Their Resilience

Chapter 2

Nesrin quietly sighed as she stood beside the castle yard, otherwise known to her as the knight's training yard. The knights were spread out, sparring, doing archery, on top of horses, and much more as the captains looked over their training. She rarely comes here since the knights get nervous just seeing her, but she found the scene before her reassuring.

"My lady, are you sure about not dining for lunch?" Alice, Nesrin's maid, asked. "You have already skipped breakfast and hardly touched your dinner last night." She continued, staring worriedly toward her Queen.

"I'm just not feeling hungry lately," Nesrin admitted, eyes glued on the knights.

"Hiding like this also isn't suited for you, my lady," Alice said, deadpanning at the fact that she and Nesrin were hiding behind bushes and pillars.

Nesrin giggled, sparing a glance to Alice, who was by her. "I think it's quite enjoyable." She admitted quietly, causing her maid to laugh.

"I want to see their progress," Nesrin began as she motioned to the knights and captains. "Though if the knights were to see me, they would get nervous and mess up, resulting in the captains asking me not to return to the training grounds again."

Alice blinked, "Again?" she whispered to herself.

"Oh, Alice, look!" Nesrin exclaimed as she eagerly pointed to the grounds. "It looks like Ehmir and Avery are going to duel!"

Alice looked at the two men as they circled one another, iron swords in hand.

"My lady, aren't they part of your royal guard?" She questioned in her wispy accent.

Nesrin nodded, "They are part of the new guard that I mentioned maybe three months ago." she stated. "Remember when I told you that Levi made one bleed and asked for you to send Sir Ronald his way."

"Of course, your majesty, how could I forget! I was worried the poor man would run away with his tail between his legs." Alice commented.

Nesrin nodded, "I was concerned about how he saw us." she admitted. "Anyways, let's watch."

"Watch how you speak about my men!" Avery spat towards Ehmir, rage boiling inside him.

"Those men should watch how they speak about the queen!" Ehmir yelled back, taking a stance.

Avery let out a frustrated yell before charging forward, his sword gleaming at his side. Ehmir remained focused, his face not showing his opponent any sign of dodging his attack. As Avery closed in, thrusting his sword in front of him, Ehmir jumped back.

Avery's blade stabbed through the air, bringing it back; he prepared to attack again. Ehmir effortlessly danced around his assaults, mocking him. He jumped and twirled as if this spar, or duel, was mere child's play.

Becoming rather bored of just dodging, Ehmir decided to switch gears as he remembered the words Avery's men threw toward Nesrin.

Avery rolled back after being blocked by Ehmir. He snarled as he regained his footing and stared at his comrade. "Is that all you can do, dodge and block, pretty boy." Avery taunted.

Not saying a word, Ehmir glared at Avery and got in his preferred stance.

Ehmir rushed towards Avery, his speed taking his opponent by surprise as he soared forward. He held on tightly to his blade, raising it steadily to begin his assault. Their weapons clashed, screaming as they struck one another. Sparks flew off the edges, showering them in yellow and orange rain. Twisting his blade in the direction of his body, Ehmir jumped back before diving straight in for a follow-up assault.

Alice gasped, "My lady." She began as she stumbled over her words. "I don't think this is a mere spar; this is dangerous!"

Nesrin didn't answer Alice, which caught the maid's attention.