Call of the Weaver

Chapter 3

By the time they reached the camp, the sun was already setting, painting the Hetri sky in pink and orange hues. As dull as it was, Nirah didn't want the ride to end; the rhythmic rattling of the carriage helped drown out her disorganized thoughts, offering her a sliver of peace before she would be plunged into the murderous camp.

The Generals weren't interested in a conversation either. Whether it be with her or amongst themselves, they appeared perfectly content with having a quiet ride, and since her only choice was talking to them, Nirah embraced the silence as well.

The four of them sat unmoving for several hours, until their carriage started slowing down, and eventually stopped. When the coachman opened the door, the generals wasted no time getting out, leaving Nirah alone inside the carriage.

"Out," the Evini General barked at her when she didn't follow them. Nirah hesitantly picked up her bag and peeked outside, before setting her feet on the narrow dirt path. Her legs tingled in protest, the simple action feeling gruesome after she sat in the same cramped position for a few hours.

The three women trekked the dirt path to the large steel gates, and this time, Nirah followed them unprompted. The four of them waited outside until they caught sight of a guard in a vermillion uniform.

When he noticed them waiting, he approached the entrance in an instant and fiddled with the opening mechanism to let them inside. He bowed deeply as the gates slowly parted before him, and stayed in that position until they stopped with one final thunk.

"Greetings, Generals," the guard said with a salute. "What can I do for you today?" Despite his flawless manners, what caught Nirah's eye was his boyish appearance. He was probably around her age, perhaps only a few cycles older.

The Evini General waved her hand dismissively. "Go fetch your counselor and Fragoti," she ordered.

"Right away, ma'am," the guy replied before running off, leaving them to wait outside of the gates.

Shortly after, a girl in an identical vermillion uniform appeared in the guard's stead, approaching the gates with a keen step. Her wavy chestnut hair bounced around her as she walked, its top framed with two small braids that circled her head.

A man in a purple uniform stopped her on her way out, but after a few words she dismissed him with a polite smile, resuming her confident stride towards the gates. Unlike the guard, she showed no sign of unease as she observed the group before her, giving them a courtly bow.

"Generals," she greeted them in a silvery voice. With a warm smile on her face and a flawless posture, she gave away more of an impression of authority than the actual generals did.

"Montori," the General returned the greeting with a nod. "We have a new one. You'll be taking care of her."

"Of course, General Fvreloni," the girl agreed. Fvreloni. Nirah would be sure to remember that name.

The girl's shoulders arched back as she turned to look at Nirah, a shiny badge with a flame painted on it flashing on her uniform. "Welcome to Camp Eviri. I'm Alya Montori, the counselor of Aleni division—"

"Oh, Generals!" A shout interrupted her introduction, and a short man soon appeared by her side. "It's a pleasure to see you again so soon. New arrival, I suppose?" He looked around the group, pretending not to see Nirah until the Generals confirmed it. "Great! Will you be staying for a short visit? Please, come inside."

The Alfei General cleared her throat, finally speaking up after a while. "Thank you, Fragoti, but we're in a rush this time." With a polite smile on her face, she rejected his offer.

The rejection didn't discourage the man at all, since he only bowed once again to show his respect. "As you say, General Lumji."

"We might have another new one for you soon, so you can expect us again by the end of the cycle. We'll make sure to set some time apart for a proper visit then," the Pletovei General added.