The Wilting Rose

Chapter 5- Training

Here’s a free tip. If you’re going to tell somebody that they’re waiting out their father’s death, that they need to participate in a really hard core martial arts academy, and they have to learn advanced magic, leave some time in their schedule for grieving.

Solie did not. “Grieving is for the weak. Also,” She said, as she beat me in fencing for the millionth time in a row, “it slows down the reflexes.” I rolled my eyes, and dodged another lunge at my chest.

It had been a couple weeks since I had been told I was waiting out my father’s death, and I was getting the hang of some basic poses, and moves in Solie’s class.

“Jatt’s coming. Here. Now!” Solie burst into the class a couple months after. The ground was covered in a light blanket of snow. “Get ready!” Solie was stressed out, and she made no effort to hide it for my sake. “He said he needs somebody for next month!” We gave a collective gasp. There was a definite that he was picking somebody, and he almost never guaranteed anything, according to Solie and the others. There was a rap on the door. Solie motioned to us and we all rose. Then, visibly composing herself, she opened the door.

“Good afternoon.” Jatt’s voice was clipped, and he looked impatient. “Well? Are you waiting for an invitation? Get outside!” We obeyed, and even though he lifted his eyebrows when he saw me, you could hear a pin drop. Outside, it was chilly, and we shivered as we took our first position. I was last in line. Jatt came outside with Solie and put his hand on her shoulder before taking out his long metal rod. Then, he walked over to Dittle, who was now 13. He whacked her arm, and blood poured from the big red spot. “Arms in formation.” Then he went through all my friends, whacking each one in turn. Then, he came to me.

“Is there nobody else?” He asked me. “Pity. I shall have to do to a different unit.” Then he turned on Solie. “Watch your unit. You know how I feel about you being assigned here.” He looked at me again, then back at Solie, clearly angry with one of us. I hoped it was Solie. Solie bristled. “You have not tried all my elves.”  Jatt glared at her but she held his gaze. “I shall bet you.” Solie’s words rang out like gunshots. “I bet my life she is ready for your test.” Jatt’s laugh echoed for miles, yet he looked at her almost tauntingly.

 “And what would you have me gamble?” Solie smiled slowly, clearly pleased he asked. “Your metal pole and your pride.” Jatt smiled again.  “As you wish.”

He approached me, menacingly. The blade was coming for me, hard and fast. All the other elves had let the blade smack them, but I leapt up into the air, higher than I had ever leapt before. The blade sang underneath me. Solie laughed a tinkling laugh that made what I had done worth it. “You missed, Jatt.” She told him. Jatt slowly raised the pole. “Perhaps. What did you say your name was?” I looked at Solie. Solie nodded, signaling it was okay for me to speak. “Rosslyn Victoria” Solie’s eyes glinted mischievously.

“She’s Commander Scott’s daughter.” Jatt brought the metal pole up quickly, and I recoiled, thinking that its stinging pain was only a moment away. But then, he brought it down upon the ground in a classic fencing salute. He placed it in my hands. “Commander Scott was a great leader… and a great friend.” He added turning his back on me and glaring at the sky.

“I am sorry for your loss. It was a tragedy for us all.” He did look sorry, but only for an instant before he was all business again. “I am fortunate to have lost that bet. Training will start tomorrow morning, 7:00 right here. Be there.” I nodded.

I was there. It was 7:00, and there was a light sprinkling of snow coming down from the heavens. Solie was there, too, and so were all my friends. They normally didn’t have training today, but they all decided they wanted to be near, so nothing went wrong on my first day. I saw Jatt walking up the steep mountain road. Solie herded all my classmates inside, and mouthed “good luck” to me before disappearing, and leaving me at the mercy of Jatt. I took some comfort in knowing that he now had no metal rod to correct me with.

“Well, well.” He mused, smiling a cold smile, “You managed to show up.” I nodded. “You have dodging down, so we may want to start with attacking.” He lunged at me, and I dodged, like Solie had taught me. He shook his head. “I told you to attack. In that situation I was rotated an extra 20 degrees right, so you should have caught me off guard. Try again.” He lunged at me and I leapt up into the air, but couldn’t bring myself to touch him. I landed behind him. He turned around, clearly exasperated.

“Why didn’t you hit me?” He asked. “I gave you a clear shot!” I didn’t know. I wanted to hit him, I did. I could have hit him, too! I knew that he was being easy on purpose. We tried again, and I still couldn’t bring myself to lay a hand on him. He stood up and looked at me. “Do you want to hit me?” he asked, not angrily. “Yes, sir.” I figured I might as well be polite to a person trying to train me.

“Kolhask,” he mumbled, staring intently into my eyes. I looked back at him. “Wait one moment, child. You could be a miracle. Or a curse.” He went into the woods and came back with a stick. “Now,” he instructed me, “Hit me.” I flew up in the air like a shot, and struck him hard on the back. He fell, and I landed behind him. “You!” he stood up, again, but this time with a respect. “You have what you’re father had. You are a Kolhask!” I cocked my head, the universal symbol of huh?! But he continued, undeterred, “You are a Kolhask!”  He ran inside.Solie came running back out with him, as did my unit. “Hello, General Rose.” They greeted me. I looked at Solie for an explanation I knew I would not receive until Jatt was well and gone. As I suspected, she looked away, unwilling to share. I rolled my eyes, and looked at Jatt. I was shocked to realize that he stepped forward and opened his mouth to explain. “You are a Kolhask.” He informed me, while my classmates stared on. “A Kolhask is a very powerful, very noble magical being.” I felt bad seeing how Solie was reacting when I knew they were mistaken. I was definitely not magical. Otherwise, when James was bugging me I could zap him into a toad or something.

Jatt’s voice cut through my thoughts, “We can tell, Rosslyn of Unit 7, because when I had no weapon, you would not attack me. Only when you were under threat would you let yourself strike.” I shook my head, but when he held up his hand, I stopped. “Rosslyn, this is very important. You are coming with me, for just a couple days. Then, you will return here and help this town prepare for war.” I blinked at him. He looked dead serious. I looked at Solie, and motioned toward the school house. She gave Jatt a stare that said, do not follow, and then strode into the crumbling shed.