Sorry it's been AGES- I've been in a huge ACOSF book hangover. It's not my favourite but I did love it and that Azriel chapter... Ooof. Here's hoping the next book is about HIM.
The sun woke me up the next morning and I sat up wide awake. I'd slept better in the bed than I thought I would, but I was sure the alcohol the previous night had probably contributed. I dressed myself in my leathers and braided my hair with precision. Ready for a different kind of battle. My throwing knives were strapped onto my leg and I checked myself in the old mirror before heading out towards the barracks to collect what I needed for training.
It was a cold morning and I noted that fewer people were out at this early hour than in Windhaven. Even when I had collected the training staffs and was heading towards the training ring, I hardly passed anyone. Strange.
Two females were already there when I arrived and started setting up. We'd start with the basics, I'd decided. A jog, controlling the staff and a little footwork. As much as I could fit into just over an hour of training.
"Good morning," I said to the two females. They looked nervous. Uncomfortable. But they bowed their heads. Three more did the same on arrival. But after waiting half an hour, there were just five. I tried not to feel disheartened. "Thank you for coming today," I told them, "We'll start with a jog to build up stamina, if that's okay?"
I led the way, slowing the pace so that they could keep up. Unlike the females in Windhaven, they had obviously had no training and their fitness wasn't ready yet. But I was here to make a difference, I reminded myself. I'd done it in one camp, I could do it in another. We ran a shorter distance than I'd planned and then headed back to the training ring.
The lesson went by without any glitches and I adjusted the lesson according to their needs. Some of their moves were clumsy, although I supposed it was to be expected. After thanking them for coming, they soon disappeared and I packed up. Lesson over.
"Mayar," Of course Elric would catch me just as I was returning to the barracks.
"Elric," I gave a wry smile. As much as I could manage.
"How did it go?" He asked. He tried to take the bag of staffs from me but I held it closer.
"Well some females turned up which is… something."
"More will come in time," He told me. He wrinkled his nose, "It's just weird having females train and not-"
"Not cleaning, cooking and raising children," I snapped and he flinched.
"Our ancestors have had certain traditions for years," He said, following me.
"Traditions can change," I told him, looking straight ahead. "Where does it say that females are not capable of being warriors?"
"Some females are," He admitted, "You… you always have been." I thought back to his terrified face in the dark that night. His thoughts were clearly similar as he added, "You can fly."
"I didn't think I could," I admitted, "But then Az… the shadowsinger taught me."
"Interesting company you keep these days," Elric said.
My friends… my family. I gave a nod as we reached the barracks. I put away the training staffs and was surprised he was still there as I left. But he wasn't alone. A few feet away stood Cassian, sizing him up. Elric noticed him at the same time I did and I could have sworn his skin paled.
"General," He said, his voice quiet. He bowed his head slightly.
"Elric, isn't it?" Cassian said and Elric nodded. His eyes met mine and there was a smile, "How did your training go, Captain?"
"It went fine," I replied, "I'm hoping for greater numbers in future." He gave a nod of understanding. I was aware that Elric was watching our exchange carefully.
"News will spread that females are welcome to join our armies."
I gave a smile, "Indeed it will."
Cassian headed off the next day. I knew he couldn't babysit me forever, even if that wasn't what he was calling it. He had other armies to command and check-in on and any business that Rhys had awaiting him on the continent.
With Cassian gone, I set off into the woods by myself with the challenge I had set myself- find that power.
Just like Azriel had, I placed a stone on top of the rock and stood back. I closed my eyes then, concentrating solely on my body. My heartbeat. The blood in my veins. The humming. There it was. Buzzing through me, woven into that blood my father and mother had given me. I felt my body heating as the humming moved quicker, as did my heartbeat. I concentrated on the one wrist that held the siphon but it fought against me, trying to go elsewhere. I let out a hiss and tried to push it. Light flashed and I opened my eyes as the pebble fell from the rock. I swallowed as I glanced at the glowing siphon. Keeping my breath slow, I turned for a tree then, aiming, but knocking myself backwards instead. The glowing stopped. My head started to ache.
