Mind of a Warrior

Chapter 5

The sun was gently warming my cheeks, the birds were chirping, the children were running. 

Oh no, it's morning. I had fallen asleep after waiting for so long.

Maybe she wasn't able come tonight and would come the day after, I tried reassuring myself.

I hoped she would still help me escape. However, she had shown no reason to want my freedom. I was going to have to escape once my ankle was better. 

I moved my ankle from one side to the other to see how it was doing. The old lady had worked miracles, it almost did not hurt.

I was famished. Standing on my two feet, I realized they had not bounded me like a prisoner. Slightly relieved that my situation was not as dire as I thought, I squared my shoulders back and started walking with confident steps outside. I was ready for anything.

That's what I thought until the sun blinded me.

I blinked.

At my left and my right two men were standing beside the entry of my tent. They might not have tethered me like a dog, but I was still a prisoner. I had to play along with their little game until I was able to find a way to escape. I may be a girl, but they still should be careful around me.

There were around a hundred people walking through the barracks. People of all ages, carrying wood, water, food, and so many other stuff that I couldn't make out from where I was standing. What caught my eyes, was a tent full of children from 6 to around 12 years old sitting, in front of a wall with a man talking to them. They were raising their hands waiting to be called on, and they had paper as well as ink in front of them. I was intrigued. 

Further in the camp, men were training. The familiar sound of swords banging resonated through my body. My heart beat faster, and my feet began moving without my consent. 

As I approached the training grounds, I watched some boys learning to clean weapons, further in the back others were learning proper stances. Meanwhile, the more experienced men were dueling. While walking towards them, many looked at me with unhidden wariness. I challenged them with a look. They were going to be surprised when they realized that a girl could hold a sword, and even beat them when dueling.

Not slowing my pace, I soon reached the pile of weapons. As I was extending my arm towards a sturdy looking sword, the two men trailing me, intercepted my hand.

"You are not allowed to touch weapons," the tallest man said.

"By orders of whom? If I want a weapon, I will take it! Now move out of my way before I get angry."

"Sorry girl, orders are orders. And we wouldn't want you to get hurt, it's heavy and not for women," the other one answered.

Without letting him take a second breath I charged at him. Straightening my right arm like an arrow. I hit him at human's weak spot, the solar plexus. There was nothing he could do to avoid the rush of air coming out of his mouth.

The men around were surprised and looked at him. They stopped what they were doing. The men was standing on his knees coughing, trying to regain some air in his lungs.

I didn't spare a second glance and focused on the tall and blonde man facing me. I made another move taught by my father. Opening my palm, I brought it to my ear while jumping. I ushered it down, straight and precisely at his neck. However, he was he was expecting it, and he deflected it easily with his forearm. He threw back a punch at my jaw. But he was slow, and I moved out of the way. Before I could continue with an attack, someone came in the middle of it. The person took my arm and put it in a lock on my back. I tried to move, but the person holding me twisted slightly my wrist. I stopped struggling immediately.