The Warheart Kingdom

The beast grazed on some nearby grass that wasn't starting to die from the coming winter yet as I sat a little high up in a tree. I aimed with my bow at the boar, pulled back, and let go. There was a loud squeal, some sounds of it trying to scurry away, then silence. I jumped down and knelt by the beast that had started to make its way out of the clearing. Taking my arrow out of its neck, it seemed I had punctured its windpipe and a major artery. I felt almost empty inside. I had just killed again. I was good at it. Some of the men couldn't beat me most of the time. But not every kill, every death, was worth celebrating. Very few actually are, but at least this one would supply food. I tied up the boar and slung it up onto the back of my horse then headed back towards the castle. It was a nice hour-long walk towards the city gates. Once I passed through and started toward the butcher that often supplied the castle with more meat on days like today where there would be a feast, I saw him outside another shop. "Back again from stealing?" Allard, his name meaning noble and brave, strutted over to me as I crossed the clearing before the butcher's shop. "No, Allard, you great oaf. I hunted and killed this one myself. Get off your rump and acknowledge those who will soon pass you." I continued walking my horse towards the butcher as he followed me. "Seriously, I'm baffled and sickened by your closed-mindedness. You could give more respect to your fellow knight." "Ha! Women can't be knights! You'll just get in the men's way!" "Watch your tongue!" I hissed at him and drew my sword, holding it just in front of his throat. We were in front of the butchery. I put my sword away before I felt more foolish about having it drawn against a colleague in the first place. I started untying the boar from my horse's back. "Well, well, well. Someone has a temper." "Shove off." Heaving the boar onto my shoulder, I walked inside, glad to be rid of him temporarily. "Greetings, Alyssa. How are you today?" Bertram the butcher was behind his counter, smiling at me as always.  "I am fine, thank you, Bertram. I brought you something." I wondered if he noticed Allard and me outside. "What would I do without you?" He smiled at me. If he did hear us, he was not showing any sign. "Thank you very much." He came around his counter and took the boar from my shoulder and started in on it, making sure it could be ready for tonight. "You know I think of you like family. You helped me when my mother and I came here, now I help you with what I can." I smiled, knowing I have made someone happy. When I brought him meat, he could sell more for less, therefore making his customers happy as well. He strived to not gouge prices just to make a profit. "You have helped me do so much. You bring most of my customers. You supply my stock-" I waved him to stop. "It's nothing really. I just go out and hunt and find what I can for you during my leisure time." "And that is why I give you some." He smiled. "Yes. Thank you. Your cuts are amazing," I said, smiling, happy to help. "Well, I must be going now. Take care of yourselves and give them my love." And with that, I was off to my chambers. Walking around the shop with my horse, I looked outside the city walls through the open gate and noticed someone walking in. I could not see them clearly because they were wearing a cloak with the hood up, alone. I continued my walk and I took my horse to the stables closest to my chambers. With a silver tossed to the stableboy and a pat to my horse's nose, I whispered, "Be a good girl now," and continued through the narrow alley towards another area of buildings, including a stairwell to my chambers. I quickly climbed the stairs and entered my chamber, unloading my pack and weapons. I tried to relax as I quickly washed up in the basin and sat on my sofa. I closed my eyes briefly before being overcome with a feeling of restlessness. I got a drink from my water skin then grabbed my sword and bow again and left. I started walking to see my mother, Isabel Anessen, who had a servant's room in the castle. I haven't seen her in a while and I wanted to see how she was doing lately. I went through the castle kitchen to grab an apple and continued on my way to the servant's wing. I rounded the last corner to the hallway that my mother's room was down and nearly ran into a body I didn't see. "Hello, Alyssa." Prince Colin Hollander responded quickly and grabbed my hand, being a gentleman, if you could call him that. "I just came from your mother. She's sad not being able to see you so I figured that, as your future husband, I can help her. Don't forget that if you become my wife, your mother wouldn't have to work with those filthy animals." "I haven't forgotten. In fact it's dreadful thinking about spending my days with you. I'm sure my mother wants me to be happy. She wouldn't want me to give up my dream to be a bored wife, sitting around doing nothing. I will help her myself." "You're making a mistake," he said, pulling me into an embrace. "You can be more than that. I'll let you still be a knight." He was shameless. "I'll decide for myself. You'll have to wait," I nearly shouted as I pushed him away. "Okay then. I will be waiting for you." And he walked off. I went through the door and found my mother on the floor, holding her cheek. "What happened?" I went to her and picked her up, helping her steady herself. "Don't