Meeting of Significance - Meeting of a Secret Society

Total word count: 2391

Meeting of Significance

Meeting of a Secret Society

by

Angela C Wood

Meeting of Significance

A shadow appeared at the mouth of the cave, Lillie melted into the walls. She closed her eyes to not give away her position too soon and controlled her breathing, as instructed from Theale.

‘I know you are in there,’ a voice said from outside. ‘But I feel for the good. Theale is no fool he has you here for a reason. Tread carefully, I am Anghus... Of the Elite for Earth Fania, I know you have heard of us. Theale talks about us often, we have been tracking you both for the last few days. Please make your presence known ‘ Lillie.’

Lillie gulped at the last, he knew her name. She knew when she had no chance and stepped out of the shadow. As Anghus had continued to speak she had moved along the wall towards the opening. Anghus stepped back, smiled and shook his head. Lillie smiled to and nodded.

Anghus held out his arm, the warrior greeting. She held the fore arm as he did hers and then stepped back and saluted the chest. Formally introducing themselves, by name. The greeting was a personal one for Anghus, as Lillie spoke her name he knew she was the one. Although, she would have to prove herself. Every piece of his being vibrated, knowing she would succeed. He added to his greeting ‘ you are the one.’ Lillie smiled in response, she didn’t trust her voice.

Her heart was beating fast, her breath became short, and she found herself blushing. Theale had not prepared her for this, the last four years had been tough. Living as a nomad, with Theale as her guide. He was a knowledgeable man and gave freely his gifts. She had learnt a lot from him about people and behaviour. Anghus was her first thought of a partner she had ever had, and she knew it was his for the asking. Her sixteen years of life so far had already been adventurous. Theale had talked to her a lot of the Elite, she knew it was her calling.

Theale had greeted all present at this day’s meeting concealed under a cloak of protection, provided by Meriben. Theale smiled, as he remembered the first time he met Meriben. He sat next to her she put her head on his shoulder. Theale raised his right hand and touched her face. Comfortable in displaying their affection for the other. Theale knew he was in for a tough time, but he had her support, a blessing? Theale chuckled.

Meriben knew he had had a thought, from the chuckle. She didn’t need to know what it was. It probably had something to do with her and the hard time she gave him when first they met. She introduced Joby as a fire Elemental. Theale couldn’t help but notice a resemblance to her, but concealed his surprise. Theale knew the young man would only speak when asked, Meriben was well versed in the Rogue’s law.

Theale noticed he was wearing the hunters garb, renounced for patience. Until otherwise informed, Theale would respect the hunters ways. First instinct always gave him the advantage. The meeting had started, no-one would be able to enter or leave the glade until Meriben decided it was over.

Theale noticed Anghus standing at the cave mouth, nodding to himself he saw Lillie emerge. Good he thought, now her training can begin. Relaxing back into the alert position they talked.

A few hours after midday a break was called, food was distributed and social chatter emerged. Theale introduced Lillie to the meet members and Thananos the rogue leader, attached Anghus to her as a protective measure. Although, he was unsure of who would be protecting who, his face found a smile at the thought. He knew she didn’t need it, he had already given her his heart, he just didn’t know it yet. Thananos sighed, ‘oh the perils of young love.’ he whispered.

Thananos instructed them to go hunt for supper. Jade was more than capable to hunt alone, but he knew this would be a testing for young Lillie. The young man, Joby, seemed well enough to protect them should they need it. I think maybe Meriben might come in handy too, Thananos found himself smiling again. Meriben could defend them all he had seen her dance, she was the best.

Theale thought he was the only watching the trio’s retreating backs, but caught a glance of the young Joby watching to. Joby was taken by surprise at his emotions of the young girl Lillie. He felt as if he knew her, but he knew he didn’t. She was new to everyone here except Theale, and he could feel him watching.

Lillie lay in the under brush waiting for the boar to be chased her way. Excited that Jade and Anghus were letting her do the kill. She was frightened to but that was a natural reaction, apparently. She stood to a crouch, the boar was running. She jumped out dagger ready, the boar saw her and did an about turn straight into Jade. She managed to get out of the way so the boar went for Anghus. Lillie was already running, as fast as she could. Anghus jumped to the left and Lillie dived for the right, the dagger hit home into the neck of the boar. The boar dropped to the floor, squealed and thrashed violently. Lillie jumped off as quickly as she could, she had seen an inexperienced hunter get stabbed to death with its tusks, before eventually dying. All she had to do was wait.

The boar lay there panting, the life draining. Jade stepped up and pulled her knife across the boar’s throat, a quicker and more humane way to die. Lillie bowed her head the rush of the kill had made her brain-dead, she should have cut it’s throat before she jumped off. The hunter’s code, no unnecessary suffering of man or beast. Take the quickest way to die, and do it.

The boar had stopped thrashing and became silent, Lillie stood in shock. Her first kill, even though Jade had finished it, she had had first blood, and he wasn’t a small one either. Anghus was holding his leg, blood on his hand. Calmness came back to the forest for Lillie and the buzz returned. Lillie observed Jade as she trained the rites of passage. The boar took it’s last breath and Lillie heard Jade say, ‘Thank you for your sacrifice, I honour your courage.’ Then she closed her eyes and nodded.

Lillie watched in awe, the exchange of respect and honour to the boar brought tears to her eyes. Jade a deadly warrior trained to kill and quick to think and act. Lillie wiped away her tears, and became embarrassed. Anghus’ moan bought her back to the present, and she quickly busied herself with ripping his shirt to stem the flow. Then wrapping the cloth around the wound, she tied it fast,

Anghus nodded at the efficiency, and said ‘not bad for a girl.’

