The Other Princess(First of the Pawn Series)

8 A New Person Now

That night still flies around my dreams at night, each time I saw Jaden in the hall way or when he came to get me for the king: My heart would race and my blood would rush as the sound of the music would come to my ears. Though's visits have become lesser and lesser, though I'm sure it was due to him visiting with Kate.

I was becoming more and more busy with training. I hated training with a passion, but my trainers say that has become my strength. Beth train in sword and hand-to-hand combat, she hoped it wasn't required for the future. Her specialty was speed, anything that was needed in swift motions she enjoyed doing. Knives was her métier, sometime thinking about what would happen if she used her talent scared her. She would fail to do anything that day.

She sent more letter to her grandfather, all saying the same thing. I hoped that he was receiving them, even if he wasn't replying, I didn't want him to reply. Though I did wish to know his well being.

Along with physical attack I took instruction with a man who taught me more and more about the history, his class usually bored me to sleep.

With all of these classes ... It makes me feel as if I were an royal -maybe I am now. She hated the thought, what would her grandfather say? Now that I now more of how to defend myself, would he be worried about me? Would he asked what happened to his little Bethany? Curse the ones that changed me so?

It would most likely kill him to see the hardness of my new form.

"Beth, are you listening to me?" My pondering of the past came to a halt. Eyes finding Kate's questioning ones.

"Sorry, I was thinking." Kate sighed and rolled her eyes.

"I could tell that you were, what were you daydreaming about?" It was more of a nightmare- during the day. Putting down my embroidering, I told her about my fears, knowing she wouldn't tell anyone I would want knowing.

"Kate, this has gone on to far, I mean I know how to kill a grown man with just this needle!" Pierce the neck under the jaw, jabbing into the air way, filling it with blood. I was taught that yesterday for close hand fighting, I just so happen to have limit choses of weapon sometimes. Why would I even need to know this, any of it?

"I'm sorry, Beth," Sincerity was visible in her eyes, "I know these past months were hard on you, but there is nothing you can do..." I knew this, from the very beginning I knew this. The dread that settled over me when Jaden hand caught my arm I knew.

I wasn't getting to go back home. The realization of it was pounded into me even while I fought the truth. She would cry but she saw no sense in it. Why cry if it wasn't going to help?

"Guess what? I think I could get Father to let you practice outdoor." Hope was ignited in me, I haven't been outside since they brought me in. In a small way that makes be lesser then Kate, she only goes out once a month.

"Really, you think so?" A smile slipped up to Kate's face.

"Yes, maybe we could even fence each other." We laughed and talked about what we could do if we achieved it. Once we finished up our hour of embroidering it was time for lunch, Kate would ask then for the small freedom.

It was the same dinning hall every day, different meals each day of the month. Sometimes the king speaks to me, most times not. The king didn't even meet my eyes unless I spoke first, only then to tell me that I wasn't to speak unless spoken too. Which was never, unless necessary.

"Father, my I speak to you?" Kate's voice was formal and businesslike, the king noticed and took her up in the same matter.

"Yes, give me your proposal." They didn't speak like daughter and father, more like unfriendly business partners.