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Chapter Three:

Tori sighed as she returned to the barracks, a bag packed with the rest of Robert's possessions slung over her shoulder. Her very, very sore shoulders, she thought with a stifled groan as it thunked to the floor beside her new bed. Domiar had assigned it to her, the only one left open in Derek's squad's assigned area. It was, unfortunately located right next to Derek's bed, meaning she would be around him even more, under his eyes.

She didn't know if she could handle to constant struggle to maintain a man's role. Butthe bedwas also located right next to the door that led to the Own bath's. She really didn't know whether to bless her fortune or curse it. She settled with shoving at her pack with her foot, pushing it under the bed towards the wall.

Her weapons and armor had been placed on the wrack above her bed. Every bed had one, just like everybed had a trunk at the end to store things such as clothes or equipment like books and scrolls and tents in. She wouldn't put Robert's things in there. It would be to noticable.

She sat, allowing her shoulders to relax and then slump, as she was alone in the barracks. With a sigh, she flopped onto her back on the lumpy bed, closing her eyes, her breathing softening. A nap wouldn't be so bad, she thought as her eyes fluttered. She turned onto her side, curling into a small ball as she drifted off into sleep, and then farther, into nightmares.

She could see his face, his lovely laughing face. He was watching her, calling to her, opening his arms into a hug, a big loving hug. She fell into his arms, or tried to, but he wasn't there.

She was standing alone, looking down at her hands. There was blood. On her hands. It covered her hands, her arms, her dress. There was no escaping the blood. She heard a moan and turned to see him.

There he stood as she last remembered seeing him, his throat cut, his eyes dieing, his hands reaching for her. Green light began to tint her vision, coming at her from the east, blinding her vision of Robert, yet making him stand out all the better. And then, he began to scream, filling her ears with a peircing wail that was anything but natural. It sent shivers down her spin and had her turning from him in the dream, running from him. But the wail always followed her. Always.

Tori sat up with as gasp, her lungs heaving for air. She scrambled on the bed until she sat with her feet touching the floor. For one blinding second she thought she would jump to her feet and run, just run and never look back, until she had outdistanced the horror that so newly haunted her.

Instead, she gripped the edge of the bed, forcing her breathing to calm, her heart to stop its race. She closed her eyes briefly, gathering everything together until she was calm once more. When she opened her eyes, it was to a new look, and to eyes, greenish-brown with dusty blond falling into them. She was confused for a second before it all came rushing back to her, the fact that she was in the Own now, and not alone.

"Sir," she whispered in her husky voice, a greeting even though she was sure that he had seen her entire escapade, including her terror and weak shaking of fear. Humiliation stained her cheeks a pale red.

"It's time for breakfast," was all he said as he stood and moved off towards the exit. She sighed, huffing out her breath and trying to quell the utter embarrassment, but decided it was a lost cause. Instead, checking to see that she was alone, she stripped from her shirt into a clean one, then into clean britches.

At least he hadn't commented, she thought as she combed her fingers through the hair on the wig, making sure it was in place. A comment would have made it all the more unbearable. When all was deemed in place, she walked hurriedly towards the mess hall. She wanted to get a seat near the back where she could watch the different people enter. That and she didn't want to have to sit next to someone that she didn't know. It would be easier on her if people approached her, not the other way around.

When she entered the mess hall, she saw Derek standing in a short line with a tray in his hands. She followed his example and ended up behind him in line. He looked back at her with a peculiar expression before approaching the window. She didn't have to guess what it was for. When it was her turn at the window, she smiled at the older lady handing out food and was surprised when she blushed like a little girl. She smiled wider, thanked her and turned to find a seat.

The table in the very back was unoccupied so she scurried over to it and took a seat at the very end, closest to the wall. From there she had a perfect view of the comings and goings of the Own. She tried to examine every face that entered, but it was hard doing that and eating at the same time. And it wasn't long before she was given company.

"How's it going, kid?" Domiar asked as he sat with a loud thud next to her at the table. "Good so far?" he asked, looking directly at her.

She nodded hastily before returning to her vigil of the door. But all hope was lost for Domiar was speaking to her again. "Are you going to be joining the training?"

"Oh, I haven't thought on it. Why?" she asked, her voice quiet and calm though her heart was pounding. She didn't like that he was taking such an interest in her. It made her suspicious and uncertain. Did he know something about her? Something about who she truly was?

"Well, seeing how training doesn't officially start until the rest of the recruits arrive, if you were to practice with us, I was to tell Derek so as to inform him on what type of training we should be doing. Or, we could train one on one today, if you would like that?"

Tori thought on it for a moment. She hadn't really been planning at all to train today. She had wanted to hold it of for as long as possible before she had to do it. It wasn't that she didn't like training; it was just that she didn't enjoy beating on other people for hours on end. But she'd have to get used to it sooner or later, and sooner would be more productive then later.

"I guess I will train with the Own today, if that's alright?" she asked, finishing off the last of her breakfast as another group of people entered the mess hall. They waved and Domiar waved back, motioning them over to the table.