worry about me sweetheart. I am alright. Just did something wrong." She went back to working. She was always working, and I wondered why she didn't allow herself to rest often. Colin, I thought, that monster, picking on an elder. What did giving her more tasks have to gain him? I already knew the answer to that, but my mother dragged me from my thoughts. "How are you, daughter?" "I'm fine, ma," I sighed. "I went hunting and got a boar for Bertram. I had just given it to him for tonight and then went to my chambers to wash up a little before I came here." "It's good that you're helping. I wish you weren't in danger all the time, but you're strong enough and you do make me proud." "Thank you, ma. I'm doing it because of you, too, you know. I want to be able to protect you. Someday, I'll make up for my father being gone." "That would be difficult, my dear. Don't waste your talent and energy on us." "Yes, mother." I had no intention of listening but she knew that. "Go on, dear. Leave your mother to work." I sighed again, as I often did during our conversations. "Yes, mother. I love you. Please be safe." Or use your magic to stay safe. I didn't say it because she hated her magic. She thought of it as a curse. It could be, unless you knew how to use it wisely. I left my mother and decided to go to the training grounds. I wasn't far from the main area before I was greeted. "Alyssa. Will you spar with me? I must test these new blades." Roger, a blacksmith and a friend, shouted over to me as he stepped out of his workplace. He liked having his shop near the grounds so that there would always be customers close by. "Yes, Roger. I'd be delighted," I said, striding over quickly towards him. "Don't forget to go easy on me." He was amused. He was usually in a similar disposition whenever I saw him. "Of course." I laughed. Roger, while being good at making the weapons, was just not as good at using them. I had helped him on many such occasions. He held up one of the new broadswords and I struck at it using my own sword. "You've gotten better at holding them, Roger." I encouraged him. "Thank you for noticing." He struck again as I held mine up. "Well, this one passes the first test. It'll have to be tested more when the army does some sparring." He grabbed another one and we repeated. We finished with the few he had made and I asked him something as I sheathed my sword. "Roger, have you noticed a cloaked figure coming into the city?" There weren't many who would come into the city alone and hidden. "Yes. He asked directions to the inn. He seemed thirsty from his journey. Never removed his hood though. I would imagine he was being careful of who he met." "Okay. Thank you, Roger. I'll be going now. I wanted to go shoot and release some more energy before tonight." "See you later then. Have a nice day and take care of yourself and your mother." "I will." I yelled back, heading to the archery field. While shooting, I noticed someone a few rows over. I focused my gaze and saw who I thought was the man who entered the city earlier, but now his hood was down. He had short and spiky black hair and light tan skin. "Hello. Are you enjoying it here?" I called casually. He glanced at me before taking his shot, which was pretty good. Perhaps a little better than mine. "Yes, I am. My name is Peter. Peter Beckett." "I am Alyssa Anessen. Nice to meet you." He only nodded and went to pick his arrows from the target. So, I went for mine as well. He glanced at me but didn't say anything more. Instead, he made a farewell gesture of a bow and walked off.  Perplexed, I shot a few more rounds into the target, an uneasy, on edge feeling intensifying. I went back to my chambers to wash up again before the feast. An hour later, feeling somewhat refreshed, I was dressed in my black shirt with a simple and slack black corset, black pants, and knee high black leather boots. My long black hair was tucked into a braided bun hanging low on my head. I slung on my belt and attached my sword. It was a beautiful weapon, with a silver hand guard etched with a chart of the moon's phases going around the blade. The words "Honor in Life" were etched into the blade, giving it my own personal touch. It was my weapon of choice besides the bow. I carried it everywhere, especially when I didn't trust everyone around the city to not try to rob or kill someone else for the mere purpose being that they could. There were good people here that I tried to protect. They had driven my need to become a knight. Satisfied with my attire, I went to the dining hall where castle workers went, along with some travelers who have money, and sat down. The only people who didn't come here were civilians who had their own families and the cooks and washerwomen, including my mother. Someone sat next to me, the place already becoming full. I looked over and recognized the newcomer. "Hello, Peter. How are you?" He looked shocked and looked at me. "I am fine, thank you. Alyssa? Right?" "Yes, that's right. You remembered," I said, taking a drink of the wine. "Yes, it seems I did. How are you? I'm sorry about earlier. I was preoccupied." "It's fine. We were both a bit preoccupied, it would seem." He seemed nice. Something from the outside world I haven't seen in a long time. But I didn't think I should have been more comfortable around him. "What's good here?" The food was arriving. "Anything and everything. They have some fresh