Conquered Love (Love Series: Book 1) FREE READ

Chapter 11: Battle Cry

::Ryanna's POV::

I was left to the soldiers and they treated me just like they would with each other. They had slept on hay beddings which didn't bother me at all considering I was used to that back home.

It would be nice to share that comfy bed with him.

I groaned in frustration. I could be in there, instead I am here waiting for my first day of training. I saw Karma perching on a nearby window.

"Tattletale!" I mumbled.

Caw!

Hmph.

Caw cawwww!

I stopped myself right there. I was not going to start arguing with a damn bird. But I knew if I escaped, it would alert Tyrion. Where is he anyway?

Probably sleeping soundly in his home.

Despite my thoughts, I looked around. I could not sleep. The soldiers were snoring and sound asleep. Earlier they were celebrating and also bar brawling with each other. But now, they are lying next to each other and probably won't remember a thing tomorrow.

"You're going to be exhausted tomorrow," a night watcher yawned, "What's wrong?"

"Today has been a little too eventful," I answered, "I don't even know if he was serious about what he said earlier."

"Sir Tyrion? Oh he was damn serious," he flicked a hay off his clothing, "But it comes with the job ya know?"

I sighed and looked at the crow, "Does he really understand what the crows say?"

"Sometimes those who appear sane are the most crazy. But since he was a child, he had played with the crows. He didn't do well with other birds, just the crows. Sir Tyrion was previously from the northern borders," he began to stretch.

Northern borders?!

He caught my expression and waved me away from my thoughts, "I know it may seem alarming, but Sir Tyrion chose to join the revolution. He was an orphaned kid who was belittled by the Royal Government. He was a half blood."

"Just like me..." I stumbled.

"You are half blood? I thought Lord Dom was supposed to be granted a full-blooded royal?" he tilted his head.

I felt my head drop, it was true. He was supposed to be presented with Angela. If things were different, then where would I be right now? The watcher sighed and flicked a pebble towards me.

"Don't let blood determine your worthiness," he then stood up and began to walk away, "We all doubted ourselves, but Lord Dom has made us see past our flaws and weaknesses. I am guessing Tyrion wants the same for you."

I stayed there in silence and my eyes started to get droopy. I know I might have a few hours of sleep, but now I was curious.

Who was Tyrion?

The sun rose in the skies of dawn. I overheard a rooster crow. Karma cawed and fluttered above me, jolting me awake.

"All soldiers report to the training grounds, rise and shine boys," a sergeant barked. He then looked at me and then added, "And one woman?"

The night watcher reported and said I was Tyrion's special guest, which the sergeant shook his head, "Well... let's begin."

I dusted off the hay off my clothing and followed behind everyone. The look of determination in the warrior's eyes was impressive. They stood in formation and the sergeant barked more orders and began to exercise.

"Drop down, 50 push up now."

50?! I could barely do 1!

I dropped down and watched how the others began to pump their reps. My chest began to swell in panic. I attempted to do one, but fell halfway through. I thudded onto the ground.

"Your fellow soldier has failed, restart!" he ordered.

I heard a few grunts and moans but they ultimately restarted. There were some next to me that eyed me with spite. The night watcher soon joined in and started his reps next to me.

"You haven't gotten an eye's worth of sleep," I exclaimed, "What are you doing here?"

"This is child's play, and sleep is for the weak," he then turned to me, "Your form is wrong."

There's a form?

I looked over at everyone else and tried to mimic their position, I attempted and fell again.

"What's that disturbing noise I hear? A thud? RESTART!" he barked once more.

By now the groans grew louder but no one said anything, they continued to restart their reps.

I felt horrible. It was my lacking of skill that was having them to restart. I wanted to cry!

"Don't give up," the man encouraged, "Don't use your arms, use your chest."

What did he mean by that?

"I know it seems like we are only using our arms, but we are actually using our shoulders and chest too. Try to concentrate on those areas."

Looking down at the ground that I've fallen into I gave it a push. I flexed my back and what little triceps I had. I pushed and finally returned up to starting position.

"I did it!" I squealed.

"Yeah just 49 more to go," the sergeant scoffed and continued to monitor the others.

Right... only 49 mor to go.

"Thank you," I looked over at him.

"Name's Garen, rank corporal, pleased to meet you," he responded and counted his 25th push up.

"Ryanna, half blood, Lord Dom's substitute bride," I joked.

I heard Garen chuckle, "I think you'll make it here just fine!"

I began to pump more and more. The energy of the crowd was exhilarating. The soldiers who finished got up and gave me the thumbs up as they passed. They went to jog off the pain in their arms. I was only at 20 but was now shaking.

"Are you going to drop more for me soldier?" the sergeant asked.

"No sir!" I answered. I pumped a few more.

"I didn't go to school you call me sergeant," he corrected.

"No Sergeant!"

So this was what it was like to be in the military, exerting and exhausting oneself to get killed in battle.

