WHEN Asmeen woke up the next morning, she could tell that Wylla and Elyn had stopped by, given the books on her bedside table. She'd probably end up just giving them to Aven.

"You just missed them," Aven said, already sitting up and biting into some bread. "How are you feeling?"

"A bit better," Asmeen said. "You?"

He shrugged, making a so-so gesture with his hand.

Asmeen looked around. Only one other pair was left. And they looked extraordinarily similar. Almost like twins. She hadn't noticed this before.

One of them saw her looking at them and smiled.

Asmeen smiled back and took the opportunity to ask, "Are you two sisters?"

They both nodded. "Twins, in fact," one of them said. "I'm Saira, and she's Suri." They both had the same dark skin and flowing black hair, but Saira's face was a bit rounder, softer.

Asmeen blinked. "Really?"

Saira grinned, as if they were used to this question. "Everyone is shocked when we first tell them. I'm training for the Children of the Night, and Suri is going for Flower Children."

"But—" Asmeen restrained herself. It would be rude to ask them how that was going to work out.

Saira seemed to understand anyways. "What will we do when only one of us gets selected?"

Suri shrugged. "We don't really know why the both of us were paired together."

"We'll manage," Saira said, nodding. "We've already agreed that there will be no hard feelings. Whoever gets in, gets in. And besides, we both might get in."

"Really?" Asmeen asked, her brows furrowed. "That can happen?"

"Well, it has before," Saira said, her face unsure.

"Rarely," Suri added somberly. "But that's the best case."

"Well, good luck," Aven said, his face serious. Asmeen exchanged a glance with him. They could barely make it through a day without biting each other's heads off because of the pressure—what would it be like for twins?

"What you said...about both in a pair getting in," Aven said slowly, his eyes fixed on the twins.

"It's very rare," Suri said. "But if the leaders decide that both partners are worthy, they might make an exception and choose them both."

"It's what happened to our mother," Saira said. Then she smiled. "She was paired with our father, and then they both got picked. And, well, they ended up getting married after they left."

"That's romantic," Asmeen said. Of course you would get to know your partner well over the course of training, which was a few months long, so there was a possibility of love, or at least liking blossoming. She hadn't really heard of it before, though. And it would be complicated if only partner made it and the other didn't.

"They like telling the story," Suri said, her face wry.

"So, are both of you unwell?" Aven asked, changing the subject smoothly.

"I've sprained my ankle," Suri said, glancing at her bandage-wrapped foot despondently. "It'll take some time to heal."

"I just have a fever," Saira said, shrugging. "But I'm feeling a bit better today."

"It's disappointing, isn't it," Aven said, his lips twisting. "I really want to get back to training."

"So do I," Asmeen said, nodding. The other two made noises of agreement.

There was some silence, and Asmeen took up her knitting again. She was nearly done with Alda's scarf. If she'd been at home, she might have started on a skirt or a dress for one of them, but she couldn't exactly do that in the hospital.

"That's so pretty!" Saira said.

Asmeen looked up to find her looking at the scarf that was nearly done.

"Oh, wow," Suri said, her face similarly fixed on it. "You're really good."

"She is," Aven said, jumping in suddenly. "In fact, she's making it for my friend. It's five gold pieces."

Asmeen blinked at him. What was he doing?

"Really," Saira said, her eyes falling back on the fabric. "It's quite good for that price." She exchanged a look with her twin and turned back to Asmeen. "Will you make one for us? We'll pay you the same price, of course."

"What?" Asmeen asked. Then she understood what the question meant. Well...making one more wouldn't hurt, would it? It would be some extra money, and it wouldn't take that long, now that she'd probably finish Alda's within the course of the day. "I—yes."

"Wonderful!" Saira clapped.

"I'll have to know what kind of...color, what pattern, the style—fringe?" Asmeen still wasn't quite sure about what was happening.

"You should discuss that now," Aven said. "But you'll have to pay for the material."

"Oh, of course," Saira said, waving a dismissive hand at him.

Asmeen shot him an astonished look. Just what did Aven think he was doing? Why was he telling him all this?

He caught her eye and gave her a subtle wink in return.

Asmeen wasn't understanding anything.

"So, should we talk about it?" Saira said, pulling her out of her confusion. She glanced at Suri. "We'll buy the material. What do you think would look best on us?"

Asmeen gave them a startled laugh. "You could pull off anything, really. White will match with just anything, of course. Light colors like this—" She gestured at Alda's pink one— "Will also look good."

"White is fine," Suri said after exchanging a glance with Saira.

"Pattern?" Asmeen asked.

They continued talking about it, Aven picking up one of the books Elyn and Wylla had brought for Asmeen in the meantime. When they were done, Asmeen thought she could get started on it as soon as she was allowed to leave the infirmary. Wylla and Elyn—mostly Wylla—would be so proud to hear that she'd made another sale. With Aven's help, strangely.

