| |
Warm rays from the yellow sun danced on the snowbanks. Warriors gathered on Main Street to push slush out of the way. A mound near the shops held heavy snow and slush that seeped and spread into a whirling stream. Louie and Khalom shoved their square shovels into a glittering patch of ice. A long crack formed across the sheet of ice. Khalom and Louie picked it up then tossed it onto one of the piles. Mushy, brown chunks from the pile sprayed the warriors. They brushed the slime off and shook out their hair.
Khalom glanced at Elaina. “Time for a break.”
Louie and Khalom rolled piles of wet snow in their hands and tossed them at Elaina.
Elaina kicked a snowball as it flew toward her, creating a harmless explosion in the air. She caught a couple of slush balls on her jacket sleeves then ducked behind a snowbank, trying to keep her clothes dry, while locating Khalom and Louie telepathically.
Slushy snow seeped through her boots. Elaina ignored the freezing water and gathered a mound of slushy snow. She sensed Khalom and Louie sneaking along a snowbank then released a shower of snowballs at them. Elaina snuck to the other side of the street, laughing at Khalom and Louie’s exclamations of surprise. She tossed another snowball that fell apart in the air, turning into a slush cloud above Louie and Khalom.
Louie and Khalom charged from their hiding places. “Where did she go?”
“How did he find us?”
With few places to hide now that snowbanks were melting, it didn’t take long for Louie and Khalom to find Elaina crouching in the slush. She started to run, but Khalom and Louie were faster and only a few steps behind. Khalom grabbed Elaina’s arms. Louie picked up her wiggling feet. Together Louie and Khalom swung Elaina back and forth, despite her protest, “It’s a muddy pile of slush.”
They tossed her anyway. Elaina’s first instinct was to use a shield and prevent herself from falling into the filthy mound, but the street was full of people. Refraining from using a shield, she allowed herself to land with a splat. Her dripping hair and uncertain eyes poked above a hole in the snowbank her body created. Mud streaked down her face, all the way to the tips of her boots. She slunk out of the snowbank and crept next to Khalom and Louie who were trying to avoid Master Lang’s eyes.
Khalom mumbled, “We . . . um . . . Sorry.”
Louie frowned at Elaina’s mud-soaked clothes. “Yeah. That may not have been the best idea we’ve had lately.”
Elaina pushed a clump of hair, saturated with mud, out of her face. Dirty water dripped from her black hair then trickled down her arms. She telepathically studied Louie and Khalom, realizing they felt regret over the incident. They seemed almost surprised by the results of their decision to toss Elaina into a snowbank. How could they not know that Elaina would be drenched with mud? Did they expect her to use an elf shield?
Master Kijani called from across the road, “Get some dry clothes, Elaina. We don’t want you sick.”
Embarrassed over being covered with mud, Elaina rushed home. Tvuna frowned when Elaina stepped into the house, wiping her feet on a rug. “What happened?”
Elaina shrugged. “I was tossed into a snowbank.”
“Put everything in the laundry basket. I’ll see how much mud I can get out. I’ll warm some water for you.”
“I can take a cold bath.”
“No, you won’t.” Tvuna’s jaw was firm. “Sit on the chair in the bathing room while I heat some water for you. The water coming from the pump is too cold.”
Tvuna went to work while Elaina pulled her jacket off and looped it over the laundry basket. A puddle of water, mixed with small rocks, spilled onto the floor from her boots. She rinsed her boots in the tub then set them on the floor to dry. Vorlin leather cleaned well, but it was tricky to patch holes because the leather didn’t stretch the right way after it was patched. Elaina peered around her boots. She couldn’t see any holes, though her boots were sopping wet.
Elaina pumped cold water into the bottom of the tub then waited as she was told. Tvuna brought a large pot of water into the bathing room. She rested the edge of the bucket onto the tub wall then held onto the handle with a hot pad and tipped hot water into the tub.
“I’ll get the other pots,” Elaina said.
Usually the warriors got their own water for their baths. Elaina felt guilty for adding extra work to Tvuna’s already busy schedule. She was always cleaning or cooking. After they all were sick earlier that winter, Elaina had developed an appreciation for how much work it took to keep up with meals and cleaning. If Tvuna was sitting, she was sewing.
Tvuna shook her long finger at Elaina. “No, you won’t. I don’t want mud all over the house.”
