“Momma did you see the girl fighter? I wish I could be a fighter,” the girl said excitedly.
“Hush child, we mustn’t keep them. Leave them be on their way,” the mother said as she continued picking.
Soon the town came into view and the large wooden walls surrounding it. Favian backed up so that we were riding side by side and kept extra close to me as we approached. We were forced to stop at the closed gate and wait for the guard to grant us admission to the city.
“Who goes there?” the head guard called out from behind the walls.
“Humble students of the Academy,” I called back.
“Is that little Marin?” he asked just before he popped his head up and over the top of the walls. “My, you aren’t so little anymore are you girl?”
“No gatekeeper. I have grown some since I last came one month ago,” I teased him.
“May we be allowed entrance?” Favian asked.
“In a hurry are we Favian?” the gatekeeper asked with a smirk.
“We’re late and the roads have not been safe,” he said as a hint to the gatekeeper.
“Why didn’t you say so?” the gatekeeper asked angrily. We heard him climbing down and yelling orders to the other guards and then the gate began to move inward slowly.
Favian nudged Fire’s side with his leg and she trotted forward through the small opening in the gate with Ice following close behind. I turned and glared at Favian for touching my horse, but he just looked back at me. Why did he have to be so infuriating sometimes? We made it inside and the guards shut the gate quickly behind us.
“What happened on the road?” the gatekeeper asked with the other guards around.
“I’m heading to the Academy,” I said bitterly.
“Just wait a second,” Favian ordered. He turned to the gatekeeper. “We were attacked by six human bandits. One of them had a picture of Marin with a note on the back to kidnap her alive and bring her.”
“Kidnap Marin?” the gatekeeper asked in shock. “Who would want to do such a thing? She don’t cause no harm anywhere.”
“Favian we need to go,” I urged him.
“You two run on. I’ll let the others know. We’ll see if we can dig something up,” the gatekeeper said. “And Favian, keep a close eye on her.”
“He always does,” I whispered bitterly as we finally trotted through town towards the other side where a few miles beyond the border of the town lie Macon Academy.
The town was busy with trading and people milled about with their goods or with their carts to purchase items. I could smell the delightful scent of cooking meat. I knew we didn’t have time to stop, but I desperately wanted a bite. I vowed to come get some on our first break.
Once through the town we were let out the back gate where the guards had already heard of our news. We galloped the last four miles to school and finally came to stand in front of the massive gates of the Academy. We both knew that if we weren’t supposed to be approaching the gates we would have been stopped by one of the six guards placed sporadically throughout the trees on the side of the road on our approach. We also knew that of the six guards, two were sleeping, one was eating and two had waved at us. The last guard had been very stealthy and I hadn’t been able to spot him. Or he was away from his post.
“Ye be late,” the guard said as we stood before the gates.
“Yes Master Gatekeeper, we are late, but with good reason,” I said as we waited for him to open the doors.
“There’s ne’er a good reason to be late,” he responded, but opened the gate and allowed us entrance. “Straight to Macon’s chambers,” he said, “Don’t dawdle.”
Favian and I trotted our horses inside and I exhaled in relief. I felt the worry ease off of my shoulders and the fears evaporate now that we were safe within the school’s grounds.
The Academy had over one hundred acres of land, most of which was used for training scenarios in various conditions such as cliffs, mountain passes and forests. There were eight large buildings, Macon’s office, the healer’s quarters, the dorm, the armory, the blacksmith, the stable, the food hall and the covered fighting ring. There was also one very small building next to the dorm where I lived. They had not wanted me to share sleeping quarters with the males so I was forced to build my own dorm to live in. It had taken me three months and in those three months I’d slept outside on the ground until it was done. Favian had snuck out during the night to help me build, but couldn’t assist me in the day when he might have gotten caught.
We stopped at Macon’s office and tied our horses to the hitching post even though Fire and Ice would stand if we simply dropped their reins on the ground. We dismounted and knocked twice on the door before Macon said, “Enter.”
We stepped inside and I raised my right arm in time to block the blunt knife being stabbed towards my throat. It was standard procedure to be tested when walking inside a building where your eyesight temporarily disappeared due to the change from bright lighting to dark lighting. I knew this. I’d been tested this way hundreds of times and yet I freaked out at this attack. I elbowed my attacker and punched him in the thigh, making him drop to his knees. Favian was fighting beside me against an opponent on his left and faring better than me. I heard movement behind me, but was too slow to move to protect myself.
I braced for a hit, but Favian spun around and used the blunt knife he’d been attacked with, and had somehow gotten possession of, to smack the person attempting to attack me in their face.
“Favian!” Macon yelled angrily. “What the hell are you doing?”
Favian dropped the knife and turned to face Macon who was sitting in his chair, behind his desk twenty feet in front of us watching the whole ordeal. Favian looked at me and I could tell he wanted to know if I was okay. I blinked long one time, our silent communication for yes. “I apologize, Macon and Timothy,” Favian said and then bowed.
