Masked

Chapter 9

Arya and William were too dazed to respond.

"H-how?" Arya managed to croak out.

William just stared with grudging respect.

Derik smiled. "Years of practice...... and a burning need to prove myself after a....humiliating experience.... "

"I KNEW IT! It is you! " Will turned to Arya. "See? I told you so!"

Arya was just confused. "What? "

Derik cleared his throat. "It's-"

"I'll tell you what! This guy is a fraud, a miserable piece of di-" Will rudely started before Arya clamped a hand on his mouth.

"I think i'd rather hear it from him. "

She turned to Derik. " you don't have to tell me if you don't want to...."

"No, it's alright...I-"

The door creaked open. "What are you all doing here?"

Sir Dalhousie was standing by the door, surprised to see them.

"Uh.. we were just teaching Arya to hold a sword." William said hastily, tactfully covering his front.

As if to proved the point, Derik held out his sword to her. "Ok, now it's your turn."

"It's getting pretty late, I think it time you all wrapped up. "

The three slowly filed out of the room, acting as if nothing happened.

They all let out a sigh once the door closed. It opened again. They abruptly stood straight.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, the annual archery competition in Edgard is preponed this year.....it's going to be held next week. Thought you boys would like to know. " The door closed again.

William and Derik looked at each other and burst out laughing. Something passed between them.

William clapped Derik on the back. "Better luck this time eh?"

Derik grinned. "Who needs luck? I have skills! Can't wait to kick some... "

"You wish! Let's see."

Arya rolled her eyes.

Boys. One minute they are up at each other's throat,  the next they are best buddies. What the heck?

"Up for practice tomorrow?" William asked Derik before they split ways.

"You bet!"

"What about my class??"

"On hold till the competition is over." William smirked.

"Not a problem Will, we can make time...."

"Hmph. I was hoping for a peaceful week..."

"I can take over if you want."

"No it's alright, I'll do it." He said reluctantly.

Urgh!

----------------------------

It was Monday morning. Arya's class just got over. She was being homeschooled by one of the best tutors in town. Seeing as girls were not usually enrolled in schools.

Arya's father took her education seriously. She had classes ever day for 5 hours straight.  The level of topics were much beyond what was necessary. 

But Arya enjoyed learning. Every class left her giddy with amazement. Left her filled with wonder. She was amazed with the way the universe worked. Just the fact of its existence was amazing! The more she learnt about things beyond earth, about galaxies and stars and the vast incomprehensible....thing that was the universe,  the more smaller and insignificant she had felt. But then, her tutor tactfully started on the biology classes.

Now, the concept of life! The fact that there was something so complex and wonderful that just couldn't be replicated by man, didn't fail to amaze her. How perfect everything was! It all seemed so...well planned! The more she learnt,  the more she wanted to. She realized that no matter how big the universe, we were not just...specks of dust that didn't count for anything...she learnt that every life is special, everyone a walking, breathing miracle. No life is less, no life is more, every living being was made of the same thing. Every life can be traced back to just one common ancestor...and that was just.... mind blowing. There was something special about living beings that set them apart from the lifeless, even though every thing, alive or not was made from the same atoms.

Her train of thought was broken when she heard footfalls behind her.

"Time to eat! What did you learn today?" It was her father.
Arya started animatedly telling here father and followed him out of the room.

What she didn't notice was the cloaked figure, standing outside the window, face covered with a mask staring at her retreating back....