"What were you doing back there?" He asked, eyes narrowing.

"What do you think?" She said, trying to make herself sound annoyed mind racing as she brought herself time. Suddenly losing her way seemed a far too flimsy excuse.

"How much did you see?" His hand tightened on her shoulder; his message was clear – if she admitted to hearing anything, she wouldn't be let go.

Britta blinked slowly, "I didn't see anything-" She had heard much more than she had seen. "-And honestly, I have enough men asking where I live, it's worse having someone actually berating me for living there." Britta wrinkled her nose, trying to force arrogance into her tone.

He cocked his head to one side.

"I live there." Britta clarified finally. "And if I catch you skulking around my house I'll report you."

"I apologize." He said insincerely, stepping back. He seemed anxious to get away now his business was done.

Britta shrugged "Be careful who you accuse of what. Maybe you should go learn some manners." She said.

He just shrugged, "I have a life, you know." He said, turning to walk away.

Britta shrugged, "And I bet it's spent bossing a whole heap of people around too." She muttered.

He turned around again, "Why would you think that?" He asked coldly.

As usual, Britta had to get the last word in, she rolled her eyes, more at herself then him. "Because you're bossy?" She offered and tried to spin around to walk away.

Forgetting about the dress her strides were too long and she tripped up. Using a curse word no respectable woman should know, she twisted herself around and caught her fall on her elbows, quickly getting up and brushing herself off. She turned to see Micah, hand outstretched but quickly crossed his arms again.

"Guess you didn't need catching." He said, "You're fast, though I don't know why you tripped." He said as an afterthought.

Britta shrugged "You try wearing one of these horrible things and see." She blushed when she realised her mistake. Oops. She'd liked the look of the dress for a while, but trying to actually do things in it was another story.

"Haven't you got used to it by now?" He asked suspiciously.

Britta knew she should probably just leave before it got any worse, instead she shook her head. "If you must know I usually take off the crinolines, I used to cut the skirt half off too but Mother found out and they all got destroyed."

"An interesting fashion choice; surely you didn't go 'round with half your legs showing?"

Britta shrugged. "There aren't many people who care."

Micah shrugged. Britta knew from his analysis of each round of fighting they did it was not in his nature to miss or ignore things. Perhaps he was not as good in social situations. She smiled at him as he left, seeming to think she was not worth the effort it would take to say goodbye. The expression did not come naturally after so long of hiding it away as best she could.

Micah glanced at her curiously as he walked away. Britta held her breath and bounced nervously on the balls of her feet, waiting for him to disappear out of sight. He had to have been talking about the training camp when he had talked about the assessments. And who was his father? She hoped that would explain something, maybe even why he was there. The mission must have been the one that only the best got into. Twirling a piece of hair around her fingers Britta puzzled out their conversations. She wondered if they should leave. Had she given up too much in just that small conversation? She decided they didn't need to really worry about being discovered, unless they were caught swimming. There were still other things on her mind but she tried to wave them off. Especially the ones that involved Micah. He'd whisked out of sight and she sighed in relief, anxious to get back and find her sister.

She stepped back through the door of the shop and sat back down by Diana.

"Found anything to draw?" Her sister asked,

"I saw Micah." Said Britta, not wanting to admit she had completely forgotten about her excuse.

"Did he recognize you?"

"Not that I saw and I saw quite a lot, he was talking to this man who was obviously carrying a message from his father."

"Anything useful?"

"No, not really, I mean, not about the mission, only that Micah will be leading it."

"We need to get in it, the mission I mean, we have to find out what's going on, it's all, all tangled up, I don't know what to think."

"Yes, Micah mentioned the empire being in danger."

Dropping her voice Diana leaned in. "Yes but are we the good side or what?"

"I want to know I don't want to do this blindly. They should tell us."

"Maybe there's news somewhere, we've barely heard anything from this city, let's go look at the notice board, there's bound to be something there."

The left the store, a small bell attached to the door frame signaling their exit. The uneven streets led them to a central square, bright with the summer sun and smelling of freshly baked bread. Together they crowded around the notice board which was hung on hooks which jutted out from the brick wall surrounding the square. Diana read them through. "There's a whole heap of things going on." She sighed, "How are we ever going to find which ones are relevant?"

"I don't think missing cattle are." Said Britta, "Or a new bake shop."

Diana jabbed one of them suddenly. "That one, surely."

The notice she was looking at was one of the older ones, pronouncing the discovery of something new.

