by Candy Crum
Arryn was confused. She couldn't imagine why anyone wouldn’t want to learn, especially when the men Cathillian was working with were no strangers to hunger, death, and struggle.
"What do you mean he doesn't want to learn? Did you tell him that it could save his life? That it could save the lives of others he cares about?"
Cathillian smiled. "It's your friend, Samuel.”
Arryn’s eyes widened, immediately knowing the significance of his statement.
“He's a rearick. You know how much they hate magic. There's no way in hell he's gonna wanna learn, but he still shows up every day, and he still plants. He just makes somebody else do the magic part. Now, get ready. We're beginning again."
Arryn had knocked the dirt from her salvageable arrows and put them back in her quiver. She drew one and waited for his signal.
Cathillian ran at her, but Arryn saw him coming and was easily able to move before he slammed into her.
She twirled around him as she dodged his attack, then headed in the direction he’d just come from. Dropping to her knees, she slid across the grass before turning and releasing her shot.
She only barely missed Cathillian, but he was quick to return fire.
The grass around Arryn quickly grew, wrapping around her right arm before pulling it to the ground and pinning it there. She looked up to see Cathillian charging and quickly pulled the knife from the sheath strapped to her thigh, cutting the grass before diving out of the way, leaving her bow on the ground in the process.
Looking back at the tree she'd been standing in front of when they'd first arrived, she saw her staff leaning against its sturdy trunk. As she ran for it, an unmistakable, searing pain ripped through the back of her leg.
Arryn knew Cathillian's knife was buried in her thigh.
She stopped and pulled the blade from her leg, spinning to throw it with surprising accuracy at her opponent.
Not waiting to see if it made contact, Arryn gazed back at the tree and extended her hand, her eyes going black as she used physical magic to levitate the staff.
The weapon launched toward her with impressive speed, and she was quick to catch it, whirling it around and bringing the end to the ground in front of her.
Cathillian charged after her so quickly she barely had enough time to conjure a barrier before he slammed into her.
The force of the impact threw her back a couple of steps, but she recovered quickly, dropping the barrier and planting a foot in his chest, kicking him back even farther.
Once there was enough distance between them, she swung her staff low, connecting with his knees and causing him to fall. She ran again, heading for her bow this time.
Arryn dropped to the ground before picking up the bow, nocking an arrow, and loosing it. The first one missed, Cathillian spinning out of the way at the last moment yet still somehow not losing footing in his run.
She quickly sent another, this one grazing his shoulder as he once again tried to dodge it.
Jumping up, she pretended to brace for the impact but instead lassoed his head with her bow and pulled as she spun out of the way, catching him hard around the neck with the wood and easily taking him down.
She wasted no time stepping down on the wood, knowing it was unbreakable under her weight, and she quickly dropped next to him, pulling an arrow from her quiver to point it just above his left eye.
"I win!" she cheered, moving the arrow away and taking her weight off the bow.
"What the shit was that, and where the hell did you learn it?" Cathillian asked, a large smile on his face.
"Honestly, I thought that was fighting pretty dirty, but after you ran my leg through with that damn knife, I didn't really care much. I just wanted to take your ass down."
Arryn collapsed back onto her left hip, careful to avoid putting pressure on the right leg because of the knife wound.
"I planned to stop once I hit you with the knife, but you kept going, so I did, too. I didn't even mean to hit you, so I'm sorry. Don't hate me." He gave her a cheesy smile, and she laughed.
"It hurt like hell, but you guys are all rough-and-tumbly. I’d also just shot you with an arrow. You didn’t even whine like a little girl at all like I’d expected, so I wasn't about to let you make a little bitch outta me. So, no hard feelings. Like you said, we deserve it if we’re slow enough to get hit."