“Favian and Marin, inside. The rest of you leave us,” Macon said angrily. The other guys left and shut the door behind them. I faced towards Macon and stood at attention since there was nothing else I could do until Macon gave us orders. Favian did the same beside me with a stoic face.
Macon’s building consisted of two floors, the first was Macon’s office where he had his desk and chairs to meet with people and a very large fireplace that I had never seen used. The upstairs was his living quarters and none were allowed up there.
“You’ve been good so far at keeping your fights separate. Why did you protect her just now?” he asked Favian.
“My nerves are on edge and my protectiveness is on high alert. I apologize and will not do it again while we are inside the Academy’s boundaries,” Favian said.
“What happened to upset you so much that you lost your ability to protect yourself?” Macon asked me.
“We were attacked by six human bandits. We easily dispatched them, but the leader had a picture of me with a note on the back,” I said softly.
Favian handed the picture to Macon. “Turn it over,” he said.
Macon turned the picture over and a deep crease split the center of his forehead. “When did this happen?”
“Yesterday around the afternoon,” Favian answered.
“I want a full report. Every single detail you can remember,” he said sternly to Favian. “Marin, go tend to the horses and take your bags to your rooms. Once you’re done with that fetch Master Sean and Master Martin and escort them to me immediately.”
“Yes, sir,” I said and bowed before leaving the building. I didn’t like being sent off on the errands, but I knew better than to question Macon. I untied the horses from the hitching post and led them to the stables where I quickly untacked them and put our things on our specified racks. I then put the horses inside their stalls, which were thankfully already full of water and hay. I jogged to the dorms, waving to fellow students as I did and then knocked on the boys’ dorm.
The door opened and Micah, one of the few who had immediately liked me despite the
fact that I was a girl, opened the door. “Hey Marin. Where’s Favian?”
“Busy with Macon. Can you put his bag on his bunk for me?” I asked as I tossed the bag inside the door. “Thanks!”
“You’re welcome,” he called to me as I jogged to my dorm and tossed my bag inside the door.
Master Sean was the weapons and hand to hand combat master and Master Martin was the archery and tactics master. If my guess was right, they were probably both at the outdoor training grounds working with students. I ran around the dorms and passed the blacksmith’s building to the large sand-filled, rectangular training ground. At least fifty students filled the outer area of the arena, watching two others in the center. The students at the Academy were comprised of humans, goblins, a couple dwarves, one elf besides Favian and the occasional sidhe, but the sidhe kept to themselves mainly. Both Master Sean and Martin were standing near the center, watching the students and giving them pointers. Master Sean was built lean and muscular and Master Martin was built short and stocky with thick arms. They were opposites of each other and yet the best of friends.
I stepped into the ring and nodded to a few of the students before stepping passed them so the masters would be able to see me. The two students were battling intensely with short swords in the center of the ring and the masters were focused on their movements. I needed to get their attention so I called out loudly, “Masters.”
Both men turned to me and then told the students to stop. “Come to spar?” Master Martin asked with a wicked smile.
“No, sirs. I have come to get you at the request of Macon. You are to accompany me immediately,” I said in my serious tone.
The men looked at each other and then turned to the students. Master Sean said, “One on one training until we return. We hear of any slackers and you’re running laps and doing extra guard times.”
“Yes, sir!” the students said together.
I turned and the two men jogged after me towards Macon’s office. I knocked on the door twice and then opened it. “They are here, sir.”
“Good,” Macon said from where he was pacing behind his desk. “Favian escort Marin to her dorm and stay with her until I summon you both. Masters please sit in front of my desk.”
“What’s going on?” Master Sean asked, “Why the sudden call here?”
“Are we being attacked?” Martin Martin asked with excitement. He was the only one I knew who would want to be attacked.
Favian and I made our exit and headed towards the dorms. “I don’t need a bodyguard inside the damn grounds,” I complained. I truly wanted to stay and hear what Macon had to say.
“He’s just trying to take precautions and protect his student. He’d do the same for any student,” Favian said.
We walked the rest of the way in silence to my dorm and then sat in the center of the floor. “I just want to get back to training and finish up the program. I’m so close,” I said softly.
“We’ll get there. It’s only the first day. We have three months of torture left.”
I took my sword from its sheath and put it underneath my bed, reaching further underneath to take out the blunt sword we had to carry around while at the school and put it in the sheath. I hated taking off my real sword, but I had no choice here. “Three months isn’t that long,” I whispered.
“Are you worried about what job you will get after?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Not really. I am up for any job.”
“Except being a member of the human’s army, right?”
I looked at Favian in shock. “I can’t believe you even asked me that.”
“Well you are human, Marin. It does make sense that you might want to join with other humans.”
Fear built up within me at his tone. “Is that what you want? Do you want me to join the humans?” I asked him quietly as I met his gaze.
Instantly I saw the truth in his eyes and felt the twist of worry ease from my stomach. “No,” he said, “Of course I don’t want you to join the humans.”
“Then we have no need to bring it up again. The only king I serve is Cesar,” I said adamantly.
