Chapter One

Valek sighed. He stared longingly out the thin windows of his office, wishing to be outside training like the rest of the men instead of having to do paperwork. The hot season was ending and while it was still warm, it wasn't sweltering. In fact, it was the perfect time for training. He sat brooding about it until a knock on his door startled him from his reverie.

"Come in," he called. The door creaked open to let a thin, mouse-like man into his office. The man shuffled his feet, nervousness emanating off him in waves. Of course, that was nothing new to Valek, so he just sat and stared disconcertingly at the man. The man just cleared his throat. "The Commander wishes to see you in his office," he said in a nasally voice. "In fact, he insists that you come now."

Without saying anything, Valek rose and strode out of his office, the messenger trailing a few paces behind him. He walked fast, so that soon, the other man was running to keep up with him. When he reached the Commander's office, the man remained outside, back against the wall.

The Commander looked up at him as he entered the room. "Have a seat, Valek," the Commander said, gesturing to an empty chair in front of his desk. "The reason that I have called you here is that I have found an assistant for you." The Commander held up his hand when Valek opened his mouth to argue. "No, not a second-in-command, which you also desperately need, but a secretary to run your errands and to do any paperwork you require for her to do."

"Her? Who is she?" demanded Valek. He sighed and leaned back into his chair. Of course the Commander would do something like this. Too bad he couldn't just dismiss the assistant, as it was the Commander who hired her. The Commander offered one of his rare smiles."She is a woman that came to the castle yesterday looking for a job. As soon as she asked for any openings, I thought of you." Valek grimaced. "No, listen to me, Valek. You need her. Don't think that I haven't noticed you spending your whole day in your office doing paperwork." When Valek's almost pained expression stayed on his face, the Commander sighed and played his last card. "Besides, I need a second-in-command that can actually keep his skills honed razor sharp. You need more training time."

Valek considered this. Yes, he needed more training time, but he also needed to maintain the high security of his office. Nobody he didn't trust completely was allowed in his office, aside from the prisoners he decided to offer a second chance. "Alright. But if I am not satisfied with this secretary by the end of this month, she goes." The Commander's face remained neutral and only the slightest twitching of the corner's of his lips revealed his thoughts. "Agreed. She will arrive at your office by sunrise tomorrow." Valek groaned internally as he left the office. He had been planning to sleep in tomorrow. Being the Commander's second-in-command, no matter what anyone thought, was not easy.


Yelena POV:

I looked around the room that I had been given. It was threadbare but neat, with a hard bed under a wide window as well as a desk and closet. I was beginning to question the decision that I had made to leave home to work for an income. But, no, I could not leave now. Not when Mirela depended on me now, when she had taken me in 13 years ago and gave me a home. I thought of her warmth and kindness with a sigh. The woman who had brought me to this room...Margg...was that her name? I could tell after 2 minutes with her that we weren't going to get along. She was everything I hated in a person rolled into one: bossiness, condescending, and just a thoroughly bad attitude. I wondered what had happened that made her like this.

My thoughts eventually wandered to my new job. The Commander had told me that I would be the secretary for one of his Advisors, nothing else. He had not told me exactly whom and I was curious. Since Mirela and I had lived relatively excluded from the outside world, I did not know much about the Commander and his army, only the Code of Behavior. Would my new boss be nice? What would he...or she expect me to do? Copy dusty old documents? Research for strange topics?

I wondered if the Commander's assassin was in the castle at this moment. Mirela had told me that he had killed the King's family and was now the Commander's right hand man. I couldn't decide whether or not to be afraid of him like everyone else. Yes, he had killed a large group of people, but were they not tyrannical? Ixia is now much happier under the Commander's rule. I leapt off my perch on the windowsill and went to open the door of my room. The aroma of fresh cooked sweet cakes wafted down the hallway. Attracted by the wonderful smells, I followed my nose into the large, bustling kitchen. It was around dinnertime and all the servants were in there, some snatching their plates away to eat somewhere else, others remaining to eat at the long wooden table. I pushed into the crowd and squirmed towards the sweet cakes.

Just as I extended my hand to steal one, a callused palm closed around my wrist. A man wearing a cook's uniform grinned down at me. He was slightly handsome and seemed very cheerful. "No food until you tell me your name," he told me. I hestitated, then told him my name. As soon as I said it though, the entire kitchen became silent. "Who are you?" asked one of the serving girls, looking at me with a mystified expression. I wanted to shrink back into my room. "Ah...I'm going to a secretary for one of the Advisors." Everyone continued to stare at me for a moment or two and then they turned away and the noise escalated again.

"Don't worry about them. They're harmless but very wary of strangers in their midst. I'm Rand, the cook, by the way," the man smiled as he extended his hand to shake. I took his hand and smiled uncertainly. "Come on, now that you've told us who you are, feel free to stuff yourself with sweet cakes." He got a plate out of nowhere and began scooping sweet cakes onto it. "Thanks," I mumbled as he handed me the plate. As I carried it to a secluded corner of the kitchen, I held the plate carefully, hoping it wouldn't crack under the weight of so many cakes.

After I had eaten my fill, I headed back to my room to go to bed early. My stomach filled with butterflies as I wondered what my new boss would be like. The cakes had made me extremely full and I felt slightly nauseous. I shouldn't have eaten so much but I was afraid that I would offend Rand or any of the kitchen workers if my plate was not empty. I finally reached my room after almost getting lost twice and I collapsed into bed, exhausted.


Guys, constructive criticism is welcome, as this is my first fanfic.

Any ideas or tips for future chapters is welcome

:D

I know this is really short but I think that the next chapter will be longer...