Mercenary

Mercenary: Chapter 3 - First Impressions and Explainations

When she awoke the next morning, anxiety ruled Adella’s emotions. She knew that Alexander might have accepted her, but she also knew that it was not without hesitation. He might have accepted her as a swordfighter, but chances were that, whether he acknowledged it or not, he did not accept her as The Phoenix. She knew it would be difficult for him, but she needed for him to treat her with respect at training. Otherwise she’d be mincemeat as far as the other soldiers would be concerned.

Adella pulled herself out of bed and rang the bell next to her bed to request water. She might not need a bath anymore, but she needed to be alert at training. A single second when she was off her guard, and all respect she’d built up with Alexander and his second-in-command, Ryder, would be lost. She knew from the past that although the men expected her to be far weaker than they, she’d have to prove herself to be ten times greater than they were in order to be accepted. It was not enough to beat them in sword fighting, or daggers, or hand-to-hand combat. If they were to accept her, she’d have to beat them flawlessly. It was a horrible double standard, but it was the way these soldiers were wired. A single misstep proved to them that she did not deserve to fight beside them.

Adella sat at the bench before her mirror and began to carefully brush her hair. The mirror before her displayed a confident young woman, beautiful and determined. But beautiful was all these men would see. They would not expect her determination to win, or her strength and agility. That would be yet another thing she’d have to prove, apart from her identity.

The door to her chambers cracked open, and Adella’s head snapped up. She relaxed and smiled, though, when she saw it was only the servant girl with her heated water. Adella reached out and took the bowl from the girl, smiling graciously.

“Thank you,” she said kindly. The girl’s eyes widened and she ran from the room, leaving Adella shocked behind her. The girl probably just did not expect kindness from her, Adella reasoned. She must think her a duchess or a lady of the realm. Woman such as that scoff at servant girls.

Adella shook her head sadly and set the bowl on the counter before her. She grabbed the cloth next to the bowl and gently dipped it in the water, then using it to wash her face and neck. Adella looked to the window and sighed deeply when she saw it wasn’t even sunup. This would prove to be a very long day.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 Adella braided her hair down her back and checked her appearance in the mirror one final time. Her face was clear and awake, and the few stray hairs that hung in her eyes were long enough to be tucked behind her ears. Her eyes glowed with excitement, and her usual pale cheeks were flushed. She was dressed in a fitted green tunic and dark pants, which tucked into her supple hunting boots. She rolled onto the balls of her feet and smiled in satisfaction. The boots fit perfectly to her feet, and came to right above her ankles, providing her with both support and free movement.

Nodding in approval, Adella walked back to her sleeping quarters and grabbed her sword, her bow, and her quiver. Her daggers were already tucked into the folds of her tunic, as usual. It added extra weight, but over the years she’d learned to adjust. Better to have them and not need them than to not have them and face dire consequences.

She glanced out the window one final time and saw the sky had lightened up slightly from the pitch black blanket of night. Although it was still considerably grey, the stars were slowly disappearing, and it would not be long until the sun peeked over the grassy hills. Lord Alexander had explained last night after the duel that training began at first light in summer, fall and spring, and at dawn during the winter. As it was the beginning of fall now, with the leaves starting to grow yellow and the crops reaching their peak, training would begin very soon.