We stopped talking and sat in silence for half an hour. I know because I counted the seconds. Favian broke the silence and asked, “Do you want to practice some magic while we wait?”
I wasn’t very skilled at magic, but with Favian’s help I’d learned a few spells and incantations that were beneficial. “Sure,” I said with a nod of my head.
He scooted closer to me and crossed his legs. “Put your palms face up on your knees like this.” I mimicked his sitting position and did as he asked. “Now, close your eyes and take a deep calming breath.” I did as he said and felt myself relax a little more. “Okay, now you remember how to find your power?” I nodded my head. “Good. I want you to find it and pull a small bit of it into each palm.”
This was the difficult part for me. I could find the power, but it was hard for me to direct it. I kept my calm and searched within myself to find the small spark that was my magic. After finally finding it, I pictured sending bits of the spark from my heart, down my arms and into my palms. I had to picture it three times before I finally got it to work.
“Good,” he said softly, “Now I want you to change that spark into a flame.”
I’d never tried that before. Could I change a spark into a flame? How? I had to trust that he knew I could learn it. I took another cleansing breath and imagined the spark being changed into a flame.
Nothing happened.
I almost laughed at myself. I couldn’t change a spark into a flame. I pictured the spark flaring into the next stage of a spark, a flame. You couldn’t change an item, you had to use a catalyst or use the next stage of an item’s life. I had to use a lot of strength to do it, but after a moment of straining the flame flared in my palm and I smiled victoriously.
“Good. Now pull the flame into your core where your power is and let it mix with your power.”
I concentrated and slowly, but surely, pulled the flame into the spot where my power was. The instant the flames touched the spark my body filled with power and the spark was transformed into a flame. I gasped in shock and my eyes flew open as it surged through me. Gradually the power subsided inside of me and instead of the spark which had been there, a flame flickered within me.
“How do you feel?” he asked me with a smug smile.
“Wow,” I whispered. “That was intense.”
“Yes, but now your power will be permanently increased.”
“Can you exponentially increase your power this way?” I asked him as I shook out my body which felt tingly all over.
“How do you think Elves gain so much power? You can only do this once every two months, but as you can imagine, over time it can make you extremely powerful.”
“Do other races know of this technique?” I asked him. If humans were aware of this there were bound to be many overly powerful beings.
“No. This is an elf only technique,” he said seriously.
I jerked my head up to meet his eyes. “Why did you teach me? Won’t you get in trouble? I don’t want you getting in trouble because of me.”
He put his hand on my shoulder and met my eyes with his serious prince gaze. “You are part of the Elves. You are a favored daughter of the King and Queen, no matter your rounded ears and darker skin,” he said as he lightly tugged on the top of my ear where his became pointed, but mine stayed round. “I taught you because you needed to know to increase your power and I trust that you won’t teach anyone else the technique.”
I felt my eyes starting to water and clenched them shut. “Thank you.”
He wiped a tear that had escaped off of my face and laughed softly. “You females are so tender,” he whispered.
I opened my eyes and punched him as hard as I could in the shoulder. He grunted in pain and tackled me to the ground. I rolled out from under him and we faced off. I knew I couldn’t win because he was faster and stronger, but we had been sparring partne
rs since we were kids and old habits die hard. He darted forward, trying to grab me around my waist, but I jumped up over his head, having to duck my head down so I wouldn’t hit the ceiling and wrapped my arms around his neck. Unfortunately he turned just before I did that and we ended up embracing each other with our noses touching. My cheeks flooded with blood and I jerked away from him just as someone knocked on my door.
“Enter,” Favian said as I turned away from them to face the back wall and fought with my strange emotions once again.
“Macon summons you,” Micah said in his fake serious tone.
Why was I embarrassed? Favian and I had hugged many times. I had shared sleeping sacks with him many times as well. Why did a close hug now make my blood pound and my head spin?
“Alright,” Favian replied. I heard him walking, but was still trying to figure out the weird feelings so I had not moved yet. “Marin?”
I finally calmed my heart and got the blood to flow out of my face. “Sorry,” I whispered, “I was just thinking.” I turned around and followed behind them as we walked.
“How was your break?” Micah asked Favian.
Favian shrugged. “Same as always. I do my part as prince, bowing and dancing and flirting with maidens. The only happy parts were during the nights when Marin and I snuck off to practice.”
“Is she any better?” Micah asked.
“She can hear you,” I said before smacking Micah in the back of the head.
Micah laughed. “I wasn’t sure if she was paying attention.”
“She is better, but still a slow girl,” Favian teased.
“I can kick your butt. I just choose not to,” I said defensively. “If I were to beat you, your reputation and title as Prince would be put in jeopardy and as your friend I cannot allow that to happen.”
Favian rolled his eyes at me and Micah laughed at us both.
We arrived at Macon’s office and Micah opened the door for us. Macon waved us in and I was shocked to see all of the employees and the leaders of each of the years of students inside of the office. It was extremely cramped with so many people inside, but I made my way in and nodded at the people I hadn’t had a chance to say hello to yet.
Mercenary Little Death Bringer Page 4
