Chapter Four - Resolution (Talia)

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Her hands continued to shake as she fed Thea another carrot. The stable was quiet, except for the pounding of Talia's heart. She had ridden home, unwilling to look back as anger filled her to capacity.

"You, my Lady, are absolutely terrifying." Cara chuckled, appearing around a corner. Talia glanced at her friend but remained silent. "That will teach my brother to ever defy you again," Cara smirked. "Not only him, but I think Carson is completely in awe of you just as much as he fears you."

"And how do you know all of this?" Talia grumbled.

"Looks tell all. Like your look now." Cara squinted at Talia with a knowing smile. "You are angry at everyone."

Talia sucked in a strangled breath of air, before slumping onto a bench. "I was terrified!" She lamented. "He nearly killed my brother!"

"He did kill your brother or at least brought him close to the brink." Cara brutally corrected.

Talia blinked as she stared at Cara. Vague swirling memories muddled in her mind as she tried to make sense of it all. "Why?"

"Adrien is a bully. He and his sister are ruthless in practice."

"Why?" Talia gasped feeling weak.

"I don't know." Cara sighed. "Rumor is, their father trains them far too hard, but their family keeps things pretty close to home. Don't like to share details if you know what I mean."

"Why did Carson and Destan hold me back?" Talia felt her body tremble as the powerlessness overwhelmed her once more.

"They were protecting you."

"I obviously didn't need protecting," Talia grumbled.

"Now they know. You know, not many people know how skilled you are. You keep under the radar really well, at least until today."

"Why did my brother give in?" A tear trickled down Talia's cheek as she remembered her brother's lifeless body. "Why couldn't he stay strong against their taunts?"

"Living a life of torment weighs on you..." Cara soothed, "He probably had enough today. I saw his face when you were trying to protect him." Cara placed a hand upon Talia's as she hiccupped back a cry. "He loves you, Talia. He just couldn't continue standing there watching you defend him while doing nothing."

"If he had done nothing, we would have won."

"If he would have done nothing, he would have been tormented in private for being a coward."

"So, he had to put his life in danger?" Talia growled.

"No, but you couldn't put order back into the ranks by yourself."

"Carson should have done that." Talia frowned. "What's the point of being the leader when you give in and don't lead?"

"He had to obey your brother." Cara countered.

"He could have tried harder before Cameron was put into such a precarious situation." Talia retorted finally. She stood and stalked out of the stable feeling irate as a beehive. Upon emerging into the late afternoon sun, Talia found Major Carson standing before her with her brother, Cameron.

"I don't want to talk to either of you." She barked, angling herself towards the kitchen.

"Please sister! Hear me out!" Cameron begged.

"I brought you back from the brink of death, brother. What could you say that would make that any better?"

"I'm sorry." He replied shortly with a penitent gaze. Talia froze. "I'm sorry." Cameron's molten eyes were lowered with sadness. "I had no idea it would go that far. When it did... I couldn't give in. My whole being defied even the thought of tapping out."

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