A Rainy Day of Travel

After our dinner meeting, Gabriel had left for Summer Council to take care of matters and to arrange my visit. Another week passed with no word from Gabriel. I had been filling my idle time with experimenting with my fire power. The first four days, I had re-mastered my Double Flame Winder. Two flames molded into links with themselves and rotated around in a sphere, winding into a flame prison. It was my signature move. But recently, it had been nonstop rain and I could not do magic. It dampened my mood and the ground, turning it into a slimy mud that was good for nothing. I sat by the window, the rain pelting against the shutters. Its sound was my only companion as I absent mindedly breathed onto the glass. A moist film covered the window and obscured the rain streaks. I ran my finger through the fog to form a little girl. I was truly bored out of my mind.
My ears perked as I heard a horse whinny and I stood up, rubbing the fog and girl from the glass. I peered down and saw a cloaked rider arrive at the barn. A stable hand ran out to lead the horse and the rider ran towards the back kitchen door.
I turned and started for the door, stopping myself by the mirror to fix my clothing and pinched color into my cheeks. I bounded down the stairs, “Maliah, I think Gabriel-….” I stopped as I landed in the kitchen. A soaked man sits at the table, but it was not Gabriel. The mystery rider held a cup of warm wine between his hands. I bit my lip, realizing how foolish I was for acting on a childish crush.
Maliah smiled at me like she knew my deepest secrets. She set down a plate of meat and bread in front of the man, “Gabriel still has his hands full at the Council, I’m afraid,” she said as she moved towards the fire to stir something in the large caldron. “This is Adelmo, he’s Gabriel’s guardian.”
The man cleared his throat and smiled at me as I cross the room, “Sorry to disappoint, Kirra” he said with a chuckle. He scratched his beard and I examined his face. Lines settled in his tanned skin and a light shone in his eyes, he had a welcoming presence and I found myself sitting down with him. “Maliah is right; Gabriel is very busy at the moment with new developments. The good news is, I’ve been sent to bring you to him.”
“When do we leave?” I asked, attempting to sound casual but my heart kicked into double time, for a few reasons. I had never been to the Summer Council, which would be an adventure in itself. And secondly, I would see Gabriel within a day or two.
The man tore off a chunk of bread and chewed it before washing it down with wine. My right leg jittered in anticipation to leave Gabriel’s house. I itched to explore, play with fire on a bigger scale, to be outside. He finally spoke and I hung on his words, “In an hour. We will leave regardless of the weather so I suggest you pack for any and all conditions. I think you’ll find me an agreeable traveling companion,” he said with a smile, as if to make up for not being Gabriel.
I nodded and stood, smoothing the wrinkle out of my shirt, “I’ll go right away.” I walked calmly to the stairs and climbed them slowly, but inside, my head was screaming with delight. Maliah assigned the other woman to watch the supper and she soon joined me to assemble my pack.
“Here,” she said as she threw a leather pack onto the bed. “This should hold up in the rain,” she said as she moved to the dresser that held my clothes.
“Thank you,” I said as I began to stuff the soft brown leather pack with things she handed me. Cloak, pants, shirts, undergarments, and an extra pair of boots. We moved back down to the kitchen and Adelmo stood as we entered. He wiped his mouth and thanks Maliah for the food. He fastened his cloak that stretched across his broad shoulders, he barely squeezed into it. “I’ll be waiting in the barn,” he said with a nod as he disappeared into the rain, the door shutting behind him. Maliah filled the rest of my bag with cheese, bread and a leather pouch of water.
“You shouldn’t have any trouble traveling in the rain, Adelmo knows the path in his sleep!” I should have known we’d be traveling by horse, but I still groaned. Maria secured a heavy cloak around my shoulders and pulled the hood up. She fastened it at my neck with a silver pin and fitted the pack over my shoulders.
“You’re not coming?” I asked, whining like a small child. I had only known her for a little time, but I already felt a strong connection to her. She had become a second mother.
“I’ve got to watch over things here. Off you go, good luck,” she said with a nod before ushering me out the door.