pork, though I doubt it'd come to this table." I smiled as I picked off a couple slices of what was probably yesterday's supply from the tray, along with some fruits. "The better foods will go to the high table, of course." I nodded my head towards the long table where the king and prince sat, surrounded with other knights, including Sir Gavin, his wife Lady Tessa, and Allard and his grandparents, as well as the court sorcerer Simon. Even though I was a knight, invited and fancied by the prince, I didn't feel right being up there. I saw myself as another subject, not above the rest, even though my abilities were better than most. Peter glanced at the table before he picked out a piece of meat and some grapes, along with some bread. "May I ask you something?" "That depends on the question," I answered. "Why does it seem like that guy up there, presumably the prince, is watching this table?" I looked up quickly before I looked back down to my plate. Yep. The prince. He was watching me. "That would be because he is." "Ah. Also, why bring a sword to a feast?" I paused for a brief moment before I looked at Peter. "Do you always ask this many questions about strangers?" I arched an eyebrow, taking a bite, and he shrugged. "I bring it everywhere. I don't feel safe anywhere." "Even here? Surrounded by people and guards?" "That's almost the exact reason I don't feel safe, even here. Not to mention that if someone were to try to attack, the knights and guards have an obligation to keep the people safe." "And what about you? They would include you in that, right?" "No, they probably wouldn't unless I actually needed help and then they might feel obligated to assist me." "But if they're supposed to keep the people safe, why wouldn't they help you? Especially being a woman?" I was trying not to take offense at the comment or mention I was one of the knights that would be protecting the people when someone, a young man across the table, muttered loudly, "She's probably the woman you have to worry about the least, you twit." Peter looked at the man quizzically and challenged, "And why would that be? If I'm such a twit, then enlighten me." I set my utensils down a little harder than I intended, causing Peter to look back at me. "Because I am one of the knights that would be protecting you." Glancing over Peter's shoulder, I noticed the prince watching me from the table. He had his goblet to his lips, sipping idly. Peter looked embarrassed as he returned his gaze to his food and took a bite. "I apologize if I upset you, Alyssa." "Don't worry about it. It's not something I mention lightly. Not everyone expects a woman to be able to protect herself, much less protect others." The young man across the table, almost sputtering through his drink, started to laugh. "Don't be so humble, Miss. I know you can defeat most of the others, if not all in a fight." I smiled small as I looked at the young man again, recognizing him as Henry Hilburn. His mother, Alyce, was the seamstress in his clothing store. His father was killed by bandits while working in the mines a couple years prior. "Thank you, Henry. How is your mother doing?" "Ah, she's alright. She has spent some recent days in bed with her knitting. She misses da still, but what can be done about that? We're just glad we had you near to save me." I merely nodded. His family was one of the good ones in the city. Peter was quiet for a bit. Before long, there was a clinking of glasses from the high table. The three of us and everyone else looked towards the sound. The king was going to make his speech. "Lords and Ladies, my people, I want to thank you for joining us tonight for the Autumn Feast. Soon, the snow will be at our feet, but we have plenty of resources to last us through another winter." The king took a quick pause as his gaze went across the dining hall. "We have plenty of food tonight, to take your fill before the night is through. Any left over will be distributed to the orphanage and homes in dire need in the surrounding area." With that he raised his glass and with some cheers from the knights around him, the other people in the hall cheered as well. I merely raised my goblet in a salute before downing the rest of its contents. While I didn't necessarily think he was the best, I was loyal to him, and glad that he was planning to help the people this winter. We finished eating in silence and Peter shook hands with Henry and gave me a quick bow, before he left. I chatted idly for a few minutes with Henry as we started to gather some of the dishes together for the servants. "Who was that guy," he asked, disgruntled. "I don't really know, actually. I only met him earlier as he came into the city." "He's an odd one. Doesn't know when to take a hint." "You might have a point there," I agreed. We were quiet another moment before we parted and I went back to my chambers. The walk was uneventful as I entered. I sat my things down on the table near my bed, then undressed and put myself down in bed. I pulled the blanket up around me and fell asleep. I started seeing strange scenes with a man. He had dark brown shaggy hair, blue eyes, and tan skin. While I watched him walk, he looked down at the baby he was holding. He then lifted his head, seemingly straight at me, and he spoke one word, "Alyssa." My name. I woke suddenly, sitting up quickly and the blanket fell to reveal my naked chest. But there was something else. I was sweating.