CHAPTER ELEVEN
I knew I was in trouble the moment I walked into the Great Hall for the Morning Meal. Every eye was on me and I knew exactly why. Noone left the Great Hall like I did; Noone. Slayers were to conduct themselves in a respectible and well-mannered way; I had not. The only eyes in the room that were not on me belonged to Jasy. I started toward the talbe where she sat, wanting nothing more than to apologize and make peace with her, but before I could take more than a few steps, Master Shav was by my side.
"A word, Brey," he said stifly. "Now."
I had never seen Master Shav so tense. Normally, he was loght-hearted and joyous, but something had changed and I knew it was my fault. Slayers were trained to conrol their emotions. I had not. I had failed my master. I had acted as a human, rash and full of bubbling emotion that overflowed, causing outbursts lke the one I'd had.
He motioned me to follow and every person - one excluded - watched me walk out of the Great Hall with my master.
Once outside, he lead me far enough from the doors so as not to be overheard and then he began. "What was the meaning of your actions?" he asked, folding his arms across his broad chest. I saw the anger in his eyes. I had never seen it there before. But it was not the anger that made me feel ashamed; it was the dissapointment in his face. Because I failed, he felt like he'd failed.
I swallowed. "I know I should not have left the Great Hall the way I did, Sir."
"What are you talking about?" He asked with a curious look.
I looked up at my master. "I was angry. A Slayer should be able to control not be controlled. I am sorry."
"As well you should be," he said with peircing stare, "but that is not what I was reffering to."
"Sir?" I asked, wondering what he meant.
"I am reffering to your absense during training last night."
I had nearly forgotten. In my anger, I skipped the after-Evening-Meal-training and went straight to bed. It was a wonder that Master Shav had not come to me in the night wanting an explanation for my actions. But I knew deep down that Master Shav would not have. He was kind and would have chosen to wait until morning, as he did.
"I have no excuse."
He unfolded his arms. "Brey," he said kindly, "I know you get tired of hearing it, but you have talent. The Synod sees that. But to skip training...when they are so close to listening to me about you, no less."
"What do you mean, Sir?"
Master Shav began to walk and I followed closely behind. I felt nothing but shame as I walked beside him. He was my master and I had failed him. And myself. His news made me feel even worse, which seconds before, I had not thought possible.
It was some time before he spoke again. "You are only fifteen."
Once again, he was silent. I waited, but he did not speak. The sun was now fully up, but we walked West, the opposite way. We simply walked for what seemed like hours until he spoke again. "The Synod does not wish me to tell you this, but I feel I must. The Synod has a task that they must assign. I have recommended you, Brey."
"But Sir," I said in a whisper. "I am not yet of age. The Synod -"
"Must do what they can to protect Grave, and right now it is in terrible danger," he said with the sound of worry in his voice. "We have been betrayed, by one of our own, no less. Our secrets have been told to the humans. If I know anything about humans it is that they can not stand someone being more powerful than them, and we are. We are vastly more powerful and they are terrified. Therefore, in their minds, we must be destroyed."
I could not comprehend what he was saying. A Slayer betray Grave? "But why?"
"Because they believe this to be their world. They believe that if we live here, we will forever be a threat to them all and that simply can not be. We must be gone before we become a true threat."
"And you wish me to go?" I said, more in attempt to understand than to ask. "To find this traitor?"
Master Shav smiled. "I see a talent in you I have not seen in any other. If anyone can stop the humans, you can."
"But I know nothing of them. I can not fight them. I am not even of age."
"That matters not. You will fight and you will do what you can. We all must play our part. It just so happens that your is a greater part than most. Yours is that of a hero. And a hero you are, Brey."
A hero...
Me?
I wanted to believe it could be true, but I was not sure. It was difficult and I could not believe that Master Shav would recommend me for the task. And yet...
Something else inside me wanted to burst out. I would be going to the humans' lands after all, if Master Shav got his way. But why? Why would I be going? To stop a traitor. How could a Slayer betray Grave? It was unimaginable, and had I not heard it straight from Master Shav himself, I wouldn't have believed it. It was just too terrible a thing to think about.
"But who would do such a thing?" I asked, more to myself than to Master Shav.
"A traitor, that is all we know," said Master Shav. He turned to me. "Please, Brey. Do not think on this. Just promise
me that you will train."
I thought a moment, but in my hesitation, Master Shav said more. "Please, Brey. We need you. I would very much like your word on this, Brey."
"I promise."
"And speak of this to noone," he said, tipping his head slightly.
"Yes, Sir."
Master Shav smiled. "You are very brave, Brey, to be so willing to take a task such as this for yourself. There are not many who would be so courageous."
I wanted to thank Master Shav, but I could not help thinking about what he had said before.
Hero...
Could I be a hero? Could I save Grave? I was only Brey. Just Brey! I was fifteen, not even qualified, and yet... Master Shav had faith in me, in what I could do. For some reason, unknown to me, he believed that I was capable, and that in and of itself made me feel a whole lot better.
