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“Triple Threat”
By: AikoShrek
Chapter 1: Sir Rye...
“You’re wrong, look at you! Just the way you stand says how you’ve changed. You’re more confident in yourself. You’re not afraid to look me in the eyes any longer. You can even hold a decent argument!”
Slightly taken aback, realization kicking in, the tired looking girl took a step backwards and cringed, glancing off to the side. “Some of that may be true…”
“It’s all true!” I saw myself sighing, taking a step towards her and gripping her shoulders lightly for support. “I know you can do this.”
“I wish I were more confident…”
“I just told you, you are.”
“Not about everything.”
“Like what?”
She sighed and glanced down at the ground, one of her limp hands coming up to rest on mine. “You,” she mumbled, barely audible.
My brow dipped in confusion, “Me?”
She bit her lower lip and glanced up at my face, a slightly pleading look begging me softly to understand.
“What about me?” I asked quietly, leaning my forehead against hers. “I’m not being too hard on you, am I?”
She let a soft whimper escape her throat before leaning up and capturing my lips against her own. Her hands came up quickly to wrap around my back, afraid that I may move away.
My hands gripped her shoulders in surprise momentarily before relaxing and slipping down to my sides lifelessly.
After a few moments realization that I was not returning the kiss, she hesitantly withdrew, trying not to the let agonizing hurt show through her features. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, turning away immediately, not bearing to look at my face.
A gasp of breath and something that sounded like her name being whispered made her turn to look at me.
My knees gave way and my body slumped down on the grass, quick gasps of breath coming every second.
Confusion took over before she could react and simply watched me for a second, her eyes trailing his body in panic.
A silver arrow protruded from my back, sunken half way through my torso.
“No!” she immediately screamed, dropping to her knees in front of me and trying to lift my head. “What happened?” she demanded, tears instantly appearing in her eyes. “I don’t understand,” she sobbed, touching my face, my shoulders, sliding down to grasp my hand tightly. “What happened?”
She glanced up, her eyes darting around as footsteps and shouts of excitement began to approach.
“Go,” I uttered, coughing up a bit of blood and straining to keep my eyes open.
“No,” she cried, shaking her head slowly. “I can’t.”
“Go,” I repeated, trying to sound a bit more forceful, but ending up gasping for air again.
She let out a long moan, covering her eyes with the palms of her hands, my blood staining my face. “I can’t!” She shouted even louder, ignoring the approaching adversaries.
My arm lifted slowly, desperately trying to curve around my back to find the weapon penetrating my back.
“Don’t!” She shouted immediately upon seeing what I was doing, although remaining where she was.
My fingers brushed against it, causing the object to be jerked slightly upwards and I let out a piercing scream, dropping my arm to his side. “Go!” I demanded loudly, casting an enraged look at her.
I sat up in bed, promptly wiping the sweat that collected on my brow. The lavish tapestries that hung from pearl colored walls in the palace stared me in the face. The scarcely lit room was slightly intimidating. I had been used to living on the move, a tent in the woods or an inn when payment would allow it. It was rarely an occasion that I was given a suite in a palace.
My current assignment’s wages sent a chill down my spine. I had arrived at this palace yesterday and was currently trying to sleep off two days of undisturbed travel.
I uttered a soft sigh and turned my head, scanning the three bundles of clothing and traveling necessities that were tied tightly in brown tarps, my only belongings.
My eyes drifted closed and then open again, unable to get the flashback’s images out of my mind. When I decided that I would travel as a trainer for a profession, she insisted that I train her well before I left. To prove my choice was solid as well as reassure both of us that she would be safe without me once I left. Unfortunately, even while I was with her, I couldn’t live up to protecting her.
We must have wandered too far. I had been marked by an arrow and I tried getting Anabella to run, but she was so damn stubborn. She refused to leave me. When they arrived, she pulled her dagger from her boot and charged at them. I had taught her to spar, but she was acting foolish. I watched as the life was drained from her, a few feet from my own paralyzed body, the poison sinking into my viens and I passed out. I never saw Anabella again.
I heard the distant toll of the bells from the monastery signaling it was two in the afternoon. The court’s gathering had begun. I sat upon my bed quietly, wringing my hands in my lap. The last time I had been requested to appear in court was to talk of the approaching war between our neighboring lands. Fortunately that had never developed, but now I would be faced with another dilemma. I let my eyes wander around the room and scan the strategically placed objects. It was the same every day. The servants see to it. I let my gaze rest on the chunked granite fireplace. The mantel was adorned with oil paintings of the royal family. My picture lay to the left of the king.
