Wings of Gold (temp title)SHELVED

Chapter 1

The large axe comes down with a swish. I push my staff up under the blade, hooking against the sharp point. As I twist and swing the staff in my grip, the axe clatters to the floor and the man in front of me stumbles. I spin the staff down and jab it into his throat, stopping just before it hits the flesh.

    “You’re dead sir.” I reach out a hand to help him back up.

    “You’ve improved quite a bit with the staff. I believe one day you could be the best in the nation.” The castle’s battlemaster stands and puts a hand on my shoulder. “Now how’s your swordplay?”

    “Can we uh- work with axes before swords? I- I’m not as confident with my sword.” I make a move towards my shield.

    “Fine. We can work with axes for now. But you’re getting an extra hour on swordplay tonight.” He tosses me the training axe. I catch it hilt first and spin it around.

    “Alright. Fair enough.” I shift the shield into a comfortable position.

    He swings down and I lift the shield up, glancing the wooden blade off the steel shield. With his balance off I push forward ramming my shield against his and jab with the hilt of the axe into his left ankle, the one he had been favoring all day. It hits against his upper foot with a thick pop. He jerks his foot back and loses balance. Lurching backwards he catches himself on the weapons shelf. I swing my axe down and stop it an inch from his neck.

    “You’re dead again.” I grin at him and help him up again. He whacks me on the back of the neck. “Ow.”

    “That’s for the ankle.” He sets his axe on the shelf with his shield and massages his ankle. “Go do some laps then we’ll work on hand-to-hand.”

    “Yes sir.” I give a quick salute then start to jog out of the barracks.

    “I’m afraid I’ll be cutting training short today.” A man steps from the shadowed corner with a smile. “You are excelling far my daughter. Soon you’ll be better than your brothers. You’re already better than your other sisters.”

    The battlemaster salutes. “Of course my king. I wouldn’t train your daughter to be any less. We shall end practice if it pleases you.” He swiftly bows and begins cleaning up today’s broken weapons.

    “Walk with me my daughter.” He beckons me to follow him as he steps out of the barracks. I fall into stride with him, wiping the sweat from my brow as he speaks. “You’ve made me so proud. You will be departing in a week to begin your mission. Are you ready?”

    “Of course father.” I nod and continue to clean my skin of sweat.

    “Good. To make sure you are we will be hosting the nation's best brawler. You will fight him. If you win then I will know that I have chosen the best child for this. There will be a feast tonight. I expect you to be presentable, but you must also be prepared to fight. I will send up a maid to get you in a few hours. Relax and prepare my daughter.”

    “Of course father.” I clench my jaw. What is he playing at? Does he want my face out in the public? It’ll ruin the entire mission. I give a swift curtsey and run up the stairs. I jog quickly down the corridor and into my room. The heavy wooden door closes with a loud click. I let out a loud sigh and snap at the maid standing against the wall. “Draw me a bath and make it hot. Now.”

    She skitters off in search of a bucket to begin filling my bath. I undress quickly and grab the scouring sponge and dip in the half filled bath. I squeeze it out and run it over my face, scrubbing away the filth and sweat. I give myself a quick scrub as the skittering maid finished filling the tub.