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?
In Elena's opinion, she'd done pretty well considering the few clues she'd been given. Would these children have been able to acquit themselves so well? In a foreign environment? With zero allies? Or even a proper weapon?
Elena thought not. This was the product of relentless training by her uncle and aunts. Something these people couldn’t even fathom.
The Sye waved a hand in dismissal. "She'll be dead weight. Weak and useless."
Weak? Hah!
Just wait until Aunt Kira arrived and Elena was no longer restricted. They'd see who was weak then.
Despite her disdain, Elena kept her feelings off her face. As Auntie and Uncle always said, being underestimated was a gift. It meant no one would notice when Elena started making moves under the surface.
"You should call her scrappy instead," Ajix corrected.
Elena just barely managed not to nod in agreement.
"She survived a week alone in the pit. Except for Fyr, no one else in your crèche could do the same."
See? See? Ajix got it.
The Sye's expression was grudging. "How many kills?"
"Five." Ajix let the pause stretch. "A tiea, two jian, a cla and a wla."
The children's faces hardened. Their disinterest changing to hostility as they finally realized how much of a threat she could be.
Elena listened, trying not to show her confusion at the unfamiliar terms. It made sense that Ajix wouldn’t use human terms to describe the different Tsavitee species. She’d have to figure out which was which before anyone realized. Otherwise, her cover would be compromised.
The Sye looked mollified, staring at Elena for a moment before flicking a hand in acceptance.
Ajix bowed, the subservient gesture shocking Elena. She’d always thought generals were at the top of the Tsavitee food chain.
Ajix straightened, giving Elena a warning look to not cause trouble.
As if she would ever listen. Trouble was in her blood. She lived, breathed, and ate it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Her aunties and uncle hadn't been able to train that out of her. She doubted the Tsavitee would be any more successful.
Elena watched Ajix's departure to see if she could spot the mechanism he was using to trigger the doors.
It had to be a device of some type. Either on his person or keyed to his biometrics. If she could figure out which, maybe she could do a little recon while everyone else was sleeping.
"What should we do with her, Kai?" one of the younger children asked in Tsavitee.
Elena turned to find the Sye watching her. Kai caught Elena's chin, forcing her face up for a better look.
Elena didn't struggle, not daring to move or flinch.
"The same as always. If she wants to live, she'll have to earn her place among you."
There was a strange smile on Kai's face, a clinical detachment that sent fear shivering through Elena.
"I hope you don't disappoint." Kai released Elena, sweeping a gaze over her one last time before disappearing through one of the doors off the communal area.
Elena waited until the Sye was gone, taking her time to size the children up the same way they were her.
She waved at them. "I'm Elena. What are your names?"
The children stared at her for an uncomfortably long time.
There was a sigh from the top of the boulder as the boy dropped to the ground.
"Leave her," he ordered, herding the children away. "She won't be here long anyway."