Everyday, for the past three weeks after graduating from their education preparing for Arch Academy, Jessica excitedly bounded for the postal worker who brought their mail in the afternoons. Knowing what she was looking for, he handed her the mail with a large smile on his face. “It came?!” she questioned excitedly.

“Placed right on top fir ya,” he said with a lazy drawl.

She saw two envelopes from Arch Academy. One addressed to her and another to her brother Jeremiah. She beamed, thanked the postal worker and ran back inside. She dumped the rest of the mail on the counter as she took the envelopes to her brother’s room. “Jeremiah! Jeremiah,” she cried out excitedly as she raced to his room. She stood in the doorway with a large smile on her face waving his envelope as he turned to face her.

“It came,” he said standing up and going to her. He was a little more calm about it but excited nonetheless. “Do you think we got in?”

“I hope so. Our marks seemed good enough,” she replied.

“Should we open them now or in front of everyone,” he asked.

“After papa’s reaction last time, I think it’d be best if we opened them now and just tell mama later.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.”

****

Later that evening, after dinner while Jeremiah and Samuel helped their father with the outside chores, Jessica came up to her mother and showed her the acceptance letter for Arch Academy. They were required to appear in two months by precisely 09:00 that morning on the said date. Behind the acceptance letter was a list of required items needed.

Her mother sighed heavily, “You will have to tell your father.”

Jessica’s face fell at her mother’s heavy sigh. “Fine, but I thought after all this time, you’d be pleased. At least just a little bit,” she said with a slight huff through her nose. She walked away and out the door heading for the barn.

“Papa,” she said with a slight shaky voice as she held out the letter to him. Her hand was shaking slightly. She was nervous.

He was just finishing some work on a tractor as he replaced his tools on the bench. “Yeah!” he called looking up. He noticed the letter and took it looking at the seal on the bottom. ”You got in?”

Jessica gave a reserved smile. “Yes papa,” she answered quietly.

He nodded and walked toward the back of the barn. He waved for her to follow. “You know, I was saving an actual dowry for you. Saved many pennies to make it worth a good wedding present. But in the end the rebel never left. That’s what your mother told me when she talked me down two years ago. Are you aware of what your choice means?”

She swallowed as she stood nearby. Her head lowered as her chest tightened. He turned to face her seeing her posture; he nodded then turned back to the wall. He pulled a set of boards out from it to reveal a hidden cupboard of sorts. Inside were two bundles One slightly wider than the other. He handed the bigger one to her.

Jessica looked up at him quizzically as she took the item. She was confused. “Wh-what’s this?” she asked.

“Your dowry, my sweet Jessica. Open it.” He smiled broadly for the first time.

Again she gave him a quizzical look before taking it to the workbench and unwrapping the gift. A set of twin blades made of fine steel greeted her. They gleamed brightly like stars at midnight. Even the wire wrapped hilt which was made of pure ivory. The belt was black and simply made. Which went with the woven sheaths, a fine pattern of carved feathers went down them.

“They call them falconers blades. I don’t recall the steel but it’s incredibly light and sharp. My friend at the blacksmith shop made them for you. But I found it most fitting as a gift since you wish to find love in a rampant lifestyle.”

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Jessica stared at them in disbelief as her father explained. They were the most beautiful things she had ever seen yet she felt disheartened by his words. This whole time they thought of her as a rebel as the notion had come from his mouth several times. She had disappointed him. Perhaps even broke his heart in a way and then this, but then had to add his reminder of disapproval at the end. Her hands slowly tightened into fists as tears came to her eyes. All she wanted to do was bring honor to the family. To him. “They’re… beautiful papa,” she said truthfully but with a note of sorrow.

“So long as you’re safe,” he declared.

She slowly placed the wrapping back over the blades and looked up at him with tear filled eyes. “And what if I do die, papa,” she said softly. “Will you deny my body?”

The question made him blink in surprise. “No, my daughter I won’t do that.”

“It is good to know that, at least.” She bowed her head, looking at the buddle she had taken in her arms. “Thank you papa, for your blessing.” She gave him a sad smile and went to leave.

“Here,” called out her father. He pulled a small chain from his around his neck. “It’s some time away, I know but I want you to take this chain with you. Perhaps it will bring you a better fortune than it did for me.” It was plain looking, made out of normal steel, a eagle hung from it with his wings held aloft and talons outstretched. “Now you may go with my blessing. But send Jeremiah to me.”

Now the tears that came to her eyes were for a different reason. “Papa,” she gasped as he placed it in her hand. She looked at it then up at him. Her heart pounded with excitement at his offer. She gave a very slight smile. “But this was your father’s. It - it should go to Jeremiah,” she spoke in her stunned awe but she closed her fingers around it and held it close to her chest. “Oh papa, thank you.”

