MARANATHA: Forged by Blood

Chapter 2: The Hightable and the Soulseeker

8 years earlier. . .

Steel clanged against each other as sunlight beamed over the sword, blinding my eyes with radiant light. I gripped hard on the handle as Cara pushed me downwards. I lost my balance and fell down hard on the hot ground, causing golden grains of sand to shower all over my face. Heightened by the mid-day sun, the heat along the stone walls of the Pit squeezed perspiration to appear on my nose and forehead.

Before my oppenent could slice me into two, I hopped. I blocked her sword. My feet dug into the sand as we both struggled to outmanuever each other.

"You're weak Mara! Weak!" Cara yelled. She pushed me. My sword fell from my grip and she hurried to kick it away.

"Yah!"

I rolled over as Cara struck at me, nearly piercing through my gut. I swung my foot and knelt on one knee. I grabbed two daggers from my sidepockets.

She attacked again. I had no other choice but to dodge her every blow. She slashed across me. I bended backwards. The sword passed inches from my nose. With a flip, I struck my dagger near her stomach, leaving a nasty gash on her gambeson. I circled and swished in Cara's face. With a quick bounce, she backed away.

Bonkers, I thought.

Her quick and constant change in footwork and the agility of her movements made it hard for me to predict her next move.

In a flash, she leaped from the ground. She kicked me, slapping my face with her boot. I face-slammed on the golden sand and almost burried my face into the ground. The next thing I knew, a sword was aimed right below my chin.

I dropped my daggers.

Three claps stopped Cara and me from fighting.

"Excellent Cara de Lanxi! That was a powerful move! Well done!" Lady Nadya Easttaughfe nodded at Cara with appreciation in her eyes. Cara beamed with pride and bowed at the lady.

Lady Easttaughfe, our fighting mentor nodded. A huge, tall, blond lady who serves as a General here in the Red Castle, she trains us everyday and keeps reminding us for the reason as to why we are here-to become Red Knights, the future protectors of Eos.

"As for you Mara. . ." She turned to me like an approaching cloud of storm. "You need to work on your defense. If you keep losing your sword and lowering your guard, you might as well lose your life in a battle. Remember, as young as your age you need to fully learn the art of fighting."

"Mara enjoys rolling over the dirt." Sophia de Lanxi, who was standing next to the lady laughed. She tapped the soles of my boots using the edge of her sword. "Which is where she belongs. . .obviously." The twins laughed at me like it was the funniest thing they heard all day.

"Enough!" Lady Easttaughfe scolded, silencing the girls. "You are here to learn how to defend this place and yourselves. You should not be picking on one another."

"Apologies, your ladyship," the twins said and bowed.

The stern-faced lady gave them a slight nod.

I picked myself up. I can't expect on anyone to lend me a hand and help me get on my feet. I wiped the sand that had stuck in my clothes and body. I heaved a breath and calmed myself. This is how training days go every single day. The de Lanxi twins who are older and much quicker and stronger that I am would mock or make fun of me.

"I don't want to be here! I want to go home!"

We all turned towards the entrance of the Pit. A boy at about my age was being dragged by the collar by a gigantic man who could be mistaken as a mountain. Wearing a red cape like Lady Easttaughfe, the man with a ridiculous mustache like an upside down bull's horn pulled the poor boy towards us.

"Enough Gil!" the man thundered. "You will train here and become a Red Knight or I will have you send into the Gazzers!"

The boy cried and begged to go home but the man chose to ignore his tantrums. He approached Lady Easttaughfe and she gave him a slight bow.

"Lord Edward Ryland, how can I help you?"

"Lady Easttaughfe, this is my son Gil Ryland. I want him under your supervision as a trainee to become a Red Knight. Make sure he learns and he behaves properly," Lord Ryland said.

I took notice of the boy the Lord was with. He was thin, pale and he looked sick. He had red, swollen eyes and red cheeks. He stared with pitiful eyes at me, gradually sniffing.

The de Lanxi twins giggled behind my back. "Another puppet," I heard Cara whispering to her sister.

"Indeed," agreed her evil twin.

