The Last Silvermaw Hunter

Chapter 5

My wings. No.

Just No.

I went full force on the guards that were holding me. I couldn't jerk out of their grasp for the fear of ripping my wings off, so it's time for the one thing I swore that I wouldn't use unless absolutely necessary.

I guess this counts.

Slowly, I slid my hands until I had my palms flat against the floor. The king was oblivious to what I was doing, but June was watching my every move. Using the tip of my index I taped Morse code on the floor.

.. / --. --- - / .- / .--. .-.. .- -. .-.-.- / -.-- --- ..- .----. .-. . / -. --- - / --. --- .. -. --. / - --- / .-.. .. -.- . / .. - .-.-.- (I have a plan. You're not going to like it.)

Her hand slid over the floor until it was in sight. She replied, .-- .... .- - .----. ... / - .... . / .--. .-.. .- -. ..--.. (What's the plan?)

.-- .... . .-. . .----. ... / -- -.-- / -.. .- --. --. . .-. ..--.. (Where's my dagger?)

.-- .... -.-- / .-- --- ..- .-.. -.. / -.-- --- ..- / -. . . -.. / -.-- --- ..- .-. / -.. .- --. --. . .-. ..--.. (Why would you need your dagger?)

.. / -. . . -.. / .. - .-.-.- (I need it.) I replied as one of the guards pulled out their sword. I hurried on, .-.. .. -.- . / -. --- .-- -.-.-- (Like now!)

.. / .... .- ...- . / .. - .-.-.- / .-- .... .- - .----. ... / - .... . / .--. .-.. .- -. ..--.. (I have it. What's the plan?)

.. / -. . . -.. / - .... . -- / - --- / ... - --- .--. .-.-.- (I need them to stop.) .- -. -.. / .. / .... .- ...- . / - --- / ..- ... . / -- -.-- / .--. --- .-- . .-. / - --- / -.. --- / .. - .-.-.- (And I need to use my power to do it.)

.-- .... -.-- / -.. --- / -.-- --- ..- / -. . . -.. / - .... . / -.. .- --. --. . .-. ..--.. (Why do you need the dagger?)

.. / -.. --- -. .----. - / -.- -. --- .-- / - .... . / ..-. ..- .-.. .-.. / . -..- - . -. - / --- ..-. / -- -.-- / .--. --- .-- . .-. / -.-- . - .-.-.- (I don't know the full extent of my power yet.) .- .-. . / -.-- --- ..- / .. -. ..--.. (Are you in?)

Her eyes flew to Caesar before coming back to mine. She made the smallest nod in confirmation.

.-- .... . -. / .. / -.-. --- ..- -. - / - --- / - .... .-. . . .-.-.- / --. --- - / .. - ..--.. (When I count to three. Got it?)

-.-- . ... .-.-.- (Yes.)

-.-- . ... .-.-.- (Okay.) I took a breath before I summoned my power just below the surface. Just within reach to make this plan work. --- -. . .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- - .-- --- .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- - .... .-. . . .-.-.- (One...two...three.)

My power flew out towards the guards holding me. They collapsed on the ground. The sword clattered onto the floor right next to me. I reached out to grab it. My fingers skimmed the hilt.

I skimmed the hilt before a boot stepped onto my hand. I watched as they bent down to pick up the sword. I gritted my teeth as they increased the pressure. The familiar dark blue locks told me who it was. Drayco Saber.

I'm absolutely certain that my power had also gone to him. The tip of his sword against my throat replaced his boot on my hand.

The amount of hatred I have for him is way above the level I had for my mother when she left.

Based on the look he was giving me, we understood each other. He sighed before he lifted his head to address the court, "I want to make a deal."

My mother raised her head so fast I thought she would get whiplash. He continued on, "I would like to propose a duel. If she wins I get to receive her punishment. If I win she will be the one to receive her punishment." He looked back down at me. "Do we have a deal?"

"Yes."

Drayco nodded and backed away, revealing a wall of weapons that was not there before. "Pick your weapon of choice."

I slowly got up and went to my mother, completely ignoring the wall of weapons. Several gasps of surprise went around the room. Kneeling in front of my mother I held out my hand. "If you don't mind, I would like to use what I came here with."

My mother reached around to the back of her dress and pulled out my dagger. Sliding it out of its sheath I looked it over, it wasn't something extraordinary. It was about a foot long, two inches in width and the tip curved at the end.

I buckled the belt of the sheath and put away the dagger. I nodded my head in thanks, then looked over at the wall of weapons, contemplating if I should use some of them or just go with my dagger and its secret.

I decided to keep the secret of my dagger secret and headed towards the wall. Everyone watched me. Some of the guards stationed at the wall started to step forward, but the king signaled them to stay where they were with a wave of his hand.

Stopping in front of the weapon wall I raised my hand over the weapons, making sure to not touch them. Slowly I moved my hand over them row by row. Many of the people in court looked at me confused, but they stayed quiet.

"What is she doing?" Caesar asked. It was my mother that answered, "She's choosing her weapons."

"Why doesn't she just go with the one she chose already?" He asked.

"If you choose the wrong one it could cost you dearly. So with all due respect your majesty," I replied, glaring over my shoulder, "be silent." I watched as he fumed with anger. I'm pretty sure that no one would dare do what I was doing.

I turned back to the wall and continued what I was doing. Soon enough I felt a tug. Not like someone sharply pulled on your arm, but like something was trying to get my attention. My hand followed the direction the 'tug' was coming from then it stopped on a set of bow and arrows. Putting them both on my back, I continued to get more ammunition.

The 'tug' came faster this time. I looked in the direction it was coming from, my eyes stopped on a broadsword. I didn't need to follow the 'tug' to know that was the next thing I had to use. Grabbing the hilt I lifted it out of its place on the wall.

It wasn't too heavy nor too light, it was at the perfect weight. The blade was a bloody copper color that shined silver when the light hit it. The hilt was pure black. As I put it on the opposite side of my dagger on my belt, my eye caught on something.

It was a whip. About four and a half feet in length, made out of black leather. Dragon leather. It was perfect for me to use. I didn't have any room left on my belt for it, but that didn't mean I still couldn't claim it. I reached out to run my hand down the curve of the raveled whip.

I looked about the room, taking it in. Smooth walls, no friction, which means no climbing. Rafters, great advantage, just have to find a way to get up to them. Wood behind the thrones, possible advantage to get to the rafters. Last but not least, people, possibly problematic, very problematic.

I looked at my mother who nodded, telling me that she had my back, no matter the issue. I looked at Saber, who stood in the middle of the room, his face passive. I looked at my hands and smiled, I knew that if I were in trouble and my mother was stuck, I could count on myself and my power to help.

Still smiling, I turned and walked back to the middle of the throne room. It was time to start the duel.

May the best one win.