"What's 'The Aurea Filum'?" Asked Britta.

"It was discovered... What fifteen years ago? It doesn't say much; just that it will 'allow to empire to come to power', isn't the empire already in power?"

Britta shrugged. "I don't know... Does it say who owns it?"

"Probably the emperor." Said Diana.

"What would it be used for then?" Asked Britta curiously. "How will it be helpful?"

"Something to do with manipulation." Said Diana, looking closer. "It's not very clear."

"Does that mean someone's trying to steal it?" Asked Britta, jumping to a conclusion.

"We should be getting back." Said Diana, worry glinting in her eyes.

"Are we trying to protect it or are we being trained to steal it?"

"Whichever way this seems to be what it's about." Muttered Diana as they made their way back to the forest to change back in 'disguise'

Shrouding their faces again the twins headed back into town to get their horses and Ed to come back to the camp. After dinner that night Britta was among the first to get into bed, Diana following soon after. Satisfied with how the day had gone Britta wondered if they should do it again. Micah had given her a good amount of information and didn't suspect her as much. She also remembered his suggestions and wondered really what he had meant. Shrugging the thought aside she soon went to sleep, deciding that one of the main advantages of working so hard was simply that she slept well.

Britta completed her normal morning routine, gave the tea to Micah and talked Thunder into letting her put his gear on. The instructor began to teach them battle strategies and structures they were to follow over the next few weeks. Thunder mainly made up for her lack of direction and she managed to work at the same speed as everyone else. Privately she wondered when a dagger fighter would ever need to fight from horseback. A dagger was too short to be suitable for what they were learning. Finishing that, she rubbed Thunder down and led him back to the paddock. After giving Hoshi attention as well, she made her way back to the big house a little after everyone else to get her lunch.

She listened to the laidback talk of her friends and got up with the rest of them when lunch was over. She gripped hands with Diana and silently wished her luck for the training her sister would have to go through that day. She hoped Diana's climbing would pay off and hoped her own would too; they would soon be beginning to spar with other trainee's using the skills they had learned.

Walking with Ed to the clearing she knew instantly they definitely would be doing just that, when she saw blunted practice daggers. Inwardly she groaned because of both the heat of summer and the certainty of her getting beat up, even though she hoped she would be able to win. Listening carefully to The Fox's instructions she began to feel confident and repeated the movements she had already memorized. She also felt as if she had an advantage because of the time she had spent with The Fox training her in the evening. They were put into pairs and told to watch as The Fox demonstrated a fight with The Rat. As Britta watched their speed and agility, she wondered if she would ever get that good.

Turning when The Fox ordered them to fight, she felt her heart sink as she recognised her opponent; the man The Fox had called Jenkins. She didn't think she remembered his name but he was the same man who had suspected her right on the beginning of training. Wishing she had his strength so she could match his formidable stance she watched for his first move, hoping he would make it so she could get an idea of his technique. Dodging his lunge she watched his straighten up and turn. He was fast but as he was attacking Britta had enough time to dodge. She knew her opponent was good from his fast moves and was only just managing to keep away from his attacks. He handled the dagger with precision and as his attacks tired her out, she began to search for his weakness. He was not as good as The Fox, but then, The Fox had been training for much longer. She knew he was also tiring out and hoped her morning exercises would help her out. But the pattern dances were useless here, they only taught moves and helped build stamina. She didn't have much of an idea how to fight against someone - unless that person was holding a sword. Catching his eye she managed to figure out and dodge his next attack. She noticed his balance was off, only slightly, but knowing she had to go in for the next attack she darted behind him and used the blunt dagger to hit him at the back of the knee. He faltered as he regained his balance but it didn't give her the edge she had hoped for. Instead he turned and suddenly his dagger was at her throat.

Britta nodded, acknowledging her defeat. They were one of the last to finish but she stood up just in time to see Ed winning against his partner. Britta put the dagger back in the place she had gotten it form and congratulated Ed.

"Did you win yours?" He asked.

Britta shook her head. "Not even close." She muttered.

Ed snorted, "I bet you gave him a challenge though." He said confidently.

Britta waited while the teachers went around and talked to each individual about their technique. The Badger came to Britta and she tried to take his advice. She had known she needed to attack more but also that she needed to find a way to do so. She tolerated his jibe about her small strength but by the time he was done Britta decided she disliked The Badger most of all. 

*** 

Another one up and (Somewhat) edited. Thank you also to for reading and commenting your thoughts!