Chapter 14 Two boys and a bloody nose
Rath was still standing at the window and tried to understand what the two girls where talking about. A long time he wanted to read from their lips, but they both had turned their heads in another direction. Besides he couldn´t lip-reading. Then he opened the window to hear better. But that was a bust too. They were to far away. Now he stood there like an idiot and observed Marianna and Vilandra like a perv. What has got into him these days? He should concentrate on his training. He wanted to be a commander like his father eventually in the near future. And what did he do instead. He wondered if Marianna had feelings for Larek and what she thought about him. How pathetic was that? Rath shook his head. No he wouldn´t be a slave to his hormones. Just as he wanted to turn around he saw how Marianna jumped to her feet. She seemed to look at something at Vilandras wrist. What could possible be so interesting that Marianna would act so strange? Suddenly Marianna ran fast through the door and whizzed by him. During the short time she was in earshot he could make out a few words, which didn´t make much sense. Late, training, Mael, kick ass. Rath needed a few seconds to undestand the meaning behind it. Oh shit. He saw on his timer. Damn he was going to be late to his training. With that he ran after Marianna. For a girl she was really fast and quick on her feet, althrough she was in a light disadvantage because of her short feets. But nontheless she was a few seconds earlier in the training room than him.
" Finally our last few guest are there. Now we can start with the exercise", Mael threw an angry look at his son. Rath was usually never late. Hopefully it would stay at this one time.
Rath tried to avoid the glare of his father. Therefore he made his way to his trainig partner immediately. Now he had to make an affort to reassure his father. But he knew that he could prepare himself for a lecture tonight at dinner. He could recited what his father would tell him. He had to be a example for others and he shouldn´t think because he was the son of the commander that he could be careless. The same old story over and over again. So what, he was late for the first time. It could happen to anybody. Besides he was not the only one late. Marianna was only a little bit faster than he.
" So today we are starting to practise with the sticks. I know what you are thinking right now. How can something simple be good if I´m fighting for my life", Mael stopped and faced every of his men and the one girl. He saw the faces and knew he was right about the statement. " I will tell you why it could save your life sometime. What are you doing if you´re alone and have no weapon at hand? Some would say nothing and run. Everybody who thinks so too can go now, because then he is in the wrong place" Mael stopped again. Nobody made a move. Good. " But a real soldier tries to find something he could use as a weapon and fight with it. There are no bad weapons, only bad soldiers. Tried to remember my words. Maybe it could save your life in the future".
Mael stepped to the side and observed how everybody stared at the sticks in their hands. Some made funny comments about it, other played with it. Only two people in this room tried to find the right handle to hold their weapons. One of them was Rath and the other was Marianna.
" What are you waiting for? A written inventation? Get started", bellowed Mael after a few minutes.
Immediately everybody started the exercise. Mael watched from the sideline. Most of his men were really bad with the sticks. More often they bashed next to their partners or they let the sticks fall to the floor. He shook his head. They had much more training to do. Then he glanced at Marianna. She seemed to be born with a stick. She handled it like she did nothing else in her life. Larek had no chance against her. Within a few minutes Marianna had disarmed him. The girl was a born warrior and if she would learn to control her power she could be dangerous for all her enemies. After he was sure that Marianna and Larek worked again together he turned to his son. Rath was the same as Marianna. He was a born warrior and leader. He would be his successor sometime, that was for sure. He knew it since he saw his son fighting with Zan when they were still kids. And now it was obvious that Rath would be a great leader. He and Zan would carry on the kingdom like their parents.
" Oh dammit Larek", Mael was startled out of his thoughts through the loud cry that was coming from Marianna. Immediately he walked in their direction.
" I´m sorry. That was not my intention", Larek looked like a mix between fear and worry.
Mael stepped to Marianna and tried to see what she was hiding behind her hands, which she held infront of her nose. At a closer look he saw something red tripping from her hands. " What happened?".
" Nothing big. I was being careless for a moment and Larek hit me in my face with the stick", to prove her point she dropped her hands from her face.
Mael took a closer look at the damage. The nose was red and a little swollen. But it didn´t seem to be broken. " I´ll bring you to the healers".
" No. It´s nothing. It will be healed before I wake up tomorrow. Trust me. I survived worst", Marianna didn´t want to be treated like a baby. Besides it didn´t hurt anymore.
Before Mael could reply something he was interrupted by a little fight between Rath and Larek. Both men were lying on the floor and were trying to punch each other. It was no brainer who would win this fight. Rath was more heftier than Larek.
" You could have really hurt Marianna you bastard", Rath was really pissed. How dare Larek to hurt Marianna.
" I didn´t want to, it happened", Larek tried to defend himself. He didn´t want to harm her. Really. Why should he hurt the girl he had feelings for?