I ran for the barn through the water puddles, mud splashing up my boots and cloak. Once I made it under the roof, I pulled back the hood. Damp hay and horses filled my nose as my eyes adjusted to the dark light. Adelmo sat astride a large horse, looking at home, as he pulled leather gloves on. Another horse was brought forward for me.
“What are you waiting for, let’s go,” Adelmo said as he pulled his hood up. I had not moved towards the horse. I watched as the horses moved around uneasy, shifting their weight, eager to run.
“I can’t ride a horse,” I said as I stood as far away from the creatures as possible. I examined the one meant for me. It was butter cream colored with splashes of white covering the nose and hind quarters. It was younger than Adelmo’s horse but he looked fast. In anticipation to be ridden, he shook his long mane and stomped his left foot.
“Then you’ll ride with me and we’ll take your horse with us, you have to learn some day,” Adelmo leaned in his saddle and offered me his hand. Taking it firmly, I jumped and he yanked me up behind him like I weighed nothing. I was uneasy, and my stomach flipped as I gripped my arms around Adelmo’s waist. As I balanced myself behind Adelmo, the horse master tied the other horse’s reigns to the saddle of Adelmo’s. I looked down at the ground and gulped, it seems more than six feet down.
“Hold on tight,” Adelmo said over his shoulder before he nudged his black stallion. We shot out of the barn, the rain pelted us and rolled off the slick leather cloaks. I kept my head down as I jerked up and down in the saddle. “Relax,” he called over his shoulder through the rain.
I tried to do as he said, unsuccessful until I mimic the way his knees gripped the horse’s sides. The young horse intended for me ran along side us, shaking his mane in the rain. I prayed silently that we would not meet any trouble on our journey.
Hours later, we stopped at a farmhouse to let the horses rest for the night. As we left them to be washed down and fed, we sat on a pile of hay and had a picnic with the things Maliah had packed. The journey had left me irritable because although we wore cloaks, my pants were soaked with mud and rain. I shivered, longing for my dry, arid climate. I hated being wet and cold.
I tore off a hunk of bread and passed the loaf to Adelmo as lightning flashed across the sky. “Maliah said you are Gabriel’s guardian, what does that mean?” I asked as I bit into the soft, dark honey wheat bread.
Adelmo smiled as he examined the bread in his hands and then looked to me. “I trained Gabriel to fight. Growing up, his father Proteus was the Magical Ambassador and Gabriel was supposed to take his place.” He took a moment to collect his thoughts. He fell back against the pile of hay, putting one hand behind his head. More comfortable, he continued, “Once his education reached a level suitable for his father’s job, he changed his mind and decided to work for intelligence,” he said casually before he bit into what remained of the loaf of bread. “My role as his instructor ended and my role as his second father began when Proteus passed.”
“Did you know Proteus?” I asked, raising my eyebrows. I finished the cheese and fell back against the hay, my hands behind my head like Adelmo. The rain melted against the thatch roof, and through the open barn door, I watched the lightning streak across the sky.
“I did, we were great friends. Grew up together. He was like my brother.”
“And Gabriel’s mother?” I asked, searching for information where I probably shouldn’t.
“She died giving birth to Gabriel,” he said softly in the middle of a yawn. Eventually, I fell asleep to Adelmo’s soft humming. And I dreamt a strange dream.

[start dream squence] The giggles grew louder as I approached Fina’s hut. In my arms, I carried my costume for tonight’s Fire Release ceremony. I stopped outside the hut and listened to the voices inside.
“Well, she may be able to create a Double Flame winder, but that doesn’t mean she won’t look a fool tonight,” Jimena said with a snarling laugh. “We’ll be lucky if she doesn’t ruin it for us all.”
“You’re just jealous, Jimena, because Kirra could singe off your eyebrows faster than you could blink,” Fina said and everyone else erupted in laughter.
“It’s not like the dance performance determines whether or not we get our powers released. It’ll happen tonight with the full moon anyways,” Leyah’s strong voice drifted through the curtain.
