AN: And we're back with another installment of the gripping thriller (cackles eccentrically) Treachery Unseen. In the last episode Torrigan and Sabriel were tragically split apart by the well-meaning Queen Rachelle. Ten years have passed and well....if I tell u anymore it'll ruin the chapter so READ AND REVIEW!! I would like to thank Tears Washed Away and Cali Vianya for reviewing! Thanks for the input guys! Enjoy!
Torrigan stretched lazily. It was his day off from Guard duty and he was planning on enjoying every minute of it. The extra sleep was much needed but he was starting to feel useless. The sunlight poured into the room like a stream of gold and it was all the encouragement needed to persuade Torrigan to jump out of bed.
His chamber was small with just the necessities. Simple linen curtains were draped on either end of the window. A simple wooden dresser and wardrobe stood in the farthest corner from the door. A rush mat gave the feet some relief from the cold stone beside the bed. He had not wanted any special treatment because of his status.
The young man (for that is what he was now) did a few quick stretches to loosen his muscles. His curls were especially irritating at this point in time. They would always fall into his eyes and he would have to brush them away and begin his exercise again only to repeat the process. Now! Off to the Practice Courts! Maybe he would challenge some of the others to a duel. A boyish grin slid on his face at the thought.
A young woman with raven wing hair and haunting dark eyes smiled mischievously as she whispered a charter mark for sleep over the breakfast for the staff at the Belisaere College for Ladies of Breeding. This was her last day and she was finally going to have a little fun. To her teachers she was a model of grace and poise. She never slurped her tea and always sat with her shoulders back and her back straight. In the fighting ring she was a fierce competitor and a proficient mage. How little they knew.
After breakfast she suppressed a laugh as she trotted up to her dormitory. The mental picture of the Etiquette professor face down in her eggs, snoring, was just too comical. She changed out of the confining dress she was forced to wear and slipped on breeches, a tunic and just for fun, a half mask covering the area around her eyes. She was going to test her knowledge and skill at swordplay in a more realistic setting than the school.
With a throng of leather she tied her long hair into a horse tail, tossed on a pair of gloves and crept out of the school, a little extra caution never hurt. Her father had taught her that. She quickly made her way to the Practice Courts in the palace. She wove her way through the crowd of shoppers and merchants.
The smell of spices and fish floated on the air as merchants sold their wares. Banners flapped in the breeze and the sound of laughter rung everywhere. Bodies bumped against one another as people shuffled through the masses to finish their shopping. Very few people stopped from their trade to see a dark masked figure dodge and weave.
Sabriel breathed a sigh of relief as she reached the Practice Courts. She loved Belisaere and all but sometimes the crowds were a little overwhelming. The clang of swords abruptly brought her back to earth. Two young men were locked in vicious combat. A confident half smile graced the extremely handsome face of the tall blonde man. The younger looking man with tight brown curls showed no emotion as he blocked all attacks with his two blades.
Sabriel watched in awe at the skill and precision of each attack and block. For a moment it seemed as though the blonde man would win but then the tides would turn and the younger man would seem to have the advantage. It went back and forth like this for a long time before both men tired and called a break. By no means was this duel over.
"You've gotten better since the last time I fought you Nagirrot," the blonde man embraced this "Nagirrot" like a brother.
"I will beat you one of these days Kerrigor!" Nagirrot vowed, smiling. Kerrigor laughed but it was cut short but a loud crackling that escaped his throat instead. Nagirrot's relaxed expression quickly changed to that of deep concern.
"Kerrigor! Are you alright? What was that noise?" he bombarded his brother with questions, "are you catching a cold? What is going on?!" Kerrigor smiled at his sibling's concern and shook his head. He would be alright; he just needed to lie down for a while before this ball their mother was planning for tonight. Nagirrot offered to help him to his chambers but naturally Kerrigor refused and left the Practice Courts.
Torrigan sighed to himself. Something had to be wrong, that was not a natural sound. He prayed to the Charter it was not serious. He was startled out of his reverie by a mysterious dark figure tapping him on the shoulder.
