Spirit of the Ashes: A Nyssara story

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Sara's POV

I look back and forth Ra's and Nyssa. Nyssa seems to be trying to cover up her emotions. But I can tell that she doesn't want me to join. But what choice do I have? If I refuse, who knows that Ra;s might do. He could have me killed, or worse. Would that make Nyssa happy? Would she rather see me dead then an assassin? But if I accept, I would be with Nyssa, I wouldn't be able to get hurt again.

I look up at Ra's. "Yes." He smiles, wrinkles creasing his forehead.

"Good. Your training shall start tomorrow. Nyssa will help train you but she will not be the only one. The Sensei and Lady Shirva will also help with your mental and physical training." He turns to Nyssa as she opens her mouth to argue. "We will discuss this later." She closes her mouth and nods respectfully.

He walks away towards what I think is where the Lazarus Pit is. Nyssa sighs and I look over to her. Her proud stance is gone, what's left is her slouched figure and defeat in her eyes.

"I'm sorry." The words spill out of my mouth. "I know you didn't want me to join, but I don't think he was giving me a choice."

She looks up at me with a tight smile. "It's fine. I understand." I nod but I can't help but think that she blames herself.

She seems to realize how she looks and stands up straighter. "What's done, is done. But now you need to choose a name."

I look at her confused, "What do you mean? Can't I just stick with Sara?"

She shakes her head, "To become a member of the league, you must forsake your past. The old you is dead, the only thing that remains is the warrior. Choosing a new name helps the process."

I nod and she looks at me. "We can go back to my room, I have a couple books on names that might help."

"Okay." We start towards her room. Once there, I sit on the bed as she goes over to the bookshelf and pulls out a couple. She walks back over to me and sits down.

I look at the pages as she flips through. She stops at one page and begins to grin. "How about fawdaa earima?"

"That's pretty. What does it mean?" I ask

"Hot mess." She smirks as I roll my eyes. "No thanks."

"What about Haji? It means the survivor."

I shake my head, "It doesn't sound like me."

I start to think back to when my father had gotten me a canary. I had been sitting on the porch when he pulled up. The kids at school had started calling me a slut for sleeping with someone else's boyfriend. What they didn't know was that the boy had told me that unless I did, he would kill me. Quinton seemed to be able to sense my mood and he pulled out a yellow canary from his trunk. He had walked over to me and pulled me into a hug before sitting next to me. He pull the cage onto his lap and turned to me. "This is for you. Fly above what everyone says, and one day, you will never hear them again." I hugged him and let the canary hop around the porch. It was one of my favorite memories.

I look over at her, "What about The Canary?"

She thinks for a second, "Taer-al-sahfer. It suits you." I smile, thinking about what my father would say about my particular situation. Probably yell at me for joining a group of assassins I figure.

Nyssa looks at me curiously, "Why that name?" I relay the story to her and at the end she nods thoughtfully, "Your father was right, in both good ways and bad." I look into her eyes, a habit that I acquired. Today they were a soft black, kind but intense, as though she could see right through me.