“It won’t matter. As soon as this is over, I’m going to Summer Council to make a name for myself,” Jimena said with pride.
I scoffed.
“Why would you go to Summer Council?” Haley asked, her voice light as a feather.
“To work with Calina, of course.” Jimena spoke as if it were common knowledge. She probably rolled her eyes, too.
“Doesn’t Calina choose her students?” Fina asked quietly.
“Yes, but there isn’t much competition here, is there?” Jimena asked.
“Well then, she won’t have any trouble looking at you and deciding you don’t belong,” Fina said and Leyah and Haley gasped.
I could imagine Jimena’s lips pursing as crimson color flooded her face. She would probably huff and get to her feet and-
The red cloth to Fina’s hut flew open and Jimena stepped out, knocking into me. She straightened and picked up her dress, dusting the red sand off of it. Her eyes blazed as she sized me up, “What are you looking at?”
I folded my arms across my chest and looked down on her. I wasn’t easily provoked, it wasn’t worth it. Jimena brushed past me, her shoulder butting into my bicep as she stalked off. I shook my head and raised the flap, used to protect the hut from sandstorms, and found my friends who worked on their ceremonial costumes. The room was charged with excitement, the other girls ready for our performance and the Fire Release ceremony. Tonight, we would finally be able to use our abilities without hindrance. My stomach flipped at the thought of dancing tonight. The quicker it was over, the better. Maybe I could just sneak out of the performance…
Fina’s eyes lit up as she saw me, “Kirra! It’s about time you got here. You just missed Jimena,” she said as her head bent back to fixing her costume.
“I know, she seemed in a great mood,” I said sarcastically as I borrowed a needle and thread from Fina’s basket. My lack of ability to sew had a direct correlation to my heavy distaste for it. I always bribed Fina to fix my clothes or make new ones for me.”Let me guess, her costume consists of two strips of fabric that are just wide enough to cover her “no no” parts,” I said with a waggle of my eyebrows as Leyah and Haley laughed.
Fina frowned at me, “Almost all of our costumes are like that.”
“I know, I’m just saying that she probably has found a way to reduce our costume even more. She’d rather go naked, she thirsts for attention.”I squinted in the dim light to force the gold thread into the eye of the bone needle. I sighed after three failed attempts. I looked over at Fina’s hands, deftly moving the golden thread through her gown.”You certainly didn’t hold back from her.”
Fina’s teeth cut the thread from the gown and she held it up, the light from the hole in the ceiling highlighting the gold stitching she had woven. Flames were frozen in place all over her gown, and I marveled at her work. “Hey, she was asking for it. I can’t stand arrogance.” Looking down at my poor excuse of a dress, I stiffened when hands grabbed it from me.
“Fina!” I said as she took the needle from me. She licked the end of the thread and put it into the eye of the needle with one try.
“We both know you want me to do this,” she said as she finished the hemming of the dress. “Why else would you sigh every four seconds?” she said with a giggle. Had I been sighing? Her black hair swung forward as she began to work on my costume. With nothing to do or focus my attention on, I was the first to notice a curly head of black hair pop into the shelter.
“Are you ladies decent?” the mischievous grin of my brother flashed in the dim light that filtered in through the ceiling.
“Only you would ask that after you poked your head in,” I said as I jammed his head back outside of the shelter.
A second later, he popped through the fabric and I pinched my nose. “You reek,” as I said as my eyes studied Felix. He had splashed deer urine on his body and then covered it with mud.
“The better to go get you food, my dear,” he said as he moved past me, ruffling my hair. I swiped at his hand as I tried to smooth my hair. He plopped down behind Fina and kissed her neck. She didn’t seem to mind the smell, in fact, she straightened and gave him a smile before looking back down at my gown. Felix looked over her shoulder and looked to me, but spoke to Fina, “I thought you were almost done, Fina,” he said as he gave me an accusing look.
