Lies Dressed In Lace

No Ones Pawn

Chapter 10 No Ones Pawn

     After a week of training almost none stop, watching battles between training, and not even a glance of Wolkif the day of the fight finally comes. I wake to a small woman knocking on my door before the sun is even up telling me that Sia is waiting for me in her room. I dress quickly in my fighting clothes excitement bubbling in my belly, I cover it in a light dress that will move with me as the pants and shirt will, and its easy to take off without showing the clothes underneath. I walk swiftly to her room dodging maids that run around in the halls before everyone wakes, even the sun. She opens it before I can knock excitedly, she drags me in by my arm and shuts the door.

    "What is it that you need so early?" I ask giggling as she bounces in front of me.

    "It's your big day how are you not excited?!" She grabs my arms and shakes me then lets go.

    "Because I was sleeping." I laugh at her excitement.

    "Oh I found something!" She says running to a tapestry beside her bed and looks over at me motioning for me to come over. Once I do she pulls back the thick cloth to show me a little door behind it.

    "When did you find it?" I ask looking at the strange symbols carved into the black wood in gold. I touch one feeling the rough carvings beneath my fingers.

    "Last night, I haven't been able to sleep for the past few nights and I decided to look for the reason why. Theses carvings are Fae!" She whispers excitedly touching the wood but not the carvings themselves as if she can't.

    "What do you mean Fae?" I ask looking them over and pushing the tapestry over more so I can see the whole door.

    "I mean this was created with magic! This is the language of the Fae they craved some kind of spell, I think this whole room was some kind of magical place." She says in awe.

    "I wonder why my father left it like this then, or why he had this room made up for you?" I ask softly pulling away from the door as the carvings scratch at something at the back of my mind, a memory of another life maybe.

    "I don't know, it is quite strange, maybe tonight after you win and the grand feast and whatever else you do we can explore it?" She asks tentatively with a slight blush coloring her cheeks.

    "That sounds like a good plan. I'll see you later though I should sit with my father for a few fights before I try." I smile and touch her shoulder, she smiles back letting the tapestry fall back into place.

    "Ok, I shall stay out of sight then or perhaps I'll join the crowd for you that way they'll see me and you both before the fight in our places." I nod.

    "Perfect, I shall see you out there, good luck." I wink making her laugh.

    "Shouldn't I be wishing you that? Not that you'll need it, you trained too hard to need luck." She gives me the biggest smile I have ever seen touch her face it makes me return the smile just as big and take her hands in my own feeling the familiar callouses that are now mirrored on my own hands.

    "You're right all I need is you." She rolls her eyes letting go of me.

    "I did nothing, now get out and get ready your father will call on you soon." I nod and leave going back to my room quietly as the sun creeps through the big windows and across the stones warming them for the day ahead.

    After wearing the Kwaylarian clothes every night dresses have become unbearable. Just looking at them causes my ribs discomfort and my legs to feel trapped, but here I sit suffering for the last time next to my father as he watches a fight with boredom. "Do you think Sia will win today?" I ask finally after the silence. He shrugs.