“Okay.” Elaina timidly waited in the bathing room, wondering if she was in trouble, while Tvuna filled the tub with hot water. After the door closed, Elaina lifted her dripping pants. They were soaked through with mud and had a large tear in the back. “Woops,” she said, her face flushed with embarrassment. She hung her pants over the laundry basket, wondering who happened to see the tear. How much of the hole did her jacket cover? Elaina held up her jacket, picturing herself wearing the clothes. The jacket probably covered most of the tear, didn’t it? Probably not.
After Elaina was out of the tub and her hair was somewhat dry, she gave Tvuna an apologetic smile. “I tried to clean the mud off the bathing room floor. I’m not sure I got all of it.”
“The boys will get more mud in the bathing room when they come back. It’s Darian’s turn to clean the floor.” Tvuna set a cup of hot apple cider on the table. “Make sure you’re warm before you go out again.”
Elaina sipped the hot apple cider while she watched Tvuna shape a loaf of bread into an oval. Tvuna tossed the dough in a pan near the stove to rise. “Who threw you into the snowbank?”
“Khalom and Louie.”
Tvuna shook her head. “Sometimes they forget to think before they act. I’m sure they didn’t know beforehand that you would be covered with mud after they threw you in.”
Elaina took a long gulp of apple cider. “They both felt bad about it.”
Tvuna looked over her shoulder. “Were you able to feel it through telepathy?”
“Yes.” Elaina shifted uncomfortably. Though she wasn’t supposed to read someone’s mind, emotions seemed different. Would she be in trouble for using telepathy to sense emotions? Since understanding people was not her strength, Elaina appreciated having telepathy to help her understand how others felt. Besides, she didn’t know how to not sense the emotions of others.
Tvuna started chopping an onion. “Most humans understand emotions by watching each other. Telepaths don’t have that luxury because the same facial expression can have completely different meanings. Even their smiles can be mistaken for a grimace or a frown. They only know how others feel by sensing emotions through telepathy. I understand they can block each other from sensing how they feel. Kijani isn’t sure telepaths can prevent themselves from sensing emotions unless those feelings have been blocked by the person feeling them.”
Elaina released a sigh of relief. She wasn’t in trouble. The conversation also gave her more insight into telepaths.
Tvuna smiled. “Are you excited for the tournament?”
“I guess it might be fun.”
“Have you been to a dance before?”
Elaina recalled dancing with various nobles at the castle. Really, they were more like practice sessions. She didn’t think it counted as a dance because dances were always more formal at the castle. Invitations were sent, and participants dressed in fancy clothes, as though enjoying the dance was dependent upon how elaborate they looked. Maelie and Adeline spent hours getting ready and stayed up until the moon was sleepy. “No.”
“I’m sure you’ll have fun.”
Elaina allowed a doubtful smile. “Thanks for the apple cider.” Elaina set her empty cup in the sink then tossed her coat around her shoulders, leaving her jacket over her chair to dry.
On Main Street, Khalom and Louie were shoveling snow out of the road again. Khalom stopped shoveling, “How long are you going to be mad at us, Elaina?”
“Mad at you?” Elaina didn’t think how she felt mattered to anyone.
“Will you forgive us if we buy you lunch?”
Lunch always sounded good to Elaina. “Um. Okay.”
Sammy called from the walkway near the bakery. “You’re too easy on them, Elaina!”
“I am?”
“They threw you into a slushy, muddy snowbank.”
The idea of someone apologizing to Elaina was new to her. She certainly didn’t think she could ask for something as part of an apology. “What am I supposed to ask for, Sammy?”
“New clothes, dinner, and a week of doing your chores.”
Khalom slammed his shovel into a block of ice. “Hey! We didn’t chop off all her hair or anything.”
“You probably don’t want to mention chopping off a girls’ hair right now, Khalom,” Jailene said sharply.
“I paid you back for that! I spent two weeks doing your chores. You even made me go shopping for hair ribbons and a new dress. I spent all my savings and my allowance for two weeks on you. You still haven’t forgiven me for that?”
“It took years for my hair to grow out! Your savings wasn’t much either. Dad bought the dress.”
“I was seven years old!”
“You snuck into my room at night with a pair of scissors!”
“I didn’t think you would let me cut your hair during the day.”
Jailene’s face turned beat red. “Khalom I’ll never forgive you for cutting my hair!”
Elaina shrugged. “Um. I’m really not mad at them.”
Jailene put her hands on her hips. “We saw you from the General Store window. You were soaked with mud! They even tore your pants!”
Elaina blushed. People obviously noticed the tear. “I know. I took a bath.”
