Unknown (NaNoWriMo)

Chapter 11:

6 months later

Hazen has been consistently training me these last 6 months. My hand-to-hand was improving and I was getting more comfortable with the daggers. Hazen was right that daggers would be a good choice for me. I was working on my swordsmanship as well, but not a much as the daggers. I could notice a different in my body. I was gaining muscle, but not enough that it would be noticeable to an outsider. That was good, but I was counting on flying under the radar.

The Duke's family was content to ignore me and I them. The library was my sanctuary and where I could obtain the most information. According to my daily eavesdropping, the unrest in the south was coming to a close and that meant the presence of another royal in the capital. I could remember what the Duke and Duchess were complaining about, just yesterday.

"Did you hear that the unrest in the south is starting to quell"

The Duchess sounded quite frantic for something that was a good thing. I could hear her pacing back and forth in the study. Soft sounds of a quill writing came to a stop.

"Yes, it seems the Third Prince has made an impact there. It has been four years since he was sent to the south. If he comes back, he will be seen as a hero in the capital"

The Duchess must have not liked that statement, because her voice was raised. "If he comes back, he will once again be a threat to the throne. Do you not remember that we have allied ourselves with the First Prince Rumad."

"I can recall it perfectly." The Duke's cold voice cut through the air and even though I was in the library, I was tense. The Duchess was silent. I could hear papers shuffling around and the Duke's footsteps. "I have been busy making sure that the nobles and other important figureheads see that the First Prince is the other choice for a leader. Meanwhile, your son has been galivanting off with the Third Princess, who has little to zero influence."

"Tirvak is only thinking about helping the family. You know that even a Third Princess will still hold some weight. The Alderredeen family will be able to rise above the other noble houses and become a permanent figurehead in Adraria." Her voice gained a pleading tone and I could tell that Tirvak was her favorite. The Duke revealed that was not the case for him.

"Rhedin is going about it in a more dignified manner. He has been invited multiple times to the capital and now resides at the palace as an informal advisor to the First Prince." So that was why I didn't see him as often, not that I had the pleasure of conversing with him in the first place.

"Our job is to solidify the First Prince's victory. If the Third Prince is coming back, this could make everything far more difficult." The Duchess was now becoming frantic. "The people are more accepting of him because of the unrest in the south. Rumors also have it that he is backed by magicians who don't serve the King."

This rumors could make the King turn against the Third Prince, due to the perception of an uprising. Well it wasn't my problem anyway, I needed to lay low and make sure I stay alive. Before I closed off the vent, I caught one last thing. "Don't worry, I've sent someone to hinder his progress."

Hazen didn't show up to our practice later that night, but that wasn't a deterrent for me. I created some wooden posts and practiced my daggers. After awhile, I sat down on the ground and let out a sigh. 6 months, I have been here in this new world. I wondered if anyone missed me at all. The only person I could think of was Andrew. Maybe that's why I took to Hazen so well. He reminded me a little of Andrew. Though Andrew couldn't fight at all.

I thought of another song and while I relaxed I started humming.

I woke up from the same dream
Falling backwards, falling backwards
'Til it turned me inside out
Now I live a waking life
Of looking backwards, looking backwards
A model citizen of doubt