Secrets of the Starrs

Chapter 1

I sat at the wooden table, shield in one hand and polishing cloth in the other. My twin brother Sam sat next to me, chin on his hand, staring into space. A candle flickered gently next to him.
I rubbed my shield down with the polishing cloth as the candle extinguished.
"Sam, the candle's gone out," I said. "Sam!"
He jerked upwards, his eyes coming back into focus. "Sorry Max, I was... thinking."
I laughed. "Whatever you say. Relight the candle before Master Konrad gets here."
Sam immediately grabbed the pack of matches. Master Konrad could be scary when he wanted.
At that moment, the door to the workshop opened. Master Konrad stepped in, dressed in a battle tunic and furs. He looked ready for a fight. His sword was strapped to his belt.
"Am I in the presence of Maximilian, Samuel and Elody Starr?"he asked in his big booming voice.
"Not quite, sir," I replied before Sam could. "Elody Starr is out at sword practice, but she promised she'd be here as soon as she could."
Master Konrad nodded, unsmiling. "Very well, Starr. Take a seat then."
He sat himself at the table we had just vacated. Nervously, we sat opposite him.
"I've been reading your reports," he said importantly. "You've been doing well as Junior Warriors. How old are you both now?"
"Eighteen, sir, and Elody will be fifteen next week."
"Ah yes,"said Master Konrad. "Now, as you know, most warriors become Senior Warriors at age sixteen, however you only joined at us at age fourteen. To maximise your training, is why we kept you."
I nodded. I'd heard all of this before.We'd been forced to join up after our father died. He'd taken care of us after our mother had been forced to become a huntress to get us money. She was sent out to a foreign kingdom to hunt daemons. She'd never returned, though she'd obviously been successful as a shiny coin was sent to our home once a week. It could just afford to feed us all.
I'd informed my mother of our father's death, yet there was no reply. I had no idea if she'd even seen the letter, but if she had, I knew she wasn't allowed to return home. Hunters and huntresses had to stay a minimum of ten years before they were allowed to quit. At the time of my father's death, she had only been a huntress for six months.
"Starr?"said Master Konrad's voice, sounding vaguely distant. "Are you all right?"
I jerked back to reality almost as suddenly as Sam had. "Sorry sir."
He waved a hand impatiently. "I know what you were thinking. You were remembering your old life. Your mother, your father, your old home."
"How did...?"
Master Konrad let out a laugh. "I've seen that look before, Max. You often forget how many warriors I've seen come through here. When any of them think about the old life they used to have, they get that dreamy look in their eye."
No matter how many times I'd shared conversation with him, Master Konrad always amazed me.
The door opened again. A small and scrawny girl came in, wearing a blue tunic. She had a small sword strapped to her belt. Her hair, as black as midnight , was hanging in two braids down her back. Despite her obvious tiredness, her dark blue eyes still glittered.
"Good afternoon, Miss Starr," Master Konrad said, forcing a smile.
She looked taken aback. "Master Konrad! Please excuse my lateness, I didn't expect for you to be here."
"Not to worry. I was just having a quick meeting with your brothers,"he replied. "I'm going to promote them to Senior Warriors."
Elody looked half delighted, half angry. Her eyes had clouded over as suddenly as if the sun had disappeared and it has started to rain. She forced a big smile.
"Nice one guys!"she said. I noticed how bitter she sounded. Elody wasn't a jealous person, but I could sense the envy in her voice.
"Thanks,"I replied, trying to keep my tone casual.
Master Konrad arose from his chair, surprisingly graceful for his build. "I shall see you at your initiation tomorrow evening."
"Why so soon?"said Sam, speaking for the first time in a while. "Just curious," he added hastily as Master Konrad turned.
"Kare is active,"he said. "We need as many warriors as we can get. During the last war, we lost three quarters of our warriors."
I shivered. Our uncle had been killed during the previous war, fourteen years ago. Elody had no memory of him, yet I remember the day he left for the war against the daemons.
Not something I wanted to think about.