#kahyy

"No, no, the one whose right eye is blue is Avaline, and the one whose right eye is gray is Bell," barked back an older highlander, tightening his belt as he returned from relieving himself behind a tree.

"No, I think you're addled. Avaline was on the captain's left when he introduced them, and I distinctly remember her right eye being gray."

"That can't be, I'd remember that. In fact I'd bet a whole night's drinks on it."

"I'm afraid Geauque is right, Egill. Either way, perhaps you should directly ask our new compatriots directly rather than consider their existence in front of them, do you two not agree?" The reply came from a tent, where shortly after which another midlander, likely nearing his forties, came out from. The twins nodded at him, though remained silent.

"Sorry captain, just got a bit excited. Haven't seen a pair of twins before, let alone a strange pair like these two. Where did you manage to find them anyways?" The wildwood turned to his captain, meanwhile catching a coin purse tossed at him by the now grumbling highlander.

"I did not. After we lost A'yu the sergeant said he had someone special in mind, and when I gave him our report today he presented me them. Said they have some special circumstances that are best not asked about," he answered with a tired sigh.

Geauque gave a defeated shrug. "Well they've been in camp all day and not said a word. I highly doubt we'd even get an answer if we asked them."

"Be that as it may they are our new squadmates, and I expect the two of you to treat them as such. I know damn well I haven't heard either of you two address them directly. That said, I will remind you that we have an assignment tomorrow, so make sure your gear is in order and try not to spend the whole night drinking." With that the captain returned to his tent, closing the flap. The other two gave each other small shrugs before Egill turned back to the twins.

"We are sorry for talking around you two but like Geauque said, you ain't said a single word since you got here. We're not going to press you or anything, but it'd be easier on Oleander if you would say something every now and then. Best for our teamwork if we know how you think and all. Obviously we'll pick it up eventually, but it'd help it along and all."

Geauque nodded in agreement. "Aye. We certainly don't mean ill, but we're all squadmates now and we'll be putting our lives in each other's hands."

The twins nodded simultaneously at the two. Avaline was the first to break the two's silence, speaking with an even, quiet tone.  "We cannot disclose how we came to be here. But if you have other important questions we will answer them.” 

“Well then we should begin with the most immediately important bit, since we’ll be on our first assignment together tomorrow: how do you two fight?”

“I am an archer."

"And I have been trained in the lance," came Bellina's reply, not only sharing the same manner of speech, but also the same pitch. 

Geauque and Egill stared at each other wide eyed for a moment before breaking out in laughter that echoed through the trees. As they began to wheeze and cough, the twins sat in placid silence. "By the gods, I don't think either of us were actually expecting that," Egill finally replied after catching his breath. 

"I certainly didn't," came Geaque's confirmation. "Similar as you two seemed on the outside, I would have bet my next pay on your voices being different at the least. I'm glad I had second thoughts about that. Well, since you were nice enough to answer, I’ll let you know that me and the captain are also lancers, and this brute over here is inexplicably our conjurer and hearer."

The twins closed their eyes, giving a few slow nods. "Is there anything else you would like to know?" They asked simultaneously. 

“Hmm, well then,” started Egill, “What do you two prefer to eat? I tend to cook most of the time and will eat anything, but pointy over there is a bit picky and complains anytime I put anything spicier than milk in. That said, I do try to make something everyone can eat. Saves a pot and my ear,” he ends with a laugh and a soft elbow to the elezen, who merely scowles at the highlander.

The twins stare at each other for a few, somewhat uncomfortable, moments before Avaline turns back to the others. “We have not had much of a varied diet, so we are unsure how to answer that. We haven’t experienced many foods that we ‘like’ or ‘dislike.’ If we discover any preference, we will be sure to let you know.”

The highlander hummed uncomfortably while scratching the back of his neck. “Well, I suppose that’s a decent answer at least. I’ll change it up a bit more than usual for a while and see if that sparks anything.”

"I think," started Geauque, "that that is enough of a start for tonight. Most of our assignments are quiet anyways, so I'm not betting we'll see combat anytime soon."

"Aye, and as the captain said we should be checking our gear just in case anyways. Plus even if we ain't staying up all night, I'd like to get a few quiet drinks in before turning in for the night. We can pick this up another night," came the highlander.