Just Out of Reach

Blue Rose

Special thanks: Olivia, Ben, Sarah, and the theater pplz

Prologue

I crouch in the shadows, safely hidden from the battle raging not two feet away. I watch, impassive, as blood from the enemy spatters the ground at my feet, then look up to see Accalia strike yet another warrior dead with a perfectly aimed arrow, shooting with astonishing grace and accuracy, the kind I long for, but would never have. Her twin, Arissa, manages to kick one of the men in the face, so that he falls back onto the grass, bleeding heavily from the nose.

Jealousy, anger, and terror battle inside of me in equal measure, fierce as the fighting laid out in front of me. My mother forbade me to enter the war, even though I've trained and trained and trained for things like this. She knows who I am… who my father was. It's win or die.

That's why she won't let me go. Because of my father.

A roar echoes across the field as hundreds of warriors thunder down the hill, right past me where I'm hidden in the grove, and swell the ranks of our fighters. None of the women this time. Only men.

Suddenly, there's a scream. I look up just in time to see Arissa grab Accalia's hand; they're back to back, fighting their hardest… but that doesn't stop the spear from going right through both of them.

They fall, just like that, still holding hands, weapons still at the ready, connected by that single shaft of wood. I'm unable to move. That's our two best generals, dead.

Just like that.

Oh, gods… those Persians are going to flatten us. Even with Sparta on our side for the first time in who-knows-how-long, they were the brains. They were the best….

I take a deep breath and raise my arms silently to the heavens, closing my eyes and murmuring, "Father, if you're listening, help me."

Then I unsheathe my sword, secure my helmet, and charge.

Of course, I'm sighted the moment I do.

"Gwendolyn, no!" Elena's on horseback, fighting beside Egan. I ignore her, slashing viciously at the nearest soldier, leaving a long, ugly gash down his face, then turn, leaping nimbly out of the way as another tries to stab me from behind. I elbow the one behind me hard in the chest, then stab at the next. I'm a nightmare in itself, leaping, twisting, fueled by fury. My training comes back to me all in one, and my brain strings together intricate chains of moves. I follow them without question, and soon, the space around me is clear.

I stand there, breathing hard, as the fighting gradually dies down. A breeze billows around me, making my battle skirt swirl around my knees. Elena looks at me, a long, calculating look. I lift my chin and stare back defiantly.

And, eventually, her expression softens a bit. She nods.

"We've won." She slips off her horse, kicking at one of the bodies in disgust. "I must say-" She turns back… and her eyes widen in horror.

I open my mouth the moment she screams. I whip around to see one of the enemy soldiers, raising his spear with the arm that isn't gushing blood, aimed right at my chest.

In slow motion, he draws it back, and then it's leaving his hand… the last thing I hear is Elena, half-sobbing, calling my name, before I fall and everything goes dark.