Chapter Seven

A Knock on the door startles me awake. It was a soft knock, just barely a whisper across the wood, and I looked at the clock. It's fourteen minutes until midnight, that means it's Dakota at the door. I pad across the room and open the door.

Dakota stands there, hand raised for another soft knock. He's wearing boots and black linen clothes, his previously short hair is starting to grow out, he has a shadow of a beard growing on his cheeks and chin. I wave him in and slip on my own boots. I push back the curtains.

Once we're on the roof, Dakota has some difficulty. His big frame is not light and he doesn't have the proper agility. I go back to the alley where I first met Silver Sharp Claw. While he has some difficulty with jumping over allies to the next rooftop, I have now gotten proficient with it. 

We get there right as the clock tower chimes at midnight. Sharp Claw steps out of the shadows, her blazing red hair looking even more angry. She looks at Dakota and narrows her eyes at me, but she leads on. "Who is she? Why is she wearing a cat mask?" Dakota asks, trying to keep up to us.

"She is-" I begin, but Sharp Claw interrupts me, shooting me a look to be quiet.

"-Nothing of importance right now. Let's get you two to my dad and LJ, my brother." She drops onto a dumpster and I follow. Dakota drops and groans, I wince as I remember the previous afternoon. He picks himself up and follows me to the door. "I have other things to do tonight, so I am leaving. You know the way, show yourself in." She runs off into the darkness, her red hair a beacon of fiery curls.

"She was friendly," Dakota says, sarcasm in his voice. I roll my eyes and enter the house. Dakota follows me into the training room. Charles and...Jackson?! are setting up the beams. He turns and smiles at me.

"Well, I didn't realize that Miss Hawk was you. Though I suppose I should've known. We never did get to finish our play, Gene." He reaches me and catches a strand of black hair that fell out of my ponytail, curling it around his finger. Dakota's fists clench, his jaw tightens, and his eyes are full of suppressed hatred for Jackson. 

"Maybe another time. Right now, it's time for training." I say, stealing my hair back. He nods and steps back, giving me room to breathe. Dakota relaxes and shakes his head, like trying to rid it of something.

"Stop flirting and help me finish with this beam, LJ!" Charles shouts across the room. "And Miss Hawk, get into that harness so you can go up to the sky today." He adds, pointing to a pile of fabric by a ladder. I head to it and pick it up. Jackson, having finished with the beam, comes over to help while Charles helps Dakota onto the beam.

"It's complicated until you get the hang of it. There are twenty-seven straps, all with a purpose." And he explains all of them as he helps strap me. With one last strap tugged into place, he pulls down a bungee rope and hooks that in three places on my back. I climb the ladder as Charles get's in his own at three times the speed I did

When I reach halfway, about ten feet, Charles is starting to climb. I reach the top, and grab hold of the closest bar. I swing up, getting higher and higher till I reach the ceiling. Charles catches up with me easily, swinging from bar to bar, like a monkey.

"What are you doing all the way up here? I would have started lower, but this works. Let's begin with the balance aspect. If the branch is thinner, you need to put the majority of your weight closer to the trunk, so as to not bend or snap the branch, cause that'll alert anyone where you are. The bars are wooden beams and metal bars, but they vary in size, to give you a more realistic experience. Let's just start with getting comfortable moving around up here." He jumps down and lands on a bar that was five feet below him with ease. I follow him, but with more caution than needed. I land wobbly, not used to the small landing space. I need something to curl around the bars, so I sit down and start untying my boots.

I toss them to the ground, my socks stuffed inside. I glance down at Charles, but he's busy frowning at the boys down there. I follow his gaze and wince. Dakota is holding himself totally wrong. Before I decide to use my brain, I work my way to the bottom bar, or branch, unhooking two of the connectors to the bungee rope. Once I'm there, I take a leap of faith, quite literally.

I drop, my hands on the last connector. They didn't even notice, but Charles does. I went feet first, and I heard him muttering curses. The floor comes closer, 10 feet, 7 feet, and I unhook the last connector, landing on my feet lightly while the bungee flings back up. I stalk over to them and intercede.

"Stop!" I yell. They both stop and I get out of the harness. I take over Dakota's spot, pointing at the spot where he should go to watch. "Watch Jackson and me fight. Watch how we hold ourselves." I say, my voice still raised, getting ready to fight. I'm fuming with anger that Jackson didn't fix what Dakota was doing wrong.