Lady Easttaughfe and the gigantic man she called Lord Ryland talked about matters that did not appear important to me. As they both left, the de Lanxis approached the sniffing boy and pushed him. The poor fellow fell on the ground as the sisters laughed and kicked the sand near his face. They left him gagging and worse than he already is.

I approach the boy. "Are you alright?"

"Do I look like I'm alright?" he exclaimed. He got up and wiped himself. Standing infront of me, I realized that he was quite shorter than I am.

"I'm sorry about the twins," I uttered. "They're kind of mean. . .well, most of the time."

I myself can no longer recall how many times have I fallen victim of the twin's mean tactics. It was what they love doing so I just let them be. With the fact that I couldn't defeat them for now, I just decided to let them do what makes them happy even if most of the time, it meant putting myself in danger. I just don't want trouble, that's all.

"My name is Gil," he said. "What do they call you?"

"My name is Maranatha," I replied. "But people in the Red Castle call me Mara."

He lend me his arm which took me a few seconds before realizing he was asking for a handshake.

I grabbed his palm and shook it.

"I don't like it here," Gil mumbled. "What is this place anyway?"

"It's a training ground for knights," I replied. "We call it the Pit. As you can see it looks like one."

He puffed air. "Whatever this place is, I don't want to be in it." He sighed. "Unfortunately, it's the training or the Gazzers."

I had a short recollection of a place called the Gazzers. It was a wasteland for slaves. I haven't been there yet the information I've had was enough for me to not try seeing it for myself.

"Well," I muttered, "becoming a Red Knight might not be that bad. You'll learn to enjoy it."

Loud lashes of whips followed by a series of grunting made Gil and me turn to the Pit entrance. The gates had opened and a soldier riding a black stallion entered the round training area, dragging four men behind him. All of them were half naked and their bodies were covered with bruishes, bloody scratches and purple marks caused by heavy whipping. Their faces strained, their bodies bled and their hands chained. The soldier dragged them into the edge of the platform leading to the dungeons.

"Why are they being dragged like animals?" My forehead crumpled.

"Because they are prisoners," said a male voice from behind me.

Castill, one of the castle guards popped behind us.

"Prisoners," Gil repeated. "My father told me that they are bad people. That is why they deserved to die," Gil said.

Is that so? But those people looked terrible to me I cannot even bear to look at them like that.

"Mara, you are summoned by the High Lady."

It made me turn to Castill. He was standing so still and straight I would often thought of him as a statue.

"I guess I have to leave," I told Gil. "Don't worry too much. You'll be fine here."

"He'll be fine. He'll come with me." Lady Easttaughfe popped out of nowhere. "Starting today, Gil will be a part of the training. Now come along, son. I will show you around the castle."

Gil gave me a shrug before Lady Eastaughfe took his hand and walked him away. I turned to Castill who's standing stiffly behind me. "Let's go."

The Red Castle stood in the heart of Eos. It had been my home ever since I can remember: tall red marble towers, sturdy parapets, vast gardens of beautiful blooms and massive halls. Castill and I walked through an endless trail of corridors, hallways and rooms until we reached a huge red double door big enough for three elephants to get through.

"You stay here. I will inform the High Lady of your arrival" Castill said.

"Why can't I get in?" I looked up to the tall man. Castill had been a guard in the castle for decades. I'm already ten years old, I see him everyday but never in my entire life have I seen his face behind the silver helmet. I'm tempted to ask him to take it off but I reposed when he spoke.

"The Council meeting is still going on. You are not allowed to get in unless you're told to do so. You shall wait here until I comeback."

I nodded. Castill walked to the door and like a walking effigy of the figurines from the throneroom. I did not want to disobey him so I stayed infront of the crimson doors.

Castill entered and left the door slightly open. I could hear the conversation of the people from inside the hall. My overpowering curiousity urged me to peek inside. I saw my mother-Lady Emdrech Gravendorf-seated infront of the other people in fancy clothes. People in Eos call her High Lady but I don't know what that means. Sitting beside her was the giant man I saw earlier with Gil. I couldn't see the entire picture but I can hear their coversation quite well, many of which I didn't understand.

"The elementals in the west needs to be vanquished before they grow stronger again!" said a raspy voice of a male.

"Paroglyte had been sent into the armory. We can defeat them if we attack now!" said another, almost inaudible.