Cathillian laughed and shook his head. "I did say that. And yeah, I suppose we’re a little extreme when we train, but it's all for a good cause. If anything bad ever happened to you, I'd never forgive myself. I'd rather you take a knife to the back of the leg because you turned your back on me and learn the lesson never to do that again. It might save you from taking an enemy’s much larger knife to the back because you didn't learn. Now, turn over so I can heal you."
Arryn rolled onto her stomach, exposing the large wound in the back of her thigh. She jumped a little as she felt his large hands gently caress her leg on either side of it.
A blush rose to her cheeks since she hadn’t expected to react in such a way, especially with the significant amount of pain she was feeling. But then the pain quickly faded, and all that was left were his hands.
They lingered for a moment before pulling away.
"There you go!" he chirped before slapping her on the ass. "All better!"
Arryn rounded on him, punching him in the arm as she did. "Hey! Uncalled for!"
He put his hands up in surrender. "Don't act so angry. You know you loved it."
Cathillian's brows rose in shock as he jumped back, knowing she was about to come for him. She only narrowly missed him, but that didn't stop her from getting to her feet and readying herself to go after him again.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Don’t beat me up. Truce?"
Arryn rolled her eyes. "Fine. But next time you slap my ass, you get a foot to the balls."
He laughed. "Okay, deal. It's time for us to quit for today, anyway. About time for you to get to class. Speaking of which, how is that going?"
Arryn gathered her things, still feeling a bit awkward about her reaction to Cathillian. She shook her head to clear her mind as she hung her bow over her shoulder and began walking back toward the city gate, staff in hand.
"It's not too bad. I brought some flower seeds in—you know, something small. I'm trying to do essentially the same thing you are, but using things that are far easier to grow. My students are still having a hard time, so don't give your guys too much shit when they can't grow big-ass oaks. As for physical magic, it's been going well, too, though it's mostly remedial at the moment."
"That shouldn't be too bad, since you already have a handle on the basics. I think you'll do fine," he reassured her. “Just relax. You'll learn the big stuff soon enough.”
Arryn thought that over for a few moments, debating just how good her physical magic was. Just how good any of her magic was. She wasn't exactly sure if she would ever really master the different forms, but she had decided when she came back that she was sure as hell going to give it her best shot.
"I’m nervous, but I know it'll get better over time."
The guards at the gate smiled and nodded as the twosome walked through. They had become very accustomed to seeing Arryn and Cathillian going just outside the gate to train every morning.
They’d watched and even complimented her on her form, and one mentioned his interest in archery. Arryn understood why he’d want to learn, especially after she found out the city didn't have any archers.
The city had always relied too heavily on physical magic and magitech weapons. Adrien saw no reason to have them because the Hunters were well trained and the Guard was nothing to be messed with.
The need for archers was never there. After the Battle for Arcadia, it was something that hadn’t yet been thought of, but with the Guard being highly inexperienced and lacking even the most basic knowledge of physical magic—for most of them—the need for archers was there.
When the guards had shown interest, s
he told them their best bet was to go to Amelia and tell her. She thought talking about the interest in further training would do more good coming from them rather than an outsider who had only been in the city for a few weeks, even if she and Amelia had gotten much closer after the fight with Doyle.
Knowing Amelia and her desire to do right by everyone, Arryn was quite sure the Chancellor wouldn’t turn down additional skills for her army.
When Arryn and Cathillian got back to the house, she ran upstairs to jump in the shower, needing to wash the blood off her and relax herself and her mind before going in to teach at the Academy.
Celine, Arryn’s aunt, had breakfast waiting on them as she had every morning lately. She’d moved in after everything that had happened with Doyle. For the first week, she’d been staying over quite a bit anyway, so it was the logical choice for her after finally having someone in her family back in her life.
It had only made sense for them, and Arryn loved having her aunt with her.
As Arryn got out of the shower, she groaned. While she loved her job, she hated going there and seeing Talia. Every day, she still had to psych herself up to be able to face the seemingly perfect Dean of Students, without giving away her discomfort—a discomfort that hadn't been alleviated but rather had only worsened as time went on.
