Mercenary

Mercenary: Chapter 5 - Another Fight and a Bit of Advice

Adella neatly dodged the attack, ducking under Garrick’s arm and sliding on her knees to his side. Jumping up to her feet, she elbowed his side and danced out of the way.

Garrick gasped in pain and held his side in pain. “You little bi**h!” he growled. “That wasn’t a fair attack! I thought we were wrestling!”

Adella gently raised her eyebrows. “I said nothing about wrestling or what’s fair and not when I offered the gold. Anything goes.”

To this, a sinister smirk grew on Garrick’s face. He grabbed Adella by the waist and tossed her. She landed neatly on her hands, showing off a bit by staying in that position for a moment before flipping herself back right-side-up.

Angry, Garrick swung one fist at her face. Adella simply ducked into a crouch and swung her leg towards Garrick’s ankles, kicking Garrick’s legs out from under him. Garrick collapsed with a thud, his breath whooshing out of him.

Adella stood over him, watching as he regained his breath. Whist Garrick and his clothing were coated in mud, Adella’s clothing was nearly pristine. Her feet, knees and hands were muddy, but everywhere else was spotless save a few stray drops of mud. It was as if she hadn’t even stepped into the ring to begin with.

Garrick groaned in pain and his eyes fluttered open. Immediately his eyes found Adella, who was looking down at him in distaste. She bent down and put her lips to his ear, ignoring Garrick’s flinch.

“Let me be very clear,” Adella hissed, drawing out her words. “The only reason you or anyone else who insulted me today is not in need of medical attention is because I pity you. I pity you because you are short sighted, I pity you because you are crude and unthinking, and I pity you because no matter how muscular you become, you will always be weak. You cover up your weakness with jokes, but I can see it clearly. You are nothing. You are not even a man. You are a boy, and yet you dared to insult me because I am a woman, and so this is your punishment. You are lucky you are not dead. If I had aimed a little up and to the left when I’d jabbed you with my elbow, you would be. I could have killed you today, but I did not. Instead you are writhing on the ground in pain, despite the fact I barely even tried. Consider yourself lucky. You faced The Phoenix and lived.”

Garrick gritted his teeth and groaned pathetically.

“You are pitiful,” she said, making sure she was loud enough for all to hear.

Adella stood up and turned her back on Garrick, returning to Longshot. In preparation for what she’d known would happen today, Adella had stuffed a towel in the bottom of her quiver and had attached a small container of water to it. Smiling at Longshot, she accepted the items when he held them out to her, and began to methodically clean herself off.

The soldiers around her were silent. Two of Garrick’s friends had gone and helped him up. Everyone was still staring at her, though, and not for the reasons as they were before. It was no longer her body that drew their eyes to her. No, they had all heard what she had said to Garrick – over the silence, it had been impossible not to – and now they feared her.

Adella tied her dagger sheaths back around her body and shrugged on her tunic. She noticed the silence, but over the years she had become accustomed to it. Eventually everyone feared her. There was a reason the rumors were what they were.

Suddenly, a spirited laughter broke out from one of the men. Shocked, Adella spun around to see it was Corrin, the leader of the fifth company.

His laughter boomed over the silence. His fellow soldiers gaped at him, some in fear and others in confusion. Adella was one of those who were confused. Of all the reactions she’d experienced in the past, this was not one of them. Laughing when a mere girl bested one of the soldiers? It seemed implausible, nay, impossible, that this would be happening.