Fire and Ice

Ember

She wasn't
bored
just restless
between
adventures

ATTICUS

"Ember!!" I wake up to my mum yelling. Oh my god, I forgot how annoying she is in the morning. Clearly, she thinks that her screaming is the best way for me to start my day. I have to use any strength that I have left to get out of bed. I get my slippers on and make my way to the bathroom. I usually look pretty amazing, but seeing my face in the mirror this morning wasn't such a joy. I look tired, exhausted, really. I barely slept last night. How could I though? I am used to crazy shit happening, but one of the main leaders coming to our house and demanding I go on a stupid ( highly dangerous, may I add ) mission was a little bit too much even for me. I try to rewind last days conversation in my head. 

Yesterday...

"First I would like to apologize if my man were a bit too rough. We had to take precautionary measures. You understand, don't you?" he says

"Well, in fact, I actually don't.." is all I get to say before my mum pursues to interrupt me.

"Ember, please show some respect. Are you aware of who you are talking to? This man is our uniter, one of the leaders of Negara. Watch your tongue!!"

Ohh, so that's why he seems so familiar. I must have seen him on tv or something like that. But what is one of the most important people in this country doing in my living room?

"It is okay, I understand she is a little bit confused now, that's all. I will go ahead and answer all of your questions eventually. You know how hard it is to keep our country united. For centuries we have been trying to make peace between villages and recently it has been better. However, our relations to Daya haven't been so great. We seem to have a rather different outlook on what belongs to them, and what is ours."

"Alright, but I don't get what do I have to do with any of that. I mean you just..." I want to continue but he interrupts me

"Please miss Ember, let me finish. Unfortunately, a few days ago our beloved queen Farah was kidnapped. Her royalty was in her room when traitors broke into the palace, killed her royal guard and took her. We have reliable sources that tell us kidnappers have been seen crossing the borders to Daya that night. We believe she was and still is with them. Now, like you said how does that have any connection to you? As I assume you already know, we are currently at war with Sarti. Most of our forces are situated at Southern border. We don't have enough war force to send to Daya and even if we had, that would be a war declaration to them and I am afraid that can't happen now. They would destroy us. So we had to come up with a different solution. That is where you come in. We decided to collect 8 of our younger inhabitants. Some of them being best soldiers, genies or smart criminals. And miss Ember, I have to tell you, you are one of them." 

When I was younger I used to have even worse temper than I have now. In school, there was this boy called Jared. He used to bully me, take my food and call me names. Once he told me my parents hate me and that I am adopted. I waited for him after school and beat his ass. Literally. He wasn't able to sit for the next week and a half. The anger and fear I felt then was nothing compared to what I feel now. I feel furious, scared and most of all confused. What am I supposed to do now? How did I get myself into this? Why me? I mean yeah, I am strong, skilled and all sorts of amazing, but I didn't want this. I was minding my own business, doing my shit, but NOO this had to happen.

"Okay it's late already, I have to go. We don't have too much time, miss Ember. I am afraid you will have to make this decision quickly. We are waiting for your reply." he walks to the door with my mum and grandma

Today...

I can feel a migraine starting. I didn't even wait for mum and grandma to come back I just went to my room, locked the door and laid in bed. And clearly, spend most of the night starring at the ceiling and torturing my brain. There are so many questions not answered. They choose 8 people. Probably four from both villages. I am guessing that's because they think that will unite us. If people see we can get along maybe there is faith for our country after all. But who are these people anyway, I mean yeah I am genuinely good at meeting people, but this is a rather weird situation to make friends. And how the hell do they think we are going to do this. Travel through our whole country, free the queen and you now prevent the war from happening in the meantime. And the biggest question of them all. Should I do this? The worst thing is I kind of want to. I was born to be a fighter. And even though this country hasn't done much for me, my father was so passionate fighting for her. I fell I owe it to him. Leaders of Daya are the reason my father is dead after all. I can give them a little payback, cant I?