"Calm down my dear lords and ladies. We are preparing for this. We only need to wait for the opportune moment to strike. Our greatest weapon against the elementals is yet to ripen."

What are they doing?

"As a message of warning, we will have the executions by sunrise."

"The Blood-"

"Do you have any idea that eavesdropping to adult conversation is a wicked deed, young lady?"

I gasped and turned back around. The emotionless face of Lady Calderon met my widened eyes.

I stepped aside and bowed. "Apologies, my lady."

She raised her brow and entered the room.

My chest pounded. I was scared of Lady Calderon the moment I met her two years ago. I remember her yelling at me and the de Lanxis. I remember her telling me I do not belong here and that I should have been dead. I don't understand why she had said that to me.

I gasped when Castill touched my shoulder. I almost ran.

"You can enter now," he said.

I still wanted to ask him to take off the helmet but my mother is expecting me. I pushed the wooden leaf of the door and took slow steps inside. I can feel everyone's eyes on me as I walked towards the farthest seat where mother was seated.

She spoke the moment I got close and made me face the people she was talking to.

"Gentleman, ladies, this is my daughter Mara. Mara, meet the lords and ladies of Eos-The Hightable Council."

I was never accustomed to being introduced to people, specially older ones. Such moments make me scared, anxious and very uncomfortable. When my mother introduced me to what she reffered to as the Hightable Council, a wide array of beards and brows flooded infront of my eyes. Different skintones, angles of noses, shapes of eyes and fancy hairstyles surrounded a round golden table.

The person sitting across my mother is fat man. Beside him sat Lady Calderon who did not even glanced at me, allowing me to breath in relief. There were two other lords and another lady who didn't look familiar. No matter the differences in their appearances, they all have something in common-their reactions upon seeing me.

They all looked at me like I was lunch.

I gulped and hurried to bow. It was the best I could do to hide my discomfort from all the eyes locked on me.

"Hello Mara, it's a pleasure to meet you." A lovely woman with a fancy red hair dressed in an extravagant blue gown smiled at me. She looked about the age of Lady Calderon yet much prettier, paler and a lot nicer. "I am Lady Danielle Geoffrin."

"The pleasure is mine, my lady." I bowed and did my best to muster a smile.

The others did not appear interested of my arrival or of my very presence.

"Lady Gravendorf," squeaked the fat man who gave me a weird look before turning to my mother. "Perhaps it is best that we adjourn this meeting. All has been discussed and the decision has been made."

"Very well, this meeting is dismissed. The Blood Trial will commence by sunrise," my mother replied. "Have a pleasant day my lords, my ladies."

Everyone rose from their seats, gave my mother a series of nods and bows and left the hall. Lady Calderon threw me a gaze of disdain before exiting the place. I swear I don't undestand all of the distaste that she shows me everytime our paths cross.

"Now, now, what do we have here?"

I gasped in surprise and bowed to her. "Mother, you summoned me."

"Oh, yes I did" She rose to her seat and grabbed my arm. "Come along." She walked towards a small door east of the round table. "How was your training?"

"It's fine" I wobbled.

"Are you having a hard time?"

"Well. . ." I gulped. I didn't want to tell her that I was struggling to learn. It might disappoint her and I didn't want her to feel that with me.

"Is Lady Easttaughfe giving you a tough time?"

"No. . .not at all."

She glanced at me as she opened the door, causing a gentle creak. A dark silent room emerged before me. The smell of leather and varnished wood escaped from the inside and stung my nostrils.

"Why are we here?" I peeked into the darkness, following her.

"I think it is time that you see what has been hidden here for years."

She pushed a window open, letting the sunlight creep into the wall and lit the room. Light beamed inside, unvieling an enormous hall. Spread on a wide rectangular table is a thick board filled with miniature mountains, castles, cities, streams and places-a map. It said Lagertha on the top. There are four lines from each corner that intersects at the middle. Each side was labeled differently. The North said Nerteros, the west said Herteros, the south is Sionné and the east is Eos. The labels except Eos were all marked X.

I rarely get out of the Red Castle. Never in my entire have I seen the world beyond Eos. I knew that Lagertha is a vast land, but I never imagined it to be this big, even in a miniature.

