AISLIN | I

CHAPTER FOUR

THE ROOM immediately grew stiff at the sound of my name. Leland's eyes grew as wide as saucers and fear flashed in his emerald eyes, and at this moment he knew, he messed up.

I couldn't help but smile with a bit of laughter. I stepped away from Leland and placed my dagger back in its original place and stood confidently.

Suddenly someone's laugh reached everyone's ears, making us turn and look at them. It was the guy with hazel eyes with who I made eye contact. He stood up from the table he had been sitting at and walked over to Leland and us. He clapped his hands, still laughing.

He reached us and placed a hand on Leland's shoulder, "That was golden!"

Leland's face pulled together in annoyance, "You're not my favorite person today."

He shrugged, "I'm not your favorite person on any day." He pivoted to me and stuck out his hand, "Hello Aislin, I'm August. I'm one of the soldiers here."

I nodded and shook his hand, "Nice to meet you, August. How did you know it was me?"

He shrugged with a smirk, "Just a hunch."

A cough caught my attention. We looked over to Evander who looked at August with wide eyes. Looks like he finally understands, "You knew who she was?"

He snickered, "Did you not?" I let out a chuckle.

I knew I had everyone's attention so I took this opportunity to get to business. I climbed onto the nearest table next to me. My sudden movements causing the men to move all the stuff out of the way of my feet.

"Alright let's get something straight here," I announced to everyone, "I don't care who you are, how you got here, or what kind of respect you think you deserve, but now I'm the boss. You'll be listening to me. And that's what you pass along to the men who aren't here today. Do you understand? I've seen a lot of stupid people on the field of war, and I don't want to see more of them. So I'm here to make sure you're strong, not only in your body but also in your mind. Yes, I am a woman, but I am as strong as any of you men. Don't judge a book by its cover or you will all feel the wrath of karma and let me tell you, she's sucks."

I stepped down from the table, everyone's eyes still on me, "I want everyone here at 0500 sharp."

And with that, I walked back up the spiral staircase with a smirk. When I reached the top step I knocked on the metal door, alerting the guards of my presence. They opened the door for me and I was hit by a gush of cold wind.

I heard the sudden banter of the men downstairs and it made me laugh. I stepped out of the doorway and onto the marble flooring again.

I turned towards the guards, "The Queen said one of you could bring to me room, correct?"

The guard on my left nodded and held his hand put to his right, "This way, miss."

He seemed to be in his late twenties. He had fluffy auburn hair and steel grey eyes. He stood a couple of inches over me as well.

"Uh, please call me Aislin," I said as we began to walk.

"Okay, Aislin." He said.

We walked for a bit till we reached an archway with glass french doors that had white linens on the other side of the door for privacy in the middle. "We are here. I will be stationed here while you stay here. So I shall be here at all times if you ever need anything, Aislin."

I nodded, "Alright, thank you...?"

"Arius, ma'am." he bowed.

"Thank you, Arius." I smiled. He nodded with a slight blush on his freckled face.