A Battle Royale

Chapter One

Winter had come angrily knocking at the door and Baakton state was the one that had to answer it. Winter had only been there for half a moon cycle, yet it felt like winter had come with a vengeance. The cold had swooped in and brought along all his friends: snow, ice, and frigid air. Everything about the weather screamed disaster but there was no escaping it, it was here to stay and the Baakton people would have to greet it with tolerance.

But toleration was something that the Baakton people had grown used to over the years. They were the lowest state in the Nation so that meant they had to learn how to adjust as things were thrown in their paths. None of the other five states thought of Baakton as worth their attention because Baakton was the inferior state that was only there when the other states needed something from them. Baakton was only a state because it tolerated being the lowest state and knew its place among the other states, and with the Allegiance looming in the air once again, Bakkton would have to kneel once again. The Allegiance meant that eventually the Enforcers, Tyton's army, would come to collect the ten men as well as all of the girls of the age of 15 that were considered to be pure owed on behalf of peace. Peace was the cause of many things that the states did for the Deemer so that the Nation stayed strong and unified as one.

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"You're losing your touch princess," Arabella, a knight, said as she stuck Valentina, the princess, in the stomach with the butt of her sword.

"I'm not losing anything, dear friend, I'm just biding my time. Perhaps you're too arrogant for your own good." Valentina raised her sword clenching the handle of her sword. She got into her stance where she placed her right foot in front of her left as she turned her body slightly sideways to Arabella. She motioned for Arabella to strike and she did meeting Valentina's sword with her own as they cladded together. The sound of pure titanium, which could only be found in the Baakton mountains, echoed throughout the air. Valentina moved quickly to her left taking her sword with her and struck violently at Arabella missing her arm by an inch. Arabella took this opportunity to spin around to her right as she dropped to the ground on her left leg striking Valentina on her right leg with her sword. Valentina looked down at her leg and touched the bleeding scar.

"Is that too arrogant for you or do I need to teach you another lesson, princess?" Arabella stood up letting her sword drop to her left side as she paced in front of Valentina. Blood hung to the tip of her sword and she adjusted her leather armor.

"Maybe it's time I teach you a lesson." Valentina clenched her sword and stood facing her friend. This time Arabella took the chance to strike first, lifting her sword and aiming for Valentina's left shoulder which made Valentina drop down backward on her right hand. She spun around bringing her sword to meet Arabella's as she brought it down to meet hers. For three still minutes the two moved in unison as they both tried to best the other. They were both evenly matched but one was slightly better. They danced as one without saying a word, only letting their swords do the talking as they both tried to outdo the other. From the outside, they looked like enemies, but those that knew them knew that they were just keeping with tradition as they sparred here daily to train. Just as it seemed Valentina would pull ahead as she pushed her sword towards Arabella, Arabella moved her sword to the side striking Valentina on the face right above her left brow. Valentina stepped back from the sudden blow stunned at what just happened.

"See, I told you I was better than you, Princess," Arabella said as she walked over to where Valentina stood wiping away the blood from her head wound. She reached up and wiped away a drop of blood with her own hand, careful not to hurt the Princess. The Princess caught her by the hand just as Arabella grazed her wound. They both stared at each other for a second letting unsaid looks be the words they didn't need.