Reign of Fire

Time Unraveled

The wind whipped across her face as the rain splattered across the flames eating the debris of her home. Her soldiers armed with bow and sword, stood silently on both her sides. They all knew. This would not end. Not until all life forms were destoyed. 

"Ah!" The boy fell on his stomach as he looked up at me in frustration. I helped him up as he dusted off his pants and wiped the sweat from his brow. 

"You're never going to fight looking like a drunken duck, flailing your arms like that! Your blows are weak and your footing is off" I say as I hand him the wooden sword. 

He sighs but drew his arm up in his stance. 

"Now. Focus on your footing and your opponets move, now attack!" I yell. 

He scrambles across the gravel as his left leg slides across the ground in attempt to strike a blow at my left flank. I easily block and he falls, face first in the stream. 

"Come on!! Get it together! I'm your enemy! Not your dancing partner! AGAIN!" I snap. 

He pushes himself out of the stream and throws me an angry look. This time he stands in his stance dripping wet and watches me carefully as I circle him, smirking. I stepped forward, drawing my sword in front of me. He charges and twirls as he hits a blow on the butt of my sword, causing me to jump and throw a blow back at him. He spins again and I jump out of the way and give him another blow to the back. He growled in frustration and sprang into action again. 

Blow after blow we trained until he fell on the grass and groaned at his strained muscles. 

"NEVER lose focus on your opponet, in the real world, they WON'T go easy on you. Never lose balance on your footing and don't expect me to come save your butt in battle" 

"I'm sorry, I will try harder next time" he pants. I nod and sit beside him, watching the swirls of the leaves. 

"You're doing better Jay, I'm proud. But you are not yet ready". 

"Deputy! There's an emergency! Come quick!" Boar shouted. I ran past my third in command and ran out of the tent. My eyes widen in horror. 

"NO!!" I ran to the fallen soldier. His face was streaked with color and his heart was faint. The 3rd degree burns covered half his body. I told him. He wasn't ready. 

"Boar! Get aid! And fetch me lady Astrid!" Boar bowed and drew away from the scene. 

I brushed Jay's hair out of his eyes even though they were closed. Riiiip. I torn a piece from my shirt and dipped it in my jug of water. I cleaned the color off his face and gasped. Beneath, was a long gash on his cheek. I examined the gash. No traces of the monster's venom was on his face. It wasn't a monster's doing. It HAD to be human. Who would be on the side of a monster's? 

"You called?" I turned to a snow-white cloak and a innocent blonde, blue-eyed princess. 

I stood and clasped my hands behind my back. The aid carried a cot and took him away. 

"My lady, I wanted your permission to leave and find the beast who's killed so many of us, I will only need twelve other companions along with weapons and food". She eyed me and motioned for her ladies to come to her. She whispered and finally drew her hand up. I bowed and she sighed. 

"Permission granted, but you will take six others and you're allowed to be gone for three days. I don't want another innocent life sacrificed for a cowardly one" I clenched my jaw and balled my hands into fists. Jay was anything but cowardly. He's stong and good-willed, courageous and faithful. 

"You're free to leave at first light". She turned and stopped only to peek at Jay before shaking her head and disappearing in her tent. 

"Boar, Wren, Elia, Kia, Talon, and Knox will come with me, the rest of you will follow Jace until my return". The six names I called out are already packed and armed. 

"We leave at first light". I say coldly. They nod and lay down to rest. Tomorrow will be the day I kill that monster.