Lady Kitsune, my instructor, was a woman of middle years with dark brown hair pulled back tight in a bun and severe grey eyes in a sharp-featured face. She was nearly as tall as I was and rail thin. When she caught sight of me, she nearly dropped the large sign saying “Forest” that she was holding.
“Spirits, girl! What’s the meaning of this?” her shock and horror were clear on her expression and in her voice. Two other girls in the group giggled.
I blinked innocently. “Oh, sorry, I…” I looked at Cedar. “My new friend Cedar here strongly suggested I wear this dress. I thought we were going to make it a group thing. I guess I was wrong.”
Lady Kitsune flashed a look at Cedar. “This was your idea?”
The girl sputtered for a moment, clearly not expecting any of this. She finally stammered out, “N-no!”
Lady Kitsune swung her gaze back to me. “Get changed at once!”
I feigned ignorance. “Changed? But I only had this one dress.” I turned to Cedar again. “You said we only got one dress each and had to make do.”
Cedar sputtered again, eyes going wide.
Kitsune looked from me to her and sighed. “Ah…” She didn’t even ask Cedar if this was true, the confused guilt was clear from the heady blush on the girl’s face. Kitsune sighed and looked at me again. “I’ll have a larger dress sent over once we’re done here. We have many.” Shaking her head, she went on. “I believe we’re all here?” There were just the six of us. That seemed like a pleasant group size. “Please state your new names for everyone else,” Lady Kitsune asked.
“Birch, tall and pale, that’s me,” I cut in before anyone else could. One of the other girls laughed at that, the boys were still having a bit of trouble tearing their gazes off my legs.
“I’m Ash,” one of the other girls said.
“Maple.” This from the slightly taller of the two boys, who finally managed to look me in the eye, after a slow drawing up of his gaze over everything else. “Hi.”
I flashed him a grin. “Hi.”
Lady Kitsune made an odd strangled noise, then said, “Next!”
“I’m Oak,” the other boy said and seemed to hesitate for a moment before adding: “That’s ahardwoodtree.” He winked at me. The way he’d said that had made his innuendo clear.
I nearly choked — as did Lady Kitsune — trying not to laugh. I probably didn’t hide my surprise well, but I reassessed Oak. He may have been the shorter of the two boys, but he was quick and probably older, perhaps eighteen?
“Good to know,” I said with a nod, finally getting myself under control. Oak was smiling broadly and seemed to have gotten over his fascination with my legs, his gaze solidly on mine. Oh yeah, he could be trouble, and not just for me. Those clear blue eyes of his and that pristine beautiful young face would go over very well with most young women.
“None of that!” Lady Kitsune said harshly. Her composure cracked just a little. We were going to be The Bloody Pits for her. I could tell.
“Cedar,” Cedar said finally, pulling herself up and trying — and horribly failing now — to make herself stand out. She was curvy yes, and beautiful with that well-styled blond hair and those blue eyes, but I’d stolen all the attention away from her.
“Poplar,” said the last girl. A bit of a shy and giggly one.
“Now!” Lady Kitsune snapped, trying to get focus back on her. “Please also share the names of your Lumani.”
“Auwei,” I said indicating with my thumb the odd cream-yellow glowing spider on my shoulder.
“You’ve already taken an avatar?” Oak said, nodding with surprise and admiration. “Truly you’re a woman well advanced from the rest of us.” Another wink from him.
“Hush boy!” Kitsune said.
“You mean she’s old,” Cedar said at the same time, though both she and Lady Kitsune were spoken over by Oak who continued:
“This is Oama.” He indicated the large deep-blue ball floating nearby.
The others went around without incident. Cedar’s Lumani was Eala, Maple’s was Uesi, Poplar’s was Aelo, and Ash’s was Iana.
“Now, for the rules and procedures here at Silverveil,” Kitsune said, trying to regain control. She succeeded for the most part, but Oak never took his eyes off me; neither did Cedar, though for a completely different reason and with a completely different look, full of contempt.
We learned the times for the meals, and that missing them would mean we’d go without. She told us we’d be working with her for the most part. Spending our mornings in concerted activities meant to help us connect with our Lumani. There would be a few more classes in the afternoons, then some free time before the evening meals, during which we were expected to get to know our Lumani further in ways better suited to our pairings.
She finished with a hard look at me and Cedar — apparently still not sure with whom she was more upset — and said, “Tomorrow seamstresses and tailors from the village will come to fit your clothes and take your measurements. You’ll have a set of custom clothes before the end of the week.” She emphasized the next part. “Youwillwear those clothes andnotmodify them in any way! Is that clear?”
