Daughter of Winter

Chapter 3

"Welcome to the Autumn Court," Lysander stated and bowed deeply, waving one hand at the world around us. He casually ran a hand through his hair, wiped the sweat from his brow, and smiled at me. I smiled back, not out of happiness or joy, but a shaky relief.

"You do know that you didn't have to crawl the whole way, right?" One of the guards asked me in a patronizing tone. He was a tall, broad fae with more meat on his chin than the others.

I looked down at myself. Dirt and mud covered the whole front of my body from dragging myself across the ground. Large holes were torn over my knees and the skin below was scraped and a bit bloody. The palms of my hands were no different.

Lysander cocked his head at the guard and told him, "Don't pick fights you can't win Caulan." His tone was dismissive and final. That was supposed to be the end of it. "Nice shot by the way," he said to me.

"What's that supposed to mean? Think I can't fight a little peasant girl like this?" the guard, Caulan, asked. Little peasant girl...I grit my teeth and grabbed an arrow.

One of the ones near him suck in a breath. Lysander gave Caulan an annoyed side eye.

"I'm saying that she'd shoot your eye out before you took a step towards her. Go back to your post," Lysander sternly ordered him. Caulan frowned and turned his hazel gaze to Lysander.

"You're not my superior," he defiantly spoke. Lysander raised his eyebrows high and took a small step towards Caulan. He seemed to transform before my eyes. His back went straight as an arrow and his shoulders broadened. His brows tilted down into a disciplinary scowl. The confidence he'd showed before was now tenfold. One of the other guards grimaced. The other two were already on their way back to their individual spots next to the cave entrance.

"Caulan-" the other guard started. Nobody paid any attention to him.

"Actually, I am," Lysander spoke. His tone was calm, too calm.

"Only in rank, nothing else," Caulan sneered. "You just think you're something because Kendryek favors your pretty face." My jaw dropped. "Just cause he lets you sit as his table doesn't mean you're worth anything to the court." I opened and closed my mouth a few times like a fish gasping for air. It was all I could do to express my absolute disbelief. The other guard swore loudly.

"Cauldron smite you Caulan." He then walked off back to his post, his head shaking with disbelief. Lysander stepped even closer to Caulan. Their chests were almost touching.

Caulan was huge. He was easily a foot taller than Lysander was and had considerably more muscle. It looked as though Caulan could crush him like a bug, but I did not doubt Lysander's abilities.

I nocked my arrow. I raised my weapon slowly, if I could shut this fight down before it started, I would.

"Put your bow down," Lysander ordered me. I hesitated.

"Are you sure?"

"Put it down." I lowered it.

"Do you think you could handle me in a fight, Caulan?" Lysander politely, each word dripping with venom. His face was placid and still. His body was lose, but firm. His right hand was next to his belt of knives.

"I could," Caulan replied, though a small amount of self doubt had crept into his voice. "I could," he repeated, sounding no more sure than the first time he said it.

"Oh really? Is that why you failed basic twice?" Lysander smirked. Caulan faltered. "Is that why you've gotten caught sleeping at your post three times?" Lysander timed each comment perfectly. He left just enough time for the comment to sink in, but not enough for Caulan's thick brain to counter it. The sneer started to melt from Caulan's face. "Is that why the only reason why you didn't get discharged is because you created some sob story about needing to feed your family?" The sneer was now no more than a puddle. Lysander cocked his head and asked, "Because you are my superior?"