Khalom wrapped his arm around Elaina’s shoulders, shooting a complacent smile at his sisters. “Elaina, we’re buying you lunch.”
Though Elaina didn’t feel buying her lunch was necessary, food at The Grill was always good. “Okay.”
Khalom, Elaina, and Louie splashed through water and jumped over mud puddles on their way to The Grill. They gathered on tall stools near the counter and selected sandwiches from the counter and a sugar cookie. Khalom raised an eyebrow. “You’re really not mad at us?”
Elaina swallowed an enormous bite. “It wasn’t really mud. I know what it’s like to be thrown in the mud. Besides, you two actually felt bad about it.”
Khalom and Louie were dumbfounded. Elaina took another bite of her sandwich and munched on it slowly, clueless that her last comment made Khalom and Louie feel worse than they did before. She was too busy picturing herself using her shield to create a soft, dry landing. “I could have prevented myself from landing in the mud, but I didn’t think it was okay.”
“How . . . Oh!” Khalom’s head crept closer to hers. “Your shield.” A sly smile appeared on Khalom’s face.
Elaina blushingly backed away. Khalom chuckled as he finished his sandwich. They ate sugar cookies while returning to the snow removal project.
With some space cleared on Main Street, the warriors could practice when taking a break from shoveling. Prita and Alycia laughed at Elaina as they walked into the bakery. Elaina shrugged them off and worked on the level five move she had almost mastered. When she was done, the giggling clique was departing from the bakery. Together they waltzed along the street, glancing at Elaina as they laughed.
Khalom mumbled, “The giggling clique strikes again!”
Elaina chortled as she tossed another shovel of snow into the bank.
Every night Elaina tried to stretch the pain in her back away and heal her muscles. Being able to use her healing abilities that way made her feel free and refreshed. She slept hard every night as she built strength through continuously lifting mounds of ice and snow. Shooting her aurium bow became easier.
Finally, the day of the tournament arrived. Crowds gathered on the walkways around the cleared area. Darian and Elaina squeezed next to Mehdi and Master Kijani. Darian leaned down speaking to Elaina through the noise, “You’re coming to the dance later, aren’t you Elaina?”
“I . . . suppose so.” Elaina admitted she was looking forward to the dance. She didn’t know why. Dancing never appealed to her at Glanton castle.
Elaina’s wooden bow rested comfortably on her shoulder, next to her quiver of arrows and her soldier sword. Aurium bows and arrows weren’t allowed in the archery tournament. She pulled her gloves on, a vain effort to fight off the chill. Elaina pulled her hair out of its ponytail to warm her cheeks and neck. She would have to pull it back when it was her turn to duel, but it almost felt like an extra blanket, wrapped around her back and shoulders. Elaina squinted at the sunshine’s glare reflecting off the snow.
Trainees were waiting for their turn in rows along Main Street, staring longingly at bo staffs in the practice weapon bin. Sammy and a short teenager about Sammy’s age talked by the side. When it was their turn to compete, they lazily wandered into the street, only half paying attention to what they were doing. The lower levels were mostly full of younger trainees who jumped into the middle of the street when their name was called. Most were excited to be the center of attention for a while. Yet Sammy and her friend swung their fists, putting forth little effort. They seemed more interested in chatting with each other after their duels were finished.
It seemed strange that a person could be disinterested in training. Though she didn’t care about winning the level five tournament, Elaina couldn’t imagine being half-hearted about dueling. A question came to Elaina’s mind she had never considered. Did she enjoy training? Elaina walked to The Grill for lunch as she pondered her question. A steady crowd near a temporary bridge waited to cross the flowing spring runoff that escaped from the canal surrounding the center of Bern Village. Elaina bypassed the line by leaping over the stream of water. She slid on slushy snow with a bright smile on her face. Elaina loved feeling strength course through her, giving her knowledge that she could defend herself. Weapons clanging gave her determination, a desire to be better, stronger, and faster. The answer to her question was obvious. Yes, she enjoyed training.
At The Grill Jackson organized rows of sandwiches for competitors and spectators who were in a hurry. Elaina took a large sandwich off a plate and waved at Jackson to deduct a meal from her credit, though a sandwich shouldn’t qualify as a full meal from her credit. She hesitated before asking, “Can I get a cookie with my sandwich?”
Jackson tossed her a ginger cookie half the size of her head. Elaina grinned. “Thanks.”
Jackson didn’t seem bothered. He waved while busily shoving empty plates into Haylen’s arms, while collecting money from customers.
