to
walk passed me and out the door. I sat down on the bench and used
the bottom of my cloak to wipe the spit off my shirt. My poor cloak
was in desperate need of a washing after only one day.
“You alright?” Micah asked.
“Fine,” I said as I resumed eating my soup
and bread.
Micah set a mug of water on the table in
front of me. “You always forget your water.”
“Thanks,” I said as I took a drink. “And
thanks for defending me, but you know you don’t need to do
that.”
Micah shrugged. “I’m tired of his cocky
attitude anyways. I really wish I could have taken him outside.” He
watched me eat for a second and then asked, “Why are you eating
alone?”
“He’s mad at me,” I whispered so that Favian
couldn’t hear me.
“You guys are best friends and partners.
He’ll get over it. And plus, that is no reason for you to eat
alone.”
I finished my meal and picked my bowl up to
take to the bin where the chef would clean them later. “Thanks, but
I’ve got to go.” Favian was standing up and looked like he might
have been waiting for me, but I kept my eyes forward and walked
passed him without a glance in his direction. If he wanted to be
mad, two could play that game. I walked from the food hall to the
covered arena and shoved all of my girly emotions down inside where
they belonged.
It was an honor to spar with one of the
masters and the thought made me giddy and nervous at the same time.
I climbed over the railing and dropped down into the dirt arena
where Master Sean and Master Martin were standing together
talking.
“Masters,” I said with a bow.
Master Martin smiled. “I’m sure you’re
nervous having the both of us here, but due to your circumstances
we are going to be giving you extra lessons with sparring against
us to better prepare you for the final.”
He called it a final like it was a normal
test. Like my life wasn’t in danger. Would I become so callous when
I was their age?
“Today we are going to teach you quick
techniques which will help you get out of situations where you
might be tied up,” Master Martin said as he uncoiled a rope.
“So you’re going to tie me up and teach me
how to get untied?” I asked to clarify.
Master Martin smiled. “Exactly.”
I did not like the gleam in his eyes. It was
a frightening gleam, but I knew there was nothing I could do to
stop it and I also knew that he was simply trying to teach me how
to save my own life. Or at least I hoped that was the reason they
were teaching me this.
“Okay,” I said with a nod of my head, “Let’s
get started.”
~~~~
CHAPTER FOUR
Four hours later my arms, legs, wrists,
ankles, throat and hands were covered in rope burns and bruises and
my skills had barely improved. They promised to write down my new
schedule and have it delivered to me before lights out. Apparently
I was going to have more private lessons and a much longer day than
the others. I limped into the food hall and stood in line for food
with the other students and wished for some of the pain medicine
that Mother kept on hand for me at the castle. It was instant
relief and always made me feel happy.
“You look like crap,” Micah said with a
laugh.
“Thanks,” I muttered as I limped forward in
line.
“Training with the Masters one on one not
exactly what you dreamed it would be?”
I shrugged and then grunted in pain from the
movement. “It’s intense, but I can handle it.” Favian was behind
Micah, but he was still mad at me and ignoring me so I did the same
to him. “How were your training sessions?” I asked Micah.
He shrugged. “Not much new. We basically
recapped everything we learned before we left for break so that
they could be sure we remembered everything.”
“I practiced throughout break so I’m glad I
missed that. I would have been bored,” I said. I grabbed a bowl and
held it out for the chef to pour soup in.
He smiled. “You look mighty beat up, girl.
Don’t forget your water
walk passed me and out the door. I sat down on the bench and used
the bottom of my cloak to wipe the spit off my shirt. My poor cloak
was in desperate need of a washing after only one day.
“You alright?” Micah asked.
“Fine,” I said as I resumed eating my soup
and bread.
Micah set a mug of water on the table in
front of me. “You always forget your water.”
“Thanks,” I said as I took a drink. “And
thanks for defending me, but you know you don’t need to do
that.”
Micah shrugged. “I’m tired of his cocky
attitude anyways. I really wish I could have taken him outside.” He
watched me eat for a second and then asked, “Why are you eating
alone?”
“He’s mad at me,” I whispered so that Favian
couldn’t hear me.
“You guys are best friends and partners.
He’ll get over it. And plus, that is no reason for you to eat
alone.”
I finished my meal and picked my bowl up to
take to the bin where the chef would clean them later. “Thanks, but
I’ve got to go.” Favian was standing up and looked like he might
have been waiting for me, but I kept my eyes forward and walked
passed him without a glance in his direction. If he wanted to be
mad, two could play that game. I walked from the food hall to the
covered arena and shoved all of my girly emotions down inside where
they belonged.
It was an honor to spar with one of the
masters and the thought made me giddy and nervous at the same time.
I climbed over the railing and dropped down into the dirt arena
where Master Sean and Master Martin were standing together
talking.
“Masters,” I said with a bow.
Master Martin smiled. “I’m sure you’re
nervous having the both of us here, but due to your circumstances
we are going to be giving you extra lessons with sparring against
us to better prepare you for the final.”
He called it a final like it was a normal
test. Like my life wasn’t in danger. Would I become so callous when
I was their age?
“Today we are going to teach you quick
techniques which will help you get out of situations where you
might be tied up,” Master Martin said as he uncoiled a rope.
“So you’re going to tie me up and teach me
how to get untied?” I asked to clarify.
Master Martin smiled. “Exactly.”
I did not like the gleam in his eyes. It was
a frightening gleam, but I knew there was nothing I could do to
stop it and I also knew that he was simply trying to teach me how
to save my own life. Or at least I hoped that was the reason they
were teaching me this.
“Okay,” I said with a nod of my head, “Let’s
get started.”
~~~~
CHAPTER FOUR
Four hours later my arms, legs, wrists,
ankles, throat and hands were covered in rope burns and bruises and
my skills had barely improved. They promised to write down my new
schedule and have it delivered to me before lights out. Apparently
I was going to have more private lessons and a much longer day than
the others. I limped into the food hall and stood in line for food
with the other students and wished for some of the pain medicine
that Mother kept on hand for me at the castle. It was instant
relief and always made me feel happy.
“You look like crap,” Micah said with a
laugh.
“Thanks,” I muttered as I limped forward in
line.
“Training with the Masters one on one not
exactly what you dreamed it would be?”
I shrugged and then grunted in pain from the
movement. “It’s intense, but I can handle it.” Favian was behind
Micah, but he was still mad at me and ignoring me so I did the same
to him. “How were your training sessions?” I asked Micah.
He shrugged. “Not much new. We basically
recapped everything we learned before we left for break so that
they could be sure we remembered everything.”
“I practiced throughout break so I’m glad I
missed that. I would have been bored,” I said. I grabbed a bowl and
held it out for the chef to pour soup in.
He smiled. “You look mighty beat up, girl.
Don’t forget your water
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