Darryn was in a deep sleep when suddenly cold water hit his face, waking him up abruptly. He sat up quickly, panting in surprise. He opened his eyes to see Audric looking at him, grinning, standing with him in one of the guest bedrooms of the castle.
"Rise and shine, Sir Darryn."
Darryn glared at him, jumping out of the bed and starting to approach him, only to be quickly apprehended by two of Audric's knights.
"I could kill you so easily for what you've done!!" Darryn bit out.
Audric laughed. "Not with those knights holding you, you can't. Now, enough with the hostilities, Sir Darryn. You're far too dignified for such things," Audric paused, placing a set of Grumor's knights' apparel on the bed. "You will get dressed in the apparel and armor and will head to the training grounds to spar with my men. I believe you and your friend Aquila, will be worthy assets to have in my army."
Darryn's jaw clenched, fighting against the grip the knights had on his arms. "And if I refuse?"
Audric laughed yet again, shrugging. "Then your friends there kill you. Simple as that."
Darryn let out a frustrated sigh, lowering his head. He knew he didn't have a choice. If there was any hope of finding his friends again and getting them out of this situation, he had to follow orders.
Audric left the room and the knights watched Darryn as he changed into the apparel, before allowing them to lead him to the training grounds in Wimborne. When he got to the training grounds, he saw Aquila fighting one of their knights. He held his breath, watching her. The man was much larger than her small stature of 5'4. Yet, she fought even more skillfully than he did, easily dodging his advances.
Darryn's gaze was torn away when he was faced with his own opponent. One of the generals threw him a sword and he caught it. He surveyed his opponent. The man was just as large as the one fighting Aquila, but Darryn knew he could easily fight him. The man swung his sword for Darryn's head, as hard and as quickly as he could. Darryn narrowly dodged it, striking the man's side. The man let out a growl, swinging around on him, a new fire in his eyes.
The man swung yet again for Darryn's head and Darryn once again dodged easily, laughing slightly at the man's predictable moves. Darryn aimed for the man's chest, but was met swiftly with the man's own sword, blocking him. Darryn pushed against the other sword as the man struggled to push him down. He grinned, removing his sword and stepping aside to make the man fall forward on his face. Darryn laughed but was cut short when the man jumped to his feet, swinging wildly at Darryn. Darryn fought to block all of the man's frenzied advances, but at one point the man's sword struck Darryn's side, slicing through his fabric and piercing his skin. Darryn groaned and clutched his side and the man took his moment of vulnerability to raise his sword, ready to come down on his head.
Darryn noticed the movement, jumping back as one of the generals grabbed the knight, pulling him away as the knight yelled and cursed at Darryn. Darryn shook his head, still clutching his bloody side.
"Freaking insane," he muttered.
***
"Time to get up," a gruff voice said, shaking Jesika's shoulders.
Jesika groaned, opening her eyes. She jumped at the sight of a stranger standing over her. She sat up, looking at her surroundings. She was in some small, cozy, peasant home. She raked her hand through her hair, looking at the knight, realizing he was in the apparel of Grumor. She grimaced.
"Get dressed. I set out the clothes you are to wear on the bed. You will see your friend Rowan in the kitchen. Today you two will be working in the farmlands."