I glanced up. Hanging above the map is a painting. A cold gust of wind draw me closer to the wooden canvas. It depicted men in red capes, warriors on horseback fighting on a bloody glen. I felt turns and twists on my stomach. My insides shivered. The scenery seemed to be moving, my senses absorbed into it's own reality. I can hear the war cries, the yelling, the clashing of swords. The warriors are not fighting humans. They're fighting inordinate beings I didn't know what. Huge, dark creatures, blue-skinned people and flying women.

"Mara."

A touch on my shoulder made me bounce into the other side of the room.

"What is wrong?" Mother's forehead crumpled.

"N-nothing mother."

She stared at me. "Come on. There is something I want to show you."

I followed her into the edge of the room. All of the windows have been opened, filling the room with light. On the very edge of the hall, encased in a glass box, a long florid sword glistened in the sunlight. A red stone gleamed like flames on it's bear head pommel. My jaw dropped. Astonishment was the only word that registered in my head.

"Beautiful isn't it?" Mother spoke behind me. "This is the Soulseeker, a very special sword. It has been in the family for centuries. Made from the strongest metals from the mountains of Nerteros. It's power is uncontainable and it brings death to anyone who deserves to meet their end. It is so powerful that only the strongest warrior can wield it."

"Has anyone wielded it before?"

"Yes. King Eunicus, the first human king is the first possesor of the sword. It was used by my grandfather King Coluossos during the Great War against the Elementals. Foul, vicious creatures. They greed all of Lagertha and wished to corrupt all the people in it. My grandfather was there to stop them, but he was defeated and so he gave the sword to me before he died. But since I no longer fight in battles, I kept it here."

Mother turned around and knelt infront of me, fixing my messed hair. She placed both hands on my shoulders.

"Listen Mara, everything that you are enduring today is preparing you for tommorow. A tree, through the passage of time, bears fruit. A flower, comes the right season, blooms. All things at the right moment will meet it's purpose. So shall you. Be strong so that one day you can protect yourself and this place. There is evil in every corner and you must be strong to destroy it. Do you not want to become strong?"

"I-I do."

"Good. You are special, Mara. One day it is you who will protect this place, the people of Eos and vanquish the evil beings that lurks outside our kingdom."

"You mean the Elementals? How evil are they?"

She darkened. She spat the words like they taste of soiled citrus. "So evil that they would kill every human being there is if granted the chance. The day will come that it will be your responsibility to stop them. So they could no longer harm anyone."

An ounce of determination heated in my chest. I stood firm and stared at the sword. "I will train harder. I won't let them hurt anyone. Not me, not you, not all of Eos."

Mother smiled at me, pinching my cheek. "I know you could do that. I believe in you." She made me turn to the sword.

"When you are ready, you can wield Soulseeker."

***

I couldn't take my mind off the painting and the sword from the secret room my mother brought me earlier. Even after she asked the servant Gretta to take me back to my chambers my head was clouded with countless thoughts.

"Gretta, have you ever wielded a sword?" I asked her as she helped me put on my dress.

"My dear, I spent my whole life in the kitchen. Why would you think that I would ever touch a sword? Swords are for warriors. Servants like me spend our days scouring plates and dishes. But if the situation demands that I hold one, then I would certainly do so. Why'd you asked?"

"Nothing. . . my mother told me I could wield a special sword when I grow up."

Gretta fixed the crumpled seams of the my embriodered dress. She'd been nice to me all along. All the other servants in the castle rarely talks to me but Gretta would always be this warm.

"You poor soul," she whispered. "There is so much you do not understand about this world Mara."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing. I'll send you supper when I get back." She smiled, taking her steps towards the door.

"Uh, Gretta," I called.

"Yes dear?"

"What does a Blood Trial mean?"

It took her a minute before answering me.

"Why do you want to know?" she whispered, glancing at all directions like expecting for a tadpole to pop through. Nasty beings!

"I remembered mother mentioning it with the Hightable Council. They said it will happen by sunrise."

Gretta turned pale and her eyes widened. She stood still like life was was draining itself out of her.

"Gretta?"

She turned to me, grim.

"It's means that tommorow my dear Mara, people will die."

She dashed outside the door and left me wondering.