"Hey . . . guys?" Sophie said, hugging Ella tightly. She and her friends were all situated on the floor in sleeping bags. She needed to be honest with her friends. She could trust them. "I guess this isn't super important at this time, but I'm unmatchable." The words hung in the air for a second, as everyone
"That's fine," Marella said, breaking the silence, "The match is a stupid concept, anyway. I've always wondered why they didn't just give a list of your relatives and say 'don't marry any of these people'." Linh and Biana's heads bobbed in agreement, and Sophie felt a wave of relief crash over her.
"'Sides, what if you got, like . . . I don't know, Valin as your top match?" A grin spread across Biana's face. "And what if a certain someone wasn't on your list?" Biana wiggled her eyebrows. Sophie felt her face heat up.
"I think that the match is one of our world's many problems, so maybe it's good that you're unmatchable, and not involved in all that. I know Dex would thank you." Linh said softly. Sophie smiled. It was true, matchmaking was a very unfair concept that had brought shame on good elves like Dex's parents, just because they weren't on each other's match list. And Dex would be happy she hadn't gotten signed up. Matchmaking was one of the things she found oddest about the lost cities when she first came here.
"Thanks, guys," She said. "When are you guys going to sign up for the match?" she asked, curious.
"I'm still deciding whether or not to," Biana said, "It was fun teasing Fitz about his packet, but I don't want him to tease me about mine . . . and I just know that I won't be satisfied with anyone on my list . . . . I'm not looking for that kind of, y'know . . . stuff." Sophie was a bit puzzled, Biana did seem very boy-crazy, but she was also a powerful girl who didn't need to depend on a boyfriend. She wanted to start her own fashion store when she got older, even though she could probably get a powerful position as an emissary quickly.
"I'm bound to not get very many matches, because I'm talentless to everyone else. I'll be matched mostly with other talentless, and even if I do marry a talentless that's on my match list, we'll still be shunned our whole life." Marella said, twisting one of her braids around her finger. "Plus, it's stupid. If I want a husband, I'll find him myself."
"Well, I probably won't get matched with anyone I want . . . only talentless, and we'd still be shunned even if we were a good match, because of my twinleyness, and because they'd be talentless" Linh pointed out.
"Looks like the match isn't good for any of us," Sophie said. Elves were very smart, but sometimes they still had the dumbest ideas. The conversation died down after that, and there were a few minutes of thoughtful silence, where everyone seemed to be lost in their own thoughts.
"Guys . . ." Linh sounded hesitant to break the silence, and to say whatever she was going to say. "Do you have time to meet tomorrow . . . to try and find Tam?" Sophie couldn't see her face in the dim lighting, but she knew by the sound of Linh's voice she was holding back tears. Sophie didn't have a twin, but she could imagine it being like another half of you.
"Sorry, Linh," Biana said, deep regret in her voice. "My parents have made a 'family bonding time' thing twice a week, and it's starting tomorrow."
"I have my pyrokinesis lessons tomorrow with Fintan . . . Ugh." Marella said. "I would rather skip it, but Mr. Fork is making me go."
"Oh," Linh said, disappointment evident in her voice. "That's fine, you guys didn't have to, and we don't have to do it tomorrow anyway. Besides, the Black Swan will probably call a meeting, so that'll—"
"I'm free," Sophie offered.
"You are?" Linh replied, surprised.
"Yeah, why don't you come over here after lunch? I can try to contact him telepathically," Sophie already felt guilty for going to the match when she should've been cheering Linh up, or thinking up Tam's rescue plan. It was pretty much the only thing she could do to make herself feel better. Keefe was going to come over, but Sophie would cancel her plans for Linh.
**********
"Hey, Linh!" Sophie said, opening Havenfield's door. Sophie was wearing a swishy red sundress, and matching gloves. She didn't know why, she usually would hate that kind of stuff, but today she was in the mood. Apparently, red brought out the gold in her eyes.
Sophie led Linh up to her room and sat down on her bed. Linh sat next to her. Sophie's eyes strayed to Linh's lips, soft and smooth and pink, looking almost fictional at how perfect they were. She realized she was probably staring, and she averted her eyes, a blush taking over her cheeks.
Sophie pushed those thoughts from her mind. Looking Linh in the eyes, she said, "I'm going to find Tam, okay? I promise. Whatever it takes."
