Knighterella

Chapter One

I swing my sword, hitting the target perfectly. I start to spin, swinging the sword around and slicing a deep cut into the bark of the trunk of the old dead tree I'm using as my practice dummy. My breathing grows fast and gets harder, so I sit down. I lay the sword across my lap, leaning against a medium sized rock, admiring my work. I left scratches and gashes in the trunk, showing the dying inside.

SNAP!

I jump up, turning fast and lifting the sword and nearly stabbing Prince Adam. I stop and give him my worst death glare, only making him chuckle at me. I cross my arms, letting my sword hang loosely by my hip. He gives me his most "charming" wolfish grin, trying to get me to crack a smile, but I don't.

Prince Adam and I have known each other since we we're little. My parents moved to court when the King asked my father to become part of his council. I explored a lot when I was younger, and liked to spy on the Prince and his friends and all the other Nobles and Royals in the Palace. We became enemies pretty fast, teasing and messing with one another. Mostly fighting, but I got along with the guys and refused to leave them alone.

"What?" He asks innocently, crossing his arms to mock me. "Come on Cindy, smile."

"You know I practice here alone." I keep glaring. "And it's Cinderella, not Cindy."

"I know you do, Cindy," ignoring what I said about my name, "but my parents want to see you so I was... volunteered to come find you." I roll my eyes. "So come on, can't keep mummy and daddy waiting."

"Fine." I sheath my sword, then turn and pick up my knapsack. I pick up an apple I'd picked from an apple tree for my horse, Vivian. A beautiful palomino mare the Queen and King gave me when I joined the Knight Academy. I look back at Prince Adam, then climb up on Vivian. "Ready Adam?"

"Race ya." He climbs on his stallion, Lightening. "Ready. Set." He kicks Lightening to make him go, clicking at him so he starts to trot. "GO!"

"Cheater!" I yell back.

I click and kick Vivian's side, leaning forward and clicking at her as we catch up to Adam and Lightening. I have her jump over bushes and logs, and I duck under low hanging branches that could have took my head off if I was a bad rider, but they teach us to ride horses our first year at the Academy and I've taken all the advance classes for ridding. I get ahead of Adam, smiling at his glare and look forward, seeing the Palace Grounds up ahead. I click at Vivian, asking her to speed up the rest of the way so she can jump the low gate. She jumps and lands on the other side, slowing down and turning just in time for me to see Adam jump the fence. I smile, breathing almost as hard as Vivian and Lightening.

"I won." I tell him as soon as he has Lightening walk up beside us. "When are you gonna realize that I'm a better rider than you?"

"Only because Lightening was tired from trotting all the way to get you, then not even getting a rest before we raced back here.

"Mhm." I say, leaning forward to rub Vivian's neck lovingly. "You did so good." I coo at her. "Now it's time for your much deserved rest." I smile as she whinnies a response.

I slip off, petting and rubbing her neck lovingly. I give her a kiss then lead her towards the barn. I hear Adam leading Lightening right behind me. I grab a brush and lead Vivian to her stall and place the brush down. I pull out the apple for Vivian and she takes it, chewing it up easily. I start to take the saddle off when Adam appears at the gate of Vivian's stall.

"You should go on, I'll get the Stable Master to do that." I frown, crossing my arms and turning my back to him as I continue taking the saddle and placing it on the gate of her stall.