As she finished getting dressed, Arryn decided there was only one thing to do about that situation.
She needed to talk to Amelia.
CHAPTER THREE
Samuel considered himself an easy-going rearick, but he wasn’t someone to mess with when he was on a mission.
The job at the factory was almost finished, and he and the others had decided to go to Sully's to have a few drinks to celebrate. He could certainly use the drinks after all the—free—hard work he’d been putting in for a city he wasn’t the biggest fan of.
Unfortunately for him, he quickly found he wasn't in a celebratory mood once one of the other laborers had told the group what he'd overheard Marie relate to Amelia.
They were concerned about the men that had been killed down south, and Samuel couldn’t say he blamed them. The remnant were nothing to scoff at.
It had been too late the night before to walk into the Capitol building or track down the Chancellor at home to say anything, but he had plans to do it now. Something had to be done.
The remnant needed to be dealt with, and if his fellow workers were correct, the city was under the assumption the Guard was more than capable of handling them—and they weren’t.
Marie was sitting at her desk as he walked into the Capitol building, smiling as soon as she saw him. She was a beautiful girl, one who was capable of making even an old dog rearick like Samuel blush, but he knew his friend Andrew liked her, so that was enough for him.
He wasn't in the habit of trying to steal a woman from another man, even if they weren’t actually together and she was a sweet and beautiful girl like Marie. Still, he didn't mind admiring her a little.
"Samuel, it's good to see you again," Marie told him as he approached. "What can we do for you?"
The rearick cleared his throat as he smoothed his beard. "I believe I need ta talk ta that Chancellor of yers. I received some startlin’ news, and I need ta know what she intends ta do about it."
Marie's brow furrowed as she looked at him. "What’s happened, Samuel? Is everything okay?"
Samuel paused, trying to keep his worry under control. No matter what, it wasn’t poor Marie’s fault. "I know yer just doin’ yer job, lass, but I think ye know what I'm talkin’ about. Those people down south all losin’ their lives ta those overgrown sacks of shit."
She exhaled, pausing for a moment before nodding. "It's terrible. All those men. All those families who lost their brothers, sons, fathers." She shook her head, her expression full of sadness. "I'm no expert on the subject, but I agree. Something needs to be done. I just don't know what."
"Hopefully the Chancellor knows. She available?" Samuel asked.
Marie nodded, walking to Amelia's office door and knocking softly. As she opened it, Samuel could hear a voice from inside, but not what was said.
Marie had obviously heard her, however, and she opened the door to poke her head inside. There was a pause before she turned back to Samuel and smiled.
"Amelia said to come on in. She's ready for you."
Giving a curt nod of thanks, Samuel stepped into the office and closed the door behind him. "Sorry ta bother ye, Chancellor, but I have some questions fer ye. I heard there was another remnant attack farther south. What exactly do ye plan ta do about it?"
Amelia’s eyes were wide. “Well, hello to you, too!” She motioned to the chairs in front of her desk and paused as she waited for him to sit. "I know what you’re talking about, and it’s a tragedy. I would love for the Arcadian Guard to be able to ride into the Madlands on horses and use swords, magitech weapons, and fireballs until they’re all dead and gone, but they can't.”
Samuel stayed quiet as he listened intently, formulating his argument.
The Chancellor leaned forward, clasping her hands on her desk. “The truth is, we don't know how many remnant there are in the Madlands. We don't know much of anything about them except they’re brutish, mindless scum that feed on death and destruction. We can't go picking a fight if we don’t have enough information. We’d be sending them to their deaths."
Doing his best to keep his voice calm, Samuel said, "All due respect, Amelia, they ain't mindless. Not by a longshot. They’re so obsessed with death and carnage they ain’t thinkin’ long-term, but they understand battle strategy. And make no mistake, lass, they have one.”
“What are you talking about?” Amelia asked.
