Girl in Gold

Chapter 22 ~ Amber Marigold

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CHAPTER 22

Amber Marigold

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Before everything.

"Can you ever stop losing? You're terrible," her trainer laughed.

Amber stood doubled over, wiping the sweat from her brow. A witty response was in there somewhere, but the girl was too busy gulping for air to find it. She pointed a finger, her arm shaking.

"Have you..." she heaved, "no shame in beating a little girl?"

Her legs buckled, and she slid to the training mat, earning another hearty laugh from her trainer. Gunther Brass nearly doubled the girl in both age and size. Long muscular legs met up with a lean middle, supporting a broad chest and arms that could cave a skull.

"No offence, Amber, but you're hardly little. Besides, I was told you'd be good," he said.

On her hands and knees, her sweat dripped onto the mat. When her breathing calmed down, she got up to a knee, scowling.

"Well, if I haven't gotten better in the last year, it's no one's fault but yours," she said. "What are my parents paying you for?"

Gunther huffed with a smile. "I'm just kidding, Amber," he said, offering his hand and helping her to her feet. "If it was a life-or-death fight, you could probably give me a go."

A cheeky smirk replaced her glower. "Thanks," she gave in.

He smacked a pat on her back.

"You ready for your reward?"

"Reward?" she scoffed.

The girl straightened up all the same and walked to the middle of the training room. While Gunther grabbed a Bo staff from the wall of weapons, she held her hands behind her head and waited. He returned, circling her, and when he raised the staff, she tensed, neck going stiff. The lashing was taken with gritted teeth, easily mistaken for a smile. After thirty strikes, the swooshing of the weapon cutting through air stopped. Amber slumped against his shoulder.

"Not a single peep," he said, ruffling her hair.

"You're just weak," she joked, suppressing a wince. "Kind of you to just target my torso and thighs today. Some sort of birthday gift?"

He guided her to the bench and handed her a bottle of water.

"You'll get your gift later," he smiled, draping a towel around her shoulders while she drank. "Your parents mentioned you have something planned for today, so I kept the bruises to a minimum."

"Ah, yeah. They did say that. I even have to miss the gun range. Had to do two hundred instead of a hundred rounds yesterday for it," she grumbled. "Look at my blisters!"

She shoved her hands in his face, and he pushed her away.

"That explains the hearing problems," he joked. "You didn't listen to a word I said today."

"Urgh, whatever. I've got to get dressed."

She got up to leave, but Gunther grabbed her hand.

"Happy eighteenth birthday, Amber. You did good today."

She held his gaze.

"I'll beat you next time," she said, flinging her towel in his face.

Trudging up the stairs, Amber got to her room and trekked through the maze of art supplies and canvases to get to the en-suite. One scalding shower later, she was wrapped in her towel and walked into her room when her laptop chimed. The girl grinned. Plopping down on her bed, she answered the video call.