"Hello Domiar! Who's the boy?" one of the men asked, he was tall with black shaggy hair and piercing blue eyes. When they focused on her, she felt naked, as if they could see right into her soul, so she broke the eyes contact, taking in the other two people with him. They looked to be brothers, twins even, for they both had curled red hair and pale green eyes, along with almost exact facial features. One, though, was considerably shorter then the other.

"This is Torick, a new recruit, in Derek's squad. He'll be training with us today. Torick, this Bradley, my fellow sub officer. The brothers are Terry and Mark. They're under my command."

"It's Tori really. No one calls me Torick. And it's a pleasure to meet you," she gave a polite smile that didn't come close to her eyes. She didn't like Bradley, not at all.

"Well, Tori, it's a pleasure to have you in the Own," Bradley said, in a silky smooth voice that tipped her off right away. Something someone had said had set him on edge. A bad edge. His eyes, she noted as she watched them closely kept flicking towards her chest.

"Bradley's from Serinda," Domiar continued and her ears perked. Serinda? She thought as she looked to his face once more. She had never met anyone from Serinda before. "He specializes in the Gift, what with them over there being so advanced and everything. You have any experience in the Gift, kid?"

"No," she said before hastily getting to her feet. "I'll go put my tray away," she stood and began moving towards the tray return, where she had seen others do so. She didn't want to deal with Bradley; she could smell a confrontation coming.

"Oh, and kid," Domiar called and she turned slightly so she could see him and the others. "We'll be starting in the sword courts. Do you know where that is?"

She shook her head and was about to say she would find it when a voice cut over hers. "I'll show little Tori where it is."

She could have cringed but she couldn't very well refuse. She nodded, dropped of the tray and turned to see Bradley right behind her. He took her elbow and began steering her from the hall and into the armory.

When the door closed behind them, she jerked out of his grasp and whirled to face him. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Bradley hissed. "Little boys don't belong in the Own. One being they're weaker then men and more likely to get killed!"

"I'm no boy," she whispered vehemently, shaking at the thought that her disguise worked against her so terribly. No one would respect her or think her a warrior if she looked like a little boy. That and it was expected of her to take offense to the insult. That was why he had said it to her.

"And no little boy is going to outrank me without working for it. You don't belong in his squad. I do! What do you think you're doing?" Tori's head snapped back at his fierce tone. Hewas getting all worked up, she thought, staring as his face began to redden, and so easily.

"I'm getting trained. What are you doing?" she asked in a soft voice. She knew that would likely provoke him, but she wasn't sure what else to say. What could she say? She had never dealt with a situation like this before.

"It doesn't matter what I'm doing in the Own. What the hell do you think you're trying to prove by joining the Own and taking my spot in his squad?" he demanded, running his fingers through his hair. He had been sure that the position in Derek's squad would go to him. Imagine his surpirse and anger when that little pipsqueak had taken his spot.

"Why do you care about what I'm trying to porve? And besides, I can take care of myself. It's not like I have no training at all! I'm perfectly suitable for the position in his squad!" she crossed her arms over her chest, and huffed out her breath. She thought briefly of laughing at their absurd conversation, but dismissed it. It was truly absurd.

"Training? Training! Do you think that a few lessons at your fief will save you from getting killed or humiliated in battle? Derek wasted a spot, my spot, on you. I want you to leave. Leave willingly or I'll force you to."

"I can't leave!" she hissed. "And I know more then a few lessons. I know a lot more then a few lessons," she took a deep breath and gave out a proposition. "What if I beat you in a duel. A sword duel. Will you let me stay?"

Bradley snorted, not sure if he could lower himself to her level. But if she wanted a chance, he would give her one. That would save her from saying that he forced her out. She would have lost fair and square.

"Okay. We'll duel. I win, you leave. I lose, I'll let you stay in his squad," he smiled, thinking it would be a piece of cake to beat her. He was, after all, one of the best swordsmen in the Own

"And you won't hassle me again?" she demanded, a little taken aback by the smile, unsure of what she had gotten herself into. But she couldn't lose. She needed this, needed this place to hide and regroup.

"Right, I won't bother you again. If you win. Let's go," he nodded his head and she followed him out the door, across a training yard and into another building. This one was large, with a ringed of area in the middle. Along the outside of the ring were stands for people to sit, if they wished to watch the duel. A bucket off to the left of the entrance into the ring held several practice swords. She stepped into the ring, noticing the soft dirt under her feet and grabbed a sword. She noted the padding on the side rail and motioned to it with her head.

"Do we use the padding?" she asked, replacing the sword and reaching for another. This one fit better in her hand, and when she gave it a testing flick, she was happy with the way it felt.

"No, we don't need it. The first one to fall loses. Are you ready?" Bradley asked, moving into an opening stance. Tori, who had never been taught the conventional ways of proper dueling, nodded, watching his movements.

He started out easy, striking towards her middle, and she blocked it easily, turning his sword to the side, to far out to the left to be used. With lightening fast movement, she stepped into his guard, and smacked the flat of her sword across his ribs on the left side while he was trying to bring his sword back into the range of his body. The sudden change in pace and the blow knocked him off guard and he stumbled to the side, trying to regain his balance, her foot snaked out and tripped his foot, causing him to stumble more.

