Chapter 15:

Magic

“And this is the girl who tried to break my nose? C’mon! Where’s that spirit? That oh-so-mighty strength?”

Alyssa ignored Peter’s taunting and lunged at him. He blocked with ease and threw her back with that same lack of effort.

“You’re pathetic!” he told her, laughing. “You can’t even beat an old man!”

If he was old, then she was a baby. Alyssa gritted her teeth and attacked again, twisting so her sword went in a half-circle. This time, when Peter blocked, it was barely in time, and Alyssa quickly moved her sword and smacked him in the stomach with the flat of the blade. Down he went, and her blade was soon against his neck.

“Pathetic, hmm?” She grinned. “I just beat the man with six year’s experience and no scars.”

He made a face. “If I could learn as fast as you, I would be teaching more people, instead of pain-in-the-butt-nineteen-year-olds.”

“Yeah, I’m sure.” She stepped back and sheathed her sword, then offered him a hand. He took it and she pulled him up.

“So, how am I doing?”

“Better,” Peter answered, bending to pick up his sword. “Much better. Remember when you first started? I could hit the sword out of your hand every time.”

“And what was that? Three weeks ago?” She rolled her eyes and brushed her hair out of her face. It was a little past her shoulders now and she never had gotten to getting it cut. Truth be told, she kind of liked it long, but if she was going to fight General Cutlar, it had to be cut.

“Three weeks makes a big difference.” He sheathed his sword and flashed a grin at her. “How about I take you to the food tent and get you a drink?”

Alyssa’s eyebrows lifted. “What’d I tell you about flirting?”

“I can’t help it.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and smiled at her. “You’re such a pretty thing.”

“Get off of me, you dork.” She shoved him playfully and started to walk. “Anyways, even if you hadn’t flirted, the answer would have still been no. I sneak my food from the fire, remember? It was too awkward in the tent.”

Awkward was too kind of a word. She could safely swear that every eye in that tent had been on her. She was the girl who had directly challenged the general. Truth be told, she would’ve been surprised if they hadn’t stared. Still, it didn’t make her feel any less uncomfortable.

Peter shrugged and lightly ruffled her hair. “See you later.” With that, he walked off.

Yet again, Alyssa found herself wishing that she was taller, so that she could do the same thing to him. Instead, she merely scowled at his retreating back and glanced around.

It was oddly quiet that day. Usually mercenaries were everywhere: talking, practicing, and drinking. Then again, the number of people out had shrunk after the duel between Damir and Cutlar, and even less went out after Peter had quietly passed the word around that the general was planning to move them.

Alyssa’s lips twitched as she remembered that particular incident. Peter served as a guard for the General, and so he had listened for a week to see if what Alyssa had heard was true. As soon as he had, he had begun to spread the word around.

“A general’s power lies in the faith of his troops,” he had told her once. “If he loses that, he’ll lose that security, and he’ll be easier to beat.”

The woman could only hope that Peter was right, because if he wasn’t, she was sunk. She was getting better with the sword, thanks to her friend’s help, but it wouldn’t be enough. General Cutlar was almost unnatural, so she would have to have an edge. Something that separated her from him.

Absently, her mind drifted to her heightened senses. They were never constantly there, and new ones always seemed to show up. Sometimes, she could see well in the dark, and at other times, her vision seemed to be painfully sharp in the daytime and bad at night. She had stopped bringing it up with Damir after the third time—he had examined her so many times that she was positive there was nothing wrong with her. Whatever it was had to be a phase.

‘Nuts! Nuts, nuts, nuts, nuts…’

Alyssa jumped up and glanced around. A few mercenaries who were passing by her gave her odd looks, and she waved weakly. Who had spoken..?

‘Good scraps…’ Another voice. Female this time. She turned again. What in the world was going on…?

‘I was wondering when you would be able to here us.’ Male. Calm, with a certain eerie tone to it. Alyssa didn’t bother turning this time.

“Where are you?” she demanded, reaching for her sword hilt.

‘You’ve been borrowing our senses, so it was bound to happen eventually. Turn around, girl. You wanted the edge, and you got it.’

“What do you mean?” She turned and frowned. No one was there.

‘Look down.’ She did as instructed. A black and white cat sat there, staring up at her.

“This isn’t funny, whoever you are.”

‘On the contrary, I find this very funny. You do realize they think you’re talking to yourself.’

“How could I be talking to myself? Surely they can hear you.” She planted her hands on her hips and looked around.

‘Did you not hear what I said?’ The cat tilted his head, and his calm blue eyes gazed at her.

“I heard!” she snapped. “That’s what I’m having the problem with! I shouldn’t be hearing you!”

‘Why not? Everyone can do it at one point.’

“Really? Then why does no one talk about it?”

‘They do it when they’re young, and sure of whom they are.’

“And that’s why I can hear you?”

The cat shook his head. ‘No. You are the most insecure person I have ever met.’

And this had to be the most stupid conversation she had ever had. “Look, no offense, but I’d rather not have this power. Good day.” She turned to leave.

‘Oh, but you do. You like being able to see in the dark, and the heightened hearing. It even got you a mentor.’

She froze and turned to him. “Oh, really? So that was you who gave me those abilities?”

‘No. For a brief time, you saw through an animal’s eyes, heard with his or her ears, or smelt with his or her nose. You were supposed to talk to us first, but you aren’t normal, are you?’

Obviously not. If she was normal, she wouldn’t be talking to a feline. Slowly, she sat down. “Okay then, cat. Who are you, and why do I have these powers?”

‘You were under severe stress, and so called on your roots, so to speak. You used to have many animals in the inn, true?’

All too true. Alyssa had always had a soft spot for animals, but they had been the last thing on her mind for these past weeks. “So?”

‘You wanted an edge,’ the cat said again, licking his paw. ‘And you got one.’

The woman stared. “Are you telling me that you’re that edge?”

‘Certainly. I already told you that you can borrow our senses. Wouldn’t that be useful in your battle with the General?’

Alyssa’s eyes narrowed. Yes, it would be. To be able to see things in fine detail…to have better hearing…it would allow her to react more quickly. But the question was…was there a price to pay?

‘No catch,’ the cat added hastily. ‘We’re offering our services because we like you. You have spirit, and you have never treated us badly.’

She felt a little better. “Well, I’m flattered.”

‘Mind, the general gives me scraps, while you do not.’

Was that what he judged by? Sad.

“Alyssa!” Damir called. The woman instantly jumped to her feet and whirled around to face the healer, who was grinning.

“Someone told me that you were here talking to yourself, but I didn’t think it was actually true! What were you trying to do, scare everyone?”

Alyssa glanced behind her, but the cat was gone. Odd. She turned back to Damir and managed a weak smile. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

---

..I lost my muse again, but I wrote this How do you like it? A little fantasy now...Sorry it took so long...

...and as usual, I hate this Oh well.

And now to my lovely reviewers!

Kaggr: She stays because she can't get out, and because it's a pride She's kind of kept there..and after I finish this, I'm running it through a blender.

Thanks to Lightning Princess and clair-a-net for being loyal reviewers, and thanks to Kaledri and KaronePrincess for the compliments! I hope you liked this chapter!

Night!