The Other Riorson

One

"Elaine.." calls Sloane, "Are you ready yet?" "Yep. Be down in a sec." I call back. The day has finally come, the day I walk the parapet and join the riders quadrant. Not by choice, but because all the children of the traitors have to. I wish I didn't have to. I wish I could stay with my best friend, Sloane Mairi, instead of leaving her here all alone. But I can't do that. There are one hundred and seven of us, but the responsibility goes to only one person. My brother, Xaden Riorson. He is older than me by three years and the oldest out of all the kids of the rebellion. So he made a deal. He was whipped one hundred and seven times, leaving one hundred and seven scars, which symbolise all of us. If one of us steps out of line, the price is his life. I haven't seen him in six years. I'm twenty so he must be twenty three now. In his last year of being a rider. If he's still alive. We haven't been allowed to communicate in the last six years so I have no clue about him. But I do know I miss him. So, so, so much. But now I have to go to that hellhole and survive the next three years there.

I take one last look at my room, turn around and walk down the stairs and to the kitchen, where Sloane is waiting for me. "I'm going to miss you." she says, pulling me into a tight hug. "I'm going to miss you too." I respond, hugging her back. "Can you please see if my brother, Liam, is there? He's the same age as you so..." "Of course I will, Slo." Then, it's time to leave. I walk out of the house, waving to Sloane one last time, and get in the carriage which will take me to the death sentence that is Bagsiath War College.

When I finally get there and sign my name, I look around me. I see a boy who looks oddly familiar. He also has a rebellion relic so he won't judge me. I decide to go talk to him. "Hi." I say, approaching him, "I'm Elaine Riorson." "Riorson? Like Xaden Riorson? You're his sister?" "Yep. And you are?" "Liam Mairi." "Oh so that's why you looked so familiar." "What do you mean?" "I've been fostered with Sloane. She actually asked me to look for you. How do you know Xaden?" "I was fostered with him. He's here too." "Good. He didn't die." "No he didn't." Liam chuckled, "And neither will we." As we chat more, I catch sight of a girl with long brown hair fading to silver and I immediately know who she is. The youngest Sorrengail. Like me, she is one of the few women who haven't cut their hair short. As I'm looking, I see her turn and look at me and Liam with a scared expression on her face while saying something to her sister. "C'mon." I say to Liam, walking towards them. "Sorrengail." I say. "If you're gonna talk about us, make it less obvious. And don't look so scared,we don't bite. I'm Elaine and this is Liam." I extend a hand towards her. "Violet."