Throne of Leaves

Chapter 4

I woke up with the sun shining through the leaves and the branches. I sit up slowly and stretch my arms over my head. My tight black tank top was the only thing that covered my chest. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood up on the thin platform that was my room. I grab my green shirt and slipped it on, adding my leather vest and then pulling on my white and green coat. Yawning a bit I stretch again and grab my swords and my bow and head down to the main part of the house. I smile a bit when I see Aaron and Malki already eating quietly. I could see that they have had a long talk in the early morning hours before I had woken. They both looked up when they heard my soft footsteps. I smile softly at the two and put my weapons down on the side table where the pair had laid theirs as well. I sit down gently next to them and began to eat the food that was laid out for me.

"So how is your training going? I asked between bites trying to break the silence that hung in the air. Malki looked at Aaron and shrugged.

"Good" Was all he said and went back to his food. Aaron nodded

"I found some things that may hurt in the future but I am glad that we can fix that soon. If not it could complicate our plans. But with today's training it should be fine." He said softly. I nod knowing well enough not to push the subject further.

"What is on your agenda for today Akon?" Aaron asked suddenly. I smiled a bit

"Well apparently I will begin blindfold training so blindfold walks, shooting practice, and swords." I said lightly with a larger grin. THis was one of the hardest parts yet the most exciting part of my training. I know that I could never see in the dark as well as our cousins in the Starlight Clan, but I also knew that I can learn to fight in the dark and work with what I had in tight spaces. Knowing how to do this will let me be able to lead my men into battle with even more understanding. In the end it could save lives. I look up and see that Malki was watching me with a critical eye.

"You have changed already. You look about with a look of understanding. Your walk is more confident and more quiet. You speak as if you know what needs to be done. You have changed" He said bluntly and went back to his food. I stare at him with a parted mouth. I bow my head.

"Thank you Malki Captain. From you this is a lot." I said sincerely. He looked back up with a grim look.

"You are not ready to lead yet, but soon. Soon. I will follow you till the end. Now, But I see that soon you could take the hearts of many people and they will be better off with you as their leader." He said grimly and yet confidently. I smile at his words and get up and bow to him in respect. and clear the table.

"If I can not serve even my fellow comrades and friends then what leader am I?" I said when Aaron opened his mouth to protest. I look at Malki "You are a great warrior Malki. I am glad to be brothers in arms and fight alongside you. You and the Lady are similar in attitude. good luck and godspeed with your training today." I say before moving to wash the dishes.

I smile when I hear Aaron and Malki talk softly together. I look up when I feel someone walk into the room and nod to the Lady as she stood in the archway. I turn back and put the dishes away before passing the lady and grabbing my weapons and heading out the door with her behind me. I notice that she is carrying a black strip of cloth in her hand. We walk in silence for a good ten minutes before she stops me and tells me to turn around. She takes my weapons out of my hands and replaces them with the cloth. I sigh and wrap it around my head covering my eyes. Making everything go dark. I felt the Lady start to walk away when I heard her voice around me.

"Find you weapons. They are well hidden, and protected" I grimace and nod and wait as I opened up my mind to the energy and forest life around me. I knew that there would be some trick to this but I did not know what it would be. My weapons could be anywhere. They could have spirits and people protecting them. I sigh and look around. I take in all the different colors of the energy river. I look around and three small strands catch my attention. They were read and they flowed out of me. I gulped feeling a bit sick. I took hold of one with my hand and I fell to my knees as I could see the memory of my left blade.

A face long forgotten eyes black and face hard as stone. It looked but did not see. The figure swung a heavy black blade and it stopped as it hit an invisible force. The figure got pushed back and then red. Nothing but read and darkness. I could feel thirst as blood went around me. Then everything faded as I quickly let go.

I gasped for breath. I do not remember that particular kill but I remember that battle. I did not use both swords but went with the single sword style. I used my left sword more than my right, for in my mind my right sword was much more deadly and cruel. Telmaer and Ismial were my swords. Ismial was my left sword. I smile and start to follow it's energy. I started to understand that each of my weapons has with an energy source or it is somehow bound to me. I walk my eyes fixed on the red stream coming out of me, afraid of what I should see if I touch it. I stop when I notice that the energy ribbon was getting brighter and a darker shade of red. I look up and my eyes meet with a bear standing over my left blade, Ismial. I watched the bear carefully as the energy current around him was a pure white. I knew then that this bear was a spirit bear. A sacred bear of the forest, regarded with strength and with the hunters. I bow to the bear and slowly move closer to it. As I did it watched me carefully calculating my every move with a deadly expression. I took one step closer and i could see the bear tense or at least I assumed it tensed. I could not really see the reaction save for the hazy energy forms around me. I took a stance and stated at the image of the bear and then charged it. I realized that without showing my strength, I would never have the great beast's respect or blessing. It stood still letting me hit him with full force. I could feel the solid block of muscle and fur up against my face and shoulder and I stood put not moving but pushing the bear with all of my power. I grinned as I felt the bear push back, but I held on digging my feet into the ground. I knew my feet were starting to slide over the ground as the bear pushed me but I dug in deeper and felt more resistance. This went on for quite a while, the bear and me fighting for dominance in physical strength and in will. Then we both broke apart standing a few feet from each other. The bear bowed to me and snak its mighty head to the ground its nose touching my sword. Ismial glowed red and then white for a second and faded back to its original color. The bear backed up and dipped its head and lumbered off. I walked up to my sword and picked it up. I could feel a new strength flow into me and I stood a bit taller. I sheathed Ismial and took hold of the second red energy ribbon current and left the area of the bear.