" Stop it. Both of you", Mael couldn´t believe it. They acted like children and that only because of a girl. Sometimes he was glad that this time was over and he was smarter now.
But Rath and Larek didn´t seem to hear a word Mael said. They were so absorbed in their battling that they didn´t hear anything. They kept up with the cursing and the flying fists. But then suddenly both men were teared apart and thrown at the wall opposite each other. Mael was slightly stunned about the act. He turned to Marianna. She had both arms stretched from her body. Every arm pointed to the directions Rath and Larek were pinned to the wall.
" Are you both out of your minds?", Marianna was so sick of their behaviour. Rath seemed to think that he had to defend her." What were you thinkin or were you thinkin at all?".
" It was all his fault. He...", Rath wanted to lay all the blame on Larek. After all he was the one who hurt her. But Marianna interrupted him before he could tell her that.
" Don´t try blaming Larek for your childish behaviour. I know why you attacked him and it had nothing to do with hurting me. You were angry with him before he hit me with the stick. I don´t know the reason why you´re angry at him nor do I want to know it. But if you don´t start acting like a grown up I will kick you ass to another planet and back. Are we clear on that", Marianna enjoyed it that she had the upper hand for the moment. And maybe if she was lucky Rath would learn something. But she didn´t believe it.
" But..", Rath wanted to have the last say in this. He couldn´t let Marianna win this fight. But it didn´t look to good for him. Because she wouldn´t let him have a word.
" I don´t think you understand me. I asked you if we´re clear on that", no Marianna wouldn´t let him get away with it this time. He did something wrong and now he was faced with the consequences.
" Yeah, We´re clear", what. She wouldn´t give up before she had her wish. Why fight it she would get her will eventually. Besides he wanted down.
Marianna seemed to be satisfied with the answer. Then she heared a quiet snicker next to her. Immediately she turned to Larek, who couldn´t hold his laughter in. " Now to you. You heared what I said to Rath and you should remember it, because that applies to you, too. And don´t think that´s an empty threat. I will do it. Understood?".
Larek thought it was best to do as Marianna said. He knew what power she had and he wanted to remain in one piece." Yeah understood. Loud and clear".
" That´s what I wanted to hear. Now be good boys and put this stupid fight behind you. And act like friends, again", Marianna dropped Larek and Rath to the ground. Now that she said what she wanted to say she could rest happily. Besides she showed the other soldiers that it wasn´t smart to go against her.
Rath, who was really embarassed by the whole display, took his sticks and tried to do like nothing happened. Mael who watched in bewilderment how Marianna put both men in their place with little to no effort on her part was really proud of her. Now he knew that he and the other parents made the right decision.
" So now that the show is over I think we can pick up where we left off", but he had to change something first. Slowly he went to Marianna. " I think you should swap your partner. It would be better if you would train with Rath".
" I don´t think it´s a good idea", she had embarassed him infront of all the soldiers just now. It could get really ugly with him.
" I don´t care. You need a equal opponent and Rath is one of the best", and if she had someone who could ward off her blows Mael was sure that she could be as good as Rath if not better.
Marianna was really moved. Althrough Mael didn´t say it out loud he told her without words that she was good. And how could she refuse something like that. Without another word she went to Rath, who was not amused about the switch. But he didn´t utter a word, because his father glared at him. Therefore he started immediately with the training. Marianna was thankful that he didn´t say anything. So they both could concentrate on the task at hand. Over a hour they both attacked each other. Marianna performed a perfect blow which Rath dodged instantly. And so it went the whole time. Nobody wanted to be the loser in this fight. Mael couldn´t take his eyes off of them both. It was like they knew the punches from each other. Their bodies moved in perfect tandem. Like they did that a long time already. That was the reason why he wanted to train the younger generation of soldiers. Mael decided to speak with both after the exercise. Which was, now that he saw on his timer, right now.
" Ok everybody. We´re finished. See you all tomorrow", he waited till everybody went outside. Thank god Rath and Marianna were the last in the room. " I have to talk to you both. So if you have nothing better to do tomorrow, we´re meeting after lunch at the training ground", Mael waited till he received nods from both and then he disspeared through the door.
" What do you think he wants to tell us?", Marianna didn´t have a good feeling about that. Hopefully it was no lecture. She didn´t think that she did something wrong.
" I don´t know. But if he was angry with us he wouldn´t wait until tomorrow to yell at us", Rath hoped that at least. Maybe it was because their were to late today or the little stunt they were doing before.
" I hope so", Marianna wanted to believe it. But Rath seemed not so sure himself.
" How are your nose? Does it still hurt?", Rath stared at Mariannas face. It seemed not so bad anymore. The swelling was gone, but it was still red.
" Not if I move it", Marianna smiled at Rath. He was worried. That was so sweet of him. " Tomorrow it looks as new. At least I hope so".