I was out of breath but was at 45 finally!

"You're so close!" Garen jogged by, "Remember why you are doing this."

Oh I remember clearly. It was for Dom. No wait! It was to wipe off that smug face of Tyrion!

I completed the reps and fell to the ground, I felt the earth pierce into my skin a bit harder and I could barely breathe.

"Jog it out soldier," the sergeant pulled me up, "War does not stop for those who are tired."

I'm gonna die.

No really, if I thought push-ups were hard, cardio is my death sentence. I had no cardio within me and started jogging about. I was running out of breath.

"Control your heartrate, sync your breathing with your movement!" Garen cheered.

The soldiers were now on the bench drenching themselves with water and pointing at me. I could not hear what they were saying, but kept Garen's advice in mind. It was an extremely difficult thing to stand by because I was not in sync at all! I could feel my feet getting heavier and started to drag, but I kept going. I felt tears begin to build up, but I did not allow them to fall. I am more than I believed myself to be. I have to become stronger! Even if it kills me!

I finished and was about to join the others when the sergeant barked new orders, "To the archery line!"

I gasped in desperation and lagged behind everyone else. We each got a place at the line and was given a bow and arrows. The targets were at least 100 feet away, and those were the nearest ones!

"Utilize this time to regain your breathing," Garen encouraged, "If your breathing is off, you will miss!"

I took a deep breath and focused. I felt myself suddenly twitch with a skipped heart beat! The arrow sprung forward and missed the target completely!

"Arrows don't come unlimited on the battlefield! Don't waste my arrows!" the sergeant's scorned words burned into my soul.

I took another deep breath and pulled back on my bow, I took into consideration my stance and this got me remembering about that time I hunted with Dom. My leg was not at 100%, but I could do this! I released the arrow, and it pierced the outer ends of the target.

I squealed once again in silence. I was so proud! I turned to Garen only to see a straight face. I looked back and the sergeant's large frame loomed over me.

"Hit the vitals, or your ammunition was all for nothing," he shattered my progress with those words.

Garen did not say anything, but curiously watched. I angled my feet a bit and felt my posture begin to stabilize. I focused and took gravity into consideration. I released and the arrow flew past the target. It hit near the bullseye on the third furthest target on the field! Shocked, I actually jumped up and down. Some of the soldiers began to mutter amongst themselves. All but Garen who folded his arms in approval. He smiled at me and the next challenge began.

Garen gave me a quick pat on the shoulders, "Lord Dom was right when he said all you need was training and we will sweat bricks."

"You were there?" I asked, referring to that night when we stopped and hunted.

"Barely..." he shrugged, "I'm not an archer I was one of the scouts. You didn't see me because I'm a nightwatcher. You know... like last night."

"Ohhhh!" I realized.

"Get in line warriors, next up is hand to hand combat," the sergeant yelled, "Everyone get into pairs!"

Garen instantly grabbed my wrist and directed me to the battlefield.

"Wh-whoah!" I began to panic, "Do I really have to? You're like twice my damn size!"

"Better me than the jealous folks, and besides I'm kinda groggy after all that, who knows maybe I could teach you a thing or two today."

I looked over at the other lot who wished they could set me straight. Their eyes burned with intense jealousy and they gritted at their chins with Garen's swifty reaction.

Phew.

"Three chances, first one out will clean the latrines tonight!" the sergeant cued to start.

"Okay," Garen sighed, "I was going to give you a chance, but... those toilets will be the death of me."

Wh-What?!

"Your stance sucks," he interjected.

I looked down and didn't know that he was already swinging a low kick at me! I fell on my butt!

"Owww!" I rubbed my hurt bottom.

"Get up!" Garen sneered, "I should've warn you, but this is my favorite part of the day."

The once proud eyes of him diminished into new hungry glare. He sought for victory. I began to feel my knees tremble as I got up. All that cardio was finally beginning to set in! My quads were feeling like they were ripping into shreds..

Tomorrow is gonna be hell!

If I even make it to tomorrow that is.

I got up and tried to copy his stance he sighed and took a step forward. He didn't execute a low kick but instead threw me off balance by a mere flick of his pointer!

I fell down once again!

I felt an uproar of emotions lodged in my throat, I gulped it down and quickly got back up.

"Don't lean all your weight on your back footing, you have to remember to keep one leg light for an attack. You never see defense of an army at the back do you?" he lectured.

Dammit he was right!

I took my stance and Garen attempted another kick, only this time he aimed for my mid section. I dropped down in the splits and witnessed his instant regret. I uppercut his under thigh.

Garen scowled in pain, I might have focused all of that swallowed emotion into that punch because he was now no longer groggy, but instead incredibly pissed. Garen fell to the ground and tried to massage his inner wound.

"What's wrong Garen? You got owned by a girl?" a soldier in the background started to mock.

A few chattering and laughter began to escalate. I looked at Garen who pierced me with gaze so intense I took a step back.

"I'm sorry!" I apologized.