They all focused on their own tasks for a while—Suri, who's head was fine, studied, while Saira and Aven read, and Asmeen worked on Alda's scarf. Finally, unexpectedly, she finished it.

She tied up the last threads and put it in the basket with a sigh.

Aven, hearing her very loud sigh, looked up from his book. "Done?"

Asmeen nodded morosely.

He laughed. "Oh, dear. Now what will you do?"

"I don't know," Asmeen said, frowning. She was going to be so bored.

"Why don't you make something else?" Saira suggested, looking up as well.

Asmeen pouted at her basket. "I don't really want to, right now."

"Want me to quiz you?" Suri said, turning from her notes to Asmeen's face. "Since we're both trying for the Flower Children?"

Asmeen sighed. "Alright."

"I have a question," Saira said hesitantly. "For you two."

Asmeen and Aven looked at her. "Yes?" Aven said.

Saira's face seemed to redden a bit. "Well—we can always hear you arguing during training. But right now, you seem like you're..."

"Friends," Suri finished. Her face looked interested as well.

Aven looked at Asmeen and grinned. "It seems that we only fight in the field."

"Something about the pressure," Asmeen agreed. "I've found out that he's not that bad outside of training."

Aven held her stare. "So have I." He was smiling.

When Suri cleared her throat, they both looked at her. She and Saira were exchanging a strange look. "Anyways, should I quiz you.?

Asmeen shrugged. "Let's get on with it."

Her head was aching too much to take anything Suri said too seriously, but she trudged through the questions. Thankfully, Suri had the same answers as her, unlike Aven, who always thought she was wrong. Well, maybe not always.

When lunch came and they were ordered to take a nap, Asmeen was grateful, even though she wasn't sleep in the slightest.

***

Wylla and Elyn hadn't arrived in the evening, or the next morning—Aven had informed her—so Asmeen was maybe a bit more than worried by the time the next evening came around.

She kept glancing through the doors, but only Saira and Suri's parents had come. She kept looking over at them, at the couple who'd both made it into their respective groups and then ended up falling in love. Even Aven's father had dropped in once.

She had just about given up and was preparing to go to sleep a couple hours earlier than usual, having nothing better to do anyways, when she heard Wylla's voice.

She sat up immediately, turning to see the twins walking towards her, their faces harried.

"What's wrong?" Asmeen asked.

"Papa's sick," Wylla said, her face completely devoid of her usual cheer. She almost looked like Elyn.

"What?" Asmeen asked.

"He came down with the fever as well," Elyn explained. "But he doesn't want to go to the infirmary, so he's resting at home."

"We're sorry," Wylla said, grimacing. "Last night things were hectic because of that, and because father's gone, so we didn't get enough sleep. Then we overslept and couldn't come visit you this morning."

"That's fine," Asmeen said, shaking her head. "I was really worried. How is Papa? If things are bad, tell him to come to the infirmary."

Wylla sighed, and Elyn looked tired. "You know how he is," she said. "He won't come to the infirmary if he's dying. We've called a private healer. He'll get better soon."

"People are getting sick because of the rain," Elyn added. "The infirmary might fill up soon."

"I hope to be out of here when it does," Asmeen said, sighing. Having spent two days in the room, Asmeen was sick of it. She was of the opinion that she'd heal better at her own house. Or even outside.

"We hope so too," Wylla said, pursing her lips.

"You look really tired," Asmeen said, peering at both of them even closer. "Please don't tell me you'll get sick as well."

Wylla let out a dry laugh. "I don't think so. Training is getting really hard nowadays, though."

"I suppose I should consider myself lucky, then," Asmeen said, leaning back. "You did come really late today."

Wylla sighed. "We just have to get through it somehow. Just about two months left now, right?"

"We hope," Elyn muttered. There was no set time for the final round of training, but usually it was around three months. Only Dara and Osoric knew when their round would end.

"It will," Wylla said, like she couldn't handle any other answer. She probably couldn't.

"You really should get some sleep," Asmeen said, looking specifically at Wylla. Elyn was quiet most of the time, but Asmeen could see the tiredness on her face. Wylla, though, had lost most of her usual optimism, a clear sign that she was overworking herself. "Maybe take it easy for a few days. When I come back, it'll be easier, right?"

Wylla sighed again and nodded. "You're right. I forgot to bring you something today—"

"It's fine," Asmeen said, giving her a reassuring smile. "Go home. Get some rest." When Wylla turned, she gave raised her eyebrows at Elyn. Elyn nodded at turned as well, putting an arm around Wylla as they walked out.

Asmeen let out a breath, puffing out her cheeks. It couldn't be easy, with her being sick, their father being sick and Asmeen's father out of town. And training on top of that. It was like everything was going wrong at once. Still, once Asmeen healed and her father returned, things would probably get easier.

If only she could just get well soon.

See you next chapter!