The Witch's Hour (A New Dawn #2.5)

Chapter 5: An Old Friend

The evening was reserved for celebrations with the family. Though Indra kept bugging her about the questions the Nine Rajas had asked her and scrutinising every wrong answer or move she had made, Sci didn't dwell on it for too long, especially not on her shot of victory that had earned her a spot in the army. While Ummi put a kettle of extra spicy celebratory brew on the coals, Sci brushed her finger over the blocked silver letters on the parchment she had received after completing the examination.

Scirocco bint Harun bin Tayo

ACCEPTED INTO HER MAJESTY'S FORCES
Report to Naqib Janah on the first sunrise

"Both my children in the army," Abah said as he wrapped an arm around both her and Indra. He pulled her embarrassingly close. "My mind rejoices, but my heart is grieving. Oh, how I wished one of you would have followed in my footsteps. To discover the unknown together."

Nana pinched her eyebrows together. "Tonight isn't about you, Harun. Your daughter achieved something incredible."

"I'm aware," Abah said, darting Sci a proud look. "That's why my mind and body are conflicted. My little girl has grown up. I'm officially an old man."

"You've always been an old man, Abah," Sci jested.

Indra, more than a head taller, ruffled through Abah's greying hair. "Sci's right. When are you going to retire? Stay in Alburkhan for longer than a moon?"

"Until I've found what's south of Scoria."

"You already did—water and islands filled with parrots. There are parrots in Alburkhan too, Abah," Sci said. "Just as colourful, and they spew nonsense too."

Abah shook his head. "They're not the same. Besides, my legs can't stand land for too long. My fingers are yearning. I must know. I must find it."

Sci enjoyed the evening filled with brew, lemon cakes, and stories she had heard a dozen times before yet allowed Abah to recount one more time before he disappeared to the southern seas again.

She treasured the moment. Every voyage he made, there was a risk he wouldn't return. Ships got lost. People drowned. Mutiny. Famine. Now that she had joined the army, the chances of a happy family reunion decreased. Soldiers fell in action; it was the price of duty and a life worth living for. She couldn't imagine being anything else.

The morning greeted her with Nana preparing her breakfast of toasty ka'ek bread filled with slowly simmered eggs. The sun wasn't up yet, but Nana had already been awake for hours. For as long as Sci could remember, she rather used the hot afternoons for sleeping than the cool nights. Sci was convinced some days Nana simply forgot to sleep.

While Indra turned in his hammock—his shift didn't start until golden hour—Sci yawned, more staring into her plate than eating. She wished the dawn of a new day hadn't come so soon, but it was one of the sacrifices she had to make.

Nana was humming a tune of old. She sat down across Sci with a cup of fresh brew. "Are you nervous?"

"I'm too tired to be nervous," Sci said with a wry smile.

"Good," Nana said. "While I'm of course very proud of you, I need to ask you to not outshine your brother. Indra sacrificed a lot to teach and train you. You have to repay him with kindness and humility."

"It's not my intention to outdo Indra."

"No, but I know you. Think of him too, Sci. I wouldn't want a rift to grow between the two of you."

"Of course," Sci said, not fully understanding why Nana felt the need to tell her. She was grateful for the hours her brother had spent with her. She would never do anything to spite him.