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Hey, I got this one up fairly quickly!
THANK YOU to my reviewers!
And Training BeginsChapter Five
I couldn't help but scowl as we drew near the training grounds. Dozens of boys, and a few girls, were practicing staff combat. I couldn't understand why these people would willingly take orders from a training master. I looked at the back of the man that would try to turn me into some sort of a knight. Try. That's the key word. I was bound and determined to be as free as I had been a month ago.
Suddenly that tower of a man turned. Curly black hair and black eyes to match lit upon us. Though the training master's face was a ruddy and seemingly happy one, there was a forced hardness in his eyes.
"Jonathon." There was a booming voice like thunder that came from the enormous man's throat. "You're late."
Jonathon ran his hand through his hair in such a childish manner, that I was surprised my mouth didn't fall open. "We had to settle an argument." He turned to me as if to say, 'Tell him what happened,' but when caught the look on my face, his own turned stony and returned to the training master. "It won't happen again, sir."
"Good." Then those black eyes turned to me. They took in my form, and the eyebrows lowered, confused. "Who is this you brought with you, Jonathon?"
Jonathon's eyes flickered to me before he stepped to the side. "Training Master Raoul, may I present Vayga…"
"Sharron…" I hadn't spoken that word in so long, that I almost didn't remember it.
"Sharron…she's the girl my father informed you about." Raoul's eyes lit up slightly, and inspected me further. When his eyes finally reached my face, there was a scowl upon it.
"I really don't appreciate being inspected like a horse on the verge of being sold." It was totally monotone and cold.
What little light had appeared in the training master's eyes disappeared. "Well." His lip curled slightly. "Someone doesn't seem to know to respect her betters."
And I smiled a smile so sweet I was almost sick. "Maybe I have no reason to respect my supposed betters. And maybe, just maybe, I don't want to be here." I crossed my arms and took on a thoughtful look. "Or maybe I just wish your king a painful and soon end? I'm beginning to think that it's all three of them. What do you think, Milord Prince?" I looked at Jonathon, and saw the slack jaw and wide eyes. And all the pages and squires within earshot had the same expression. I stepped closer to Raoul, and lowered my voice slightly. "Let's get one thing straight here before we go any further. I don't want to be here. And you shouldn't very well want me here either. But I have to be here. You are a training master. You give orders and expect them followed. I have gone ten years without people in my life. I take orders from no one. You leave me alone, and I'll cause as little trouble as I know how."
All throughout my little speech, Raoul's face became redder and redder with anger, and he spoke in a tight voice. "You do know that I can have you locked in a room again with one spoken word."
"But you wouldn't. Let's face it. You need me here. Your nation needs me here." Raoul's jaw clenched, but I knew that my words hit home.
"What do you know when it comes to weapons?"
"I know curve-backs."
"How well?"
"Instead of being taught to read and write as a child, I was taught knives." I scowled. "It's all I know. They were the only things that have kept me alive for all these years."
"And how are you against someone armed with a longer weapon?"
"Ask your prince. We fought before we came. I shattered his sword, and could have very well gutted him." I turned to Jonathon. The look on his face clearly stated that he couldn't believe this was happening.
"Go practice stave work. Jonathon will teach you." He turned to go.
"I don't use other weapons." Raoul's shoulders visibly tensed, and he turned back.
And through clenched teeth, "You might lose your weapons in battle."
"I don't lose my weapons."
"Fine. Just-just go spar with Jonathon then."
And thus training began.
I was reminded by FanFictionFantom that there are actually three princes in the book, and that King Jonathon is actually the III or IV. But, let's just pretend that those other two princes were never there, and we'll just leave Prince Jonathon as the II because I like the way it sounds. (smiles coyly)
