"Fine! Council decides after all. Guys, we leave," the girl orders.
The group leaves the room. Uddin's eyes exchange glares with the girl as they leave, like tigers watching rivals.
"She's rude," Daisy speaks, eyes shaking.
"Fear not, we'll go to the council. They'll assemble on you tomorrow morning."
"Sure they'll accept me?"
"Yes. They'll accept you," Uddin assures.
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A long oak table. Seven hard faces. A hammer slams.
Lady Jane, leader of the council.
"New girl. Wandered in yesterday. Got shelter. Now wants on a team."
Mr John replies.
"She's young. Nervous. Let's give her a chance."
Lady Jane leans forward.
"A chance? We don't hand those to strangers."
Pink-eye Mom glides a knife under her seat that glints.
"Could be a spy."
Old man Tom. Quiet eyes on the door.
"Bring her in. Let her speak."
Udinn's grandmother, soft heart, but firm.
"I fed her. She laughed with my granddaughter. She's no threat."
Yemen adjusts his glasses.
"James. Fetch the girl."
"Roger."
Door creaks open. Daisy enters, small in the doorway.
Uddin shadows her.
Yemen speaks loudly.
"Irish Daisy?!"
Daisy swallows.
"Yes, sir."
"What drove you to New Sage?"
"I entered a new town lost. A musician said 'find Silas, he'll give you a room.' Three men... chasing me through the woods. A man in black came and killed them. He told me to come here."
Pink-eye Mom speaks with a cold voice.
"And you're sure no one followed?"
"They're dead. I watched."
Lady Jane taps the hammer, impatient.
"The musician. Name?"
"Didn't give one."
Mr John speaks.
"You drop a name like 'Silas' in the wrong place, men draw steel. Hmm," he leans forward. "How do we know you're not the bait?"
"Because I'd bet my life on her," Uddin says.
"She's a child. Lost. Let her prove herself," Udinn's grandmother says.
Pink-eye Mom, solid, on guard, prepares to draw a knife.
"One wrong move and I gut the proof myself."
Old man Tom raises a hand.
"Vote."
Mr John.
"Aye."
Udinn's grandmother.
"Aye."
Yemen eyes Daisy, a long beat.
"Aye."
Pink-eye Mom through teeth.
"Aye. But I'm watching."
Lady Jane's hammer creaks.
"Settled. Daisy joins the Sneaky Birds."
Uddin exhales, grins.
"Uddin- fetch Moon Black. She'll train the girl," Lady Jane requests.
"But she…" (Sil)
"Go," she orders.
Uddin glares, then turns.
"…Fine."
Moon Black Jani is already in the doorway, arms crossed.
"Heard my name."
"Train her if she's a spy… end her," Lady Jane orders.
Moon Black Jani eyes Daisy, slow smirk.
"Yes, ma'am."
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Later by noon
Jani, long stick in hand,
"You say you want in?"
"Yes."
"Then come at me. Strong enough, beat me."
Uddin glares at Jani.
"Stop it, you'll…"
"Shut up. The weakest are the quickest to die," she replies.
Daisy lunges.
Jani moves quicker.
Cracks her leg.
Daisy screams.
"You get more than this in missions. Get up, come at me," she says.
"I will handle the training from now," Uddin holds Jani's hand.
"Shut up… the council offered her to me," Jani replies.
"We'll head to Comptings Province at night. Let me tutor her; she'll be safe," Uddin says.
"She's not coming tonight," Jani replies.
"The rules: a member joins, a member participates," Uddin says.
"Fine. I'd rather see her dead than babysit her," Jani replies.
"I'm not giving up yet," she speaks with eyes of rage, as she struggles to get up from the ground.
"Daisy, you've got to stop," Uddin requests.
"No, don't interfere," she suggests.
Jani smiles. "Now I like your resolve. You've got to have the spirit at least."
She leans close to Daisy, voice low like a whisper.
"A broken leg can't stop you, girl. Get up."
Daisy pushes herself up. With weak arms, she launches forward, and Throw fists.
Jani darts like a stray kitten, stick whistling past Daisy's ear.
Jani laughs.
"Good. I see determination, I see fire. Now…"
Daisy lunges again, with a punch faster than before. Jani quickly holds Daisy's hands and jumps back.
"Come at me, keep coming."
She keeps attacking. Jani swings her leg. A kick toward Daisy's stomach; she groans and falls.
"My apologies, I over-acted," Jani says.
Uddin rushes, picking her up.
"Over-acted? Bitch, you're mean," Uddin replies aggressively.
"Get some rest, save your energy for our mission tonight. Hope you don't die," Jani says. Doubt flickers across her countenance.