After War Storm

Cal

I stood frozen for a minute, staring at the maid as she made her way down the corridor. What just happened?

She'd called me 'Your Majesty'. No one's said that in years.

In a daze I made my way to the dining hall.

"What's wrong?" Mare asked as soon as I sat down, immediately noticing something was wrong.
"Nothing really," I told her. "I bumped into a maid, that's all." Mare narrowed her eyes at me, knowing I wasn't telling her something. 'Later' I mouthed to her as the others arrived at our table.

"Morning," Farley said, sitting down with Julian. Everyone exchanged smiles in greeting and it was only then I realised I didn't have any food. Mare seemed to realised at the same moment as she slid her plate towards me and I took a slice of toast before sliding it back, smiling at her.

"Do you always eat together?" Mare asked probably confused as to why Farley was sat with us. I took a bite of my toast as Farley answered. "No, well sometimes. I'm just taking Julian to interview the Newbloods that lost their powers."
"They're already here?" Mare asked, surprised.
"One of them asked to stay here," I told her "and we thought it was best for them to stay here in case any changes occurred with their gifts or whether they remembered anything. If they did, they were a lot closer to us and the information could be given a lot quicker. We need to solve this as soon as we can." Mare nodded in agreement.

"Can I come with you?" Mare asked Farley. Farley glanced at me and I shrugged. I didn't have a problem with Mare going, though I wasn't sure why Farley needed to ask me.
"Sure, I don't mind though I don't think I TA going be that exciting. Julian's just going to ask them about what happened on the day."
"Well I want to be there in case we find anything and to help figure it out." That sounded like Mare, always at the front of everything. I smiled to myself.

I glanced at my watch and saw I was later than I usually was. Training started in only a few minutes and I had to go and change. "I've got to go," I said to everyone. "The soldiers' training starts soon."
"Of course," Julian said. "I'll catch you up on everything later, or Mare will, whoever sees you first. If we find anything we'll probably arrange a meeting later on."
"Ok," I said, standing up to leave.

"Wait," Mare called. "Who's taking Ti? I can't exactly take him to the interviews."
"I'll take him to training," I offered.
"Are you sure?" Mare asked.
"Yes, pass him here." Mare stood up and passed Ti to me. I gave her a quick kiss then turned to go. "I'll see you later," I called back.
"See you later," she replied.

I carried Ti back to my room where I changed into my fireproof training gear. I wasn't yet sure on what type of training I would have the soldiers do today or whether I would participate in usually did but today I would have Ti with me.

After changing I headed to the training room where Mare and I sparred yesterday. It's off limits to everyone else whilst the soldiers train. Cameron trains as well and is in charge of I can't be there.

I opened the doors and my soldiers were already stood there waiting for me. That was me of the good things that came of my losing my Royal status, I could be a General.

"Morning, Sir," one of the soldiers said as I walked passed. Most of the greeted me and I smiled, nodded and greeted them all in return.

I carried Ti up to the front where Cameron was stood.

"Rumour is Mare's back," one of the soldiers called out.
"Is it, now?" I asked.
"Rumour is you're back together," another shouted. I wasn't sure how to answer. I didn't know if Mare wanted our relationship to be out in the open but since she had kissed me yesterday, in front of the council and at breakfast this morning, then it wasn't a secret.
"Yeah, what of it?" I answered.
"Rumour is," a third called "you two have a son. Is that him?"
"Yes," I answered again. "This is Ti."

"Can I?" Cameron asked, gesturing to Ti with side, adoring eyes. I realised that this was the first time Cameron had met Ti.
"Of course," I said, passing To over though as soon as he was out of my arms, I missed the feeling of him there.

I turned back to my soldiers. "Let's start with some basic fitness training," I called out to the room and everyone immediately moved to their stations. They knew where they started and what order to perform each move in.

30 seconds at each station. Exercises ranging from sit ups to sprints to wall sits to pyramids to wall climbs to medicine ball to squats.

Normally I joined in but I hung back, keeping an eye on my son, not that I thought he was in unsafe hands with Cameron.

Training passed quickly and I had the soldiers move on to hand to hand combat, no abilities.

During this portion of training, I did join in, showing my soldiers different positions and methods of attack and defence. I didn't fill out spar with someone. Cameron is the only one that voluntarily spars with me nowadays though Mare as well now that she's back and I guess Eve would too. She was always up for a fight.

About two, two and a half hours into trading, the doors burst open and in ran Mare, excitement all over her face.

She reached me, slightly out of breath; she'd ran the whole way here. Her eyes lit up as she said: "We found something."