Chapter 6

Pipers are expected to wear a ceremonial outfit for their challenge. This outfit is meant to represent the legacy they carry and the love of their family. This outfit can be as simple or extravagant as they like. Most pipers have their outfits sewn by their mothers, or someone else of great merit within their family. If they have no one to sew their ceremonial outfit, then a piper must sew it him or herself. It is a tradition that must not be broken.

-A History of Pipers; A.A. Wesen

It's the day before the challenge. Tradition requires that the evening is spent in celebration and merriment, a reminder that it's a grand moment for all pipers that another may join their ranks. But I'm not just any piper. I'm a Bonaventure and the shame of my family, so I spend the night out in town with only Giselle as my company. Finley had wanted to come, to at least offer some sort of support, but Finnian had reminded her what that would cause.

Father's anger.

Everything causes Father's anger, especially since his war has still not been won.

Tradition also states that my clothing will be sewn by my mother, that the piper uniform will be lovingly sewn with her fingers, that her blood will stain the material where she pricked her fingers and imbue it with her magic and love. But that's not something I have the luxury of having. Mother can't sew for me without repercussions from Father so I must do so myself. And my siblings can't show their support for me without consequences, so I'm alone on the biggest night of my life.

The ritual will be completed by me and me alone.

I sew the outfit together that I need so badly, I'm not sure the seams will hold together through the challenge. It's the best I can do, and when I threaten to give up, Giselle comes over and helps me as much as she's able to. I'm embarrassed at how crooked the lines are, but I've never been taught to sew. What I know is from watching Mother mend Father's clothing. I know nothing else. War pipers don't need to know how to sew. Neither do comedy ones.

Somehow, only an eros piper needed to know.

Finley's outfit had been perfect, tiny little butterflies embroidered along the hem because she liked them. Mother had shown her love in that outfit, just as I have no doubt she could have shown her love in mine if she'd been allowed to sew it. I wonder what she might have sewn for me if given the opportunity. Finnian's had little swords. Perhaps, mine would have been rats. Perhaps, mine would have been nothing.

"It looks terrible," I sigh, setting the material across my legs.

It's the best we can do, Giselle replies. If tradition mandates this, at least we have achieved it.

"But it should look respectable. It'll only reveal just how shameful I am," I murmur, my fingers tracing over the worn material I'd used. I couldn't even buy new material. I'd had to steal this from someone's trash, an old outfit too torn to mend. It's practically threadbare, but it's all I have.

You will survive.

I glance over at Giselle. "And how do you know?"

I believe in you.

Laughter tumbles out of my lips, and I rub at my suddenly teary eyes. No one has ever told me those words before, and to think they come from a rat now? I must have really been terrible in a prior life. It's the only thing I can think of. Why else would I be born into such a terrible family?

The strong are often sent through many trials before they realize they are strong,Giselle says. I will be by your side through all of them. She presses her paw over the chest of the threadbare shirt. Sew me a pocket. Please.

So I do. I work on the outfit tirelessly through the night, and when my stomach grumbles, Giselle disappears and reappears with food from a different house, so I don't have to worry about punishment. She makes sure I'm fed. She makes sure I'm not alone. She makes sure my tears are not cried in silence.

As my mother should have done.

When the morning comes, with little sleep, I make my way to the ceremonial cliff. No one escorts me. I'm not even sure if they'll come, but the most important person is in my pocket, her paws pressed to my heart.

I believe in you, Fenwick. You are going to be great. I can feel it.

With all of my heart, I want to believe her.

With all of my soul, I hope she's right.