I turned my head and busied myself with picking at a thread in my pants while Fina responded with a wind chime laugh, “I volunteered to help Kirra,” her hands poked and pulled the needle out of the red gown with twice the speed I would have been stabbing it with. “Here, eat,” she said as she stopped for a moment to hand him a small loaf of bread. I smiled at her, silently thanking her for taking his mind off of the “slave labor” I was apparently forcing her to do.
She winked at me, understanding, and I looked to Felix who had shoved the whole piece on his mouth. “Shouldn’t you be hunting with Nikko and Janos?” Leyah and Haley’s heads looked up at the mention of their companions. Being twins, their actions were often mirrored by the other.
Although it was early in the morning, the warriors would have to travel all morning to reach the forest where they could find meat. We had no choice but to temporarily live in the desert, the arid climate was perfectly suitable for training us to become Fuegero adults. If we lived in the forest, we might set trees on fire while we learned to manage our abilities. After our Fire Release ceremony tonight, we would be able to relocate wherever we wanted to.
Many of the Fuegeros moved away, settling in on the Summer Council side of the Greenridge Mountains. Often, they assimilated into other cultures, like within the city walls of Summer Council. You would never find us in the Winter Council. Hating cold weather was in our blood. Our country had two seats of government that provided a stabilized form of government. Calina Fuegera, one of the most talented Fuegeras to ever live, worked in the Summer Council. Every two years, she allowed a Fuegera to come and work with her, taking their abilities beyond the basics we learned. Fuegeros were never invited because the males couldn’t control fire.
Felix opened his mouth and stuck his tongue out. I grimaced at hi;, I had no desire to see the congealed ball of dough resting on his tongue. “Disgusting,” I said as I threw a spool of thread at his muddy chest.
Felix swallowed and jumped up, grabbing his bow and arrow by the door and slinging them over his shoulder. He bowed deeply to us, like some court fool from the Summer Council. “Right you are sister,” he straightened and put his arms over his head comically, spinning into the red flap until it gave way and he exited, “Work on your spins, ladies! Be graceful like doves!” he said, his voice dying as he walked away from the shelter, mimicking our dance instructor, Renae.
I grumbled and looked over to Fina, “I don’t know how you can stand him,” I said as I grabbed a loaf of sweet bread and plopped a corner into my mouth.
“One day, Kirra,” Fina said as she bit the thread off to my gown and placed the needle back into her woven basket,” you’ll understand.” She smiled at me and placed my gown in my lap. My free hand traced the delicate stitching she had added at the slits that went up my thighs, allowing all of us to dance freely.
My eyes looked at my best friend. Felix truly made her happy, she radiated with beauty and love from the inside out. I sighed, One day….I thought to myself.
[end dream sequence]

Thunder cracked like an avalanche, causing me to awaken with a gasp. I sat up from my hay bed and looked around, expecting to still be in Fina’s shelter. I rose numbly on shaking legs and stepped over the sleeping form of Adelmo. I walked blindly towards the open doors of the barn. The rain poured off the roof like a thick curtain, illuminated occasionally by streaks of blue light. Like a child, I cradled my knees to my chest and buried my head into my arms, sobbing quietly for all things lost.


Adelmo swam into view as I opened my eyes. I was vaguely aware of him shaking my shoulder, “Come on, we should get going,” he said before he straightened. I sat up and looked around to find I had fallen asleep by the entrance to the barn. I found I am soaked worse than yesterday and I looked out the barn door. At least the sun had come out, its light ignited the small puddles that lay in the mud. “You might want to change into dry clothes,” he suggested without asking questions as he walked over the horses to get them ready.
I grabbed fresh clothing from my pack and changed in the corner of the barn. Adelmo kept his back to me as he saddled up his horse, putting the majority of the supplies on the one I refused to ride.
I hooked the wet clothes onto the gelding’s saddle to dry in the sun. His butter cream nose nudged my arm and I patted him on the neck cautiously. Hello there, little one. Please don’t bite my head off.
“Hop up,” Adelmo said as he offered his hand to me again. I grabbed it and swung behind him, secured in my place in the saddle. I inhaled wet hay and sunshine as we left the barn, the sun pouring on us in buckets. My hair and skin warmed and dried in the light as we travel through the plains to the Summer Council. “We should get there later today,” Adelmo said over his shoulder.
