They told me to lie.
For the sake of my honor. For the people who they tell me I'll rule.
They told me to train.
Everyday I work my body, my mind, and my soul far beyond my peers.
Despite being born a girl, I hold my own well enough. I even managed to wrestle down that bull, who was charging at Merlin… who wasn't paying attention… and trying to court another traveling widower.
Moving on, it's amazing how much book work goes into being a knight like my brother. At least, that's what Sir Ector says. Personally, I think Sir Ector just wants to get me to read with him. He does love his ledgers and books.
Today marks my 10th summer, and it is a hot summer. Even Kay, who never complains of the weather, mentioned it when we were training. The most odd part, is that the heat comes with the breeze. Not like a warm breeze in summer, but like a fire flickering in the air all around you. Sir Ector and Merlin even said that this summer will be "abnormally hot."
The heat aside, the horses still need tending to. More care than usual considering the humidity. That said June seems like he'll be able to hold through like he always has. That old horse just refuses to ever give in to a loss. Whether it's a race or eating the most scraps, he always competes with the others. He's a rowdy one, and my favorite one.
Not that a king should choose favorites, but I'm no king yet. For now, and maybe this last summer of June's, I will enjoy the company.
In the meanwhile, all the horses need a bath, since they all just came back from their mud races outside the pasture. Kay said I could race with June next year if June makes it.
June though, is twelve. The oldest horse who still thinks he's in his prime for maybe all of Britain.
Before the bath though, June seemed energetic. Just a ride should be fine, and I'll still have time for training since I'll be alone today. Kay will surely need rest rather than more exercise.
June will make it just fine for next summer.
The breeze hit me with the odd summer heat, and no doubt June as well. June though, the rowdy horse he is, simply kept running with joy. This moment, where June runs his best and makes the biggest smile a horse can make, is when I feel most refreshed. Riding with June always feels like this.
After our ride, I washed June down and gave him a good scrub. Rowdy as always, he swished around like a proud kid. Which meant more scrubs for him. The nerve!
After June's bath and eventual calming down, I was ready for training.
The sun set against the rolling hills, and I swung my sword with vigor. If I didn't swing my sword at least once a day, my mind would wander, and I could forget my purpose. I couldn't afford to ever falter in my training if I was to become a king that could save this falling nation.
I practiced with a heavy wooden log that had a handle cut out of the end. I wasn't allowed to use any magic to enhance myself for this training, as it was training meant purely for the body. I imagined my target in front of me, a fake sword fight playing through my practice.
The imaginary barbarian swung his axe downward and across toward my neck. It would be unwise to parry from a weapon that could hook around my blade and strike through a block. Thus my head ducked towards the axe, and close enough to cut the long ends of stray hair. Under the axe, and my blade across his belly, as that's my head height.
The imaginary barbarian to my right seized this opportunity, and stabbed towards my chest. With about the same speed as him, I can parry the stab with a free gloved hand, and slash his arm by the elbow.
I flared magic and enhanced my body for a moment to seize the next one, and paused just before I slashed. It was Kay.
"Kay? I thought you'd be sleeping." I lowered my log-sword, and panted like a dog.
He was wearing his usual shirt and pants for when he wasn't attending to his knightly duties. A brown shirt cuffed up the arms, with worn, light brown pants, and his favorite running boots.
I backed a step and focused on my breathing. Trying to hold control over my hungry lungs.
He crossed his arms.
"I thought you weren't supposed to flare magic enhancement during this drill."
"I-" and I stumbled on my words. Curses Kay. I looked away so that I wouldn't see his eyes.
"I was really focused."
"You know kiddo, it's a good thing you stopped your swing…" I looked back up to see that he didn't look mad. He looked like another emotion. I couldn't tell which one.
"Because that would've knocked me pretty good." I think he's praising me?
"Thanks Kay." My breathing was mostly calmed by now, and we stood as the sun finished setting into the hills.
"Merlin has been making me train extra hard in my magic these last few nights," I told him. "He must be worried about something." He didn't respond. I looked up at him to see him staring at the final flickers in the distance. "That's not for you to worry yourself over just yet," and Kay ruffled my hair. I never let myself stop him when he did that, and I couldn't really bring myself to object when he was mid-ruffle.
We enjoyed the dusk cooling down the air, the wind of the summer slowing to a humid breeze. It was at that moment, when the ash fell from the sky. We were confused at first, and thought it was something else.
Then we smelled the scent of smoke, with a faint yet pungent odor. Of meat being cooked.
Author Note
This is unedited. The last chapter has gone through a couple rewrites and lots of editing, so I decided to leave this one raw until I can come back to it. So for now here is your Artoria POV
