The Flight of the Eagle (Editing)

The Choice

After changing into a red dress,dress, I made my way into the tent where father, mother, Lyanna, and Jaser sat around the fire, heads close together. 

"Sapphire!" Lyanna exclaimed, "We didn't think you'd come here." 

No, they wouldn't because more often than not, I slept in the forest. Amannah sat on the waiting mat, head down. All this time and I'd still never gotten to talk to her. 

"I'm just here for Amannah," I said, which caused her head to snap up. "You can keep talking." 

"No, wait." Father said, "You can sit here with us. You've earned it." 

Earned it? I raised an eyebrow. "What caused this?" For them to suddenly change their minds? I wasn't buying it. 

Jaser stood up. "I told you if you were loyal to me, I'd be loyal to you. Let's put that to the test." He held out his. Hand for me, which I took. He pulled me down onto a pillow. "What did Clan Sullivan talk about with you?" 

"Nothing. We went fishing. They showed me my room." I explained as it hit me. They were using me as a spy. That was why they'd not protested my exchange. They honestly thought I was that spineless I would spy for them. 

Was my father really in line with Clan Massey? Were they planning to overthrow Clan Sullivan? 

"Think hard. Did they show you any hidden areas in the castle?" He asked. 

Now was the moment I choose which side I was on. Did I follow my family like I always had into a life of suffering, or did I stake a gamble on the chance that things could be different if I betrayed them?

My hands ran over the rough fabric of my dress, grounding me. "What should I be looking for, Jaser?"

A dark smile crossed his face. "Little things can mean a lot. Look out for their numbers, any broken lines in their defense. Get them to trust you." 

"We need something so the other Clans will come to our side." Father said, his eyes hard." 

"I understand nothing." I pressed my lips together, "Why try to get Lyanna married into their family if you just want to overthrow them?" 

They shared a look between them. "She was going to be the inside person and still will if you fail," Father said. 

The look he sent my way told me I better not fail. I sat quietly as they talked about plans and how many soldiers could be there in what time frame. 

"When we win, I do still want our families to be tied together," Father said. "If you'd rather have Lyanna instead, I can understand. She's the far better choice." 

My heart fell into my stomach, my eyes on my lap. Even now... 

"We shall discuss that later," Jaser said. "Don't think I don't know what you're doing." 

Not long after that, Jaser left us alone. Just the family. If you could call it that. I stood up, had to get out of this place. 

"Sapphire. Don't sleep with Jaser. I don't want your leftovers." Lyanna and my mother laughed. 

"Wouldn't it be I who got your leftovers?" I asked her, voice cold. I left before I could see the look on her face. They thought they'd beaten me so low that even after all, they'd said I would still just follow in line like a trained animal. 

It was quieter now that all the Clans had gone. Which ones backed Massey? How could they even betray Sullivan? We had everything we needed under their reign.