I nodded once and tightened my grip around his waist as he kicked the horse beneath us into a gallop. The small horse ran parallel to us.
We started to see signs of life around noon, small farming houses popped up sporadically as we neared the Summer Council compound. I stared in awe as the city appeared on the horizon. A large stone outer wall came into view as we get closer. Roofs of city dwellings peaked over the walls before we came closer to the gate. Adelmo hopped down from the horse, leaving me feeling very, very vulnerable.
Please don’t go running off. I hoped the horse hears my plea. He snuffed in reply.
I watched as Adelmo approached two guards and began to converse with them. My eyes moved to the walkways above me. Soldiers looked down at me over their pointed arrows. I gulped and as the hair rose on my neck. First impressions were everything, Kirra, welcome to the Summer Council.
“Security measures,” Adelmo said as he walked towards me and lifts a hand towards the men. They nodded and waved before retracting their arrows and disappearing from view.
“That’s comforting,” I muttered from my place in the saddle. Adelmo grabbed the horse’s reigns and the gate doors creaked open slowly, allowing just enough room for us to pass through.
“Why are they on edge?” I asked as the soldiers guarding the gates watched us pass by.
“The Summer Region delegates are here, meeting in some kind of summit to discuss how to handle the Rogues. Added security is obviously needed to protect them.” We made our way through the city dwellings from the Northern gate.
My eyes studied the windows and doors of the housing structures. They were sturdy and made of stone. Most had two floors and in good condition, “The houses are a bit different here,” Adelmo explained as we approached the middle of the city, where a big fountain rested in the middle, water pouring from a place in the center and falling down into a small pool. “Money is no object in this part of the city.”
I thought of Gabriel’s home and how it seemed similar to these. “Why does Gabriel choose to live outside the city if he works for the Summer Council? Wouldn’t it be easier for him just to live here?”
He kept his hand on his sword, the other held the reigns, as he led us on. “Gabriel has living quarters within the Council’s main castle. He keeps the home in the plains because he likes to escape, every now and then,” he said as he looked up to me with a smile. “This isn’t too far away.” My sore legs begged to differ.
We stopped at the stables and Adelmo helped me off the horse. I landed on prickly feet and walked around, getting the blood back in motion. He grabbed my arm gently and pulled me towards the castle. My mouth fell in awe.
We exited the stable doors and I was submerged into an Eden of green. Gardens covered the expanse of the soft lawn. Butterflies and birds hovered and swooped over the overgrown plants and flowers. Nothing grew perfectly, yet it formed a paradise. Fountains gurgled throughout the grounds. The castle’s outer walls were decorated in various flags. Each one was marked with a different design and color, representing each of the delegates for the Summit. The Fuegero flag fluttered in the wind, a crimson color with orange flames curling towards the sky. My heart grew stronger knowing another Fuegero would be within the walls.
Adelmo led me into the castle through a walkway with columned arches. Vines wound like snakes up the stone poles. We moved into a cool hallway and were swept into the river of bustling people. A group of young children were led by a lovely woman, who wore a black uniform and a yellow sash with her hair pulled back neatly on her head. “What’s with the kids?”
“Every so often, clans let some kids come to the Summer Council for a tour. To get them interested in the government and to teach them its inner mechanics. That way, they’ll be more likely to follow the rules and keep the peaceful way of life,” Adelmo responded as we moved past the crowd. Guess the Rogues were never given that opportunity.
The woman waved to Adelmo, beaming.
“I do believe she is smitten with the brave knight,” I joked. He laughed and shook his head like he’s been through this before. I imagined she was not the first to wiggle her fingers and blush stupidly at Adelmo. The kids stopped to congregate to hear about some famous portrait of some famous person who made some sort of difference in the world.