She swung at his back, hoping to get it over fast, but he turned and caught the blow on his sword and hurled her back. She stumbled back and to the side, coming out of his range of reach. Unknown to them both, the door to the building opened and the Own began filing in for training practice.

Tori watched as he advanced on her. The blow had hurt, if only a little, but his side would be stiff for a while. She chose that as her focal point. If she came at him from that side, he would be less able to bend to catch her blows. Another crucial point she noted as she prepared to strike was the fact that her sword was much lighter than his. She would be able to recover swings faster then he would.

When he was within reach, she took the lead, a mistake on her part, and swung in at him with a one-handed attack. He blocked her every blow, turning it to the side, but she was the one forcing him to retreat. With each step she took forward, he took one back. He was on defense purely.

She didn't know how to work from the offense. Whenever she had dueled with Robert, she had always been on the defense. That's how she had won. If she wanted to win now, she had to do the same.

She deliberately stumbled, allowing him to take a shot. She turned it aside and once again dodged into his guard hitting his left side again. Again he stumbled and she hit his arm with the flat of her sword, bruising the muscle. He would only be able to make one-handed attacks now, wearing him out faster, for his sword was heavier and made for two hands.

He must have known it too, for he began attacking harder, trying to tip her off balance. But he was falling into her trap again. She turned his blows to the side and for the third time in that duel, stepped into his guard and struck a blow to his side. He cried out this time, bringing down his arm in a reaction that was his down fall. The sword thunked across his shoulder as her small foot slipped out to trip him as the force of her blow caused him to tip over.

When he hit the ground, she slipped her sword to his throat and kicked his sword from his hand. "Looks like I stay," she whispered and he nodded. She let up the sword and helped him to his feet. The duel had taken less then ten minutes.

When applause reached her ears, she turned sharply to see the entire Own sitting in the stands. Her cheeks flamed crimson as she picked up Bradley's fallen sword and returned it to the bucket. She stepped out of the ring.

Derek was standing to the side of the door, watching her as she stepped out and tried to leave. He was standing in her way.

"Sir," she whispered as she bowed and tried to move past him, but he didn't budge. So she stood and waited for him to move.

"Where'd you learn to duel, boy?" he barked out in his rough voice. She jumped at the sudden sound. She hadn't expected him to be angry.

"My brother taught me, sir," she whispered, linking her hands in front of her. They twisted and gripped as they always did when she was nervous.

"Was he a knight?" he demanded, his voice slightly less rough.

"No, he was going to enter the Own himself. But due to… complications, I went in his place. Why, sir?" she asked looking up at him, one eyebrow raised in question.

"Those are a knights moves, boy. Was your brother taught by a knight?" he demanded again. He was always demanding, she thought, as she tried to remember the name of Robert's tutor. She had never met the man. And most of the moves that she had used today were adaptations off of moves that she had been taught. Robert had never been able to use the ones she could.

"I can't remember sir. I never met the tutor. I was only taught on the side, when Robert had time for me," she answered, her head lowering once more. She really wished that she could just leave now.

"Robert?" the sudden change in his voice had her head snapping up. Her eyes widened at the expression on his face and the slip-up she had made. She quickly lowered her head, trying to hide her face as she struggled to maintain a calm façade. Maybe he would think nothing of it.

"Yes, that's my brother's name. Robert," she said, slowly, measuring each word as it came out.

"What complication?" his voice had come under control, but she could still detect the strange sound in his voice from before.

"He was crippled by bandits last summer," she said hurriedly, to others sounding as if she wanted to spit out the horrid truth as fast as possible. It was really hurried because she had come up with it spur of the moment and rushed it in her eagerness to have an excuse.

"Oh, well… What were you doing out here, boy?" he asked, all trace of the strange emotion gone. It seems she had escaped that one by the skin of her teeth that time.

"We were having an argument that we needed to settle squarely, so we dueled it out. Sir," she answered him, her chin ducked down to her chest. She didn't see the gleam in his eyes.

"Dueling is not allowed. For punishment you'll work in the stables for three hours. After training, see me for additional instruction. Now, form lines everyone!" she nodded and rushed to do as he asked.

Several times during the day, she felt Bradley's eyes on her back.

Zahib sighed as he entered the tavern filled with his comrades and fellow bowers to the master. He signaled for a beer to the wench working before settling into a chair at the back of the room. No one would approach him until he gave them leave. In the tavern, he was the master and they were his bowers.

Soon, in his own time, he would relate to them what the master wanted from them, and he would send them out into the city to locate the girl and report back to him. Then he would capture her and have the glory all to himself. But for now, he would enjoy his beer and dream of one day defeating the master and becoming one himself.

A/N. There you are. One clearification. When I typed bower I meant it as bow-er, as in someone who bows to another. Hope you enjoyed and thanks again for the reviews. I really appreciate all them. Review me!

Nubia