Chapter Five

I pace the hall, waiting for the time to leave for the hunt, my mask growing heavy. I got a letter from Sharp Claw, a progress report. The girl is safe and knows nothing. She had just arrived safely at the bakery. The first piece of good news. She had a Soul Drift in the town square and hit her head just a tiny bit. I hope she isn't connected to me, but, with my luck, I very much doubt it.

The other people joining the hunt come in a wave down the hall. White Ear has to whisper in my ear, as everybody should be silent to contain the surprise, but I feel the excitement pouring off them in streams.

"What are we doing tonight, Silver Raven?" She asks, vibrating with impatience. I flick my hood up and everybody follows suit. I received the threads of a whole orphanage that will be suited for rebels. I smile, though no one can see me through the heavy, black cloak hood.

"A purposeful orphanage of the mountain. My orders are simple: Men, take the male side and kill the High Father. Women, we will take the women's side and kill the High Mother. The High parents are traitors. Blues will gather supplies and food and start back first. Reds, you will start the fire that will consume the buildings after we leave." I order softly, as to be quiet, not gentle. The colors refer to the colors of their masks.

Most are ceramic or wood carved then painted, but the twelve that serve as Council members are made of cast silver. Only the leader and her/his right hand person gets to take up the mask of the Bird. I am the right hand person to our ruler.

I lead the group into the jungle and out of the cave. We take to the sky by trees. I follow the bright red thread that leads to the orphanage. I am the only one able to see the threads. I see lots of blue, yellow, orange, and such threads leading off into different directions. I chose the thread I've been shown and felt the strongest, it means lots of people to bring to the caves, then disperse through the land and to camps low on rebels and in need of fresh blood. I sort them there, at the caves, by whose glow is brighter, then change the glow if needed.

We go silently among the trees for another fifteen minutes. Then I see the light of the valley they are in. I raise a hand and we stop at once, they wait on my command. I look around and notice a very thin, very bright, red thread. A single person's thread. It leads away from the orphanage to a village. I hesitate. I've never seen such a pretty or bright thread. I shake it off. I can explore later. Right now, I have a mission to do.

I raise my arm all the way, my heavy sleeve falling down. I wave it in a quick cyclone, then bring it down to point at the orphanage. That means gather the kids, or whatever we came to gather. The women go to the right, the men to the left. They will kill the High Parents first, then start my instructions.

I usually join in, but, confused about the bright red thread, I stand on the edge of the tree line, waiting for them to finish. My thoughts wander to Genevieve. She should have had her first day at the shop and first lesson today. I guess her day is finishing off now. I hope that she is doing alright, learning lots. Someone calls my name, drawing my attention away from my thoughts. I strode towards the voice, not knowing what to expect and enjoying the excitement that rolls through the air.