I use that anger, and the leftover adrenaline from the jump, towards the attacks. I get him all the way to the edge of the fighting mats, then he mutters "Cute," and I realize that he has me where he wants me, open backed, free for the attack. I jump back to the center a half second after I come to this realization. Jackson's eyes hold praise as his eyebrows shoot to the sky. "Not so cute," he comments, stalking towards me like a lion, waiting for an opening of the throat or distraction to pounce.

I notice him watching my only problem area that I can't always protect: My stomach. I frown and he goes for the pounce, but I dodge, trying a trick to sweep his legs, but he dances away. We dance around the mat, dodging and trying new moves. It could be described as graceful fighting, by other people, but tiring by us.

He does a complicated leg sweep and I, tired and sweaty, am too slow dodging. We end up in a big tangle of limbs on the floor, laughing and heavy breathing are the only sounds in the room. Jackson is the one laughing, if that says anything. Someone claps and walks into view. Charles followed by Sharp Claw. Sharp Claw is clapping.

"That was fun and exciting to watch. You need to learn how to conserve your energy, Gene, or you would have been fast enough to dodge that Spokane Leg Sweep, a very complicated leg sweep invented by some old asian dude, I forgot his name. But you, Dakota, were very cringe worthy. I bet that's why Gene intervened. I hope you watched closely, her form and stance were perfect, same with most of her attacks and dodges. Some were slow to be executed, but that comes with practice. Her dad is taking you for registration, then to a friend who lives in the forest, where you will stay for a week. Listen to him, he is a good teacher, kittens. When you come back, show me what you learned. Now go home and rest, I have a letter to write and send." Her hood goes up and she billows out.

Dakota decided to focus on the least important thing. "Did she call us kittens? She has to be at least two years younger than us." He says, shaking his head.

"Sharp Claw is indeed fourteen, but she loves us like her kittens or kids. You act like one enough for her to call you one." I say, dragging him out by the scruff of his neck and waving at Jackson and Charles.

"That was cool, watching you fight Jackson. It didn't even look like fighting, more like a graceful dance. You two moved like you knew what you were doing, completely in sync, in your own world. It was amazing to watch, you moved like a cat, and he was like a lion. But what is going on between you two? I saw you flirting, and you've never done that before." Dakota tells me as we navigate our way through the alleys because he refused to go back on the roofs.

"Well, I was aiming towards a cat. You climb in first, we're going through my window, not the front door." I point to the trellis and he starts climbing after giving a dirty look aimed at me. I avoided his question, and hopefully I'm lucky enough that he will forget it. I climb up faster than him once he's in my room. I drop in and close the curtains. He just stands there and repeats his question about Jackson.

I sigh and say "Nothing, I just agreed to do a piece of a play that will now have to wait until we get back. That's all, nothing more." My cheeks heat up against my will. He frowns, but nods and leaves, shutting the door behind him.

I shake my head and sit down. As I untie my boots, I think. A friend in the forest could mean anyone, but it also could be Marcus, the guy who lives in the forest and is my friend. One day, when I was thirteen, I was out picking berries. I sensed someone watching me, so I calmly set down my basket and looked around. I found a young guy, only about sixteen, in a bush. When I asked what he was doing, he told me.

"I was told to watch you until you notice me, then I am supposed to teach you how to fight. I guess you noticed me, so let's get to work. He smiled and he taught me, every night. He had green eyes and black hair, a cute dimple, and always wore linens. He stopped the night before I went up the mountain, wanting me to have complete focus. I think he would be eighteen or nineteen now.

I smile at the thought of it being him and lay down, closing my eyes. I feel the tug of my soul and groan. I wish I could do Soul-Drifting voluntarily again and get a good night's sleep, but I let my soul tug me away. While my body sleeps, my soul flies out to the rebel cave.

I get pulled down an unfamiliar walk-way. About a hundred paces in, I stop and wait. After a moment I hear footsteps coming the way from where I came, two sets, both light and graceful. A lantern comes into view first, then two figures, both wearing masks. One silver, one gold. One a raven and one a heron. Silver Raven and Gold Heron. They pass me in silence and I get tugged after them, just wondering where we're going.

We go about a hundred meters before we come to a doorway covered with an oiled tarp. Gold Heron holds the tarp back for Silver Raven and I float in after her, leaving Gold Heron to follow and close the tarp.

The room has a bed on the floor, a chest of drawers, and a roaring fireplace. On the bed, there is a lump under the dirty blanket on it. The walls are concrete and smooth rock, and they're painted with strange scenes and images. I then notice the cans of paint on the floor by the back wall.

