Hazel
an excerpt

....Hazel, stomach burning in envy, schooled her voice before replying. She grasped Callia’s hands, and stood, pulling the other girl up. “Callia, it’s happening, and we have to get you packed.” The two girls slowly made their way up the stairs, carrying a small candle, while two gentleman stood on the front step talking in hushed tones.
The older one was deep in thought. “Did you see her eyes?”
The younger one let out a breath in a rush. “Hard not to. Do you think she’s really the one?”
The older man rocked forward onto his toes, gave a bounce that one his size should not be able to give, and rocked back onto his heels. “Hard to tell by candle light, but she sure looks the part.” A frown furrowed his grisly brow. “What was that offering to let the other one come along? You know we had not planned on any more joining us. We don’t have enough horses.”
The young man blinked, shook his head, and looked up at the cloudy night sky. “I don’t know Maddox, it just seemed… right. Having one more person with us couldn’t slow us down that much, and besides, she is not coming anyhow.”
Maddox frowned again, but nodded. “Yes, there is something about that girl… hard to put your finger on it though. Anyhow, best not to talk about it any more. We don’t want to raise any more suspicion than we have to. Time enough for that.”
And the two men lapsed into an anticipatory silence, their breath curling up to join the clouds hanging low in the dark night.