Crossfire

3

Palka speed-walked through the castle to the courtyard, where Guarar and two others were waiting. She felt the three closely looking at her, slightly confused of her apparel. Guarar was the first to speak.

"Well, uh, Charar here is going to take you to the training grounds."

Tessa raised an eyebrow and felt herself smirk. "Charar?"

Guarar smiled hugely and took one of the other guards in a headlock. "Yup! He's my little brother!" He ruffled Charar's hair with his free hand and Charar pushed away.

Tessa's other eyebrow went up to the other. The two names were the only similar things of the two brothers. Charar was rather slim, with light hair cropped short to his head. He was significantly shorter as well, though still tall.

"Right this way," Charar muttered. At least he seemed to be trying to be polite.

She learned Charar wasn't much of a conversationalist. Even when she asked him about himself he didn't say much. Just that he specialized in fighting with daggers. She also found that he walked a lot faster than his brother.

They arrived to a grassy flat area with a few soldiers training one-on-one with dummies, or practicing archery on top of horses.

"This is usually the time when the least amount of people are training, other than eating times and during the night," Charar explained, "so we decided you would be training during this time."

"Why so?"

"So that you won't be as embarrassed as training with so many others."

It took a moment for Palka to see his smirk and realize he was joking.

"Okay, what's the real reason?"

Charar's smile seemed to vanish into thin air. "Simply because there are so few people. You'll have more space training right now."

He waved to someone across the field, which was large enough Palka couldn't discern his features. The figure jogged up to them carrying a saber, which Palka guessed must be normal for swordsman here. Until he came into sight, and she realized it was just Kineou.

When he arrived, he nodded at Charar gave Palka no more than a glance.

"She's the one I have to train?" Kineou tried to keep his voice down, but it really didn't work.

"Hey, be nice. I know you don't think she needs it, because, you know, she beat the oh-so-great Kineou..." Charar's smirk turned into a laugh when Kineou punched him in the shoulder.

"Hey! I... I let her win!" Kineou's face was turning red.

"Uh-huh, sure," Charar gave Palka a knowing look, which she was pretty sure was just for the point of teasing Kineou.

While they were talking, Palka, for the first time, got to really see what Kineou looked like, since their first meeting was filled with adrenaline.

Kineou was about a year older than Palka, so around sixteen. He was taller than Charar, but just as slim. His hands looked rough and strong from wielding a sword. Shaggy dark hair flopped above grey eyes. He was wearing chainmail armor and, of course, his sword, which was now being tossed into the grass.

"Gee, calm down! You don't usually react this way to my teasing," Charar said through chuckles as Kineou pushed slightly.

"Whatever. You can go now," Kineou snapped.

Charar sauntered away. Kineou led Palka across the field towards where he was before. The field was lined with trees. By the edge of the trees was a stand with several weapons and a couple shields.

"Here." Kineou handed her a dagger and round shield. "Will figure out which weapon suits you." Kineou stood a couple yards away in a defensive stance.

"But I don't know how--" Palka tried to object, but he interrupted with a shrug.

"Trial by fire."

Kineou lunged at Palka with his saber ready. Palka held up her shield, almost falling over. She caught herself with one leg back, just in time for his second blow with the sword. She reached around her shield and swiped at his arm with her dagger. He narrowly missed it, then went quickly around the other side of the shield and pushed Palka's back while keeping one foot in front of her. She fell halfway on her shield, a very uncomfortable position. She felt the point of a sword pressing against her back.

"Hmm. It looks like someone could use some training." Palka could guess Kineou was smiling. She didn't know why, but she wanted to keep going. Keep fighting. Show him that she wasn't as defenseless as he thought.

She suddenly turned and hit her shield against the sword. It didn't come out of his hand but he did have to take time to readjust his grip. Palka took this time to stand and push him in the chest with the hilt of her dagger. She would've used the other end, but she didn't want to hurt him. He swung his arms to keep balance. Palka wacked his sword hand, and this time he lost his grip. He finally completely lost his balance and fell to the ground. Palka kneeled on his chest to ensure he couldn't get up.

"You know I technically won that," Kineou snapped. When he didn't seem to want to complain anymore, Palka stood and offered her hand.

"Well, maybe next time you should clarify the rules." Palka felt like a little kid pretending to be older than she was. She tried to keep her face in a confident composure.

Kineou took her hand, all the while glaring at her. For a second she thought she saw a smile.

"Try this," he said as he handed her another weapon. This fight ended with her in headlock. There were several other weapon choices/fights, each ending with her on the ground or on the edge of being stabbed.

The sun was setting and Palka was tired. Kineou sent her with a dagger, just for self-defense. "You never know what can come in the night," he said. Palka hoped he was joking.

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Palka couldn't help but flop on her bed when she reached her room. "Two months, Mom. Two months," she whispered. "I already miss you." Then she fell asleep.

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