Embers in the Ashes

Chapter 11

A steel mask lay discarded mere feet from her position at the entrance. She could hear the clink of steel joints just beyond the arena wall, the clash of swords. Laughter echoed through the trees. Had they forgotten what they were training for? Wind blew through the leafs, casting an eerie whistle over the grounds. The faintest trace of hands brushed her shoulders.

Mother what am Doing? I hate this! 

 She falls to her knees, clutching her hair.

You think further bloodshed can atone for your actions? Foolish girl. 

But she needed this, she needed to fight. They just take, and take, AND TAKE! She could give no more. No one should've had to. Steeled hands curled into the grass, it drifted in the breeze as they opened. The helmet slipped on with a final click. She took a deep breath and tensed.

sticks snapped under booted feet.

"Could we talk?"

Her mind flashed to the mysterious box outside her door, to the unsigned giver, to the far too practiced handwriting.

"Even if I didn't want to I'm hardly in a place to argue. What did you need?"

He rubbed his neck, "Right. About the other night..." He trailed off unsure how to continue the statement. She rested a hand on his arm.

"Rezon. I told you then, I understand why you did it. I don't like it, but I get it. If...If it had been Elaine, I would have done the same."

He groaned, running a hand through his hair, "It wasn't just him, I did it for you." She froze. It didn't make sense. She stumbled forward. She was shaking her head. Her hands pressed into the stone wall, a barely stifled groan fell from her lips as her head hit the cool surface.

"Why? Why the hell would you do that? You don't know me. I shouldn't mean anything to you."

"But you do. You were the first person I could save from.... The abigors have completely ravaged the outlying villages. You are the only survivor I found. I can't, I can't lose you. I couldn't do anything as they burned to the ground and I just...I need to protect you. You are a reminder that I didn't completely fail."

"Rezon. You won't always be there. I'm a soldier, There may come a day when I don't come back. I need to know you understand that."

"You shouldn't even be one."

"Neither should several of the kingdom's forces." He shook his head.

"I know. And I do know the dangers. I know there's a chance you won't come back, but that doesn't mean I won't do anything I can to prevent it."

Cahira nodded. It was to be expected really. Her gaze finally met Rezon's. He stood, almost reaching out, but halted.

Rezon looked at her, truly looked at her and even behind the steel could see so many unanswered questions. There was so much she didn't know, so much she wasn't ready to hear and yet so much he wanted to tell. He knew he knew very little of the mysterious girl he saved. There was countless experiences before all he had seen. There was a life before the tragedy. She was before him every bit the soldier and for once he felt as though he finally was seeing a piece. he cooled his voice, his 'royalty tone' as it had been called.

"There is one other thing I need to tell you. I can't be seen showing any favoritism. I will treat you no different than any other recruit."

"I wouldn't expect it any other way."

He nodded before saluting her, "See you on the training grounds cadet." She fell into a practiced salute, one that had his eyes widening. "With haste, my prince."

She entered first, the prince minuets later. The response was immediate. Five lines formed, each soldier becoming a perfect statue or so they hoped. Many eyes flickered warily about the arena. The recruits were a small force barely a hundred strong. The prince glared down at them, searching for weakness. One soldier shifted. He latched onto him.

"You! What are you doing here?" The prince marched up to the uneasy boy. "Why do you fight?" 

The boy stared resolutely at the ground, "For, for, m-my-"

"Look me in the eyes when you speak, boy!" The boy, still trembling glanced up.

"For my- for my- country. For my country!" The prince circled, gaze watching with hawk like precision."

"Do I make you nervous...boy. I should." His knees were shaking so badly his armor was quacking. He ambled through the rows pausing at any who appeared intimidated or overly cocky. 

One young man held a posture far too loose. Rezon stopped, "What's your name? 

"Pedaiah Boetias." One could hear the smirk. 

The prince leaned over nose to nose with the recruit. "What has you so relaxed, soldier?!"

"I am a fourth generation private. My family as been training me for this day since I could walk. I'm ready."

"Oh, are you now?" The royal glared at the man a moment before grabbing the edge of his helmet and forcing him to his knees. "You are a fool. You aren't prepared for anything! The only opinion that matters is mine, not the self entitled crap you just spewed. Until stated otherwise you are little more than dirt under my feet. Do you hear me?!"

"Yes." the voice shook. The prince stepped back observing the crop with a detached intensity.

"You are to call me your highness or sir, no other titles will be tolerated, am I understood?!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Excellent. We will begin with light sparring matches to test your skill levels. Let's begin with three."

"Harris and Raza." Ray Harris stepped into the center of the arena where a short, lean young woman stood with her hands clasped calmly behind her back. They shook hands.

"Andy and Amwolf." The opponents couldn't be more different. A woman who easily exceeded six feet with muscle clear despite the metal and yet smiles and a man lean and muscled, but barely over five feet who scowled at the crowd. He merely nodded to her.

"Amne and Boetias." The young man grimaced at Cahira, looking seconds away from scoffing. He clearly believed his superior size would win him the match. "Hope you're ready to lose."

"You severely underestimate me. That won't end well for you." The cool, collected sound surprised Rezon. He didn't know just how much experience Cahira actually had. Without any motion of acknowledgement (Boetias unwilling to give one and Amne simply lacking any respect for the arrogant soldier) they fell into fighting stances.

Each pairing faced each other waiting for a signal. The prince observed the match ups. This would be interesting. 

"First to be debilitated for ten seconds loses. Begin!"