61. Holden
Chapter 61
Holden
“ I ’m really getting tired of coming to this place.” Finn mutters under his breath as we slip through the hidden door of The Tomb. His words don’t exactly match the look on his face. He looks calmer than I’ve seen him in weeks. He must’ve found someone new to interview.
I’m tired of coming here too. It feels like we’re spending more time here than we do on campus or at home. My first time here seems like a lifetime ago. An experience lived by someone else. We were all so excited to be moving towards the next step of our lives. Now it feels like a burden.
I was enamored by this place. Awed by the men gracing its halls and the secrets these walls held. Now, I look around and all I can think is that the only information it willingly shares with us is bad news.
For tonight’s meeting, we were told to bring our formal wear. I shrug on my cloak and slip on my mask before moving into the inner chamber. Looking around, I can tell I’m not the only person confused about why we’re about to sit through this meeting in these heavy ass cloaks.
“Gentlemen, I’m glad you all could be here today.” The ceremony master says, as if we had a choice about showing up. “As I look out at the crowd, I can truly say that this is an exciting day in the history of our town, and in The League of the Daggered Raven. We have a record number of prospects and initiates to weed through over the next few months, as well as another round of challenges on campus.”
He looks at the person standing to his right. If this is just to hype up the fraternity games, he could’ve emailed a flyer.
“You all know we closely monitor the fraternity game scoreboards and often use those scores as part of our screening process. What some of you may not know is that for second-year prospects and above, there are games and challenges hand picked by The League to manage our membership roles.”
His head turns and I can almost swear he’s looking at me. “For those of you who use the archives to help gain an advantage over the other members, you won’t find any records of these challenges on the shelves. They’re kept in one of the secure vaults.”
Murmurs filter through the room at this bit of information. “These challenges are difficult, often times scary and may require you to work independently of whatever team you’ve formed, or in new teams.”
He smiles out at us, but it’s less than friendly. “I can sense all the apprehensive looks on your faces, but you don’t need to worry. I have faith that each and every one of you is up for whatever challenge we issue.”
This explains why they often kept first year prospects separate from the higher year levels. They didn’t want to risk anybody spilling the beans about these challenges. It also explains the randomness of that solo mission Finn went on.
This is probably where the divide between so many friendships begins. I wish this were the case for me and my friends. This would be easy to overcome, instead of the shit we’re going through. Or is what we’re going through a variation of one of those secretly hand picked personal league challenges he’s talking about? Wouldn’t that be fucked up?
He claps his hands and rubs his palms together. “I am also excited to announce that we’ve made some changes to our rules.”
This time, he looks at the guy on his left. “The decisions made within the walls of The Tomb are recorded and locked. Accessible only by members with a high enough ranking, until the High Council formally announces the decision. Opening our doors to women wasn’t the only change ratified last year.”
I hate that he keeps pausing for dramatic effect.
The high council has also decided to appoint one lucky family the official title of the fourth legacy bloodline at the end of next year.
No fucking way.
“That’s right. You’ve heard me correctly. We’re finally prepared to assign a new bloodline and have decided it won’t come from the group of families that contributed the fifth highest donation as previously thought.”
No. Fucking. Way. There are thirty families that tied for donations at the fifth highest dollar amount, and ten of those families still have students going to school here. They always said one of those families would be chosen. They’ve been fighting amongst themselves for generations, and now they’re changing it?
“The Triumvirate are the strongest bloodlines in The League of the Daggered Raven, and to reconstitute The Quadrumvirate, we feel the family must posses the same strength and tenacity that The Trium lines have always represented, regardless of the initial donation of the familial line.”
He gives that non-smile, smile again. “This is where loyalty, honor, perseverance and strength come into play. This is where you will show you fully embody the spirit of the oath you will take. Therefore, you can expect the challenges to be more grueling. More demanding than they were before.”
There’s another roar of voices, before he quiets the room down again. “Now, one last order of business to address. When your name is called, please step forward.”
One by one, people step from the ranks to the front of the room. I make note of the names. Some I know, others I don’t. They all have the potential to become a family with whom we’ll be forced to align.
It’s been just Pax, Finn, and myself for so long. I’m not sure how we’ll deal with another change in our dynamic. Someone walks up and hands the ceremony master a scroll. He unrolls it and reads, “By order of the most esteemed members of the high council of The League of the Daggered Raven. After a ratified vote and the passing of any required appeal period, we formally decree that the following prospects’ promotion to the next year group.”
They’re issued ascension pins and then instructed to return to the ranks.
When he’s done, there are seven people still standing in the middle of the floor who haven’t received pins. I’m confused about why. Our ascension wasn’t quite like this. They read the orders first, then called us to come forward, but there were no prospects just left standing in the middle of the floor when it was over.
Does this mean they didn’t make it? Is this a way to embarrass them for falling short or something? My question is answered a second later. “Brothers, we thank you for your service during this last year. Your assignment is complete.”
Assignment? What assignment? I watch as the guys walk over to the door that leads deeper into the building. It’s the door the full-fledged league members enter and exit from.
Next to me, Finn whispers, “They were spies?”