2. The Group

Hours after the meeting, I'm back in the servants quarters. I didn't have enough time to talk to Jameson nor did I want to cause any speculation doing so while he was in uniform.

I've been pacing back and forth for the last thirty minutes debating on if I want to go to our meeting tonight. After all of those deaths it seems unwise. But because of those deaths, I feel like I need to. Like they would have died for nothing if we don't do this. If we don't do something.

When my parents and I got back to our room, they didn't even mention the deaths. They went about cleaning and cooking as if it didn't happen. As if they didn't care. I looked at them incredulously, and when they asked me what was wrong, I rolled my eyes and slammed my bedroom door. They weren't always this complacent. They used to care. Perhaps they do care. About me and about themselves but certainly not about the humans as a whole. If they did, they'd be just as infuriated.

I fell down on my bed, running the images of what happened just a few short hours ago, through my mind. All he did was twist his hand and all three of them are dead. The amount of power they have is abhorrent. I screamed into my pillow. Almost having a breakdown but I won't allow myself to go that far.

No. I'll go to this meeting. I'll avenge them. I'll avenge everyone who has died at the hands of these monsters. At the invisible hands of the prince. At his power.

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Thirty minutes to midnight rolls around, my parents are asleep at the far end of the quarter, everyone down the hall is sound asleep, having no idea what I'm up to. Being complacent. Even if they knew how to join the revolt. The wouldn't. They don't care.

I stripped out of my servant dress and had on a cloak that shielded my face and hopefully helped me blend into the night. Months ago we learned the guards usual route, when they switch places, when they walk to patrol, and we caught the times where there are gaps between rotation. Such small gaps that their solderies never realized. A ten minute gap that can me from my front door to the wall. But it has to be exact.   Thankfully the quarters are just a few minutes walk to the gate. From there, I go through the gate- opened by one of the guards who's also in the revolt- and into the next town over where we hold our meeting.

Quietly shutting my door behind me, I quickly tiptoe to the door out of the servants quarters, out into the fresh clear night. The stars are gleaming, and the air feels amazing, welcoming me with open arms after a long day of death and destruction.

I go to the far side of the palace and walk against the wall as quickly and inconspicuously as possible. Less than a mile down the wall is where it opens, and where I'm to meet Jameson.

Poor, Jameson. I have no idea how much of a relationship he had with those guys. I've only talked to one of them and it was in passing. Jamie never wanted me to join. When he told me about the revolt, it was only to warn me. To let me know if he disappeared, that was why. To prepare me. When I told him i wanted to join, to do something. He laughed. He said I would never join the revolt, if he had any hand in the matter. It was far too dangerous and he didn't want anything to happen to me.

But he stupidly mentioned to me when they meet the next time, and after asking how in the world they get there, he told me. So the night he was supposed to go, I snuck out and followed him. I've never seen him more annoyed than he was that night. But I told him that if something happens, I need to be prepared to fight. To learn. I wasn't going to be a sitting duck. That sold him. Now every time we meet for the meetings and training, Jamie teaches me defense and offense moves, along with shooting arrows and using a sword and gun. He's really the only friend I have here.

I finally make it to the opening without being seen. "Sparrow". I say to the gate guard. Sparrow is our code word. He knows me but I still have to say it in order for him to open the gate. The doors open soundlessly, "The horses are half a mile down the road. Be back in exactly four hours. That's our next gap in rotation." He tells me and I give a nod in understanding while walking the half mile to mine and Jameson's horse.

"Hi, nelly. It's been a long time, girl." I say as I rub the horses neck. She's always been my favorite horse. Jameson hops off the horse to give me a hug. "Are you okay?" He asks.

"Me? I was worried about you. Although it was awful, I hardly knew them. That could have been us, you know." I squeeze him tight. Pulling back to look him in the eyes. "We could have died. We should have. There's no way he didn't know. He looked at me twice. Longer than he's ever looked at me before." I told him.

Still concerned by the prince's acknowledgment of me.

"Surely, if he did, we'd be dead." Is all Jameson had to say about it, "I'm fine. We have to be careful. Truthfully, after that, we shouldn't be out here this soon. But I just - I can't just sit in my room right now." He said, getting the horse ready to jump back on. "I know." Is all i said as I hopped on, making room for Jameson.

The meeting spot is just a thirty minute ride. It's in an old storage building that hasn't been used in years. It's big enough for well over a hundred of us. Some people don't go to every meeting. It's usually split half and half so not so many people are missing at the same time. After the 3 men died, only Jameson me and the gate guard are left inside the castle walls.

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When we make it to the meeting, people are sitting, waiting. We take our seats in the front. The leader is named, Arion, he fought in the War of Unity and also lost his kid and wife during it in the cross fire.

"Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Tonight we're going to have a quick run down. Then we're training. As you all know, the king has killed three of our own today. I want them dead. I want them to pay for everything that has been lost. For our people. We know of one weakness. That is silver. A silver bullet. A silver blade. A silver arrow. That is the only weakness we know of. However, it can be problematic due to them changing forms and also using their powers against us. That is why we didn't win the war of unity. We had no idea. We were completely blindsided. I won't make that same mistake twice, however. So I will not rush into this out of rage. I've waited 20 years, I can wait more. I want you all to pair up and start training. We only have a couple of hours and I need you get in as much training as you can. Any questions, comments, new information for me?" Arion asks, pacing up and down. Nobody said anything. When arion is mad, people usually kept quiet. He's a force to be reckoned with.

"Adira, sweetness. Any new information?" He asked me. I shook my head, seeing the disappointment all over his face, I add " Arion, i've checked every book in the library for any hint. I've talked to maids and soldiers. Short of going straight to the source itself, I don't know how I'm going to find any information. They only trust other shifters. Not humans." Jameson drapes his arm over my shoulder and I shrug him off. Although I know he's being sweet, I don't need his protection.

Arion let's out a deep sigh. "Very well. Keep trying. Something. Anything you can find. Where they came from, how to send them back, why they are here." I simply nod.

Arion looks back to everyone else, "Alright, let's get to training. If there's no new update, we'll just keep training until there is. Maybe the next group has something for us or perhaps the people of Erinwell will." He claps his hand and we all get up to partner up.

"Alright, I want you to grab a bow and arrow and follow me." Jamie says, walking over to our make shift targets. As I'm grabbing a bow and arrow one of the other girls- Abbi- comes up to me.

"I'm so sorry you had to witness that first hand,  Adira." She says, pulling me into a side hug. I just give her a faint smile.

"They were one of us. Now we need to avenge them. It could have been any of us." I tell her, though she already knows. We part ways and I walk over to Jamie, handing him his own bow and arrow, while I get mine ready.

"Alright, what's the first thing to remember when shooting an arrow?" Jamie asks. I roll my eyes and recite each rule he's taught me starting with only point it in a safe direction and ending with keeping my emotions under control, think about my safety too.

I aim my arrow, pointing and focusing all my energy at the center target. Imagining it's the kings head. Sometimes imagining it's the princes head. All of them. Seeing the images of the 3 men being sent to their death. Remembering that it could have been me. Should have been.

I make the center of the target each time. After my 10th time shooting, I let Jameson practice. He's even better than I am, barely focusing and still making them with such ease. Raised for killing.

After we finished practicing with bows we do hand to hand combat, usually we would practice with our guns but tonight we're on a strict schedule due to unforeseen circumstances.

Jameson shows me how to get out of headlock, where to punch that would give me the most advantage for my height and weight and if all else fails, if it's a man, kick him in the balls and run. I roll my eyes at that comment.

"You're getting a lot better. When we first started I could knock you on your ass every time. Now it's just every other time." He says, smirking at me. I punch him in the shoulder. He's not lying though. When we first started I was so terrible, I thought I'd never improved but now I know could at least somewhat handle myself in a hand to hand situation.

"I think we better call it a night, jamie. I don't want to miss rotation." I tell Him and we simply nod at Arion as we exit the building. He has been talking to other people all night, formulating plans with them. They aren't on a strict curfew since they live outside of the palace walls.

We saddle the horse and make our way back. "Do you have any idea how I could get more information?" I ask him, putting my head on his back to protect myself from the wind.

"Perhaps you could in their good graces. Although I doubt even then they would tell you anything." He confirmed my exact thoughts. Even if I somehow managed to even get on their good side, they'd divulge nothing. They'd be dumb if they did.

I let out a heavy sigh. "Why do our lives have to be this complicated? Cant it be like my books that I read?" I ask. And he chuckles, I can feel the vibration of it on my cheek.

"Adi, if our lives were less complicated, it'd be quite boring. Plus, I think I'd miss our monthly night rides." He glanced back at me and I could feel my cheeks heating. But I sighed and said, "Me too." And I would. Although we don't talk as much as I'd like, he is my best friend here.

We made it back to the gates and Jameson gave the guard our code word, leaving the horse outside the gate for the guard to bring around.

Jameson's quarters were on the opposite side of the castle. "If it makes you feel better, I don't have any more information either. All we can do is try, and keep practicing. Arion still has to get word over to Erinwell. Im sure they have some new information. And let's not forget the other group that goes after us. It will fall into place." He pulled me into a hug right before we had to split ways.

"I know. Try your best and for gods sake be careful, Jamie. Do not do anything stupid." I told him as we winked at me and walked to the gate guard to update him on the meeting.

I made my way back to my room, Lost in thought. There has to be a way for me to get information for Arion.

When I made it back to the quarters, I came to the conclusion that sleep will probably help me. And if it doesn't, at least I can sleep away my annoyance. When I closed my door, I turned my light on and was greet by a deep voice, "Adira, darling. There you are. I think it's time we have a little chat." I immediately recognized that voice and froze, not daring to turn around.

"Where were you this late at night? I think it's well last the servants curfew, don't you?" He said again.

I turned around slowly, greeted by none other than Prince Delion, sitting in my chair, elbows on his knees, fingers interlocked.

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