On Main Street a rollicking crowd cheered. Warriors waited by the side, speaking with young ladies who approached them to wish them luck. Elaina leaned against a post that was supporting the roof overhang of the General Store. She studied the tournament, paying little attention to the flirtatious chatter nearby.
The tournament was straight-forward. Contestants could use any Bern move their level or below. Crowds watched three separate duels along the street, moving around to watch a specific trainee. A master watched each duel from the side and signaled the winner when a contestant managed to hit another. Hits to the head weren’t allowed. Many competitors walked away with a bruise or two, but no one was seriously injured, and hard hits weren’t allowed. If both contestants hit each other simultaneously, the master decided which hit counted more than another. Once a competitor hit his dueling partner in the arm while he was whacked in the stomach. The trainee who was hit in the stomach lost.
Duels were over quickly with little room for the trainees to make mistakes. The first and second place warriors in each level were announced. Soon it was Elaina’s turn. She shoved her hair in a leather strap. A thin boy strutted into the street, laughing as he raised his practice sword. Elaina recognized Jax. Memories from the tulefsure dinner gave Elaina renewed determination. Elaina was far more comfortable with the Bern attack than she was with the conversation she heard at dinner time.
Because level five had more deviations in each step, the tournament was suddenly more complex. Only a hit with a practice sword signaled the end of a duel. Jax jumped forward and thrust his sword, but Elaina instantly knew what he was doing. She switched her sword to her left hand, blocked him, and stepped to the side while he thrust forward. She grabbed his sword arm, pushed him forward then struck his back softly with the practice sword. Jax went to his next duel with a bright red face.
The crowd cheered her on when Elaina faced Eddy, her next opponent. Like his brother, Eddy was a lot taller than she. Elaina’s strength must have surprised him though, because as their swords collided, his eyes widened, and he paused. She felt his shock and dismay. Elaina used that moment to her advantage, starting the next move before Eddy could recover. She stepped to the side, elbowed his ribs then threw her leg behind his knees.
Eddy stumbled. His sword flailed uncontrollably above his head as he landed in the mud with a pleasant splat. Elaina tapped her sword on his shoulder. As she walked away, she wondered if it was fair for her to do that. Yet being prepared for any attack was part of being a well-trained warrior.
Winning that round placed Elaina in the final level five round. Elaina’s next opponent had powerful, broad shoulders and was more than a little intimidating. Elaina heard younger trainees chanting, “Layne! Layne! Layne! Layne!”
Elaina’s heart raced. Why were they chanting? Layne swung at his opponent. Elaina ducked and quickly moved around him. When their swords collided Elaina stepped back, struggling to absorb the powerful blow from his sword. She jumped to the side then swung her leg around, kicking his ankle, but Layne was solid. Though the hit made him shift, he easily recovered and firmly blocked her sword, sending her back a few more steps.
Whispering fluttered through the crowd, tickling Elaina’s ears. She shrugged off the crowd, focusing on her opponent. As the fight progressed, Elaina understood Layne’s fighting style better, giving her a slight advantage, but her muscles were groaning in protest over absorbing such forceful blows.
Layne depended on his strength, a feature that was certainly to his advantage when dueling Elaina, but Elaina was light on her feet. Elaina was close to finishing level five. She noticed Layne was only on step five or six and started a complex variation of level five, step nine, using her experience to her advantage. Elaina shoved her sword toward Layne’s stomach. He stepped back and swung his sword at her side. Elaina tried to block his sword, but the steel ruthlessly pushed her sword away. She was too tired to block Layne’s blows any longer.
Layne shook Elaina’s hand, nodding firmly. “It was a good match.”
Elaina tried to catch her breath. “Thanks. Congratulations.”
Layne wiped beads of sweat off his face then stepped to the side, next to Master Hagan. Elaina found a place near Master Kijani. Darian and Khalom dueled on one side of the street while Louie and Mehdi dueled on the other. Soon Darian and Louie lost. The four switched partners. Elaina asked Master Kijani, “Are Khalom, Louie, Mehdi, and Darian the only warriors training at the master level now?”
“Yes. We have a few warriors who decided not to become masters. Your duel with Layne was one of the longest level five duels I’ve seen. Most duels are over quickly for some reason or another. Either of you could have won.”
Elaina allowed herself a little smile as she turned her attention back to the street where Mehdi and Khalom were battling over first prize. Mehdi brushed his sleeve against his forehead. Khalom shook out his arms then they continued with their duel. Four swords clanged, two swords defending, the other two attacking. The battle was intense. One mistake would determine the winner. Mehdi stepped forward to begin a new attack, but his foot slipped in the mud, giving Khalom an opening to charge forward and tap Mehdi’s arm with a practice sword.