"The tarp is oiled, so it should keep out Soul-Drifters who wander near here. Oracle! Rise and show us: What will happen if we decide to act upon the threat that has been issued against us? Speak and paint, Oracle! And we will watch and listen." Gold Heron finishes and we watch the lump under the blanket rise. It falls to the ground, exposing a girl of six or seven in a white silk dress covered in paint spots and splatters. She wears a white ceramic mask in the shape of a face and is splattered with paint.

She moves to the wall and chooses an empty spot. She picks up a paint brush and starts, using wide strokes. Then she starts speaking and mumbling, her voice high pitched and gravely.

"Blood…blood and war and death…then there is a Golden Hawk who is our savior of rebels and renegades alike." She slumps and lays down on the floor. But all of us are staring at the wall.

There is a pile of bodies, dead bodies covered in blood, then fighting next to it. The part I'm focused on is the girl above it all, perched on a branch. She's wearing a gold mask in the shape of a hawk, her eyes are like Silver Raven's but switched. Green on the left and gray on the right. She has a golden aura around her and shinning off her golden wings that curl outwards. The wings of a hawk.

"The savior is the next ruler of the rebels. I think we will know when this girl arrives. Come, we have to tread carefully and respond carefully to this threat." Gold Heron says while Silver Raven settles the girl with red hair and blue eyes into the bed and dirty blanket.

Silver Raven waits to respond until they're out and a little down the hall. "Yes, we will have to be very careful. You have to be careful when choosing who will be your successor. I'm not sure if, or when, something will happen to you, but you should choose very soon, to have a plan. I don't want the Silver Council to choose a new ruler. That would be a disaster."

"Well, easy enough. I choose you for-" She starts but Silver Raven interrupts.

"No!" She says, rather loudly. She takes a deep breath before continuing. "No, and I'll explain why. The person Sammy painted was not me, the eyes are different. The person is my sister, who is Fate Chosen, training to be an Explorer and Assassin. I have Silver Sharp Claw watching her. I am getting daily reports. She will be with Gray Wolf later today, after getting registered, if nothing goes awry. Then there is Dakota to worry about, I fear what he will do if we take her by force. My sister has the Soul-Drifting talent, and I have made sure the High Priest gave her the blessing. It will be essential to her Fate and survival. Her Fate is so complicated, that even I cannot follow it. If she chooses wrong, I fear the rebels will be no more. Think about that. I have to warn Marcus that Gene is coming with a boy." Silver Raven bows slightly and leaves. I get tugged away.

"Gene…Gene…Gene!" An irritated voice yells. Something soft and wet touches my cheek. That makes me shoot straight up in bed. Dakota is kneeling beside my bed, dressed and ready for travel.

"I've been trying for ten minutes to wake you up. I finally lost the little patience I had and kissed you awake, sleeping beauty. We leave in fifteen." He gets up and leaves, closing the door. I touch my slightly wet cheek. He kissed me. On the cheek, but still. I finally get up and get packed.

When I get downstairs, Mom shoves me into a chair and sets a loaded plate on the table in front of me. "Eat it all," she commands. Not wanting to get on anyones bad side, I do as I'm told.

Dakota comes, a pack over his shoulder. "Ah, your mother got to you also, I see." He says, giving the hands on my belly a pointed look. I roll my eyes, but remove my hands. Dad walks in from the door that leads outside.

"I have got the horses hitched up to the wagon and have everything loaded. Let's get this over with. You two head out and get situated." He says, taking a bag of food from mom. Mom pulls me into a hug.

"I'm glad I've had the past 3 weeks with you. It makes up for the sixteen years without you. Come visit soon, if you can." She says, and I nod before heading out after Dakota. We climb into the wagon, which is loaded with crates. We get settled among the labeled crates, facing each other.

"Carrot? Corn? When did the old man start growing produce?" Dakota asks me, closing a crate he opened.

"It's a favor for an old friend. I'm bringing in his produce to the city for him. Stop being nosy and let's move on." Dad says, tossing the bag of food at him. He hauls himself up into the driver bench and takes up the reins. He flicks them and the three horses start trotting down the street. The horses are brown, but the middle horse is spotted with white and has a golden mane and tail. I ask dad what her name is.

"Moonlight, and it's Master Solbek for this trip. Now be quiet, I need to think." He flicks the reins again and we lapse into silence, the only sound is the horses and the wagon creaking from the extra speed. I clean the gunk from under my nails with a dagger and Dakota watches our surroundings, searching for constant trouble. He's always watching and uneasy when we are someplace strange.

I remember when Dakota arrived. I was six and he was outside the main building, just staring into space. He was the first boy I ever saw, since I wasn't old enough to go to the banquets. He looked lost, so I introduced myself and asked where he came from. I smile as I remember what he said.

