The Heart of Illumia

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Auria shifted her bow.  She sighted her target and breathed deeply as she drew her bow, stretching the arrow almost towards her slim shoulders.  She judged the strength of the wind.  She knew the arrow might miss its target if she released too early so she calmly stood there and waited for the right moment.  The flap of the wings of a bird can be heard in the stillness but she paid it no heed.  She had her orders and her target.  She would not be distracted.

            When the wind shifted, she released her bow and the arrow sailed upward before falling at an incredible speed towards its target.  She hid a smile knowing that her arrow would meet its mark for she aimed clear and true.

            The arrow sailed through and hit the red target on top of the training platform. 

            The crowd cheered, her fellow knights whooping in joy.

            It was the final day of training for her as an Illuvian knight as well as its initiation ceremony. In order to be accepted as an Illuvian knight, one must undergo a series of rigorous training.  No man, regardless of race, gender or build, can be an Illuvian knight if they are not fully equipped to fight alongside their brothers and sisters and Auria was brought up with the same principle.  She was never given leeway or special attention.  What the rest of the new recruits experienced, she must experience them too. 

After being presented as the heir apparent almost four years ago, the princess has devoted her time and energy in learning the ropes of becoming the future queen.  The king revealed what were the circumstances of her birth was.  No secret was to be withheld from her as there will be a lot of conflict if she remained oblivious to the truth. It was expected of her to train with the knights in order to build her stamina and knowledge of war to help her rule properly and wisely.  Her ancestors, her great grandfather and her grandfather were trained the same way.  Princess Andromeda was an exception as she had to ascend the throne early when she married the prince of Earth.  King Lucius blamed himself for not equipping his daughter with the means to fight back.  He became too confident in her powers, in her abilities.  Unable to stop time, he had been too late to give counsel when his daughter and her husband once came to visit accompanied by that traitor, Silvus.  He had seen the greed and lust in that man’s eyes when King Nadim was not looking.  He should have taught his daughter properly but he would not fail his granddaughter.  If he has returned, then his granddaughter will be ready.  So far, she had not disappointed her grandfather.  She might not be the best knight in her age group but her ability was not to be set aside.

            Auria leaped down from the tree, her long braided black hair flipping backward.  She was dressed in light armor, a slim sword hanging by her hip.  At fourteen years of age, she was taller than most of her peers but her slim build was sometimes underestimated by her opponents. Physically, she looked like a brushed up doll with her long black hair and clear green eyes but oftentimes, her beauty would be mistaken for weakness.  Her long hair would be braided and her eyes hidden by long fringes.  Half of her face was hidden as she wore a black face mask over her nose and mouth with what Leo had called “fukumen” which was a ninja outfit on planet Earth.    Leo had personally trained her upon his return from Gildan.  It took him two more months to finish the investigation about the death of Lady Sandra before he and Elder Farrah returned to Durin and reported their findings to King Lucius.  Since then, security has been doubled over the borders and within the kingdom.  Once the king realized he has returned, he had ordered Auria to personally train with Leo in both weaponry and magic.  They will no longer be caught unaware.  Who knows what powers he might have acquired during the time that Auria was still young.

            Four years of working as a mock up before rising as a squire and then as a junior knight.  She still favors the katana as a weapon but Leo created a set of sais as her hand-to-hand combat weapon which is hidden at the back of her silver boots.  Since she was a soon-to-be queen, no one was to know that she is taking part of the training exercises for knights.  They had to be careful of her movements in order to hide the fact that is training with the knights.  Her handmaids, Thania and Mildred would trade places with her and attend functions or parties with dignitaries all over Illumia who wanted to ask for her hand in marriage.  No one questioned their presence as they could not even recall the face of their princess since the last time she made a public appearance was four years ago.  So far their ploy was working although Leo and Elder Farrah did point out that their enemy can use magic.

            Auria raised her arm as she acknowledged the cheers of the crowd.  She had passed the first test.  She had three more tests of strength, endurance and agility to get through before she can be a junior knight.

            “You did well, little one.”  Leo praised as he accepted the bow and arrow from Auria.  He smirked before placing his hand on top of the princess’ head.  Auria grimaced.  This part of the ruse was the most difficult to bear.  They had to act like relatives in front of the crowd.  To most, they look like having an affectionate moment between family.

            “You should know that that part was the easiest of the trials.”  Auria looked at the other squires who were doing the same trial but so far, they were unsuccessful.  It will be a while before her turn.

            “I’d best check on Thania.”  Auria blurted as she saw her friend being surrounded by young pompous jackasses trying vie for her attention.

            “I think she can handle those puppies.  No need for concern.”  Leo chuckled as they saw how Thania managed to get away from the men overcrowding her.  Auria sighed before looking at the training grounds again.

            “The next part of the trial will be test of agility.  I know you will pass it easily.”

            Auria huffed exasperatedly before fixing Leo with a look.

            “You always say that.  Then the actual trial happens and I get stabbed at the back.”

            Leo lifted a brow.

            “You know that that is not true.  I always give you good advice.  You always just try to ignore it when you can.”  He reasoned before the horn was sounded.  It seems that the next trial was about to begin.  Auria groaned when Leo smiled widely at her.  She may act like she hated these trials but she always passed them with flying colors.

            The next trial seemed simple enough.

            The squires are required to look for the hidden object that is important to King Lucius inside the Lumen ruins.  Once the object was acquired, they would qualify for the last task.  The downside of the task was that they should not be tagged or hit by the traps set all over the area beforehand.  They will look for their object by solving the riddle written on a piece of paper that will be given to them at the start of the trial.

            Auria opened her parchment and tried to read the clue.  She half smiled as she recognized her grandfather’s handwriting.

            With my own eyes, I’ve seen its growth

            I yearned to have them both

            But life may have been a bit hard

            I know her as my heart’s shard

            Auria raised her eyes towards her grandfather who was seated on top of the platform and was looking at the trainees with an indifferent air.  She already knew the answer to the riddle like poem but it wouldn’t be a trial if it was just as easy as presenting herself in front of her grandfather.  The signal was given and all the trainees dashed forwards the ruins.

            As soon as she stepped inside, she felt it.  Something sinister was lurking inside the ruins. 

            She did not know if she should warn her fellow trainees but as soon as she thought of warning them, a loud ear-splitting scream rent the air.  Auria exchanged glances with a fellow squire, their eyes mirroring their fears but Auria gulped down her fear.  She gave a nod and both of them sprinted towards the scream, a few of their companions joining them as they moved through the shadows.

            They came upon a horrendous sight.

            Large well-built orcs stood above their fallen comrades, aiming their large clubs towards them to crush them to death. 

            One of the female squires was crawling towards them, her leg shattered as she begged for them to help her.  That was then that Auria made a decision.  No knight-to-be will die on her watch.

            With quick movements, she unsheathed several of her hidden daggers and with quick precision, threw them onto each of the orcs’ forehead. 

            The three orcs fell over once they were hit by the daggers but more of them seemed to move out of the shadows.  With a signal, Auria gestured for the men to pull their injured friends to safety. 

            “We need to stall them.  Are you with me?”

            The squires all nodded in assent.

            Auria turned back to her opponent, her face turning cold and ruthless.

            “Let’s get this done.”