Author's Note: I've been busy with a work project and ended up writing this pretty last second, so this is an unedited version of the chapter. I'll post an edited version within a few days (any changes will probably be pretty minor.)
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The training schedule of an Elven royal guard was brutal.
Sebastian started the day by helping unload a shipment of supplies, hauling large sacks of grain from one end of the camp to the other with Lieutenant Landriel shouting in his ear the whole time.
He barely had any time to rest before he was moved on to kitchen duty, peeling mountains of potatoes for the soldiers' lunch.
And he wasn't even given the chance to eat any of those potatoes before he was assigned to... the latrines.
It was one of the most harrowing mornings of Sebastian's adult life.
Sebastian lay flat on his back under a tree, watching the sunlight dance on the leaves, and feeling every muscle in his body ache.
"You should eat something while you still have the chance," said Landi. "We've got a long afternoon ahead of us."
Sebastian pulled himself upright and picked up his bowl of potato stew. It was almost cold now, since he'd had to wait until after everyone else ate to get anything.
"Am I going to have to do all this every day?" asked Sebastian, forcing down a bite of the cold soup.
"Not every day," said Landi, who was having no difficulty eating her cold soup. "The first few days of training are intended to get you familiar with all of the important jobs around the camp. Not only will this give you a greater appreciation for the work that your colleagues do on your behalf, but it will also give us a chance to evaluate where in the camp might be the best fit for you."
"So eventually I'll just have to do one of these jobs... forever."
Landi shrugged. "Not forever. Just while you're staying with us."
Sebastian sighed and flopped back down again, giving up on his soup.
"Hey, buck up," said Landi. "The job you'll be doing this afternoon is actually pretty relaxing."
"And what's that?" asked Sebastian, miserably.
"Hunting," said Landi.
The word hit Sebastian like a punch to the chest.
Hunting, he thought, and his mind was filled with the sight of a pretty little bird in a pretty little cage.
GREETINGS BROTHER,
I HOPE THE SACRED TREES KEEP YOU AND WATCH OVER YOU WELL, AND THAT YOU DO THE SAME IN RETURN, FOR IT IS OUR DUTY TO PROTECT THE FOREST AS MUCH AS IT IS THE FOREST'S DUTY TO PROTECT US—A DUTY FOR WHICH, IF WE PERFORM IT WELL, WE WILL BE REMEMBERED AS TRUE HEROES FOR ALL TIME!
YESTERDAY I WAS ONCE AGAIN THINKING ABOUT THAT FASCINATING ASSASSIN, AND HOW MUCH I'D LIKE TO FACE THEM ONCE MORE ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE. IF PERHAPS—
Elyon skimmed through the rest of the letter as quickly as he could before tossing it aside. As usual, Zaos had little of substance to say, but every once in a while his letters contained important military intelligence, so Elyon couldn't just ignore them entirely.
Elyon sighed. He would have to write back, too. Or Zaos' feelings would be hurt, which would just make him act even more annoying.
Elyon pulled out a clean piece of paper and wrote in an even-handed script:
YOU ARE READING
The Saintess and the Villainess
FantasyWhen Anne finds herself suddenly reborn as the Saintess, the main character of the novel she had been reading just before she died, she has no interest in fulfilling her original role as the heroine. Instead, she devotes herself to saving her favori...
