Chapter 6 MUCH OF A CHOICE

The sharing had just been concluded and the instructor had told each group to have their names written down in a paper and handed over to the Wing leaders. They were also told to appoint a mini leader amongst themselves to make information dissemination easier from the top.

That part was of little concern to me. I stood in the courtyard, trying to process my assignment to the Western Angle, when a soft whisper caught my attention. "I think you might be in trouble," a girl said, her voice barely audible over the din of the crowd.

The statement kinda took me by surprise because I wondered what else I had done asides stand idly and it made me wonder if idleness was a wrong doing in this Signary. I turned to face the speaker, a girl with piercing green eyes and long, curly brown hair. Her ivory skin accentuated her pearly white teeth as she smiled at me.

She was beautiful.

"Who are you?" I asked, knowing that I had never met this girl before.

"I'm Victoria," the girl replied, her eyes and smile faltering a bit, maybe my tone came off wrong. "You’re the daughter of General Windston right? My mom told me she saw your father on the day we signed in” she continued but I gave no replies because she was yet to hint at what she meant.

“It’s really nice to meet you and I think you should be careful. Everyone in the country knows about the beef between your father and the children of the rebels." She added and now her earlier statement seemed clear enough.

“I guess everyone knows what this poses for me asides the instructors” I was distraught, my mind flashing back to the warning my sister had given me. Regret floods me even more at this time. I wish my father had just let me go into the Healer’s cubicle. No one would be after my life in there, I hope.

But the truth is, no one would actually be after my life. After the rebellion, Dane Onakry and his supporters were tied to a steak and burnt alive in the presence of their children. Their partners were also caged somewhere beneath the slums of Allorna and starved to death. All their children were sent to foster homes to be trained by the maids of the High Chiefs and other members of the high tables of Allorna.

Some of the kids actually planned to escape once again, this was seen as the second upcoming rebellion and hence, a new rule was made. All the children borne from the rebellious circle were to be sent to the Warriors Signary from the ages of twenty-one.

Enlisting for the Signary could begin as soon as one clocked nineteen years but there was a debate about not wanting to send them in too early so it doesn’t look like they’re being condemned to die young. Hence twenty-one seemed appropriate for them.

Watching one’s parents get brutally treated is scarring and I can understand the anger towards me but I would be mean to say that it is indeed justified for my loss too.

Yes, I am mean… sometimes.

Victoria tried to reply my comment but before she could respond, a familiar voice cut through the chaos. "I never knew you were cut out for the Warrior Signary?" it said, a hint of amusement and surprise in its tone.

My heart skipping a beat as I recognized the speaker even before I turned around. It was Jude. He looked different, more mature and attractive, his eyes sparkling with a newfound confidence. His shoulders broader than they used to be but it’s like his smile remained the same over the years. Just a little scar on his left brow.

I wonder how he’s been in this place for a while but managed to look so unscathed.

Without further thinking, I rushed forward and threw my arms around him in a tight hug. "Jude!" I shouted but my voice was muffled against his chest.

Jude laughed, his arms wrapping tighter around me in a warm embrace for a few more seconds before he puts me down. "Beryl, it's been ages!" he said, “I’m so sorry I was unable to retain you in my wing. There are some rules that I unfortunately cannot disobey”

As we pulled back, I couldn't help but stare at Jude in awe. I was actually seeing him with my two eyes, it wasn’t a dream or me replaying a memory

"I can't believe it's you!" I yelled again, my heart racing with excitement. "A wing leader? That’s so huge. I never thought I’d see you again"

Jude grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "And why did you think so?" he said, his voice clothed with amusement. "And I can't believe you're here too. I had no idea you'd be joining the Signary."

“It’s sort of a long story” I reply his second question.

“It’s a long story on how you thought you’d never see me again?” he asked, his confusion was a bit clear.

“No… not that. My coming here is a long story”

“Was it Topaz? Did he do the convincing?” It wasn’t news that Topaz, my older brother had always wanted me to be a warrior. Ever since we were little, he always said it would be way cooler if each of us joined each of the training units.

He to the Warriors, Amethyst to the Historians and me to the Healers. But Amethyst hated books so much and hated people much more so that foiled his plans way too early.

The next plan was for all of us to pass through the same unit.

Hence for years before he went off for his own training, he kept recanting how we should stick to the plan.

“No… I haven’t seen him in a while. It was my dad” I answer.

“Your dad?” Jude was indeed surprised because he knew how much my dad had supported me earlier to the Healers cubicle. “What happened?” he asked further.

“I can’t even tell, but that aside. You never wrote to me or even stopped by during your breaks” I asked, I have a lot more to ask but before I could go on, Jude's expression turned serious.

Well, not serious serious but the playful gleam in his eyes were sure gone

"I’m sorry Beryl, that was quite bad of me but I did have a reason which I would tell you later. For now, I need to understand why your father put you in here when he knows the children of the rebels are still fully present and yet to graduate" he said, his voice low and urgent.

I didn’t expect to get scared today but it appears I do not really have much of a choice.