Rescued: A Nyssara Story

Chapter 7

SARA: It's been a week since I chose my League name. I don't feel any different from it. Nyssa still calls me Sara or Miss Lance with the occasional "little bird" or a variation of the name.

Nyssa's big bad father hasn't been around since I met him briefly that first time. Nyssa, however, still taught me the proper etiquette when being around him. I think it's all really stupid to kneel before a man that no one outside these walls even knows exist, like this establishment is it's own monarchy, like it's above the rest of the world. But for Nyssa, I will do it. She knows more about him than I do and she insists that I should fear and respect him as our leader. 

Today, Nyssa and I trained with dual wield swords and I think I'm really doing well with my training. Every day is wake up, eat, train, study Arabic, train, meditate, train, rest in bed while reviewing Arabic, eat, sleep, rinse and repeat. Nyssa has a lot of special herbs that are so helpful and without them, I probably wouldn't be able to physically train as much as we do. They keep me energized, block aches and pains, heighten my senses and focus, increase my stamina and enhance my endurance. I don't know what they are, but Nyssa swears by them.

Now, I am laying in bed studying Arabic while Nyssa lays on her blankets on the floor relaxing. I say the words that she taught me earlier today and she listens and corrects me whenever I mispronounce. After mispronouncing four words in a row, I get frustrated and give up. 

"I'm done for the night," I say as I turn over in the bed. 

Nyssa opens her eyes to glare at me from below. "I don't recall ever saying that you were done," she says sternly. 

"Well, you heard me say it," I snap as I throw the covers over my entire body and face.

"You dare to defy your superior. I suggest you not make a habit out of that," she says closing her eyes again. 

I remove the blanket from my face and hang my head off the side of the bed. "Maybe I will consider continuing if you stop sleeping on the goddamn floor when there's a king sized bed right here you can sleep on," I say cheekily. 

She opens her eyes to glare at me again. "Attempting to bribe your superior now? You certainly do not understand your place here. Just because I care more for you than the others doesn't mean that I can give you immense amounts of slack. Anyhow, your studies are not of my concern, for it is your life that is on the line here, not mine. You need to work on your bribery skills," she says closing her eyes again. 

"Nyssa, I'm serious. Your back must be stiff as a board."

"It is not your place to worry about me, Sara," she says without opening her eyes.

"But I do. You can't be the only one taking care of people. Let me do something for you. Just sleep in the bed one night. Just one night. Then I will shut up."

"No. I will not negotiate. Anyway, you needn't worry, for you will have your own living quarters when you start official League training. If my father doesn't kill you, that is," she says, eyes still closed.

I try to remember how to say something in Arabic. "One night." I attempt to say in the foreign tongue.

She opens her eyes and smiles softly and rises to her feet in one fluid motion. 

"You are such a stubborn woman, Miss Lance," she says walking to me. She walks to the nightstand and blows out the candle. "Good night, Ta-er al-Sahfer. May your dreams be full of light," she says laying down on her blanket on the floor.

I mutter an Arabic insult under my breath.

Nyssa chuckles softly. "Goodnight, Sara."

I wait for Nyssa to fall asleep and when I'm certain she is, I get out of bed with my covers and a pillow and I make a spot next to her and lay down. She is so strange. I hope that this will prove my point that we can sleep near each other, that her rules are silly.

The next morning, I wake to Nyssa preparing breakfast as usual. I get up to see what she's making.

"Why is it you slept on the floor?" She asks without looking at me.

"Well, if you are okay with sleeping on the floor when there's a bed, then I am, too."

"Now, don't be childish."

"I'm being childish?" I ask getting angry. "I'm only doing what you're doing!"

"I won't sleep on the bed because it is not to be shared with someone who is not my lover. You aren't simply because you are stubbornly trying to change my beliefs."

"There is nothing wrong with sleeping near me! You are being ridiculous."

"Just because you are an American with little to no virtuous beliefs doesn't mean you can treat mine in such a discriminatory manner."

"Have you never shared a bed with anyone? Are you...a virgin?" I say suspecting.

She stops what she's doing to glare at me. "You say that as if it is something so scandalous. And not that it's any of your bloody business, but no, I am not. I'm far from it." She says frustrated. "And I take it you are not either, 'No Pants Lance.'"

I widen my eyes at the sound of that horrid nickname. "How do you..."

"I've done a fair amount of research on you."

"But that was a name from high school."

"A well-deserved one, I've concluded. You were quite promiscuous stealing other women's mates."

I clench my fist. "Shut the hell up. I'm not like that anymore," I growl through my teeth.

She hands me my plate. "I know. But it is hard to forget such information," she tries to hold back a smile.

I narrow my eyes. "Are you making fun of me?"

"Well, I've seen you with no pants and it is quite a sight," she says cheekily.

I feel my face turn bright red. 

She notices and strokes my hot cheek. "There is no need to be embarrassed," she chuckles. "It was only for humor." She fixed herself a plate as I stand there speechless still. She sits at the table.

When I finally muster the will to move, I follow her and sit across from her as we usually do.

"I have an offer for you, my little bird," she says to me without looking at me directly.

"An offer?"

"About our quarrels regarding our sleeping arrangements," she says, still avoiding my gaze.

"Alright?" I say a bit confused and intrigued. 

"You want to prove to me that I can sleep in the same bed as you even though you are not my lover."

"Yes."

"Well then, I hope to give you an incentive to work hard, for if you impress my father and he grants you passage into the League as a member, your last night in my room will be had with me sleeping by your side in my bed."

I smile big. "Would you really?"

She nods. "In all honesty, Sara, I do care for you and I do want you to succeed. If it means that I give up something for you, then I shall."

I smile slightly. "That is really nice of you, Nys. I'll take the deal," I say reaching my hand out to shake on it. "I'll pass your father's damned test or whatever and you better keep your word."

"I shall," she says as she closes the deal with a shake.