Payton's P.O.V.

Ch. 3

Clang! Smash! Duck! Smash! The sounds of the battle training field rang in my ears. In a training tunic and wielding only a longsword I was in the middle of sparring with the Duke of Devensdale and Earl of Rand when suddenly all noises of battle stopped. Panting and sweating I turned to see what sight had stopped everyone from sparring. And there, seeming to not notice that all movement and noise stopped, was a girl? On the training field? Wearing the dress of a lady ,even if it was slightly amiss in the front, she had the sun tanned skin of a farmer's daughter and her long dark brown hair hung to her waist, an odd fashion I had never seen before. She was looking through the selection of bows and quivers of arrows. Finally with all the stares upon her she turned slowly to face us all. I was ten feet from her but the Duke of Devensdale was closer, stepping forward slowly as if she was a timid and confused doe the Duke asked, "My lady, what is your need?". A confused look came across her face, "Training of course", she said as simply as if it was normal. A moment of silence passed before every man on that field burst into laughter. Even I was laughing. With that the girl's face turned furious. When the Duke could control his laughing he talked again, "Now my lady, what is the real reason you're here?" Without pausing she said, "Are you too stupid to realize that I really am here to train. Are you too much of a lady yourself to realize a warrior when you see one?" the field was now full of men and boys holding in their laughter. She went on "There is no law that says I cannot train in a training field. If you like I will fight to help my cause, your best warrior!" The held in laughter was now no longer laughter but gasps of astonishment, what is wrong with her? Ladies don't challenge in chess much less on a training field. Then the Duke surprised me,

"Fine, as you wish but you will hold a weapon the fighter will hold a shield" He doesn't thing she can do anything worthy of an armed partner, "I will pick your partner." He turned to face the men of the field, and then he pointed. He pointed to me. I raised my eyebrows; he must be bluffing, but grabbed my sword and gave me a shield.

"No I refuse..." I tried to protest but he raised his hand.

"Anyone else would get in larger trouble if she got hurt just deflect her blows and knock the sword out of her hand, she'll go away crying, don't worry just do it." He handed her the lightest shortsword and yelled "Begin!"

I stepped forward, this should be easy I thought. Then she dropped the sword, the men started laughing again, but I stayed silent, they must think if was to heavy for her delicate lady arms, but I saw her. She dropped the sword on purpose. She smiled tauntingly and cocked an eyebrow,

"The prince can't be scared of just a lady can he?"

A flicker of remembrance went through my brain but I couldn't identify it. I would have dropped my shield except then we would both be un armed and unprotected and I wouldn't know what to do. She stepped forward slowly. I didn't back away. Then unexpectedly she laughed, happily as if it was fun just standing there being watched by fifty men and boys. She stepped forward again but a little faster, then she ran and closed the few feet between us, she was a blur, I lifted my shield to deflect whatever she was trying to do but it was to no avail. I felt two of her fingers dig into my sides. I felt the air whoosh out of me and I couldn't move, I fell over backwards with the shield bouncing to the ground. From my vantage point on the ground I could see the girl laughing, she knelt down and smiled her taunting smile. I knew that smile and there was only one girl who could win in any spar. I tried to speak but I still couldn't move. She pressed her fingers into my sides again and suddenly I could move again, I sat up smiling, "Alemay!"

She helped me stand up. And said,

"I wondered when you would remember me since it has been at least three years since we last talked. I'm sorry I immobilized you this man wouldn't let me train of course I think they will now." I remembered everyone had been watching us the whole time.

I turned to them and spoke, "This is lady Alemay, a well respected warrior and as Prince Payton, heir to the thrown, no one is to she deny her entry to any parts of the field or any weapons that she asks for, or else face the wrath of me and my father King Cahl, is that clear to all?"

The men nodded and looked to my left. I turned back to see Alemay. She had gotten a bow and quiver of arrows and was shooting a human shaped hay target. On it were little targets in vital places, and she was hitting all of them in the middle over and over again. When she was done twenty arrows pierced the little hay shaped person, four in the middle of all five targets. The men who had been laughing at her ten minutes before were now speechless. Even I, who had seen her shoot well before, was speechless. This was the work of a master archer, only a few of fathers archers could shoot like that. She set the bow down and said, "I've gotten a bit better. But I can still fight with a sword and spear and even a mallet."

"LADY ALEMAY!" a cry rose over the quietness of the field. Alemay turned, her hair swishing with her as she moved. A serving maid was standing by the castle entrance, calling Alemay`s name.

Alemay looked at me," I must go." She said.

Without thinking I said, "May I speak with you later after the feast?"She nodded as she walked to the serving maid. I watched until she disappeared and the sounds of training slowly resumed. She was different from when I had last seen her, she was taller, she had been cute enough when she and I were 11 but that had three years past. Now she was older, still as old as I but older than when I had last seen her, and much better at archery. A tap on my shoulder stopped my thought, behind me was the Earl of Rand.

He nodded toward where Alemay had gone, "She pretty, that one, and tough." I nodded in agreement. Coming to my senses I grabbed a sword and challenged the Earl. My last thought before I went into battle mode was of Alemay, brown haired and less tanned face smiling in the same taunting way three years ago after she had just beaten me again, some thing's never change.