The final two warriors grasped each other's wrists in a congratulatory gesture while spectators cheered. Mayor Gradin stepped in the center of the street, his chest puffed out, his arms raised high. “And now, the archery tournament will begin!”
The masters rolled into the street an enormous target that could have been the side of a barn. All spectators were cleared away from the target area. Each competitor was to fire one arrow. Archers who hit within two lines of the center would proceed to the next round. Each competitor carved their initial and Bern level on their arrow. Some who thought their initial wasn’t enough added paint or other decorations, even at the cost of accuracy. Elaina noticed a young boy’s arrow with an extra feather near the tip.
The first round was long, but only half the competitors made it to the next round. After moving the target back five paces, the archers were ready for round two. Each round more trainees stepped back after missing the mark on the target.
Several rounds later Elaina, Khalom, Louie, and Mehdi were the only remaining competitors. Elaina heard Mayor Gradin’s boisterous voice behind her, “This is the final round of the archery contest. Each archer will fire three arrows. One point for the outside line, two for the middle, three for the center. The archer with the most points wins!”
A thrill made Elaina shiver as she stepped to the line. A long, deep breath steadied her hand. Elaina’s first arrow flew to the center of the target. The crowd cheered. Sammy was yelling so loudly Elaina could pick her voice out among the crowd. Hearing Sammy’s voice almost threw Elaina off. Why was Sammy excited about the idea of Elaina winning?
Louie chuckled. “I knew you were good, Elaina, but if I knew you were this good, I probably wouldn’t have thrown you into a snowbank.”
Elaina struggled to think of a response. “Um . . . Maybe this will be my payback then.”
Louie laughed. “Sammy will make the most of it. She’ll never let Khalom forget if he loses to a level five.”
Elaina laughed as she realized why Sammy wanted her to win.
Louie stepped to the firing line and released his arrow, hitting outside the second line on the target. When the rounds were done Khalom had missed one shot in the center. Louie hit outside the second line twice and Mehdi hit outside the center once. Elaina hit the middle of the target each time, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Khalom stepped back to congratulate Elaina then he turned to the crowd. “Let’s see how good she is! Move the target back.”
A loud cheer of approval erupted from the walkway. Elaina’s wide eyes scanned the crowd. Though she was getting used to some attention, she was in front of a large audience and no one else would be firing. A bead of sweat trickled down her face. “What are you doing, Khalom?”
Khalom shrugged. “What? I want to see how good you are. You’ve already won.”
Elaina pouted.
Mayor Gradin yelled, “Move the target back!”
Elaina tried to forget the crowd and concentrate on breathing to calm herself, but it was different being the only archer left. Beforehand she could always assume the onlookers were watching someone else. Elaina could no longer deny they were watching her. She shook off stares from the crowd and fired her arrows, rapidly hitting the center three times.
Louie whistled approvingly.
The target moved back again. Elaina blushed then released three more arrows. One hit the line around the bullseye. Though she expected disappointment, the crowd cheered louder than before. Thrown off-guard by the crowd’s response, Elaina asked, “Why are they cheering? I missed the center.”
Khalom walked with Elaina to the target to retrieve her arrows. “You’re an amazing archer, Elaina. They would have pushed the target back and kept watching since you hit the line, but it’s getting late.” Khalom put a hand on her shoulder.
The crowd dissipated, but Khalom remained next to Elaina. As she slipped the arrows back into her weapon pack, Khalom fidgeted with his feet. “Do you want to meet here for the first dance?”
Dance? How was Elaina supposed to meet Khalom at the dance? Wasn’t the dance in the street? Were lots of people going? Perhaps it would be a small dance. What did it mean to meet someone at the dance?
Khalom was staring at her, waiting for an answer. Before Elaina could quite sort her thoughts an, “Okay,” escaped her lips.
Khalom hurriedly walked off.
Sammy raced to Elaina and gave her a hug. “Thanks for winning! I have something to tease Khalom about for months! The tournament was long. I’m getting ready for the dance. See you soon!” Sammy caught up with Khalom.
Jessie started speaking animatedly, “None of the trainees have shot a target that far away before. Only some of the masters can do that. Come on. It’s time for me to dress you up!”
