Secrets of the Starrs

Chapter 4

I lay awake for a long time that night, mulling the day over and over like a cow would on the same patch of grass. I'd heard Sam crying in the night, yet I'd ignored him. Something within me just couldn't go to help him.
He looked red eyed when we got up and began to dress in casual clothes for the day. We had no training sessions on Fridays, though each of us laid our battle gear carefully on our neatly made beds. We'd need it for iniation that night.
Sam and I didn't see much of Elody that day, as she had classes for most of it. Even at mealtimes, usually the time set aside for the Starr family to spend together, she sat with Amie Louise and her older sisters.
"She's hurting,"muttered Sam, as he put down his cutlery. His hands were shaking too much to hold them. "Max, she's hurting."
"What do you mean,"I asked him, baffled.
"Something's going on,"he said darkly. "There's something she's not telling us."
In the afternoon, I wrote to our mother. I needed to offload on someone, but Sam didn't seem the right person. He didn't even look like me.
No one believed we were twins. Sam was dark haired and brown eyes, whereas I was fair with sandy hair and the same eyes as Elody. I wore glasses, just like our mother did.
Elody was the spitting image of our father, with her black hair and blue eyes. I was only older than Sam by ten minutes, yet we couldn't look more different.
Dear Mother,
I hope you're well and still earning enough for us.
Tonight Sam and I are being promoted to Senior Warriors at sundown. Elody wanted the honour too, but of course the General denied her; she's too young.
Sam and I are worried about her. She's been very angry around us and we are so worried. Did she have any problems when she was at home? When we were a family?
I miss you Mum. Please keep hunting daemons and making us proud. I know now that we can never be a proper family, after Dad's passing, but I do hope we can be reunited one day.
Your son,
Max
I took the letter to the tribe's postbox and then returned to the dining hall for dinner. Elody didn't come anywhere near me or Sam that mealtime, but then again, neither of us expected her to.
The General and Master Konrad approached us after we'd eaten.
"Ready for tonight?"asked Master Konrad, somewhat kindly.
I nodded. "Yes sir."
"Excellent,"he said happily. "Starts at seven on the dot, okay?"
"We'll be there at six to prepare sir,"said Sam.
The General laughed. "Good. See you then."