Chapter 72
1197 Words
ELAYNE
There was this elation that came with finally catching up. Fire rushed through my veins as I crossed swords with Lion, completely matching his pace. He was serious for once, using more force than he usually did. He increased his pace and I matched it, more concentrated than I had ever been.
The clanging of blades, our feet moving across the floors and our heavy breathing and echoes of our shouts reverberated in the courtyard. I could finally understand why men loved to fight. Even if my hands felt like stone and my lungs were on fire, the exhilaration I had did not go away. I grinned as I backed him into a corner, using every practice in the book.
I sighted a rock and tossed it secretly with my foot. I led him there with my sword and he slipped. Using that momentum, I slapped his sword out of his hand, swept a foot under his and aimed a sword at his head once he was down. He stared at me, breathing heavily.
“That… was… smart…”
“Thank you. I had the best teacher.”
I took away my sword and extended my hand. He took it, hoisting himself up. He dusted his clothes and picked his discarded clothes.
“Again?”
“Why not?”
We posed and went at it again. I couldn’t win using the same tricks but I had the feint down so I won a lot more than I lost. It gave me confidence that I had when I started learning. Perhaps too much. The round ended with my back on the ground.
“You fought well.”
“I mean, I mostly won. The rest of the matches were to regain your ego.”
“If you say so, my lady.”
“Do you perhaps think I am ready to fight with the prince?”
He hesitates and turns away to clean his sword.
“Lion?”
“I didn’t want to say this before but I highly doubt it is a good idea to spar with his highness.”
“Did he put you up to this?” I ask with my hands on my waist.
“No he didn’t. I think it might be too dangerous.”
“Why? Because I am a lady?”
“No, because you might die. No one has fought seriously with the prince and survived it. He goes crazy when he fights.”
“All men go crazy when they fight.”
“... Touche.”
“I guess I’ll just have to show him myself.”
“My lady, I still don’t agree with that decision!”
“A good thing I don’t need you to!” I yelled back, entering the manor. I ignore the people greeting me, heading straight for the office. I slammed the door behind me, jumped into my chair and huffed.
“Wow, you sound very displeased.”
“Oh really? Whatever gave it away?”
“Nothing. I just guessed.”
“I am not in the mood for your sarcasm, Tyler.”
“And yours wouldn’t solve anything. Come on, spit it out, my lady.”
“Can you imagine Lion saying I cannot spar with his highness?! I trained for months and I get this! It brings me great displeasure!”
“My lady, surely fighting his highness isn’t why you’ve been training all this while, is it?”
“It’s a part of the reasons.”
“My lady, not one person in their right mind would fight with his highness.”
“But he said I could if I finished training with Lion!”
“I think he was just prolonging the inevitable. Have you ever heard of the term ‘berserk’?”
“Of course I have. What about it?”
“All the irregulars have periods of lunacy they go through that gives them intense strength. Once they are in that period, nothing is familiar to them and they destroy everything in their path until they run out of energy.”
“That sounds like a fairytale.”
“I once heard of a man who killed his wife in this bout of insanity with a wooden spoon. He went on to murder his whole family and his whole town. He was eventually found drained under a tree, holding the head of his beloved wife. This man is one of the six war generals.”
“The war generals are known to be bloodthirsty…”
“I heard when his highness first learned how to use a sword, at the age of 17 decimated a chunk of the enemy forces. They found him covered in blood, standing there, staring blankly. It happened a few more times so they decided to experiment. More than 200 men fell to a wooden sword. His highness is dangerous.”
“... I’ll hear it from him.”
“My Lady!”
“He’ll be back today, won’t he?”
Tyler sighed, shaking his head.
“I swear, you two are the same person. So stubborn.”
“Oi! Don’t compare me to that lunatic.”
“Really, my lady, really?”
Kalvin did arrive in the evening. He looked a bit tired and missed dinner. When I went up to him, he had a clouded expression.
“Ariana. To what do I owe this visit?”
“I came to check on my host who looked like he’s lost his soul.”
“How nice. I am just a bit tired.”
“I can see that.”
“By the way, the Casella army conquered Turia. They said Prince Kron led the charge.”
“I do not care about that. Tell me what is wrong with you.”
His head whipped so fast, I thought he cracked his neck. There was a look of deep surprise on his face and he just… laughed.
“What?”
“You… you’re incredible.”
“I am showing the barest concern. Are you emotionally deprived?”
“You could say I am. Come sit.”
I took his hand and sat beside him. He intertwined our hands and sighed.
“I received a summons from my father and had to go into court. They gave me an ultimatum and have chosen a lady from the church for me to marry.”
Normally, at this point, I would put in a sarcastic reply or tell him to get married. But, the thought of another woman receiving the love he gave me stung my heart. I swallowed, staying silent.
“I have fought them for as long as I could but now, I don’t think I can do it anymore. I had the thought of just taking you back to the capital but I know how much you won’t do that. So, I have made a decision.”
“What is it?”
“I’m letting you return to Casella. I am going to get married.”
“You’re… what?”
“I’ll be getting married next month… Ariana…”
I removed my hands from his and slapped him across the face.
- Writer