Reluctantly, Elaina followed Jessie. Dress her up! What did that mean? Elaina wasn’t a doll. Elaina kicked a stray rock on the street, venting her anxiety over wondering what she was getting herself into. Last time someone else chose attire for Elaina, it was a brown and pink dress that was way too small.
Jessie grabbed Elaina’s hand. Apparently, Elaina was moving too slowly. “Come on! We have to hurry!”
They splashed through mud and ice toward home then stepped into Jessie’s room. Jessie rummaged through her wardrobe. Elaina stared at the array of colors, shocked by how full Jessie’s wardrobe was.
“This color green will match your eyes and the jacket is a little big on me.” Jessie tossed a light green jacket with a fur trim to Elaina then pried open a drawer stuffed with shirts. Jessie placed stacks of shirts on the dresser until she found a green one. “This shirt goes with it. Since you’re taller me my pants won’t fit you. Most of the girls will wear dresses or slacks for the other dances, but tonight it will be too cold. Try it on!”
Elaina looked around the room. “Now?”
“Sure.” Jessie busily opened her wardrobe and poked her head in as she shuffled through her clothes. She pulled out a pink jacket, slipped it on over a light-blue blouse, then threw her brown hair out of the collar.
Elaina removed her jacket, then she remembered the mark on her right side. She brushed aside a memory, hoping to forget the night she spent sobbing in her room after the painfully hot iron marked her skin. Her eyes glazed over as she wondered what to say should Jessie happen to see it. Though Elaina had healed the scarring, the dye was still there, and her skin was discolored. Who could miss such an obvious mark?
Jessie tilted her head. “Take the shirt to your room then come back when you’re ready if you want to.”
Elaina gladly walked to her room. The door closed softly. Elaina sank to her floor and covered her face with her hands. After a winter at Bern Village she had learned to have a genuine conversation with people her age. She learned that, though some people were cruel, it was nice to have friends. Yet on occasion her past still haunted her. Why? Elaina tossed off her shirt, angry with herself for allowing memories of her past to affect her. She glared at the mark on her side that claimed her as King Reth’s property. Why couldn’t she forget about Glanton and King Reth? Why couldn’t she move on and let memories of her past fizzle away? Often her past was no more than a bad dream. Why did memories have to surface on occasion, like a gust of wind, trying to throw her off Davu? She wiped away her tears.
A strange question entered Elaina’s mind. If life in Glanton wasn’t so awful, would Elaina have come to Bern Village? Elaina shook her head. No one would be insane enough to travel through the forest alone unless they were desperate. Elaina leaned against the wall in her room and took a deep breath. For the first time, she found a reason to appreciate her past. It brought her to Bern Village. It brought her to Davu.
Elaina squared her shoulders, truly at peace with King Reth for the first time. If having a terrible life at Glanton meant having her new life at Bern Village, it was worth it. No mark on her skin could make her King Reth’s property. She was Elaina, a warrior-in-training at Bern Village.
She slipped the green shirt over her head then threw on the matching jacket. It was a little short on her arms, but it seemed unlikely anyone would notice in the dark. When Elaina arrived at Bern Village, she purchased two pairs of pants. Only one remained after tearing one in a slushy snowbank. The idea of spending money was still difficult for Elaina. She didn’t see a need for more than two pairs of pants, one to wear and one to wash. Since her first pair was destroyed, she would have to buy a new pair, but Elaina was feeling short on money and didn’t want to spend the rest of her credit at Rachel’s store without a way to earn more. Elaina tried to shrug off how filthy her pants were as she opened her door.
Jessie peaked in. “It’s the perfect color for you Elaina! I’ll tie the bow at the waist for you.”
Two strings dangled down Elaina’s side. Jessie finished tying the bow then gently pulled Elaina’s silky hair. “I have the perfect idea for your hair!”
Soon half of Elaina’s hair was twisted and braided while the other half streamed down her back. A small pile of mud and dust curved around the chair legs. Elaina checked the mirror to make sure no dirt remained in her hair.
Jessie chatted, “I’m glad you left your hair long. It’s beautiful! How do you manage such thick hair every day?”
Elaina felt around her ears to ensure they were still hidden. “I pull it back then don’t worry about it anymore.”
“Not tonight. There. It’s done.”
“Thank you,” Elaina studied her reflection in the mirror, uncertain of the stranger who stared back. During the winter Elaina’s complexion had improved, most likely due to plentiful meals. Her lips were a healthy red. Her cheeks filled out, giving her a less starved look. A sparkle in her eyes replaced their haunted look. Her hand touched the top of her hair, to assure herself that she was looking at her reflection.
