Abandoned by Fate

Chapter5

TRISHA's POV

"How the hell did you live for this long?" Corman asked as he threw me on the ground again.

I was too winded to even get angry. I just kept on lying there, on the training ground, trying to get air flowing in my lungs again.

"Get up you pitiful, slothful wolf."

I rolled my eyes and turned on my side, though my pride was injured. "You've forgotten how I got here." I finally got up and rested my hands on my knees, waiting for the next attack. I looked to the side at other wolves my age going through training.

They paused to enjoy the spectacle of me being beaten up by their so-called instructor.

I looked back at Corman, my attacker, who was currently leaning on a tree, looking like he would have loved to be anywhere but here.

“Yeah, I remember if not for Loren you would have been dead meat now,” he replied, and then threw a kick and blow simultaneously so fast I couldn't block either of them.

“Hmmpphh.” I grunted again even as I absorbed the pain.

“How are you training me for combat this way, Corman?” I asked, glaring at him even as I favored my left side where he hit me.

So far, this isn't practicing for me. This is just him being sadistic, bullying me, and beating me up because, obviously, he has the upper hand here. He is faster, stronger and has more training than I do.

“Loren said I need to train you to learn how to take a beating.”

He saw me limping and he tsked, shaking his head in disapproval. “You have very low tolerance for pain…”

He circled me, drawing closer.

I went on the defensive on reflex.

“…depending on your wolf can always be a disadvantage too.”

“She isn’t complaining though,” I murmured under my breath, trying to predict his next move.

And about my wolf, she has stayed mute since the occurrence that almost ended our lives.

All my efforts at trying to communicate have been in vain so far.

“Ooww!” I gasped as Corman landed a kick to my abdomen.

I made that great sound on purpose to appear weak and make him drop his guard. It worked, he came close, much too close.

“You ain't supposed to show or make any sign of pain!” He shouted even as he drew closer.

Tracing the sound of his voice, I attacked with a hard kick, hitting him on his chest. I caught the brief look of surprise even as he staggered backward before he could wipe it off his face.

“You hit like a human,” he smirked.

“Why didn't you tell me Lord Loren is a mind reader?” I asked suddenly.

This question caught him unaware, and I managed to land a blow to his jaw which made his head swivel backwards.

He gained his composure and stared angrily at me “I see what you did there, cheat.”

“I have a good teacher,” I grinned widely, knowing he could see the blood stain on my dentures.

He returned it with an even bigger one.

“If you had fought this hard, I wouldn't have found you lying in the pool of your own blood.”

I recognized his deep, rich voice like Caribbean coffee even before I looked up to see him resting languidly on a branch of the same tree Corman had been leaning on.

I didn't know I had a spectator this close. My mouth was slightly agape in astonishment. Corman, on the other hand, wasn't surprised, which means he knew all this while. I didn't know how to take this new development.

“I didn't think they would have tried to kill me.” I replied, anger seeping slowly into my voice.

He laughed softly. “Oh! I forgot. Here is our little princess everyone.”

I looked around to see first the surprise at the presence of Lord Loren and then the smirk on their faces. Some were not quiet at all in their mockery. I couldn't seem to decipher if the fast switch in emotions on their faces was as a result of their eagerness to please him or was basically natural.

Whichever one it was, I didn't care, and I didn't like the unwanted attention.

I glared up at him even as that demeaning smile directed at me remained on his lips.

“You just made our princess angry, Lord Loren,” Corman chuckled, resting at the base of the tree, his hands folded.

Seeing the look on everyone's faces, especially these two, further infuriated me. An idea came to light in my head and I smiled coldly at the pair of them.

“Don't do it Trisha,” My wolf spoke out lazily in my head.

“So you're alive.' Her sudden appearance didn't help the state of my anger.

“Welcome traitor.”

'Drama queen.' She rolled her eyes and closed them back.

“Lord Loren, I would like a friendly duel with you.” I raised my voice so I could be audible.

There was total silence.

“Don't listen to her brother, she's crazy.” Corman was the first to come out of the shock.

And Brother? Hmm, we will get back to that later after I have my ass whooped.

The man in question didn't move an inch from where he was.

Did he think I was here to joke? The murmurings were beginning to start, and I wasn't ready to be seen as a joker.

I looked up at him and thought of a good plan to infuriate him.

“Very bad, Trisha, very bad,” my wolf cautioned, coming fully awake.

“He isn't taking me seriously, and we haven't got the luxury of time.”

“It's been close to a month now, and he has mostly been ignoring me.” I replied to her with urgency.

“There is another way.”

“Show me.”

She went quiet.

Thought as much.

I opened my mouth and blurted what I knew was going to damn me. “Is our Lord too cowardly to accept the duel?”

There were gasps of surprise and indignation all around. Yeah, I just dug my own hole.

“Loren, she is obviously trying to bait you.” Corman laughed nervously, trying to appease him.

I looked on defiantly and allowed a mocking smile to play at the edge of my lips with a brow raised. He raised an archer in return. That was the only answer I got before he floated down slowly from the branch to stand in front of me.

Show off, I thought in my mind even as my heart began to palpitate.

“If you were trying to get my attention, congrats dear you have it.” He turned to the rest of the wolves and spread his arms wide, looking while looking me in the eye.

“I accept this duel, Trisha.”