The Way of the Warrior

Chapter 8: Ghost of the Past

Reg and Iiren circled each other slowly, swords drawn, in the full Corona guard uniform. The rest were already sparring amongst themselves, but between them it was different.

Reginald had begun to hit his growth spurt and was already a head taller than Iiren. She was unfazed by this, and wished he were taller so she could practice more.

"Scared?" He taunted.

"You wish." Iiren shot back. Her sword swung forward. Parry. Strike. Parry. Feint to the leg. Block.

They were an equal match of skill, two seamless streams of energy fueled by each other. The rest of the trainees finished the exercise, but Iiren and Reg kept at it. The others gathered around to watch.

"Take her out, Reg!" Nel cheered.

"You got this, Iiry!" Aidan encouraged nonchalantly.

Reg and Iiren went at each other without holding back. Had they not been as skilled as they were, one of them would have been mortally wounded. The boys cheered and shouted encouragement the longer the fight went.

Suddenly Iiren felt something unsteady under her right foot as she stepped back. She tried to move away from it but right then Reg swiped at her leg. She stepped back with a stumble and Reg held her at blade point.

Yelling and cheering went on around them, but both stayed where they were, breathing hard.

"Face it. You aren't beating me anytime soon." Reg said.

"I will." Iiren said flatly. "I beat you in everything else."

"Alright training's over." The Captain called out. The boys left, crowding around Reg except Phil. He waited for his friend.

Iiren look to see what was the offending object that hampered her. It was a spear one of the boys neglected to put away and was left lying around. She rolled her eyes, picked it up, and threw it into a target where it stuck quivering.

"Phil." She said. He came closer, "I'm leaving tonight."

"Tonight?" Phil's eyes widened, "But that's so soon!"

"It's now or never. I will get some final answers, and then leave."

Phil looked down. "Ok. I'll have things ready for you at the stable tonight."

Iiren nodded. She turned and put her hand on his shoulder. "Thank you for helping me."

~ ~ ~

First stop, the prisons.

It was not an issue for her to sneak in unnoticed. She knew the secret entrances of the castle far too well. Wearing a cloak for obscurity, armed with a knife, keys from her grandfather's room, oil for the door hinges and bandages in case of a struggle, she crept into the most guarded place in the kingdom.

The prisons were dank and dark, as expected. Iiren did not turn her head but glanced right and left from within the shadow of her hood.

Near the end there was a cell with a large man seated with tattoos spiraling down his arms. It was hard to tell what he once looked like beneath his long-matted beard and hair, but the symbol of Saporia had been scratched into the wall.

Iiren stopped before the cell, silent in the dim light. The prisoner raised his head and for a moment looked startled at her sudden appearance.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"Which of you escaped?" Iiren made her voice slightly lower for added effect.

The man's eyes narrowed, but he did not respond. After a minute he stood up, going closer to the bars. "You're just a child."