“They’re always ready fer battle, no matter what. They focus on blunt force, and they're damn good at it. My people’ve been fightin’ ‘em fer years. Yer right that no one in this damned city should go pickin’ a fight they can't win. Biggest reason is because I can promise ye those men ye have down there—” he shook his head “—they won't win."
Amelia nodded. "Unfortunately, if they went looking for a fight, you’re absolutely right. It wouldn’t end well for them. I’m confused. If we both agree we shouldn’t send the Guard to the Madlands, then what are you suggesting that I do? We have our border walls, and we have the Guard. In fact, I just increased the Guard’s numbers. I’ll fight to the end for any person in this city, but I won’t send men outside to their deaths."
Samuel ran his fingers through his beard as he leaned forward. "What I’m tellin’ ye is, yer men ain't ready—even for a home invasion. And it's only a matter of time before the bastards from the Madlands come this way.”
“What makes you think that?” Amelia asked.
“Experience, lass. Somethin’ has ‘em all riled up. Somethin’ ain't right. How long have men been loggin’ over there? Months. Ever since those spoiled nobles fled the city. Fer months they've been cuttin’ down trees over there, and there ain’t been a problem. But two attacks within just two weeks of each other now? The second was even further in the valley. I’m tellin’ ye, somethin’ ain’t right. We need skilled soldiers, and we need a plan."
"You think something is agitating them and bringing them farther into the Valley?” Amelia asked.
Samuel nodded. “If it’d only been a single occurrence, I’d never think twice about it. But they spread their shit out. They’re brutes, but they ain’t exactly tryin’ ta die. I don’t have a clue what could be crawlin’ up their arses, but somethin’ is.”
“I’ve had my own experiences with the remnant, and it’s not something I’d want to see happen to anyone. The only thing we can do is continue to increase numbers, the Scouts and Hunters that patrol the Arcadian Borders especially, and educate everyone."
While Samuel was sure the Chancellor believed what she was saying, he’d seen the city Guard training.
They spent all day knocking each other on their asses, but that was about it. They had no idea how to properly hold a wea
pon, or even how throw a proper punch.
"I know ye think those are good choices, but there ain’t nobody good enough anymore to train those lads. They’re all a bunch of babies. If the remnant come this way, yer men will fall. Ya ain’t even got any archers. Never been a fan of ‘em meself, but if an army approaches, especially an army of remnant, ye’ll need ta stop ‘em before they make it ta the gate."
Amelia sighed, forcing a smile as she nodded. He couldn’t blame her for not enjoying the topic of her city potentially falling.
"I know you’ve saved the lives of several men, so I don't doubt your knowledge of battles or of the remnant. Put your mind at ease, rearick. If something happens, we’ll stop it. I’ll work on coming up with a better training strategy."
She was a brand-new Chancellor, taking over the chair after one hell of a bastard dictator. She was afraid to crack the whip too hard, and she was afraid to scare her people unnecessarily—but he knew she’d do what needed to be done.
Amelia was a strong woman, and he knew she was deadly serious when saying she’d fight to the end for anyone in her city. He nodded, putting his faith in her hands.
But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t also put faith into his own. Samuel had a plan to make sure training was done and done properly.
Samuel stood, gave her a nod, and walked out the door, hopefully leaving the Chancellor to think about a strategy that would make men out of those children in Guard’s clothing.
***
Arryn sat at her desk waiting for everyone to fill the classroom. It was still strange to see the people she was responsible for, knowing she was to teach them all about her magic when she barely knew more than the basics of theirs.
Her class had been focusing on using magic to grow, much like what Cathillian had been doing, except on a much smaller scale.
Cathillian was focusing on necessity and on a single topic: trees.
Arryn, on the other hand, had been focusing more on the bigger picture. Learning to grow smaller things and bond with the life inside of it. Teaching them how to harvest and connect to nature as a whole instead of simply willing something to grow.