"Do you duel?" the voice sounded feminine.
"Of course, shall we place a bet on this duel?" The mysterious character shook their head and long dark hair swished back and forth.
"Not this time, perhaps the next." Torrigan nodded in consent and slid into the "en guard" position. His opponent mirrored his movements. They circled around each other, eyes searching for a weak spot. Then Torrigan pounced! Sabriel was hard pressed to evade his surprise attack. She quickly recovered and returned the favor. Torrigan easily countered her assault. One two three Sweeping Phoenix! Sabriel went over the exercise in her head.
Torrigan's double blades were glinting in the sunlight countering and attacking. They switched roles as often as Torrigan and Rogir had. Torrigan swiftly brought his blades down above Sabriel's head. Quickly, Sabriel raised her blade diagonally, protecting her head. Their faces were now inches away from each other. Torrigan smiled confidently before Sabriel surprised him and whipped her blade around in an arc, dislodging his swords and stopping her sword tip before it ran him through.
Torrigan laughed, "Well done I must say!" He bowed to thank the puzzling stranger, "It was a learning experience for my pride I can tell you that!" Sabriel laughed.
"Thank you," Sabriel gracefully returned his bow, something was nagging at the back of her mind. There was something extremely familiar in this strange young man. She looked him over quickly. Tight brown curls, grey eyes, a not exactly handsome face but not hard on the eyes either. Yes there was definitely something familiar about him.
"Please excuse my boldness, but have we met before?" Torrigan asked, his head slightly cocked to one side.
"You get that feeling too?" Sabriel asked incredulously, "I'm not sure, we might have." A bell rang announcing the approaching time change. Sabriel gasped, that spell would only last for so long! She had better get back to the College. She bowed once more.
"Perhaps we shall meet again."
"I look forward to meeting you again on the Practice Courts, next time you will not be so lucky," Torrigan promised with a twinkle in his eye. Sabriel just smiled in response and left.
"TORRIGAN!"
"Coming mother," Torrigan mumbled as he bolted up the stone steps. His thoughts fixed on a certain dark haired swordswoman.
An: what shall I write next...hmm...the ball perhaps? Not sure I'm open to suggestions! Review 'em to me!
Torrigan stretched lazily. It was his day off from Guard duty and he was planning on enjoying every minute of it. The extra sleep was much needed but he was starting to feel useless. The sunlight poured into the room like a stream of gold and it was all the encouragement needed to persuade Torrigan to jump out of bed.
His chamber was small with just the necessities. Simple linen curtains were draped on either end of the window. A simple wooden dresser and wardrobe stood in the farthest corner from the door. A rush mat gave the feet some relief from the cold stone beside the bed. He had not wanted any special treatment because of his status.
The young man (for that is what he was now) did a few quick stretches to loosen his muscles. His curls were especially irritating at this point in time. They would always fall into his eyes and he would have to brush them away and begin his exercise again only to repeat the process. Now! Off to the Practice Courts! Maybe he would challenge some of the others to a duel. A boyish grin slid on his face at the thought.
A young woman with raven wing hair and haunting dark eyes smiled mischievously as she whispered a charter mark for sleep over the breakfast for the staff at the Belisaere College for Ladies of Breeding. This was her last day and she was finally going to have a little fun. To her teachers she was a model of grace and poise. She never slurped her tea and always sat with her shoulders back and her back straight. In the fighting ring she was a fierce competitor and a proficient mage. How little they knew.
After breakfast she suppressed a laugh as she trotted up to her dormitory. The mental picture of the Etiquette professor face down in her eggs, snoring, was just too comical. She changed out of the confining dress she was forced to wear and slipped on breeches, a tunic and just for fun, a half mask covering the area around her eyes. She was going to test her knowledge and skill at swordplay in a more realistic setting than the school.
With a throng of leather she tied her long hair into a horse tail, tossed on a pair of gloves and crept out of the school, a little extra caution never hurt. Her father had taught her that. She quickly made her way to the Practice Courts in the palace. She wove her way through the crowd of shoppers and merchants.
