His Princess in Shining Armor

Chapter 2- Journey to Nicrom

     Chapter 2:

         Journey to Nicrom

~*~6 months later~*~

    "Good spar."

    Alice glanced at Sir Ricken, she bowed gratefully. "Thank you."

    "Psh," Ricken said. "Raise you're head child, as a person capable enough to beat me with only half a year's training shouldn't be bowing to me. You deserve credit boy, I haven't seen anyone as talented as you since over thirty years ago."

    Alice cracked a crooked boyish smile, she sheathed her sword to the sheath that hung loosely to her belt and shook hands with Ricken.

    Sir Ricken is known world wide as the greatest swords man in all the lands, no one has seen skill like his in over two hundred years. Alice had been placed under him as a pupil to train, and for the last six months she has. At first Alice was terrible with a sword, she could hardly lift one, let alone fight with one. But after the intense training the swordsman had put her through, in the end Alice had been able to beat her master in a spar.

    "So Alec," Sir Ricken said using her official male name, the swordsman hadn't ever learned Alice's true gender.. "I hear today you shall be accompanying the Princess to Nicrom, I've been there once or twice, nice Kingdom. But it must be a great honour."

    "It is," Alice answered in a deep husky voice, the result of endless nights screaming in a secluded forest. It was all part of the charade to mask her true gender. "I'm looking forwards to living in Nicrom, I've never actually been outside the Kingdom of Alizar though."

    Ricken grunted, "Well I'll miss you m'boy. It's been a pleasure training with you these last few months."

    "As I," Alice answered smiling. She bit her lip, guilty that she had to lie to her master. At first Alice hated Ricken with his harsh teaching styles and cruel words, it seemed he didn't like her either. It was probably because she was so weak, but after sometime (around the third month) Alice actually began to like the foul-mouthed swordsman. Soon after that they joked and talked and hung out after training sessions at the village bars drinking till they passed out. Of course, Alice never actually drank, she couldn't afford to get drunk and accidentally reveal her true gender.

    But though Alice liked her Swords Master she hated her other teacher. Aidan was his name, he was responsible for making Alice act, look, talk like a male. He was the one who cut off all of Alice's precious silky brown hair, the one who stranded her out in the middle of the woods for days un-end until her voice was husky from screaming. Aidan was cruel and malicious, he would beat Alice if he wasn't in a good mood and she would have to take it without complaint or she would be in trouble with the King or receive a worse punishment later on. Aidan's way of teaching were harsh and cruel that seemed more like torture techniques than training. Over all, Alice hated Aidan with a passion, he was one thing she wouldn't miss when she left Alizar.

    And in this whole time Alice wasn't once permitted to see Elizabeth, half a year was a long time and Alice missed her friend terribly. But she was glad, today she could finally get to see her friend after the long wait. She could hardly contain her excitement.

    "Sir Alec."

    Alice turned around and saw that a guard was standing behind her, she faced him. "Yes?"

    "The King has requested you're presence in the throne room," the guard said. Alice nodded and thanked him before watching the guard walk off. She sighed and turned back to Ricken.

    "Well I guess this is good bye," Alice said with a hint of sadness in her voice.

    "I guess so," Ricken said. "I'll miss you kid."