CHAPTER SEVEN
I slept well and woke with so much energy. My arms ached some from hauling the water pales. I almost wished we had those water ropes on Grave. It would have been much easier. No more hauling pales or pouring water or walking back and forth. But, I did not dwell on it, for Slayers do not dwell of folly wishes and dreams. That made me think of my own folly dream.
After getting out of my bed, I made my way over to the window. The Great Sea: all I could think about was crossing it and seeing the Human's lands. I wondered if there islands were anything like Grave. I knew they had creatures, humans, swimming, and singing. But what else? Did the sun shine the same way on the Human's lands as it did on Grave? What were the humans like? I wanted desperately to know.
The Morning Meal was eneventful, but after that came training. I sat by Jasy and was quickly joined by Jasy, Crem, Netty, and Brilly. They all seemed in good moods and quickly turned their attention to me.
"How was your day in the gardens?" Jasy asked as she ate a small, red fruit.
I swallowed the food I was eating. "It was good. I worked with a girl named Lorla. She is from the North End. She has only been of age for ten years and has already been to the Human's lands seven times."
Brilly dropped his food. "Seven? I have only been there once, and I have been of age for fourteen years. She must be great, indeed."
"She is," I said. "I have never seen her fight, but she can haul heavy pales of water quickly. The Synod chose her, she must be great for that." Every time I thought about Lorla, I thought about the Human's lands. How I wanted to see them. I had never wanted anything so much.
After the Morning Meal, we were on our way to training. The whole way there, I thought about Lorla and the Human's lands. I wanted it more than anything else in the world - to go to the lands of the Human's. But it was more than three years until I would be able to. I wasn't sure I wanted to wait that long. But what could I do? I was only fourteen years old and, though I was good at hand to hand combat, I knew I would not get chosen. They Synod would not break tradition for me.
I spared with Jasy during training, as usual. Others still had a fear that I would inflict serious damage on them. I almost regretted beating Master Shav. Had it not been the greatest day of my life, I would have wished it be forever gone. Still, I enjoyed sparing with Jasy. At least I knew she would go easy on me if I lost my focus, which I kept doing. Though, she never won.
After returning from the Noon Meal, we all noticed the entire Synod watching us. Master Shav seemed to ignore them, but I found it hard to follow his example.
It seemed the Synod had taken a liking to watching me spar. I supposed it had something to do with the fact that I had beaten Master Shav, but I still did not think it was cause for the entire Synod to come out to the South End to watch me train. They had never taken so much interest in another Slayer before, that I knew of. Why me? Why now? I thought they should be looking at others, older Slayers, ones who could leave Grave now. Though I thought this, they kept watching me, keeping their eyes intently firm on me as I fought Jasy. I kept telling myself that it was Jasy they were watching, but I knw that was not true.
"They are watching you," Jasy kept telling me. "As I said, you will be chosen. They will not wait."
I deflected Jasy's punch. "As I have said, Jasy, they will not break tradition. They are the Synod; tradition is a part of them. Besides, what have I to give? I can fight, yes, but I know nothing of the humans. I should not go." I kept telling Jasy that, but I kept telling myself that my dreams were comming true. Perhaps I would be sent to the humans' hands. Perhaps they would break tradition and send me out. I would be the first Slayer to leave Grave before I came of age. The thought made me joyous, but I did not tell Jasy that.
"You should go," she told me as she jumped to avoid my low kick. "You are the greatest Slayer I have ever seen." She stopped sparing and stood still, staring at me. "Why will you not except thais, Brey? You have a gift. The Synod have seen it. Do not deny your abilities; they will make you great. Trust that, Brey. Trust that you will be chosen. Trust me."
I wanted to argue, but part of me wondered if it was all true. Would I be chosen? Could I be chosen? But my thoughts always returned to the Synod. Tradition and bravery: those were the two foundations of the Synod and they would not go against them.I would not be chosen until I reached the age. I would not be chosen for three years.
Each time I thought of that, I wondered why the Synod watched me if they were not going to choose me.
"They watch you because you are great," Jasy said when we made to get a drink of water. "You beat your Master and you are only fourteen, Brey. They see something great about you, and I can not deny seeing it myself. You have more talent than any other Slayer in the history of Slayers, Brey. Do not doubt that you will be chosen."
"I do not doubt it. I just do not think that they will choose me until I come of age."
We let the matter drop. There was no use discussing it further.
At the Evening Meal, I sat with Jasy again, but this time, Lorla came and sat at our table. Her friends Klei and Groff were with her.
"Did you hear Brey?" she asked with a smile on her face.
"Did I hear what?"
Lorla glanced around like she did not want to be heard and then leaned forward and whispered. "They're assembaling a team."
"A team?" Jasy asked. "For what?"
Lorla smiled. "To take care of a little buisiness on the humans' lands."
-----------------------------------------------------
comment/////vote/////become a fan.
thanks guys.
~JD
