because of all this,” Step continued, “The Brotherhood and Atropos have agreed that I should train you personally.”
Cassia frowned slightly. “Who is everyone else being trained by?”

“The weapons master, the trainer of all the elven children.”

“Then…I hope you do not mind if I ask…” Cassia tried to recall if elves were easily offended. It was probably not wise to insult one inside a weapons storage room.

“Why am I, of all elves, your instructor?” Step raised a cool eyebrow. Cassia nodded. “Because I am the best.” He stated. He peered into the box, and selected a long bow, a cloth quiver, a long sword, and a mace.

Cassia exchanged glances with Honey. “Alright then,” she said softly.

Step looked up. “You have a dagger already, don’t you?”

Cassia started. “How do you know?”

Step pointed to Cassia’s sleeve, where the faint outline of her dagger sheath showed. “A good battle strategist must be observant of all variables.”

Cassia nodded, impressed. “That is what my old training master said.”

Step smiled a second time, the corners of his mouth raising into a quick ‘v’ before dropping into a line. “I’ve selected these weapons for you.” He indicated the small pile. “But first we must train so that you can wield them as well as any soldier. I’m told that you’ve had some training, and you look like you’re no stranger to running, so perhaps this stage of the conditioning won’t take you long.” He stopped and looked at Cassia expectantly.

“So…what shall I do now?” She asked, confused.

Step opened the door. “Start running.”