The One True Commander [BOOK 1]

Chapter 25: New Arrivals

A whole month had now passed since the arrival of Lexa, and in those first weeks she settled in well and got her bearings before her training had to begin. But at the end of two weeks, the other new natblidas arrived, most around five summers old, some even a little older, which meant Lexa was the youngest. Like when I was first brought to Polis, the Nightbloods were brought to me and I introduced myself to the nervous looking children. In the first few days they were homesick as they were missing their families, but soon the welcoming aroma of Polis engulfed them and they soon settled in and I also got to know them more as they starting their training.

Of course there was Lexa kom Trikru, who I had been introduced to earlier than the others, but in that time I learnt she had a heart as pure as gold and a kindness that never failed which reminded me painfully of Atlas. Her small arms seemed much to small to wield such a weapon as a spear or sword, but she practiced with such determination that she surprised me with her skills. She soon picked up the basics and could even beat the oldest of the natblidas with her carful calculating eyes and quick moving feet. The girl also had a fond determination to study as well, even though she couldn't read or write that well, she still tried to pronounce the three pillars of the commander's to her literature teachers.

Then there came Everest kom Louwoda Kliron Kru with a heart as wild as the valley she came from. The girl had brown hair that was delicately woven into beautiful braids by her own hands and her eyes were the brightest blue. Everest had lived to see five shedding of the leaves and like how the leaves blew mindlessly in the new autumn she often got in trouble with the city folk by playing pranks and being mischievous, which often got her a scolding from an angered Titus. Ivory took a fond liking to her because of this. Everest was an okay fighter, she often fell behind with the sword, but her acute sense of strategy often made up for her sloppy movements. She would always plan out her attacks and this is how she won, by catching her opponents by surprise.

Willow kom Pondarkru had a true art for craftsman's ship, she would teach the others how to make knifes out of stone and fishing nets out of rope, the lakes of her clan truly grew in her bones and the skill of such workmanship showed with her carefully trained hands. Willow had seen seven growing of the leaves, and with her being the oldest she was like a mother to the others, revealing her kind heart and comforting embrace when one of them was scared or upset. Her eyes were as blue as the lakes she originated from and one look into them could soften even the hardest of souls and her hair was a light blonde colour, like the midday sun. Her fighting was good, but she often faltered, she was too peaceful to fight. Her heart belonged to the even flowing current of the lakes and the slow rocking of the boats.

Luna kom Floukru contained such compassion in her heart, living up to her clans more peaceful approach to life. She had lived to see six growing of the spring flowers and she seemed to have a certain touch for nature. When a horse spooked she was the one to speak soothing words into its ear and left even the most skilful stable workers baffled. Luna had bushy wavy brown hair that would flow easily in the wind and her eyes were as brown as tree bark. But her fighting skills were very skilful even at her age, her arms would carry a sword with amazing coordination and her feet would move gracefully, making a fight look more like a dance. Her voice was the calmest and most soothing sound you would ever hear, she didn't seem capable of shouting with anger it was like her soul was possessed by an angel.

Then there was Luca kom Floukru, Luna's twin brother, born on the same day and intertwined with a brotherly and sisterly love. Luca was no fighter, he had such an innocent and shy soul, shouldn't have to deal with the severity of his blood. His fighting skills were slow and predictable, but despite this he still tried his best especially with his beloved sister's encouragement. Luca had messy brown hair that stuck up wildly like the summers grass and he shared the same eyes as his sister, brown but they had a more shy gaze. They reminded me of Eden and Malia, which made me miss their presence. Luca's heart belonged to knowledge and stories and he always in his free time was reading all kinds of books, filling his mind with knowledge and sincere words, even if he didn't hold up the fighting side of a commander, he surely had the mind of one.