We passed by servants and he tried to explain to me which rooms are which. I soon lost track and started to nod, not absorbing any of it. We stopped our tour in front of double doors that reached the ceiling. I stared at the unique carvings in the dark wood as Adelmo knocked twice on the door. The door opened to a man dressed in black with a red sash around his waist, similar to Maliah’s uniform. “Good afternoon, sir,” the servant said as he dipped his head to Adelmo. Adelmo moved forward and the man fell back to allow us entry.
“These are Gabriel’s apartments,” Adelmo said as we enter the room. I followed slowly, taking in all the rich decorations and paintings along the walls. A large portrait of Gabriel’s father, Proteus, commanded my eye. His dark green uniform was pristine and the twinkle in his eyes caught my breath. A wonderful man who met an unfortunate accident. The gaze of the portrait was so lifelike that I had to drop my gaze to the cold fireplace. There was no need for fire during the day. In the Summer Council region, the weather remained at summer temperatures, and nightfall often brought rainstorms. The Winter Council was directly opposite, there was always snow on the ground. I shivered at the thought.
Adelmo’s boots were muffled on the rich carpets as he disappeared into another room. In fact, there were many doors in this spacious apartment that my curiosity sparked. What lay behind the closed doors? I moved to the desk that sat in front of the fire and my eyes wandered along the scattered papers and maps. I saw my name on a paper and moved to pull it to me when Adelmo’s voice startled me.
“I’ll show you your room,” he said, then stopped as he saw my hand guiltily pulling back. A child caught stealing a pastry before dinner. “Gabriel wouldn’t like that, my little spy,” he chided, but smiled and motioned me forward. I blushed and moved towards him, my eyes searching in the room he stood in. I entered through the small wood door and looked at my new home.
It was a decent size, about the size of Yurik’s shelter, although it was much, much more agreeable. There was a small bed with a soft yellow silk comforter, a dark wood chest to hold clothes and yellow velvet drapes on the windows. A breeze blew into the room and the curtains stirred. I moved forward and touched the top of the chest.
“Do you like it?” Adelmo asked as he studied the room too.
I nodded, unable to find words of gratitude. The room was drowned in yellow silk, velvet and sunshine. The dark wood offset the cheeriness and brought a balance to the room. I sat on the bed and smoothed out the already tightly made bedspread and sighed happily. Then a thought struck my mind. “Won’t this be considered…improper?” I asked Adelmo.
He folded his arms and leaned against the doorframe, “It shouldn’t be. Anyone who works for Gabriel, lives with Gabriel. My room is on the other side of this apartment, although I rarely stay here. I live with my companion, so it’s rarely used.” He smiled at the mention of his companion and I could not help but smile too.
“Who is she?”
“I’m not going to tell, you’ll have to figure it out. Besides, I think you’ll meet her sooner than you think,” he said, putting an extra mysterious edge to his voice. It made me laugh and he gave an easy smile. I studied him briefly from my end of the room. I could see how all the other women were attracted to him.
“And the other women who find you so suitable?” I asked.
“They are stubborn,” he said with a shake of his head. “They have this crazy idea that I’m still available because I don’t show her affection in public. But she could burn them in a second, so the other women don’t look at me when she’s around.”
I felt like he dropped a clue for me, but I could not catch it. I would just have to find his secret on my own. I had a feeling she’d be like an ice sculpture, pretty to look at, but frozen to the core. Maybe Adelmo was the only one who could melt her heart.
“Make yourself at home,” Adelmo said, bringing me out of my thoughts. I nodded and stood, dropping my pack onto the floor. “I’m sure Gabriel will be back soon. Meet me tomorrow at the stables. It’s time to learn how to ride.” He smirked and I threw a pillow at him. He lunged from the room and stuck his tongue out at me before he disappeared.
The servant from earlier knocked on the door and poked his head in. “Miss Kirra, do you need anything?” he asked, hands behind his back. I straightened and turned to him, wracking my brain for things I might need. “A bath and dinner please.”
The servant showed me to a large bathroom. Stone lined the floor and walls in a mosaic of browns and the room was topped off by a dark wooded ceiling. He showed me how to turn on the faucet, something I had never seen before, by turning the knob protruding out of the wall. Water began to roar from a small sculpted lion’s head as I shut the door behind the servant, who promised food after I am dressed.