Jessie put her hands on her hips. “We should curl your hair sometime.”
Elaina blinked. “Okay.”
“Mom has dinner ready. Let’s see what Mehdi and Darian think of you.”
The smell of vorlin and potatoes drifted through the air. Tvuna stopped stirring the gravy. “What lovely ladies!”
“Elaina?” Shock and doubt radiated from Darian.
Mehdi shoved Darian. “Don’t you recognize her when she isn’t wearing training clothes?”
Tvuna shook her head. “That’s enough, boys. Come eat.”
Jessie picked up a fork and twirled it in her potatoes. “You’re dancing with Khalom tonight?”
Elaina frowned at her plate. “Umm. I guess so. I’m still trying to figure out how things work here. What kind of music should I expect?”
“Swing and waltz.”
“Swing? I don’t know swing.” Elaina confessed.
“Do you have any experience dancing?” Darian asked.
“Not swing.”
“It’s okay, Elaina. If you know how to follow a lead and you know the basic step, you’ll be fine,” Jessie said.
“I can teach you the basics before we leave,” Darian offered.
“Okay. Thanks.” Elaina scooped a fork full of potatoes and chewed slowly while wondering how much she would humiliate herself at the dance.
“Are you done Elaina?” Darian pointed at her empty plate.
“Oh, I guess so. Thank you for dinner, Tvuna.” Elaina’s slipped the steel plate into the sink.
“You’re welcome, Elaina.” Tvuna smiled warmly. “I think it’s time for you to practice now.”
Darian grabbed Elaina’s hand and pulled her into the living room. “The basic step is like this. We both step back then we step toward each other.”
Elaina followed Darian’s lead, back and forth. He twirled her underneath his arm then back again. A genuine smile took away some of Elaina’s jitters. They danced in the living room until commotion echoed from Main Street.
Darian spoke in a strangely deep voice, “Come, beautiful ladies. Allow me and my brother to escort you to the dance!”
Elaina laughed and accepted his offered arm. Master Kijani and Tvuna followed them out. They half slipped, half walked between the shrinking snowbanks. Groups of dancing couples covered the street where the warriors had dueled earlier that day. Elaina was starting to wonder if she would find Khalom when she heard her name. Elaina let go of Darian’s arm and stepped in front of Khalom.
Despite knowing Khalom for a few months, Elaina was tongue-tied and felt an urge to slap some sense into herself. She had danced with dozens of boys at Glanton when Adeline told her to and couldn’t understand why she was nervous. It was different being at a real dance with a variety of people who were laughing and twirling in the street. No one was telling her who to dance with or when.
The street didn’t seem like a place where people could dance. Instead of a smooth stone floor, mud was mixed with rocks on leveled cobblestones. Would she trip and make a complete fool of herself? Probably. The dance steps Darian taught Elaina seemed like they would work better on the street than the dances she learned in Glanton though.
Elaina somehow found her voice. “I saw Sammy at the tournament. Who was the other girl?”
“Valerie, Mayor Gradin’s daughter. He wanted her to learn some self-defense. My dad had all my sisters train for a little while, but they all dropped out after level two. Sammy wouldn’t even agree to train until Valerie asked if she would train with her. We have lots of fun anyway.”
Sammy swung around Khalom. “Fun because you like to tease us!”
“Hey! I’m your brother. It’s my job to tease you.” Khalom curved his arm around Sammy’s neck in a headlock.
Sammy squealed, “Khalom if you mess up my hair, I’ll burn your lunch for a week! I’ve been working on my hair since last night.”
Khalom released Sammy and settled for patting the top of her head. “I didn’t mess it up, did I Elaina?”
Elaina peered around Sammy’s head at tight-woven curls. Ribbons wove around two braids that formed a crown on Sammy’s head. “No. It looks great! It’s . . . very curly.”
“See, I didn’t mess up your hair, Sammy. Who are you dancing with anyway? I heard you say someone asked you.”
“Last time I told you who I danced with, you teased me for a week.”
“You teased me too.”
“And this time I get to tease you about dancing with a girl who beat you!”
“It’s not every guy who can say he got the first dance with the best archer in the tournament. You try to beat that!”
“I have danced with the archery winner before! A level five beat you at archery!”
“She also beat everyone else.”
“Ha!” Sammy’s hair bounced as she jabbed Khalom with her finger.
“I doubt you’ll dance with the winner of level one.”
Sammy glared, “They’re all too young Khalom!”
