CHAPTER FIVE
It was hard, telling noone of Druller's task. I knew Jasy, Netty, Brilly, and Crem would wish to know, among several others, but I did not tell anyone. I had made my promise and I imtended to keep it, even if I did not want to.
It had been nearly five days since I had beaten Master Shav, and still, Slayers were afraid. My friends were not, but others were. I almost wished I could take my victory back, but I was proud of myself. I had beaten Master Shav, noone else. It was my chance to prove to the Synod that I was more than just Breyner of fourteen. I proved I was Brey, the best fighter among the slayers - that I knew of.
Druller had left three days earlier, and everyone was talking about it. It was indeed rare that a Slayer so new to the age would recieve a task when some had been waiting several years. I knew that Druller had the strength, however. It seemed I was one of the only Slayers on all of Grave who was glad for his luck. It seemed I was his only friend. I knew this wasn't true - Druller was very popular and had many friends - but it seemed it when news spread of his departure.
I noticed Master Shav eyeing me more and more during training. He would watch the others, yes, but he watced me more. Once, a member of the Synod came to our training after the Morning Meal. He mostly just stood in the corner and made everyone nervous. I wondered why he was there, but like any good Slayer, I had to accept whatever his reasoning was.
It wasn't only the Synod and Master Shav they were keeping a close watch on me, it was also Jasy.
"They have a task for you," she said one day. "They must. That is why the Synod are watching you. That is why Master Shav spends most of his time training you. Brey, you might leave Grave before you reach the age."
I laughed. "Jasy, dear Jasy. I will not. They will not break tradition, even if I was as great as you say, which I am not. Perhaps they have been watching you."
Jasy smiled. "I wish that, yes. But I can not deny it, Brey. They want you, and I see no reasons why they shouldn't. You are twice the warrior I could ever hope to be. They will pick you."
It was always the same with Jasy. She had convinced herself that it was me they wanted. They was sure that she was not good enough, that I was better, that I would be chosen. It was true that I was the better fighter, but when it came to cunning and witt, I would never beat Jasy. She was smart; I was strong. Together, we were the perfect Slayer. Apart, she was better. She was a skilled fighter and had a strengthened mind. My mind was not even worthy to be next to hers. My body may have been stronger than hers, but she did not lack by much. If I was the Synod - which I am not - I would choose Jasy. She was the smartest pick, by far.
It was nearly fourty days until my fifteenth year began. I was more excited than I could say. It would be three years exactly until the Synod could give me a task. Three years seemed like an eternity, but I was determined to train and keep up my strength, in not double it. When the time came, I needed them to pick me.
My day off came with the bright sun shinning in my window. I stretched and made my way to the Great Hall for the Morning Meal. I wondered who I would be working with.
As I entered the GreatHall, I was greeted by a girl. She was quite a bit shorter than me and had my white hair. Her eyes, not unlike mine, were bright red. She had a large smile on her face as she shook my hand. "I'm Lorla," she said. "You must be Brey."
I smiled at her. "Yes. It is nice to meet you Lorla."
I had seen her around before, but she was not from the south end of the island and we never met before. I noticed that she did not talk like me, or any Slayer I knew.