I peeled off my clothing and struggled with unraveling the bandages, something I haven’t had to do on my own yet. After much cursing and frustration, I sank into the dark wood tub and sighed in content as my rigid muscles melted in the bath. Later, I ate and dried my hair at the fireplace as the sun began to set through the open window. The servant had disappeared and the only other sound is the ticking of a clock. So much for Gabriel coming back soon.
My fingers itched as I looked to the notes on his desk. I looked over my shoulder and moved forward, searching for the paper that had my name on it. I found it and read.
Kirra, approximately 20 years of age. Fuegera refuge, captive of Rogues approximately 3 months. Victim of mental incapacitation and possible repeated rape and abuse? The key to the rest of the puzzle of Rogues.
I dropped the paper as a door swung open behind me. I turned and my hands flew behind my back. They acted like they did not touch anything they shouldn’t have but my face screamed that I had done something wrong. I gulped and saw Gabriel eyeing me from his place at the door. His usually perfect green uniform was wrinkled from sitting in a meeting for hours on end and his eyes are dulled with fatigue. He shut the door behind him slowly and I waited in agony.
Say something! I wanted to scream. I was the criminal awaiting the mercy of the ax, I could hear the blade sharpening but the anticipation was far worse than the weight of the iron on my neck.
“Find something useful?” he asked as he crossed the room to the desk and brushed past me. There it was, I finally breathed. He smelled stale and his usually curly brown hair is lifeless. He stacked the papers with a sharp click and opened a chest in the desk. He places them in their rightful place before he locked the chest with a small key.
“I was just looking at a map,” I began, although I knew it wrong to lie. I could remember seeing a map, so it sounded plausible. I really wanted to point out that he was using me as an informant. Did he really even want to help me, or was he using me to advance his career and social status? “Quite interesting, the migration of the Wind Charmer clan depending on the season.” I was a horrible liar and a nosey little brat. Bad, bad Kirra.
“Yes, it’s thrilling,” Gabriel said, sinking onto a nearby couch. He did not want to counter me. He could tear my lie down and stomp on it until it was a dust that covered me in shame, I am relieved to find he does not do so.
Nice to see you too, I wanted to mutter. The anticipation of seeing Gabriel that I had felt earlier was pushed away with the evening breeze.
“Thank you for the room,” I said as I walked towards the couch. “It’s perfect. I’ve never had such a nice gift,” I said as I stood there awkwardly.
Gabriel’s face softened and he finally looked at me. The firelight glowed and filled his tired face with warmth and melted his eyes. “You’re welcome. I didn’t know how to fix it, but Maliah had a good idea. She said yellow is your favorite color,” he said as he patted the couch.
I sat down at the other end and faced him. I pulled my legs to my chest and examined my yellow uniform. It glowed golden with the firelight. “I’ll have to thank her,” I said with a small smile, still testing the waters of Gabriel’s mood. “And thank you for the clothing.” I sent the words at him in a tumble. I was not good at receiving things because I was not used to it.
“It suits you,” he said, eyes glancing over at me.
My cheeks burned and I bent my head. Let’s pretend like I was examining the fabric instead of showing my flushed cheeks. Grateful for my ample length of hair, I hid the smirk at the compliment.
“How was your trip with Adelmo?” Gabriel asked distractedly as he unfastened the top buttons to his uniform.
I moved my head up and watched his fingers uncover dark chest hairs that peak through the gap at his neck, “Pleasant.” I did not mention the horrible rainstorm or the nightmare that left me sobbing. Yes, pleasant. “Adelmo is amazing.”
Gabriel was pensive as he stared into the fire, it popped and pixie dust embers float towards the vent. “He got you here pretty quickly.” His hand rubbed at the stubble along his chin that also framed his lips and jaw.
“We traveled in the rain,” I said as I interlocked my hands around my legs. “Speaking of which, why am I here exactly?” What I really wanted to know is, why did Gabriel want me here?
