The Flight of the Eagle (Editing)

Surprise

Still not sure what the heck was going on, I followed everything Lyanna said, even if it seemed stupid. I did it anyway. Not wanting to ruin whatever miracle had fallen upon me. 

Lyanna spent most of her time walking around greeting people, a smile on her face. Some girls packing to go home congratulated her on winning the High Lord. They thought she had him in the bag after that kiss they saw in the pit. Others, like the First Daughter from Clan LaClota, wanted to know if he was a good kisser. Lyanna had only giggled and refused to say a word. Yes, I'd thought, he was a good kisser. 

"Come Sapphire." Lyanna held her hand out to me, "It's time for lunch." I took her hand as she led us back to our tent, waving and smiling at everyone. It was like she was already High Lady but, I didn't miss the tension in the air that some Clans held when we passed.

Lyanna gathered a basket from the ground. "We're going to eat in this meadow I found when the High Lord took me to Panōpea." 

I just nodded and Lyanna smiled, "Good. Now hold on just a second, I have to check on something." She took the basket into her sleeping area. 

I didn't know where mother or father were. The tent was empty minus Amannah, who was sowing something on her mat, which looked like it had seen better days. A little hole in the corner. 

There were so many I wanted to say to her, tell her how I missed her, but my mouth just wouldn't form words. Instead, I stared at her, a pained look on my face. 

"Be careful Sapphire." Her dark eyes flicked up to mine, "Follow your gut." 

What did that mean? Don't trust this newfound grace from my family? I wasn't; I was being leery. "How are you?" 

"They've upped my pay since I came with them." She shrugged. "I can't complain. I've been fine, but it's not myself I worry about. It never was." She looked over to Lyanna's sleeping quarter before setting down the red garment she'd been mending. 

She was across the tent before I could blink. "Please Sapphire, I'm begging you. You can change it. Right now, only you can save us from what they're planning." 

Had she drunk too much mead? What plan? Did she mean their lust for power? Yeah, I couldn't do anything about that. Or was the High family right and my family was planning bad?

"You ready?" Lyanna called from her sleeping section. 

Amannah's eyes widened, and she ran for her met, barely making it before Lyanna appeared. 

"Yeah." I nodded, giving Amannah a strange look before following my twin out of the tent. 

"What's it like?" I asked after we'd passed the well-worn dirt paths from the camp, no longer kicking dirt up into our faces. "To love someone." 

She gave me a knowing smile. "Are you in love, dear sister?" 

"No." I assured her, "I just wondered." I ended up taking the basket from her. Being the stronger of the two, I felt it was right. 

"It's a little like being drunk." She confessed, "All you think about is them. You want to be with them, want to touch them, just to hear their voice." Red stained her cheeks. "I'm jealous you got to kiss him." 

"Please don't be. He thought it was you. He'll kiss you soon." I nudged her with my arm. "I just hope my terrible skill didn't repulse him. Make sure you give him a good one." 

She laughed, shaking her head, "You're too much sometimes." 

Too much? No, I was just trying hard to cover my up the emotions I didn't want to feel.