'I'm Dakota, and I come from Alicante City. I bet you don't know where that is, since you grew up here." I played with him until High Father came to collect him. Then I didn't really see him until I was fifteen. He was the one who actually recognized me. I was heading to the woods for my lesson with Marcus, when he called my name. I was confused until he explained why he knew it.

"I'm Dakota, and I came here when I was six. We played pirates, you were the first person that was nice to me." We hung out during free time and we just ended up friends. I return to the present when Dakota tenses up. I look over my shoulder to where his glare is aimed at. I spot the lady first.

The young lady is probably about twenty. She has light golden hair, what looks like green eyes and fine features. She's feeding a black mare on the side of the road, but she's also being pestered by a guy, with greasy black hair. The greasy haired man is reaching for her rump when we spring into action.

Dakota and I jump off the wagon and land running. We reach them right when he touches her. I roundhouse kick him and Dakota goes for the girl. The guy gets up, but stumbles. My nose is filled with the stench of alcohol, all wafting from him. He swings at me and I pin him to the ground, just like I was taught to deal with drunks: Get them in a head lock and wrap my left leg around his side and my right leg under him, efficiently trapping him. I am now very glad I chose to wear the linens instead of the dress.

Dakota is talking quietly to the girl as she strokes her horse, and I don't bother listening to them because I'm more focused on the crowd growing around me and the guy. Master Solbek waddles through the crowd and asks what was going on. I tell him, trying to keep the disgust out of my voice.

"This guy was touchin' and botherin' that young lady, Master Solbek. We didn't break the rules; we were just keeping the peace, that's all. This won't affect our trainin' and registration, will it, Master Solbek?" I ask, honestly worried that we might be in some sort of trouble. His belly jiggles, which either means that he's crying, or laughing. I'm willing to bet on the latter.

The crowd finally realizes what we are and they back up a little. "No, it just proves how good you two are, and how much you two know. Good job keeping, Gene, Dakota. Now, let's get this show on the road after I calm the horses, whom you spooked when you jumped off the wagon." He says, then wobbles back to the wagon which is pulled over to the side.

A constable who was around collects the drunk and I introduce myself to the girl. She smiles and takes my offered hand. "I"m Beatrice. Thank you, Genevieve. I don't know what I would have done without you. I just turned nineteen and I'm heading to the city to look for work. I suppose y'all are going to get registered for y'all's Chosen Fate job, your clothes give you away. I don't suppose I could ride along next to y'all, just to be safe?" She asks, feeding her horse an apple from her saddle bag.

I think it over for a moment and come up with a better solution. "How about you ride in the wagon with Dakota and Master Solbek, and I'll ride this beauty next to it. Just to give your rump some time off?" I whisper the last part in her ear so Dakota can't hear it. She laughs and nods her head.

"This is Black Beauty, and she is a very picky mare. Here, I'll boost you up, she's a tall girl." She boosts me up and leads us back to the wagon. I take the ivory pendant out of the bag and pull the string from the bag. I string the ivory blessing pendant and slip it over my head. It settled underneath my shirt. From atop Black Beauty, I tell Master Solbek what I decided to do, adding at the end "Just to keep the peace." He shakes his head and we go, so fast that the creaking from the wagon is a constant noise. Black beauty rides like a perfect mount, knowing when we slow down or speed up, always keeping perfect pace with the wagon. 

I hear Beatrice tell Dakota "She's behaving better with her than me. She usually is jumpy around wagons or strangers. It's weird." I smile. That would be because I'm using the blessing to send her trust, comfort, and courage. We stop at noon to water and rest the horses, and grab a quick bite ourselves. I was very reluctant to get off Black Beauty.

"She really has taken a liking to you, Gene." She says as Black Beauty tries to follow me to the wagon, where I feed her an apple, and have some bread myself.

"I really don't know why she likes me. All I do is pet her," I say, munching on hard travel bread. "How much longer until we get there?"

Dad grunts "Half a day or so." Satisfied with the answer, I pack everything back up and feed Black Beauty another apple. I get mounted while Beatrice talks about what she knows concerning Fate Chosen.

"Did you know that the Fate Chosen only come from the countryside and rural areas? Then when you move from the city to the country, you get tossed into the places that you are trained in. My younger brother got tossed in, and I haven't seen him for almost twelve years. He should have been Fate Chosen already, unless he went and struck out to be a wanderer, helping people wherever he is. Maybe I'll finally find him in the city. Who knows?" She vaults into the wagon and we get on our way.