His grey eyes turned towards mine. They looked like molten steel in the firelight and my heart caught in my throat. Damn those eyes. “You’re here because I am. You’re wanted by the Rogues and don’t have anyone to protect you, no one to go to. And I need your help,” he said the last part quietly.
Ah, here it came. This was why my name was written in his notes. I was to be the polished doll while here at the Summer Council. Fair enough. I did have a debt to pay since he rescued me from a probable death by rain-induced hypothermia, blood loss or wolves. All three could have been possible that night.
“You’re going to have to testify with the Intelligence Officer,” he said as he avoided my eyes, like he did not really want to discuss it. “Some of the delegates do not consider the Rogues a threat. Having a personal account will strengthen our argument for offensive action against them.”
“Happy to do it.”
His face lit up and looked to me. He threw his head back against the sofa and gave a whooshing sigh of relief like he had been holding his breath. I looked on, amused. “Oh, that’s such a relief,” he said as a few small chuckles erupted from his chest. He calmed and looked at me, “I thought it would take a lot more convincing.” He smiled to himself and crossed his arms across his chest, his muscles rippled through the uniform.
After a few moments, an exhausted Gabriel excused himself from the room to sleep. He promised to find me tomorrow to show me to breakfast before I have to meet Adelmo. Soon after he left and the fire grew to embers, I walked to my room and stripped down for sleep. I climbed into the soft sheets and settled down into the lavender scented fabric and fell asleep.

[start dream sequence] “Ladies, we must be graceful like swans! Swans do not slouch, Kirra!” Renea’s screeching voice riled my spine, which I am forced to straighten. I held my tongue as I spun in a circle with the other girls, our fire fans twirled in our hands. “The fire commands you, move like the flames you hold,” Renea swayed back and forth on her heels, showing us how flames move. Our instructor looks more like a stout oak tree blowing in a rainstorm than delicate fire.
We ran and leapt into the air. “TOES POINTED, LEYAH!” At least I am no longer the subject of her critiques. I pointed my toes as my legs separated into a front split, hands spinning the flame fans above me. We landed simultaneously. Haley knocked into me from behind. I fell and my fire fan flew towards Jimena. It struck her back and tickled her bare skin.
She turned with narrowed eyes as she threw the fan back at me. I caught it on my finger and twirled it, watching the flames blur into a complete circle.
“That is not how we will command our fire power, Haley,” Renea charged towards her and yanked her up from the sand. Haley whimpered as her arm was pinched. She stared at the ground as Renea continued to berate her.
“Dancing doesn’t give us our power, we’re going to get it whether or not we are graceful like swans.” It was out of my mouth before I could stop it.
Over Renea’s shoulder, Jimena gives me a devilish smirk. Oh, you’ve done it now. Renea’s eyes were on me in an instant. Her teeth crunched together. “Perhaps you would prefer to sit out of the ceremony?”
“Oh, please, I’ve worked so hard!” I fell to my knees, theatrically bowing down to her in mock shame. Renea was a fool, the daughter of Elder Yokshana, and had a tremendous ego. To save myself from humiliation at the hand of Jimena, I would pretend to learn a lesson.
Fina stifled a laugh at my theatrics, while Renea took them seriously. As Renea’s eyes seared onto my back, I held a smile from my lips. “We have al l worked too hard, Kirra, for your insolence.” She sighed. “Yet, I suppose the ceremony would be incomplete with only four Fuegeras.” She moved away from me. “Last chance for perfection ladies!” I rose from the ground and dusted the sand from my skirt as Renea’s anger disappated.
“Nice performance,” Fina murmured.
I smoothed Haley’s hair, “You alright?” She gave me a watery smile and a stiff nod. “Okay,” I kissed her cheek and stepped away, trying to untangle my fans. Renea began to clap her hands.
“And one, two, three!” We spun our fans without hitting anyone else, twirled when we were supposed to, and leapt like graceful birds until Renea was satisfied. The burnt-orange sun moved lower in the sky as we headed back to our huts to prepare our costumes.
Yes, we do what we can to survive. [end dream sequence]