The Iron Hostage (An Iron Fey Fanfiction)

Chapter Ten: Training

Kenzie and Bonecrusher entered the fields as many were leaving.  They had been told that her elite squad needed the area, so they left.  Only fey with the same outfit as they were around.  "Go grab a dummy."  He ordered Kenzie.  She did as told and set it up in an empty area.

Learning moves from Bonecrusher that would hurt, but not fully damage, she practiced with the dummy for hours.  By the end, she went through three of them.  It was a small amount for a mortal, but Kenzie didn't know that.  Fey were fragile yet strong creatures thanks to their glamour.  The elite fey tried hard not to try and get her to use the glamour she did not have, and destroy their plan.

She ate with the elites, trained with them, and only spoke with them or Deliah during the next week.  She was even present when Iron fey came to announce Meghan's meeting.  She was standing behind Titania when they walked in.

"State your business."  Oberon said.  A dark haired fey with a  streak of purple came up.

"My name is Glitch, second in command to Meghan.  She has requested an emergency meeting of the courts."

"What for?"  Kenzie was shocked that Titania wasn't speaking.

"To look for a mortal who is lost within our world."

"Where is this meeting to take place?  Tir Na Nog or here?"

"Actually sir, the Sacred Grounds.  Meghan wishes to be on neutral ground."

"You've stated your business, please leave."  Titania said, looking around her.  The edges of the trees began to have a silver look to them.

Glitch and the other Iron fey bowed and left, probably for Tir Na Nog.  Titania had turned to Kenzie then, who was out of sight of Oberon.  He never knew she was there, like most of the elite force.

"My dear, you must train hard in the next few days.  The Sacred Grounds is where you will show me you will not let me down again."

"I will not."

"Good, now go and train."  She waved Kenzie off then.

Back to the fields Kenzie went.  She met Bonecrusher there, who was just sitting and watching the others work.  "What shall I do now?  Maybe work on my glamour."

He spun his head so quickly at her she thought it would break his neck.  "We do not fight with our glamour.  It is an unfair advantage.  You will learn physical only."  His tone was dark, not to be tested.

"Fine."  Kenzie said, angered, and brought out another dummy.   She worked on that one and four others during the course of her training.  She even trained with a male elite for a while.  She didn't care that he had bruised her, nor did he.  When she kicked him in the jaw, he turned back and smiled at her.

"That's the move that will knock him down at the end.  Save that one, or he may grab your leg."

"How do you know I will fight a male?"

"Females aren't usually used in competitions, just wars."  He brought up his arms again and lunged at her.  They fought for a few hours more before it was time to eat.

Kenzie really didn't have a stomach for the food, but ate it anyway.  It would be the only thing she had.  Something in her ached for a different food.  She couldn't name it, just knew it was cheesy.

At the end of each day while she walked to bed, Deliah would catch up with her and they would talk.

"Are you ready for the competition?"  She asked the day before.

"I don't know.  We'll see tomorrow."

"Do you know who you will fight?"

"Nope.  Titania isn't telling me.  I think she has an idea of who she wants, but wants it to be a surprise."

"She'll give you a worthy opponent.  One you can take down."  Deliah said, holding the door open for her.  They walked in and Kenzie went into her bath room, ready to take a bath after a long day.

"May I ask you something?"  She asked Deliah.

"Anything."

"Why don't I remember much since I was assigned to kill Ethan?"

"I can't tell you that."

"Why not?"

"It's not my place."

"Whose place is it?"

"Titania's."

"Great.  Well, thanks anyway."  She went into her bath room and shut the door most of the way before taking her bath.  She sat in the water for a while and just waited until she knew it was too late to stay up any longer.

Getting out, she threw on a nightgown and curled up in her covers.  Even though her bed was comfy beyond belief, she couldn't fall asleep soon enough.  All night it seemed she tossed and turned, and nights in the Nevernever were longer than mortal ones.

After her eight hundredth time turning over to face the window, she finally felt her eyes beginning to close.  She laid still as sleep overtook her.  It was a wonderful feeling to sleep.  If she was to prove to Titania that she was a worthy fighter, she'd need her rest.  No sleeping on the way there or while waiting for the other courts to show up.  She had heard from the others that Meghan and the rest of the Iron court would be there first since they called the meeting.

Kenzie wondered if Ethan had told anyone about her.  That she almost killed him, would they be looking for her when they got there?  Would Titania stop them from hurting her until after the competition?  She didn't want to find out, but there was no escaping it.