The smell of spices and fish floated on the air as merchants sold their wares. Banners flapped in the breeze and the sound of laughter rung everywhere. Bodies bumped against one another as people shuffled through the masses to finish their shopping. Very few people stopped from their trade to see a dark masked figure dodge and weave.
Sabriel breathed a sigh of relief as she reached the Practice Courts. She loved Belisaere and all but sometimes the crowds were a little overwhelming. The clang of swords abruptly brought her back to earth. Two young men were locked in vicious combat. A confident half smile graced the extremely handsome face of the tall blonde man. The younger looking man with tight brown curls showed no emotion as he blocked all attacks with his two blades.
Sabriel watched in awe at the skill and precision of each attack and block. For a moment it seemed as though the blonde man would win but then the tides would turn and the younger man would seem to have the advantage. It went back and forth like this for a long time before both men tired and called a break. By no means was this duel over.
"You've gotten better since the last time I fought you Nagirrot," the blonde man embraced this "Nagirrot" like a brother.
"I will beat you one of these days Kerrigor!" Nagirrot vowed, smiling. Kerrigor laughed but it was cut short but a loud crackling that escaped his throat instead. Nagirrot's relaxed expression quickly changed to that of deep concern.
"Kerrigor! Are you alright? What was that noise?" he bombarded his brother with questions, "are you catching a cold? What is going on?!" Kerrigor smiled at his sibling's concern and shook his head. He would be alright; he just needed to lie down for a while before this ball their mother was planning for tonight. Nagirrot offered to help him to his chambers but naturally Kerrigor refused and left the Practice Courts.
Torrigan sighed to himself. Something had to be wrong, that was not a natural sound. He prayed to the Charter it was not serious. He was startled out of his reverie by a mysterious dark figure tapping him on the shoulder.
"Do you duel?" the voice sounded feminine.
"Of course, shall we place a bet on this duel?" The mysterious character shook their head and long dark hair swished back and forth.
"Not this time, perhaps the next." Torrigan nodded in consent and slid into the "en guard" position. His opponent mirrored his movements. They circled around each other, eyes searching for a weak spot. Then Torrigan pounced! Sabriel was hard pressed to evade his surprise attack. She quickly recovered and returned the favor. Torrigan easily countered her assault. One two three Sweeping Phoenix! Sabriel went over the exercise in her head.
Torrigan's double blades were glinting in the sunlight countering and attacking. They switched roles as often as Torrigan and Rogir had. Torrigan swiftly brought his blades down above Sabriel's head. Quickly, Sabriel raised her blade diagonally, protecting her head. Their faces were now inches away from each other. Torrigan smiled confidently before Sabriel surprised him and whipped her blade around in an arc, dislodging his swords and stopping her sword tip before it ran him through.
Torrigan laughed, "Well done I must say!" He bowed to thank the puzzling stranger, "It was a learning experience for my pride I can tell you that!" Sabriel laughed.
"Thank you," Sabriel gracefully returned his bow, something was nagging at the back of her mind. There was something extremely familiar in this strange young man. She looked him over quickly. Tight brown curls, grey eyes, a not exactly handsome face but not hard on the eyes either. Yes there was definitely something familiar about him.
"Please excuse my boldness, but have we met before?" Torrigan asked, his head slightly cocked to one side.
"You get that feeling too?" Sabriel asked incredulously, "I'm not sure, we might have." A bell rang announcing the approaching time change. Sabriel gasped, that spell would only last for so long! She had better get back to the College. She bowed once more.
"Perhaps we shall meet again."
"I look forward to meeting you again on the Practice Courts, next time you will not be so lucky," Torrigan promised with a twinkle in his eye. Sabriel just smiled in response and left.
"TORRIGAN!"
"Coming mother," Torrigan mumbled as he bolted up the stone steps. His thoughts fixed on a certain dark haired swordswoman.
An: what shall I write next...hmm...the ball perhaps? Not sure I'm open to suggestions! Review 'em to me!