It had been a week since Graecie had informed the Nightingales of Marnie's insistence for her to take over.
That week had been hard for Graecie every time they stepped into the tavern and didn't see Marnie, but she had gotten through it with the support of her family, the Nightingales.
Her Nightingales.
Graecie stood nervously outside of the door at the back of the main tavern's hall that led to the Leaders Only section of the building, she wasn't really sure if she'd really be welcomed.
After all, she was not Marnie.
She was in her early twenties for void's sake, barely an adult and yet they were tasked with leading the Nightingale Faction.
Mara was 64.
Marnie had been 47.
Alison was 36.
Christian was 29.
She was barely 20.
They took a deep breath as she realised at least there was another Faction Leader still in their twenties.
Still, she was only just out of her childhood years and here she stood, about to enter the room of the Faction Leaders as one of them.
Graecie knocked slowly, taking another deep breath in.
The door opened, "Hey Graecie! You are right on time, come in!" Christian held open the door, ushering them into the room.
The walls were lot with candles, each faction banner hung again the back wall over the windows, the room was comforting, homely.
"Graecie! Welcome, do you want a drink?" Alison offered, pointing at a chair beside where Christian had just sat back down.
"Oh no, that's alright Miss Alison," Graecie took Marnie's- no- her seat.
"Graecie, you are one of us, you don't need to call me Miss Alison, Mara and Chris both call me Ali so feel free to use that," Alison shrugged, every inch of perfect Kestrel had disappeared and for the first time Graecie saw a regular woman.
Mara rolled her eyes playfully, "Well there goes my reputation as a feared Kite with an icy heart Ali!" She chuckled from her mug.
"I was never scared of you, just had a lot of respect for you and the legend of you cutting off a Kestrel's finger," Graecie spoke up, smiling politely.
"Drats!" Mara exclaimed, though there was no anger or malice in her voice, only humourous teasing.
Christian rolled his eyes, "Mara, you cried when you met a puppy the other week, void knows how you've managed to convince the Isle you have a heart of stone!"
At the mention of the word stone, Graecie tensed up slightly but pushed it down and shook it off subtly.
Alison noticed the change in Graecie's body language and decides to change the subject, "You two are going off topic, we are here to welcome Graecie to her position as Nightingale Faction Leader, not bully Mara about being a complete softie."
Graecie smiled, "Thanks Ali, I'm not going to lie, I stood outside of that door for five minutes because I kept thinking Mar would come back, that I didn't deserve to be here," she shrugged her shoulders absentmindedly.
Christian turned to face them, "Hey now, you are just as much of a leader as we are. Marnie would have been incredibly proud of you."
Graecie blinked back her tears, "Sorry for bringing the mood down," she sighed.
"You lost someone special to you, you are allowed to feel guilty, but remember you can always talk to us and there will be no judgement," Mara promised.
It was at that moment in time that Graecie had realised that the Nightingales weren't here only family, the leaders were like an odd little parental squad that she somehow fit right into.