Well it was progress, I supposed.
I sat on a table by myself at dinner in the tavern that evening. The fire was warming my wings as I ate the stew that was offered that day and I sipped at the mead I'd treated myself too. The tavern was busy, the busiest I'd seen it yet, and I was enjoying people watching. I watched males flirting with the barmaids, who flirted back. A few couples were sat together, their gazes intense. Other couples kissed. Other warriors played card games or sat listening to the live music in the furthest corner. The atmosphere here was more laid back, more like a party than Windhaven, I noted. Lord Logan walked into the tavern then, but no one stopped. Everyone simply continued what they were doing, apart from one dark-haired barmaid that rushed to take his order.
"Is this seat taken?"
I glanced up at the female standing in front of my table. She had been at my training session that morning, I realised. Dark hair with red streaks that reminded me of her mother and her eyes were almost black. "Help yourself." I told her with a small smile.
She sat across from me, "I'm Erein."
"Mayar," I shook her hand across from the table.
"Thank you for coming here, Captain," Her turn for a small smile, although it was a wary one, "I'm enjoying the training sessions."
I gave a nod, "I'm glad."
I noticed her foot tapping along to the music as she stretched across the bench. Relaxed. Behind her Lord Devlon now had two females draped across him and the three of them laughed together.
"I've heard a lot about you," Erein said and I looked back at her, "About how your females fought in the battle against Ironcrest."
"It was our duty," I replied with a shrug.
"And how you completed the Blood Rite." She paused, "One day I'd like to complete it too." Her eyes looked at the tattoos that wound around my collarbone, just peeking out of my blouse.
"If given the choice, I would not have participated," I told her, "It's not easy and I could have died."
"But yet you're still here," She waved her hand in a relaxed way that made me wonder if she'd been drinking. "You're proof that a female can survive… proof that we can be better than these males."
Thin ice, she walked on. Any of the males could hear our conversation and if they did… well, I was certain that wouldn't end well.
"I wouldn't say better," I told her, "But there is no reason that one day we can't be equals."
She wrinkled her nose at that and the noise in the tavern increased. More people were dancing and drinking now, I realised, as if celebrating the fact that night had come. Erein stretched and as her wings flexed I noted that she had not been clipped.
She laughed at my surprised expression, "Now Captain, you're not the only female with the luxury of flying. My brother stopped wing-clipping in this camp a long time ago." Brother? I glanced over at Logan behind her and she smirked, "That's the one." Their faces were similar, their eyes one and the same. "We shared a womb just over a whole century ago."
Just one century. Logan was young for a war-camp Lord. He had somehow worked his way up the ranks quickly, unless their father had been Lord before then. As if sensing we were talking about him, Logan sauntered over to the table, females still draped across him.
"Sister," He smiled at Erein and then glanced at me, "And Mayar, a pleasure." No formalities, I realised, as his eyes met mine. He turned to the females he was practically wearing, "I'll find you later." He said and they scurried off. Their wings too were safe. Unclipped. I watched the war lord carefully as he sat down beside his sister, across from me. I took a swig of my mead. "I hear you had six females at training this morning."
I gave a nod, "Not as many as I had hoped for. Especially considering the letter Devlon was sent."
"If I'm completely honest, I was more interested in what you had to offer," A smirk, "Especially since you have one of my best warriors all tied up in knots." I raised an eyebrow. "You're an intriguing female, Mayar."
I kept my face straight, "I'm sure."
"The first female to ever complete the Blood Rite and be given any sort of title… the daughter of our Thornhill Lord. Of course I was intrigued." He lowered his voice, leaning across the table, "Perhaps I can meet you in the sparring ring some time."
"Perhaps."
I wasn't entirely sure of what he was trying to do- threaten me, bait me or flirt with me? Or perhaps he wanted to spy on Windhaven. It was hard to tell. Hidden under the arrogance.
"I certainly hope so," Another smirk, "I'm sure that things are about to get interesting."
