Mind of a Warrior

Chapter 6

Andreas led me to the other side of the camp, where big wood trucks were randomly placed. His long hair moving up and down with every step he took, it almost gave me motion sickness. Bending down, he picked up a pair of daggers. Oddly they had the same ornaments as the one I had seen before — men surrounded by plants with weapons in their hands.

His choice of armaments surprised me, I had expected him to choose longswords. It wasn't a problem since I trained to fight against every weapon.

Staring at me with his hypnotizing eye, he told me to follow him towards the forest. He explained that he did not want people to interrupt us. I smiled internally, this was my chance at freedom. Trying to keep a straight face, I followed him without a word.

The little hope for my freedom that I had, was quickly extinguished when I realized that he was stopping a few meters from the training grounds, just when the trees were beginning.

The men at my left were all taking a break and were looking at us intently. I chuckled, Andreas was going to get humiliated, he was going to lose against a girl.

Pushing my slightly red hair away, I challenged them. Some just started laughing, others bowed their head in respect.

"Are you ready? No killing, no cutting each other's limbs, no permanent injuries. The winner is the one who gets the other one pinned for 10 seconds. Do you understand?" Andreas asks.

I bow my head, hardly containing my excitement. The feeling of adrenaline in the blood, the rush of standing between life and death, knowing that one wrong move could be the end; I loved it.

I widen my stance, hold my katana in the right hand. Andreas does the same with his knifes, one in each hand angling one higher than the other.

"GO!" He said.

Without waiting for a second, I came at him with speed, targeting his stomach. He intercepted it with grace with both knives crossed and slashed at me. Surprised by his speed, I jumped back. He was going to be a hard opponent, his speed and grace made him lethal. I doubled my efforts, moving smoothly around him.

He was good, really good.

I was not able to get close to him, each time deflecting my attacks with ease. His eye was calm and focused, his body never tensing up. He was an unusual fighter. Doubt started creeping up my spine, was I going to win?

Without warning, he changed rhythm, came closer, swiped my feet. This unexpected move threw me on my back and the air rushing out of my lungs uncontrollably.

That had rarely happened to me, he was definitely good. That didn't mean I was going to give up.

As fast as I could, I rolled on my side to get up. The iron hand round my wrists stopped me.

"Shit!"

"No bad words, Beauty," he said.

He had me pinned between his legs and my arms were both locked on top of my head.

As I moved my hips to unbalance him, I managed to lock my legs around his neck.

He turned around me, my legs still around him. Suddenly, he grabs my foot and twisted it forcing me to let go.

Free from my grasp, he takes my neck between his arms and starts pressing hard.

A feeling of dread crawled on my back when I realized I just had lost.

Closing my eyes in defeat, Andreas stood up as I did the same. I threw my katana in anger.

"No, no, NO!"

"Now don't be angry, people rarely beat me. I'm a beast with daggers, Beauty. If you want I can let you train with the other guys, maybe, just maybe, you might win. 'Till then, train harder. I'll come back soon with my question.

"IAN! Come here!"

One of the men who had carried me from the castle came running.

He bowed to me, acknowledging my presence.

"What do you want, Andy?"

"Hum, I'd like you to show her the training grounds. She may train BUT do not let her out of your sight. She is a sneaky one," he demanded.

"Yes, Andy."

Satisfied Andreas left me standing in front of the stranger.

He addressed me with a monotone voice, "Follow me."

And that was what I did.

We walked through the men training. Some looking at me with respect but most with disgust. I was used to it.

Back at home, I did not have friends. Their parents all believed I was weird and couldn't spend time with their kids. So I lived with books and fighting. I was happy. I didn't need anyone else.

Ian showed me the different parts of the training yard. He explained to me that there were three main instructors. One of them trained the men in hand to hand combat, the others with all kind of weapons.

I followed Ian when we approached a group of men listening intently to an old man. His white hair stood out from the brown, blond, and black hairs. His eyes had lost color and did not react to his surrounding as if he did not need them. Curious about this man, I came closer.

Putting an arm on my shoulder, Ian said, "Lord Walter, is one of the instructors. He is blind, but he is a god with weapons. Do you want to join the class?"

Intrigued, I nodded.

Ian stepped forward, "Lord Walter."

"Hello, Ian! What can I do for you today?"

"I would like to present to you a special student that would like to join your class. Her name is Aelin, and she is very skilled with weapons."

Lord Walter smiled, "Where is she?"

Ian beckoned me forward. When I was an arm's length from the instructor, he tried to reach for my hand.

"Welcome, Aelin. You may join my class whenever you want. Now, go join my men, we were going over the use of knives."

"Yes, sir," I replied.

This brief exchange showed me that men weren't all full of prejudice and there could be good in this world. Rapidly, I went towards the back of the group. Most of them were skeptical about my presence. 

Whatever.

That is how my day passed, learning from a man who had lost one sense. He taught me many things that I had never thought of before. In a fight, I rarely used my sense of smell, hearing, and instinct. In less than a day, I had learned so much from him that I wanted to see what else he had to offer. However, I'd have to wait the next day. I respected him, like Ian had said, "He was a God." He moved with grace for his old age. I wondered were he learned all of that. He was special. His aura felt as if it had lived a hundred lives and would continue on forever. His mind was old, his body was old, but his movements were young, his muscles had learned a dance that will forever stay with him.

Throughout the day, Ian followed me everywhere I went. It was frustrating but his company was bearable. I think if he didn't keep me prisoner, we could have been friends. He didn't look at me like the other men would. He had a calm and reserved energy that was so unlike mine, but I believed could be comforting.

The night came, I was frustrated that I had not been able to escape. Like my father used to say in a language he had learned, "La nuit porte conseil."

The night will bring good counsel.

I hoped he was right.

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Bonsoir,

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Louise