CHAPTER TWELVE
Slayers do not dream - at least, not in the normal sense. We have no real ambitions, no prospects, no ideals. Humans have hopes and dreams for their futures. They believe that by working hard and believing, that you can be anything or do anything. Now, I do not think they are foolish to think that way, for humans have privelages that we Slayers do not - living the way they want. But I do not complain about my way of life, for Slayers dream in other ways. We dreams of the humans' lands and of leaving Greave. At least most of us do. On occasion one of us will come along - so sweet and tenderhearted - that does not wish to fight. One that does not want to go to the humans' lands. They, however, are rare.
You may ask what happens when one comes along. They become Masters, I say. Master Shav is one. The three others are Masters Neldon, Wie, and Hargen. I hear there are a few others, but there is not use for more than four Masters on Grave.
So what do the others become? They become the cooks for Grave. You did not think there were cooks, did you? Well of course there were. How else would we prepare our food? There are nearly twenty cooks. The rest of us are Slayers of war. We are willing and able and we are ready to fight. You will never find a group more ready or willing to fight.
I found myself dreaming more and more about the prospect of going to the humans' lands as the days passed. It seemed more real to me than it ever had before. After Master Shav and I talked, it was like something had been lifted from me. A doubt. A heaviness. It was gone, all of it. I felt like my dream was coming true. Like it was a reality now, more than just a dream.
Jasy and I still were not speaking; she still was angry that I had been short with her. But what could I do? I tried to appologize, but Jasy was a very stubborn person. Nothing I did made any difference at all. "I do not wish to talk, Breyner," was all she said to me anymore. And when she was not saying that, she said nothing. It was enough to dampen anyone's spirits. Lucky for me, I was so excited about my (maybe) task that nothing could get me down.
Still, it makes a person sad when their best friends is angry with them.
It had been nearly a week since Master Shav had talked to me. I was training harder than ever, being polite and respectful, and was eagerly anticipating the chance to leave Grave. Nothing else mattered to me anymore. All that mattered was getting to the humans' lands; and thus I was on my best behavior, training like I was being watched, which I knew I was. The Synod was still coming to watch me.
Exactly one week after our talk, I headed to for the Morning Meal. I, once again, sat by Jasy, though she seemed not to notice me. I ate in silence, thinking mostly about the upcoming task that I hoped to have. It was toward the end of the Morning Meal that Keveen came over to our table. I swear, I held my breath.
"We would like to speak with you," - I began to stand up - ,"Jasy," - I sat back down - ,"if you have a moment."
Jasy glanced my way. I saw a mixture of fear and excitement in her face. I gave her a faint smile and she followed Keveen and the rest of the Synod out of the Great Hall.
I tried to continue eating, but I could not stop wondering why the Synod wanted to talk to her. Perhaps she would be sent out on the task too. Perhaps we would go together, like we had imagined. We would have stories and tales of the humans' lands. Breyner and Jasy: the duo that would save Grave. It seemed my dreams really could come true. Plus, this would get her talking to me once again.
I assumed Jasy would meet us to train, concidering she did not show up again for the rest of the Morning Meal. And so, I walked out of the Great Hall alone and made for where we trained.
"'Brey!"
I turned to see Brilly by my side. "A good day to you, Brilly."
"And a good day to you," he said hurridly. "Where is Jasy? I did not see her in the Great Hall."
I smiled. "Talking with the Synod."
Brilly stopped. "Are you sure? Is she to be sent out?"
I shrugged my shoulders. "I do hope so."
The rest of the walk, I could hear Brilly muttering to himself. He seemed distracted and did not train well that day.
Jasy did not show up for training that morning. I spared with Netty instead; an easy win. Netty was a fair fighter, but nothing compared to me. Although, that is not fair, concidering my skill in combat. I took it easy that day, never letting him win, but letting him believe he was doing well. The Synod did not show up. I assumed they were still talking to Jasy. Master Shav kept looking out the windows, like he was expecting someone. Training that day was different from training most days. Master Shav kept watching the windows and door, Jasy was not there, the Synod was mysteriously absent. I found it hard to concentrate, concidering all the things I had to dwell on.
"Are you alright?" Netty asked.
I realized I had not moved in a few moment. I had been completely lost in thought. It was a good thing Netty was a friend, or I would have just lost my first fight ever.
"Yeah," I said, turning back to the task at hand. "I guess I am just distracted today."
"I noticed. Is it Jasy?"
I turned to him. "She had a meeting with the Synod."
Netty nodded. I could tell he knew something, but he was ready to fight again and I quickly raised my arm to deflect his punch.
I made my way to the Noon Meal alone. When I approached the Great Hall, I immediately scanned the room for Jasy, but there were too many heads to distinguish if hers was among them or not. I glanced up at the Synod's table. All five sat, perfect posture, talking among themselves. I smiled a little. This meant Jasy must be in the room. Her meeting was over.
I spotted Brilly and Netty sitting at a table near the center and made for them.
"Have you seen Jasy?" I asked.
They both shook their heads.
"Have you seen Crem?" Brilly asked. "I have not seen him at all this morning."
"No," I said, sitting down. "I wonder where they are."
I glanced up at the Synod's table. They were still muttering to one another.
By this time, all the Slayers had come in and it was time to eat. That was when I noticed it: an empty table in the back. There were never any empty tables. There were exactly six hundred chairs in the room, enough for all the Slayers to eat. But now...there were five empty. I racked my brain. As far as I knew, Druller was the only one out on a task. So, who were the other four that were missing?
Without thinking, (As Slayers ought always to do) I stod up and begna walking toward the front of the Great Hall.
"Where are you going, Brey," asked Netty.
I did not answer. I just kept walking toward the Synod's table. I knew it was not customary to speak with the Synod while they were eating, it was rude even, but I had no choice. When I reached the table. I cleared my throat.
Each memeber looked up.
"What can we do for you, Breyner," asked Perci.
I hesitated a moment before asking. "I noticed four empty chairs. Two of my friends are gone. I wonder, Sirs, where are they?"
The answer I heard was not the one I had ever expected. I found myself running out of the Great Hall, eyes on me. I ran faster than I ever had before, toward my house, tears streaming down my face. As far as I was concerned, my life was over. All because of five words.
"They have been sent out."