Lillie laughed, ‘ yeah for a girl,’ she replied.

Jade had already got the boar tied front and back legs hooked over a wooden branch, gifts from the forest. By the time they returned a fire of boiling water was already lit. The boar was dissected quickly the portions were taken for the evening meal. The rest was wrapped for the following day and the journey home. Theale had the way of it, with the help of a man with black hair, Lillie didn’t know him, but he looked at her a lot...

She talked with Anghus about the Elite training, the comradeship and the means to an end. He invited her join him and the others to the Academy, to train with them. He had said her skills were far more advanced for her age. He had taken an interest in her, and she knew it, and she liked it. He seemed a gentle man, of great strength and resilience. She had a feeling they would become good friends, and if fate allowed a good companion to. Lillie was not familiar with the ways of men, but she knew a good one when she saw one. Anghus reminded her of Mas.

Lillie spoke to Meriben and asked her if it was the right thing to do to come to the Academy. The Elite was her focus, and an invitation from one of them was all she needed, and she had got that from Anghus. Meriben had agreed that it would be a good idea, but it had to be her choice.

Lillie told her that she could earth travel and how she met Theale, leaving out the talks she had with Mas, just in case Meriben think her mad. Meriben had shown great interest in her ability to travel the meridians, and was happy to not know how she knew. Meriben had said that sometimes, you know things, and that’s how it is. The dark haired man, was called Joby, a hunter, impressed she had made her first kill so big.

Lillie slept like a baby that night, in awe of the people she had met and overwhelmed by the course of events. She would converse with Mas as soon as she could, but for now she needed to sleep. All to soon the morning came around.

The smell of bacon enticed her nostrils to sit up and stretch the camp already in a buzz. Lillie looked round and saw Theale was on cooking duties. Joby and Meriben were sitting with coffee cups talking to a man not at the previous day’s meeting. A rough looking broad man with a heavy thundery voice, Lillie liked him instantly.

His beard glistened in the morning sun, like it was wet. His clothes a bit worst for wear, but there was a way about him that said treat with respect, he looked a hard man. His eyes danced in shadows, and his smiled looked out from them. She saw him glance over, she stared and quickly she looked down to the floor.

She heard Meriben chuckle, and shouted over. ‘It’s OK Lillie he has that effect on a lot of people.’

Lillie made her way into the forest to relieve herself and have some time to commune with Mas. She had lots to tell him of the events unfolding and was certain the feelings she was having was that of happiness. The conversation had been brief, Mas said they could be heard through the ethos, by those who knew how to use it. He seemed pleased that she had taken the decision to go to the Academy. They would converse again when she was there and settled. Mas said there was no rush, she should get herself settled first. Then he would continue with her academics.

Anghus had sought her out to talk some more of the Elite, training would be hard and the trust would be long in coming. She knew what he meant, she trusted only one person and the other was an imaginary voice in her. With a body she had designed for her own means. Anghus was real, she didn’t say much she let Anghus do all the talking, watching his eyes sparkle in the wonders of the Elite choice. He lived for the Elite, she knew his dedication had bought him here to this moment, in this forest. She listened to his talking and imagined a place that didn’t seem real.

The meeting was called to start, and all took their place. Lillie and Anghus stood to leave but was approached by Meriben. She asked Lillie to stay and offered her a seat next to Joby. Anghus winked and nodded she should stay, so she did.

Meriben put up the shield as soon as Jade and Anghus left the fire area. The meeting commenced. The traditional salutes around the members came first and ended with Lillie. She didn’t know what to do, so she stood, stomped her feet together and punched her chest. The Warrior Salute, and said ‘ I am Lillie ‘ then she blushed and sat down. Meriben smiled and nodded.

Thanatos started the conversation with the binding, Lillie was lost after that, she sat in a bubble of silence. She heard no words just mouths moving, heads nodding and shaking. After a few hours she began to fidget, Meriben noticed her discomfort and called for a break. The circle broke up and people disappeared into the surrounding bushes, Lillie seemed to take forever.

Anghus laughed when he saw her emerge and approached with open hands. She returned the greeting. She surprised herself she didn’t know the greeting or had never used it before, but it seemed to be the right response.

‘ Anghus?’ Lillie said.

‘ Yes’ he replied

‘ What does that mean?’ she stood in the open hands position.

Anghus stood in the same manner, ‘ The hands either side palms out mean, I am hiding nothing, what you see is what you get. It’s the old warrior way to greet another warrior. Showing them respect but also letting them know, they are ready to fight if the others’ intent is not honourable.’

Lillie smiled, ‘ so you think I’m a warrior?’

Anghus smiled back, ‘ of course! You have the warrior way. The fire in your eyes, the moves of someone who knows intent and most importantly you are eager to learn.’

He had by this time approached Lillie and stood head and shoulders above her. The closeness didn’t make her feel threatened. What she found herself doing surprised her a little, but it felt right. She put her left hand on his heart, they both stood for a moment and neither moved.

The moment marked a change for them both. Meriben observed the exchange. Lillie had just made the pact, with Anghus even if she didn’t know what she had done. Lillie stepped back the feeling overwhelmed. She smiled as she looked into his eyes the same fire was in his too. Then she sidled round Anghus, but he didn’t try to stop her, his moment to, to be understood.