Finding Freya

We Have Enemies Everywhere

[A/N] Hi everyone! Do you like the story so far? Tell me what you think will happen next. Vote if you like the chapter.

- Chloe :D

The sky was a deep purple, freckled with stars. A bird flew overhead, it's wings whooping. The night air was dank and rotten, quiet but for the chirping of crickets and cicadas as well as the popping of frogs.

Gemma leant on the balcony railing, her face closed up like a paper puzzle. It was just us out on the balcony at the moment.

"About the Barmy Army thing," I said.

"Do you know that the word "engagement" has a number of different meanings?"

"No," I said.

"It can mean to betroth, or to pledge oneself to another, to interlock, or bind by contract or promise."

A thin silver bullet and some dog tags swayed on a chain around her neck.

"But to those of us with war in our blood, it means to enter into conflict, to fight."

What can you say to a fanatic?

"Tell your sister," she said, "I'm not wearing a dress."

"I can see that."

"At the wedding."

"I don't wear dresses," she said. "Ever!"

"Look," I began. "I don't want to wear a frilly meringue either. But sometimes you don't get..."

"My Dad reckons your family's soft," she said flicking her long braid over her shoulder. "He's worried that your bloodlines are going to muddy ours. We've been warriors since time began."

"Oh."

"Dad was hoping that Travis would make an alliance with someone from a naval background."

"Ellie likes the water," I told her. "She's taken the tinny out a few times."

"It's unfortunate," Gemma said. "Travis won't listen to reason."

Her supercilious, condescending air made me want to punch her lights out. How dare she talk about Ellie as though she were an animal and not a person with real feelings?

"Ellie has a lot to offer, you know."

It felt weird talking so positively about Ellie, when I've spent years bagging her. "She's vivacious and fun," I said. "She's caring and sensitive."

"That's not going to help us win a war," said Gemma.

"Well, I don't think Travis is going to be much use either."

"I know," said Gemma with a sigh. "It's a disappointment. Dad was hoping a good alliance might rectify it. Cadets didn't. But the right girl might have. My mum says Travis takes after Dad's great great grandmother. She was a civilian. Soft as they come. Muddied bloodlines..."

A spotlight blazed on and the backyard was stripped of shadow.

Directly below the balcony was a large ditch. It was as wide as the backyard and filled with dirty water. There were no stairs leading down to it just three ropes swinging across the black water, attached to a thick steel pole on the other side.

"What's that?" I asked.

"A rope bridge."

"What's it for?"

"This is an advanced military training ground. My dad believes constant training is needed if are we are to stand up against the enemy. Perfect practice equals perfect performance."