A World Hidden

Chapter Four: Wounds

The gate clanked open and Kyrion stepped out of his side, confidence oozing from him. Ravenna moved forward and stood in the middle of the training grounds. The Oscens training stopped and stepped back, creating a circle around the two. An older Oscen stepped forward between the two and spoke.

"You both know the rules. No killing blows or wing damage. Begin," the male Oscen said and stepped back to stand beside the Cullen's who had joined the others to watch. 

Kyrion smirked and took his stance while Ravenna simply stood there. She was waiting for him to move first as she knew he would do so. 

Kyrion charged her and she dodged out of the way at the last second, but clipped him with her wing sending him tumbling face first to the ground. Ravenna moved quickly opposite him as he stood, anger showing on his face. Kyrion drew his sword and ran at her. Ravenna blocked the blow with her forearm guard and shoved the sword away from her. She ducked out of the way as Kyrion swung once more and caught the back of his knee with her foot, forcing him to a kneel. Kyrion snarled and swung while standing, the blade tip slicing Ravenna's cheek as she danced out of reach. She felt her face and smiled at Kyrion.

Ravenna drew her sword and waited once more for him to make a move. Kyrion, thinking he knew her movements now, stepped up slowly to her. He swung and there was ring as the swords collided. They swapped blows, Kyrion never actually hitting Ravenna but the female got a few hits in to his armor. No doubt leaving bruises with the force she had behind the weapon. Kyrion stabbed forward and Ravenna side stepped, sweeping his legs out from under him. She swung downwards and stopped her blade just short of his face as his came up a second late to stop the blow. She twisted her blade and knocked his sword from his hand, leaving a deep cut to his palm. 

She sheathed her sword and grabbed the male by his neck, lifting him from the ground. She was halfway choking him with her strength and she pulled him closer so he could look at nothing but her. 

"Threaten my mates or their family and I will have your head. Challenge me again if you wish but you will lose," she hissed before throwing the male a few feet away from her. She turned and looked around her at the crowd.

"The Cullen's are here as my guests. If you have a problem with that, you take it up with me. I better not hear of any of you threatening them while they stay here," Ravenna said loudly so all could hear her. 

"Yes, Oscena!" came the collective reply. Ravenna nodded and crowd dispersed. 

Ravenna made her way to the Cullen's and Esme met her first, placing a gentle hand on her cheek where the cut was etched into her skin.

"I'm all right. I've had much worse than this," Ravenna said, taking Esme's wrist and holding her hand.  

"Doesn't make it any easier to see," Carlisle said, stepping forward to Esme other side and placing his hand on Ravenna's back. Ravenna smiled at both of them and turned when a noise was made behind her. The sound of a knife being thrown had her turn and she caught a throwing dagger in her hand, blood beginning to drip from her hand. Kyrion was standing and was pulling another dagger out to throw before a couple guards tackled him, relieving him of his weapons. 

"They're your mates? Disgusting," Kyrion hissed as he was hauled to his feet. Ravenna snarled and only hands from Carlisle and Esme stopped her from going and tearing the male apart. 

"Take him to the dungeons. I'll decide what happens to him later," Ravenna hissed, anger in her eyes. Ravenna dropped the dagger on the ground, her hand covered in her own blood. 

"Those need to be seen to," Carlisle said, his doctor mode coming out. 

"They will be. I have medical supplies in my chambers," Ravenna said.

"It would make us both feel better if Carlisle helped you," Esme said, wrapping an arm around Ravenna's waist. Ravenna lightly smiled and nodded in consent. 

"Finally they are getting a room," Emmett said, snickering. Ravenna barked out a laugh and led the way out of the training grounds. The crowds parted in respect as they made their way back to the castle. She led the way to her chambers and opened the doors, letting the Cullen's into her private study. A door to the right led the way to the washroom and the door to it's left was her bedroom. 

"Wow. I didn't think this place could get any more beautiful," Renesmee said looking around excited like a child. 

Ravenna chuckled and went to a desk with drawers, pulling out gauze. Carlisle took the gauze from her and Ravenna pulled out a cloth to be used to stop the bleeding. Ravenna went to the washroom and rinsed off the blood from her hand. Gently drying her hand, she pressed the cloth to the wound and grimaced in slight pain. Stepping back out into the study, she went to Carlisle and let him wrap her hand in gauze. As he finished tucking the gauze under itself so it wouldn't move, he lifted her hand and pressed a light kiss over the bandaged area.

Ravenna smiled softly and then inhaled sharply as the action caused her cheek to burn. Esme took the cloth from her and gently wiped the blood from her face. When she was done, Ravenna took the cloth from her and set it in a basket for one of the servants to take away later.

"Is it normal for someone to challenge you like that?" Bella asked as Ravenna motioned for them to sit. The Cullen's sat down and Ravenna sat with Carlisle and Esme.

"The normalcy of it comes and goes. There are times where I get challenged every month and then there are times I get challenged every day. Just depends on who is feeling confident," Ravenna said.

"It doesn't bother you to be challenged so much?" Jasper asked, curling an arm around Alice. Ravenna grew quiet and Esme placed a hand on her knee in comfort.

"I am old. I get tired of the younger ones thinking they know how best to run this place. Besides my eventual successor is ready. When I am ready to step down, she will take over easily. Tatiana, the guard you met earlier, is my eventual successor. She's been training for it for a long while now. I'd say she is more than ready to take over," Ravenna said, resting her hand on Esme's.

"If you're tired, why not step down?" Renesmee questioned.

"Before I didn't have a reason to. Now," Ravenna said and then smiled softly at Esme and Carlisle, "I think I found my reason."