“Why didn’t you want to train when you were younger?”
“I don’t like wrestling in dirt.”
The musicians started a song that made Elaina want to tap her foot. Sammy took two steps to Darian. “See you later!”
Khalom threw back his head, laughing. “What kind of a sister are you? You can’t dance with one of my rivals!”
“What are you complaining about?” Darian shrugged. “You won.”
“Well. I guess I can let my sister dance with you.”
Sammy smirked. “Like you get to decide who I dance with!”
Khalom chuckled. Music filled the night air. Khalom grabbed Elaina’s hands and pulled her under his arm then back in front of him again. The lesson Darian gave her and the training she had at the castle were almost enough for Elaina to follow Khalom. Almost, but not quite. She tripped then jumped in front of Khalom. “I’ve never danced this way before.”
Khalom turned her toward him, then swung her out. “That’s alright.”
Soon Elaina was laughing as she spun around. The song ended. Before Elaina could wonder what to do next, someone grabbed her hand and swung her around. Louie spun her toward him, wrapped his arms around her waist, then he spun her back out. She tripped a few times but caught on quickly.
“I thought I overheard you tell Khalom you’ve never danced swing before,” Louie said.
“I practiced a little before we left Master Kijani’s house.”
“You’ve had more experience than a little practice tonight.”
“I had other dance lessons.” As Elaina finished the sentence, she found herself dancing with someone else. Elaina danced with one person after another as the evening grew colder. Eventually, the younger children and their parents left. Elaina found herself dancing with Louie again. Warm air from Louie’s mouth whirled above Elaina’s head. Layne took her hands and swung her around. Elaina laughed while Layne twirled her. He smiled back but didn’t say anything.
After the song ended, Khalom waved at Elaina. “Would you like to try a mid-air twist? Louie and I have a bet going. I told him any girl who can make it to level five can do a mid-air twist.”
“What’s a mid-air twist?”
“I grab your wrists then toss you up. You twist in the air, then I catch you.”
“Why is it called a mid-air twist, rather than an air twist?”
“You only twist half-way around.”
Elaina squinted her eyes, trying to picture what he said. It didn’t sound too hard. If things went badly, she could use a shield and break her fall without anyone seeing in the dark. “Sure.”
Khalom brought Elaina to an area on the street where couples were doing lifts. “Are you watching, Louie?” Khalom called out. He took Elaina’s wrists, swung her up then threw her in the air. Elaina twisted then brought her feet forward. Khalom caught her. Elaina’s arm fell around his neck. Khalom kept one arm around her waist and let go of her legs, allowing them to swing to the ground. “I win!”
“She let you catch her!” Louie had a cryptic smile that made Elaina wonder if she was missing something.
“What exactly was the bet?” Elaina asked.
Khalom chuckled. “He said you would try to land on your feet. I said you would let me catch you.”
“Were you supposed to catch me?”
“Yes. Louie thought your reflexes would take over and you would try to land on your feet instead.”
“Oh.” A strange feeling made Elaina think something was off. What was she missing? The bet was highly suspicious. Elaina pulled her arm off Khalom’s shoulders.
Khalom kept his arm around her waist. “Are you ready for the next bet?”
“Um. Okay.” Elaina twiddled her fingers
“We have to know how old you are.”
“I’m sixteen.”
“Really?” Khalom frowned. “When did you turn sixteen?”
“10-6-1.”
“That was days ago!” Khalom dropped his arm and took a step back. “How can you be that young? You traveled through the forest by yourself! You can’t be that young. You became an aurium archer when you were fifteen?”
“I was almost sixteen.” Elaina’s voice was timid. She could feel a wave of disappointment coming from Khalom, but she didn’t understand why. Was it that big of a deal to be an aurium archer at fifteen?
Khalom’s jaw dropped. Louie repeatedly bumped his forehead with his fist.
Elaina took a few steps back. “Who won?”
“You did. Our bet was on who was younger when they became an aurium archer.”
“How old were you two?”
Louie laughed. “Khalom was a few months younger, but we were both eighteen. Khalom thought you were eighteen or nineteen.”
“How old are you?”
“We’re nineteen. Most master’s finish at about twenty, but the youngest was seventeen.
Elaina found it difficult not to notice how awkward Khalom and Louie felt. They probably didn’t like losing. Something about Khalom was different though. She didn’t like the frustration she felt coming from him. Elaina shuffled her feet in the mud. “I . . . I think I’ll go home now. It’s getting cold.” She ran through the street without looking back.