" If not you can punch my nose and then we look the same", Rath laughed at that thought. He could picture them with their red big noses wandering through the castle.
" That´s really sweet", Marianna caressed his left cheek. Then she moved past Rath without looking back. She was starved and dinner was almost ready. But before she went through the door she stopped" But don´t tempt me, I might take your offer. I´m still pissed at you for punching Larek".
" And that´s something new?", Rath couldn´t help himself he put on his famous smirk. Too bad Marianna couldn´t see it now.
" No. So stop smirking. It´s not as sexy as you think", with that Marianna made her way to the dining room. Her stomach growled already.
Rath couldn´t believe it. Either she had supernatural powers or she knew him too good now. How did she know what he did without looking. He had do ask her that sometime. Now he was starving and the great smell of food attracted him to the direction of the dining room.
After dinner in the room of Marianna
Marianna sat eager on her little bed and Vilandra was opposite her. Like they both promised they meet after dinner in Mariannas room. They had so much to tell.
" So. Now I want to know everything from this mystical Davico" Marianna was on the brink to burst with excitement. She never had a girlfriend and she enjoyed these moments.
Vilandra´s complete face broke out in a smile. She couldn´t hold it in any longer." I meet him down by the boiling spring. He said that he got lost, because he just moved here".
" I don´t care what he said. I want to know how he looked like", the appearance was far more important than his ability to talk.
" Oh he has short black hair and really beautiful black eyes. He is a bit taller than me. His hands are big and soft. His voice is deep with a touch of power. And he is a great kisser", Vilandra was deep in her memories. He was the father of her future children. She knew it deep down inside.
" You kissed him!", Marianna was surprised. At least she knew Rath a bit longer before it came to a kiss. " You don´t even know him that long".
Vilandra either didn´t notice Mariannas little outburst or she didn´t care, because she continued like Marianna hadn´t said something. " Doesn´t matter. Sometimes you see someone and you know immediately that he´s the right one".
" I don´t want to burst your bubble, but don´t you think it´s a little too fast", Marianna hated to burst the good mood Vilandra was in.
" No. I know in my heart that he´s the man I will marry someday", Vilandra wouldn´t let something get between her and Davico. Even if that something was her family.
" Ok", if Marianna didn´t know better, she would think Vilandra was brainwashed. But as long as Vilandra was happy, who was she to destroy it. " If you think so".
" I know so", Vilandra couldn´t get rid of her smile. Then she remembered about the rumour she heared. " Enough of me. I want to hear about the incident today at the exercise".
" I don´t know what you´re talking about. Tell me more about your feelings", Marianna knew that she tried to stall the talk about Rath. Maybe Vilandra would fall for it.
" Don´t try to avoid it. I heared from Zan about the fight between Larek and Rath", Vilandra wouldn´t fall for the oldest trick. She grew up with Rath and she knew when someone tried to avoid a subject.
" It was nothing. Really. Larek hit me with a stick. My nose began to bleed. Rath and Larek fought with each other. That was all", and Vilandra wouldn´t get more out of her. She didn´t see anything unusual in it.
" That´s nothing to you!", Vilandra couldn´t believe it. Why didn´t Marianna see that Rath felt so much for her that he even punched his friend. He was usually not for violence. He was all speak but no action. " I think your underestimating the situation here".
" I don´t think so. Why should I make more of it if it isn´t so", ok Marianna knew why Larek and Rath fought and she knew also that she should be glad. But she didn´t want to destroy a friendship. Not like that.
" Because Rath punched Larek not because he hurt some one, he hurt you. And if you didn´t notice, he has really strong feelings for you", Vilandra wanted to take something heavy and whack Marianna with it until she finally realised what everybody knew already.
" Can we please not talk about it anymore", Marianna was slightly uncomfortable with the topic. Of course she knew that Rath was attracted to her. But she was not sure if Rath felt that because he wanted out of the engagement or because he saved her life.
" Why do you fight against your feelings? I know you feel something for Rath, too".
Marianna knew that Vilandra wouldn´t budge from the subject. Maybe she could try it with the twisted truth." Because he´s engaged and althrough you have no romantically feelings for each other you have a commitment towards your parents and your kingdom. I don´t want to be responsible for breaking that".
" That´s bshit and you know it. Now tell me the real reason", Marianna wouldn´t get away without telling her the truth. She knew there was more to.
" I don´t know what you want me to say. I just told you the reason", if Vilandra wanted to be stubborn so could she. She wouldn´t get something out of her today. Maybe never.
Vilandra seemed to think about it. " Ok. I give up. For now at least. But don´t think I won´t get it out of you sometime".
" Thank you. Now tell me what I should expect at the meeting with the commander?".
Vilandra said nothing, but broke out in laughter. Rath and Marianna were in so much trouble.