The Gifted

Chapter One: The Gifted

"Come on Evelyn, you're not trying." 

Trystan looked down at me from my position on the ground.  I sat up, pulling a couple of stray leaves from my braid. "Believe it or not, Trystan, I am trying here."  I let out a frustrated sigh.

"If you don't focus I'll end up accidentally bruising you.  Pretty sure your father would have my head for that, so try harder.  Let's go again." 

I rolled my eyes, but took the hand Trystan offered to help me up.  Brushing the dirt from my pants and shirt, I got back into a fighting stance.  We danced in a circle, both waiting for the other to make the first move.  Finally, I saw his foot come up to hit my upper side.  I decided not to block it and instead sunk to the ground, swinging my leg under his own to knock him off balance.  

Being as skilled as he was, he didn't fully stumble to the ground like I would have liked, but caught himself by kneeling. However, that worked for me.  Trystan may have been stronger than me, but I had the speed.  Before he could change to a more advantageous position, I had my arms around his neck in a choke hold.  

Just as I thought I had him, he grabbed onto my arm around his neck and threw me over his shoulder.  With a loud thud, my back hit the dirt.  I angrily blew a tuff of hair out of my face that had fallen from my braid.  "I thought you were afraid to bruise me."

"And I thought you were a better fighter than that", he retorted.  "Besides, what kind of Captain of the Guard would I be if I let a little girl best me in hand-to-hand?"  He smiled at me, showing me he meant no harm by the comment.  

I huffed as I got off the ground, once again brushing the dirt from my clothes as best I could.  Trystan was being unfair.  He was twice my size and had more muscle mass in one arm than I did in my entire body.  I had grown stronger in these last five years, but up close combat without the use of my gift was still difficult.  

Trystan and I gathered our few belongings from the training grounds and headed back toward the castle.  As we entered the courtyard, a group of court girls called out to him and waved, but he ignored them.  I always forget how popular he is.

"So what's the plan for tomorrow night?", he asked.  

"To keep the conversations as short as possible."  

"Well that will be....fun?  I'll be there though.  If you need a break I don't believe your father would mind too much if I stole a dance or two."  

Despite my nerves for tomorrow, I was slightly comforted by that fact.  Trystan was your standard royal guard when I first entered the castle.  Unlike most people, he wasn't terrified of my gift.  Rumors about what occurred in the gardens spread like wildfire within the court.  Soon everyone in the castle knew about my gift awakening.  However, as the rumor spread, it become more and more dramatic.  If a castle maid told you the story, I had become so angry towards one of the court ladies for accidentally spilling tea on my dress that I shoved her in the fountain and purposefully froze her solid. 

"-vlyn.  Evelyn!"

Tristan's words snapped me out my nightmarish memories. "Yes?"

"I've been talking to you this whole time.  Don't tell me you're only just now paying attention?"

"Sorry.  What were saying?"

"You're that worried about tomorrow?  Your father throws suitors at you all the time and you handle it.  What's the difference?"

"The difference is he's hosting it at the castle this time and the King will be in attendance.  Meaning there will be many more people than the usual and that just means more people to stare at the 'King's lapdog'."