Chapter 6
Life Stories
"You lost the bet, so what's the deal with your name master?" June asked, smiling.
Why couldn't he just end the stupid story? It'd save me a lot of trouble. Carter thought, picking up his longbow.
"Fine, but let's go back to the cabin, I want some coffee!" Carter sighed, walking back to the house.
"That's the wrong direction." June said, putting her hands on her hips.
"Just checking to see if you remember the correct way home June, don't want you wandering around like a lost puppy." Carter said, smiling mischievously.
They returned to the house, Will immediately setting up a pot of coffee, and serving Carter and himself a cup as soon as it was done. June hated the drink, it was way to bitter for her tastes.
"Now then, let's begin." Will said, sipping his coffee, pausing then putting a glob of honey in it.
"Fine, My name is Carter, I have no last name and was born an orphan in a distance country. I was then shipped to Skandia and did slave work of four years before escaping. That's when I found out that my father, was actually the world's biggest criminal, and any leads, suspects and connections to him, were being rapidly captured and tortured for information, or killed on the spot by his own thugs. I learned to fight with any weapon from seven different masters in eight different countries. Five of them are confined death, the other has disappeared from the face of the earth, and Will, he is my last master, and probably my favorite. You see, June, I have a very dark past, and have to live with maybe waking up into a nightmare realm. My first master, was the only one that I know without a doubt in my mind, is dead. I woke up, six years old, to find him stabbed through the chest with seven spears, pinned to the wall. His blood had soaked my bed and covered that wall." Carter said, his eyes dark in remembrance.
"…" June said nothing as he continued.
"My father has killed one hundred and thirty three people, many of which did nothing except for bump into him in the market. Nobody sees him; nobody knows his name or face. He's like a Ranger, except twice a silent and three times as deadly." Carter finished, setting down his now empty coffee cup.
Will filled it up and walked out while Carter explained more.
"Life has always been hard for me, and it's still hard for you. I have gone from Skandia to the Temauji looking for any place that would shelter me. I am wanted in seven countries because of my luck. For each place I hid, seven nobles in their courts died the night I came and seven more the night I left. No matter how many guards they have, no matter how many sentries. They all died, and moreover, the only people that died, was their target. I have to deal with fearing that one day I might wake up to find you plastered to the wall with weapons and blood filling this cabin. I could walk into that castle and find every display sword impaled in a guards body, you do realize the risks of even staying in the same fief!" Carter said.
"Yeah, I do, and I expect you to take responsibility for your every action. So, if everyone in this place dies, I expect you to kill every single one of you father's thugs and then some. Cause if I wake up one night and see Smile plastered to a wall with a spear shoved down his throat, Im gonna take that spear and shove it down your throat and then some." June said.
Feisty much? Carter thought, sipping his drink.
"Guess you got somebody that will finally put up with your rants and give you back some." Will said, dropping down from the rafters.
"Shut up!" Carter complained, throwing his hands up in annoyance.
"Can I have the rest of the day off?" June asked, already heading for the door.
"But I haven't even told… she slams the door in my face." Carter sighed as the door shifted on its hinges.
June walked briskly up into the castle and headed towards the Battleschool training area.She noticed a very important looking person standing talking to Brent and walked over. The person smiled, and waved, before jogging over.
"Hullo! I'm Horace, how can I help you madam?" Horace asked.
"Um…hello, I'm June, I was looking for Simila, and he's a Wardmate of mine." June said, surprised at the man's nice attitude.
"Yes, currently he is practicing in this group; as soon as they're done you may see him. Just please don't get in the way of his studies June." Horace said, smiling pleasantly.
"Do you know the Ranger Will Treaty?" June asked out of the blue.
"Yes, we went on several missions together and were actually close friends, still are when we have the time." Horace said, "Why do you ask?"
"He's my master's master. We'll Will is more of my assistant trainer since the other lazy guy does most of the stuff surprisingly." June sighed.
"Oh, you're the new sensation? The newest big Ranger? Wow, really wasn't excepting that, I meant I don't see why it's really that much of a problem, girls can sometimes do more things effectively than guys can. Princess Cassandra actually participated in the Skandian War with me and Will, and then she help in the Burning Bridge. (Now HUGE event). Then there's that other women that snuck into thee archer division and fought in the last war. Too bad she died, she would have been an awesome person to meet." Horace mused out loud.
"Hold on a minute, are you THE Horace, Princess Cassandra's Champion and slash or fiancée?" June asked.
'Actually we're married but yes." Horace said, smiling.
"Cool, are you hungry?" June asked as Horace's stomach rumbled.
"No…..maybe…yes." Horace said sheepishly.
"Then let's go! It's almost noon anyway!" June said.
"But I have to finish the drills!" Horace complained, drooping his head.
"Then I'll bring you something back." June said.
The drills quickly finished up as Horace was eager to eat, and June disappeared, going to a small sandwich shop she knew. When she got back, Simila and Horace where talking while sitting on on of the benches surrounding the training area. She walked up and sat down in between them, interrupting their conversation.
"Hey June." Simila said, smiling.
"What'd ya get?" Horace asked.
"Roast beef and cheese, one of each of you and one for me." June said, handing the knight and Simila their sandwiches.
A minute later Horace asked," Hey, June, are you gonna finish that?" As she took a bite of her sandwich.
"No, I'm gonna watch it fly off into the sunset with butterfly wings." She said sarcastically.
"Hehe, that's June for ya, nice one second and sarcastic and cold the next." Simila said.
"Says who Smiley?" June said, casting Simila a glare.
"Point in case." He said, sighing.
"So…how's training Sim?" June asked.
"A marathon, hiking, sword practice, obstacle courses, running, can't be any worse than living with you." Simila smiled.
"Says the guy who never cleaned his room of laundry OR food remains. I swear your room has enough stench to kill a Skandian." June said.
"And you're any better?" Simila accused.
"Better than you Smiley." June said.
"Hi Will!" Horace said, waving.
"Hey Horace, how's it going?" Will asked casually.
"Good and you?" Horace smiled.
"Could be better, I think I have more paperwork than King Duncan himself!" Will chuckled, tugging June's arm.
"I thought you were sharing it with somebody?" Horace said, raising an eyebrow.
"That's the bad part, I am!" Will said, doing something in between a chuckle and a groan.
"He wants you back, he didn't finish his story June. That and he says you missed a spot of dust underneath the chairs." Will said, pulling the protesting June along to the cabin.
"Yeah what do you want now?" June asked, kicking the door open.
"I didn't finish my story June." Carter said, sipping his coffee.
"What's not to tell?" June asked impatiently.
"He's coming here. With all his armies. He's coming to kill me." Carter said grimly.