"Lovely," Elena muttered.
"Sarcasm will also get you killed."
Elena's lips parted as she stared up at the general. Was that a joke?
Impossible. Generals weren't known for their humor.
While Elena was still reeling from trying to figure it out, the door opened. The room they stepped into held a tranquility that felt jarring next to the violence and filth of the pits. It left Elena feeling out of place in her grime covered clothes, unwashed body and hair that hadn't seen soap or shower since her arrival.
Elena kept to the edge of the room, taking in the soft, unnatural light that hurt her eyes almost as much as the sun's rays had. She felt the desire to flee, suppressing it with effort.
The Phoenix's niece didn't run. Particularly not from children. Even Tsavitee ones.
Their entrance drew attention. The children from the pit looked over at them, a distinct lack of curiosity on their faces.
It took a moment for Elena to realize why she found that disturbing.
Every once in a while, when Aunt Kira and Uncle Jin brought home someone new, they were like this. Looking at the world through dead eyes.
Tommy came to them with the same indifferent expression. As if he no longer cared about anything.
Those first few months Aunt Selene had hovered over him, afraid he'd wither away or explode into violence and have to be put down.
"Who is this?" the Sye from earlier asked, gliding forward.
"Elena. She's a new recruit for the crèche."
Elena dropped her gaze, not wanting to appear challenging.
"We're not due new blood."
"It's the decision of the higher ups. I'm just informing you of it."
The Sye inspected Elena with pursed lips, humming lightly to themselves in thought. "She's scrawny."
"She's designed for infiltration and espionage," Ajix explained.
"She was in the pit today," a boy said from her right.
Elena looked up to find the children's leader seated atop the largest of five boulders in a rock garden. The sand around his boulder had been carved into a pattern. Its grains unmarred by footprints or other blemishes. It was a mystery as to how he'd reached his perch without disturbing anything.
Unlike the only other two generals Elena knew, Lothos and Ajix, the boy's face held fewer runes. There was only one set scrawled vertically down his cheek. His skin color was also lighter, closer in shade to Aunt Kira's primus.
His jawline was strong and his features angular, making him rather handsome if not for the clear hostility in his gaze.
He looked at Elena like she'd kicked his puppy or something. Considering the Tsavitee didn't keep pets, at least not the kind they cared for, his level of antagonism was a little uncalled for. At least wait until she did something. Then he could hate her.
Wait a minute.
Was this the Phoenix effect she'd heard so much about? Maybe she did take after her aunt.
"How many coins did she collect?" the Sye asked.
"One."
"So little. I may have considered her if she'd gotten at least two."
Well, excuse her. No one told her this was a numbers game. How did they expect her to play if they didn't explain the rules?