“It was my father's, but now it’s yours. Don’t fret about Jeremiah's reaction. Now go get him.” He ended the remark with a little sharpness.

“Yes, papa,” she said with a slight bow of her head and hurried out to find Jeremiah.

A few moments later, Jeremiah came through the doors of the workshop. “You wanted to see me?” he asked in a respectful tone.

The father held out the last bundle of cloth for his son to take. “This should be of use where you are going.”

Looking surprised he took the bundle in his hand and started to unwrap the folds. They revealed a broad sword stout with a hands breadth wide. The blade was held in a plain leather sheath. A wire wrapped hilt also accompanied this one along with a black amethyst in its pommel.

“It should keep you and your sister safe. That’s all I ask of you in going to the academy.”

Jeremiah looked up at him pleased. “Thank you papa,” he said then nodded. “I’ll do my best. I promise.”

“Good, then I have nothing else to offer you except that should you bring honor to the family. I’ll be forever proud of both of you. But don’t tell your sister that.”

Jeremiah beamed. “Oh, papa.”

****

The next two months passed quickly for the twins; too quickly for their mother who was doing her best holding back her tears as they said their goodbyes and headed to the Castleton Station. They did little talking on the train. Jessica had her face in a book while Jeremiah checked his luggage for the umpteenth time; making sure he had everything. “It’s not going to be any different from the last time you checked,” commented Jessica over her reading.

“I know,” replied Jeremiah but checked it again anyway a few minutes before the train headed to their stop. Jessica shook her head with a little laugh. She continued reading. She knew she had all she needed.

She put the book away when she felt the train starting to slow and looked out the window. The trees had thinned and a large open valley surrounded by large mountains came into view as they passed a large hill. Both the twins excitingly looked ahead. A large station building was busy with patrons waiting for the train. With excitement the twins grabbed their bags and headed to the nearest door as soon as the train came to a stop. They headed to a station clerk to find out where they needed to go next.

“Arch Valley,” questioned Jessica as they came to the information window. Jeremiah looked around surprised how busy they were. He’d never seen so many people in one place.

“Over there,” waved the woman without even looking up from her paperwork. Jessica looked over where she thought her wave pointed and saw a young man dressed in a light blue and gray aerial uniform. A dark blue insignia of Arch Academy sown on the left side of his chest. Jessica smiled excitedly. She tapped her brother’s shoulder and they hurried over to him.

“Arch Valley Academy,” she questioned again with a bright smile.

The young man looked at her expressionless eyeing her carefully. He looked away looking at Jeremiah. He raised an eyebrow. “Letters?” he questioned with a bored voice.

Both twins pulled out their acceptance letters from their back pockets eagerly. The young man took them both and seemed to study them forever. With a sigh he handed them back and pointed toward a pair of doors. “Go through there.”

“Thank you, sir,” said Jessica happily.

Jessica and Jeremiah hurried over. The young man watched them with a slight smug smirk on his face as if thinking they’ll not be that happy soon enough. He turned away waiting and watching for others scheduled to arrive. They blinked a few times, coming out the doors as the bright afternoon sun hit their faces. A long wagon waited parked about a hundred feet from the building. A large Arch Academy insignia was burned into the side of it. A great eagle in flight, with a scroll in one talon and an olive branch in the other, a symbolism of peace and unity. The large wagon was pulled by several horses. A large breed.

Showing their letters again, this time with a quicker glance, they were helped onto the wagon, luggage placed underneath and between their legs. It wasn’t long after they were greeted by several others. A few of them older but just as eager. When the wagon was about full with cadets the young man dressed in the uniform appeared. “Come on, get in and settle down, we don’t have all day,” he shouted at a few who stood around talking. They quickly hurried onto the wagon. He climbed onto the back and hung on as he shouted to the driver to get going. The group excitedly starting talking again about the Academy or where they were from. Jessica and Jeremiah were sitting by a young woman named Libby Chandler from a small village called Orum. She was the first cadet qualified to make it in twenty years from Orum. Mostly because it was such a small village and not many people bothered with the paper work and studies. A redhead named Ralph Zimmer also sat near them. He was from a town in the far east. Took him almost a week to get there. Both of them were as excited as the twins.

They rode for about an hour through a winding trail through a thin forest until they came to the edge of some cliffs. The young man in the uniform smiled as the cadets became quiet and their expressions looked awed inspiring as they spotted them. Several great hawks waiting with large saddles on their backs. “Anyone afraid o’ heights?” jested the rider. “Better tell me now, cause where ya goin’ ain’t no place for ya.”

Only a few shook their heads as the others stared on watching the giant raptors enthusiastically. They were truly awe inspiring to behold and the twins became even more excited about becoming riders. “They’re bigger than I thought,” whispered Libby beside them.

“They’re beautiful,” commented Jessica. The woman agreed with a nod.