“Your highness?”
I sighed and glanced over to the large wooden doors. The intricate carvings were beyond imagination, but blended beautifully within the palace. My perfect posture never faltered as I answered clearly, “yes?”
“The court will receive you now, Prince Nori,” the young lady curtsied, lowering her eyes to the floor and backing from the room respectfully, leaving the grand doors open.
I rose from the bed, slowly making my way to the doors. My eyes drifted across my room before I left, lifting a hand to run through my short brown hair.
Taking a deep breath and preparing myself for what was to come, I boldly stepped into the convention, a serious expression upon my face despite the bellows of laughter echoing inside.
“My dear boy!” the king roared, motioning towards me with a free hand. The other was currently preoccupied with a full wine goblet.
“Father,” I replied, bowing shortly to him and then approaching. The hall was scarcely decorated, save for the large array of food scattered among the banquet table.
“Come, come,” he beckoned me, smiling genuinely at my mother beside him.
I glanced to her shortly, hoping for an encouraging smile or one that faltered. When I received neither, I became intrigued. Her eyes were downcast and slightly hidden by the intricately woven veil that flowed from her headdress.
“Mother,” I bowed slightly to her upon arrival at the throne. “You wished me to join you?” I asked with no uncertainty in my voice, but pure curiosity.
“Today is a grand occasion!” my father’s glass had been raised and he ignored my question, gazing out at the dozens of people that had gathered. I turned to view them, simply absorbed by the fact that I had just processed through the parted sea of people and hadn’t taken any notice of them.
“Here, here!” They shouted, mimicking my father by lifting their glasses as well.
I assumed by this I hadn’t been summoned for a public humiliation and I glanced to my mother once more. Her glass had been raised half-heartedly and her eyes were still downcast, a frown tugging at her lips.
“Today marks six months before my son’s eighteenth birthday!”
I remained calm to onlookers, but my heart raced inside. Was I unaware of some tradition about half birthdays of royalty? Had I been instructed to prepare a speech and forgotten in my studies?
“Tomorrow he shall be departing from us for quite some time,” my father sighed heavily, smiling down at me.
Had I been requested for a peace treaty? But never would my father allow me to handle such negotiations without him beside me. Would this be a test?
“I hope in the time that will pass he grows not only in strength, but in wisdom and courage as well.” The king rose to his feet, taking a step down to stand beside me. He pulled me into a hug, receiving kind sounds of support from the lords and nobles present.
Once he released me, my mother had taken me into an embrace. I could hear her ragged breath and knew she was straining not to cry. “Be safe, Nori,” she whispered.
“Where-?” I began to whisper, but was silenced by my father calling out into the crowd.
“May he that will be taking my son from me approach this royal family!”
Those gathered in the hall began to whisper and talk amongst themselves. They parted slightly to the left, revealing a blonde haired man, looking only slightly older than myself. He seemed to be dressed in appropriate clothing, yet somehow still had the appearance of an outsider, someone who didn’t belong in a palace or anyplace for too long.
“They call me Rye, your majesty,” he said casually, bowing once he had approached the throne. He made a smooth hand gesture to move his long cloak aside as he performed this respectful action.
I stepped back quickly, yet instinctively, not having noticed that he had made his way up to my side so quickly. “What?” I mumbled, slightly shocked, yet taken aback from the situation.
My father cast me an unapproving glare, signaling to me that I had spoken out of turn and will later be reprimanded for such an action. When I noticed that his burning eyes had not left my own, I turned to Rye, nodding courteously. “Tis’ a pleasure.”
“Tis’ my pleasure to be given the opportunity to train royalty, prince Nori,” he replied, smiling slightly with a grin tugging at his lip slightly. Just enough to cause me uncomfort.
I turned towards my mother who had finally composed herself and could now look me in the eyes. I tried to send her a facial signal. A quick raise of my eyebrows. I was completely unaware of what ‘training’ I was to be receiving.
“My son,” the queen began, stepping beside my father and addressing the court. “Is delighted to embark on this quest to be trained under Sir Rye until his birthday. When he returns from his training, we have every confidence that he will have grown into the man that will soon rule as your next king.”
I froze, uncertainty gripping inside. I was leaving…with a stranger. To train?
My father chimed in immediately after, laughing as he raised his glass again. “He will fight, he will win, and he will do it all courteously!”
“A triple threat!” more laughter.
