TW: Violence, swearing

"Raise your arm. Good. Now angle your wrist slightly so you twist the blade. Slide your left heel back a little. No, too much. Move it forward half the distance you moved it back." I walked in a circle around Ivrette, observing her fighting stance.

    We were in the woods behind the Blackwoode manor, the changing flora illuminating the atmosphere behind us. Green was shifting into reds and yellows, the ground coated with leaves that would soon be buried by snow. I wanted to train outside while we could, but today's weather was pleasant. An autumnal chill was in the air, but it wasn't cold.

    I nodded my approval, carefully studying her as I would study my targets. In a swift movement, I had drawn my blade and pounced toward Ivrette, stopping my thrust before the blade entered her chest, the point resting below her chin.

    "Sloppy, Ivrette. You need to be prepared at all moments."

    "Hey, I thought you were still analyzing me. I wasn't ready."

    "Do you think you have time to be ready in battle?"

    I stared at her, unable to hide a smirk as I saw her glower. She knew she had been beaten.

    Yet, her next move mildly surprised me. Ivrette stepped away from my blade, raising a leg to kick it away. Sensing she would do this, I moved the sharp edge, letting the sword embed into the floor. Her leg met empty air, as she uncertainty lowered it.

    "I'm always prepared, darling. Sharp thinking, though."

    "Someday I'll best you in battle."

    "It's sweet to stay optimistic. I'm certain you can become a great warrior though."

_

    "The council is beginning to worry. Captain Green was sent to patrol the border and he's been gone for a week. You know how situations can escalate, especially when Ravennisee's involved."

    George and I had met at a pub, for it was a haven to relax, and if we kept our voices low, our conversation would be lost in the atmosphere. He ensured that I was kept to date with the conflict in Oriad, and the disappearance of Captain Green was certainly troublesome.

    "How long until they'll send out a search party?"

    "They're saying if he's gone a month."

    I sighed in disapproval. "If I was there to command them-"

    "I know what you would do, Graeme, and I agree. The trail could be long gone by then, but alas, they won't listen to me, and you have no power in Oriad at the moment."

    "Correct me if I'm wrong, but Green has served in the army for nearly twenty-five years now, correct?" George nodded. "He's one of Oriad's loyalist soldiers and is always effective at doing what he's told. He's quite a skilled individual and a valuable asset to our army. He also has a wife and... five children?"

    "Five, but a sixth is coming."

    "This is a great man, and even if we don't do it for the army, we need to do something to find him, for his family."

    "Well, what do you suggest? Unlike you, I still have to work with the army to maintain my job."

    "You keep providing information for now. I'll look into it. I have more than enough time."

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    "Graeme, you're not going to believe this."

    "Enlighten me. I need it." The day had been dull, and I hadn't found any information on Captain Green's disappearance.

    "We know what happened to him, Captain Green." I raised an eyebrow, intrigued, yet bitter that I hadn't gotten to the solution first, "Unfortunately, erm- he's dead, killed by Ravennissee soldiers. His body was returned to his family, but at least we have closure."

    "Truly unfortunate. But who found the body? I thought the council said a search party wouldn't be sent."

    "Ah, I've forgotten the best part. It was Dell. He can sometimes be reckless, disobeying orders, but his endeavor was successful; for him, not Green's family. He snuck out of training and seemed to have the same apprehension as us. Even though the council initially stated that no one was to look for him yet, they're pleased with his success. Rumors of a promotion have been surfacing. He's taking after you a little too well, Graeme."

    The bitterness was replaced by pride. "I suppose he has." Dell had come far from the measly fifteen-year-old that I had first been acquainted with. He worked hard, and I knew he never would have disobeyed orders, even if it was for the greater good, years before. "If you see him, tell him I send my approval."

    "I'm honored to hear it, Sir Blackwoode," I heard from behind me.

    Turning, I saw Dell sheepishly standing near the entrance to the pub. It seemed as if he was looking for us.

    "Ah, Dell, come, come, join us," George stated, motioning at the empty chair beside him.

    Dell accepted his offer. I was vaguely reminded of the night I had first met Ivrette, how the three of us were sitting in the same positions in this pub. I was mildly surprised to hear Dell mentioning her.

    "George, you have a sister, Ivrette, correct?"

    "Yes. What interest do you have in her?" George spoke sharply. It was evident he was protective of her.

    "Seeing how Graeme has been training her, I've come to ask for your permission to do so instead. I believe I'm in a better condition to do so, and it would benefit her to be around someone not as... dark as Graeme."

    Multiple things happened at once.

    "How do you know that?" I sharply demanded.

    "Graeme's training Ivrette?" George asked, still attempting to understand the situation.

    "Gossip spreads quickly through the castle. I'm surprised you don't know about it, George."

    "Dell, I assure you; I'm in perfectly good health, my injury is a minor setback. I've faced much worse. And, Ivrette came to me, she asked me to train her, not anyone else. I doubt that you would have more experience than me, the General. My job is to train the army, where most of the men are far less competent than her." I tried to keep my temper at bay, for I respected Dell, but this behavior was unusual.

    "Graeme, why didn't you tell me about this?"

    "But you aren't the General at the moment, Hell, you aren't even in the army."

    "Dell, let's settle this outside, shall we?" I abruptly stood up, and my glower likely told Dell all he needed.

    "We shall." Dell's tone surprised me, for he sounded confident, without an ounce of fear.

    "Wait, but don't you two think we can settle this in a civil-" George's words went unheard as we charged outside.

    I led him behind the tavern, near the stables. "Dell, I respect you, but where has this entitlement come from?"
    "I think you're mistaken, Graeme. It's in my code of honor to provide for all, and it would be best for the lady if I helped her with this."

    "As stated before, she came to me for help, not you. Even though you are to help all, help others, not her, especially when I doubt, she'd want your help."

    "I'm sure she'd appreciate anyone attempting to help her in this situation, and I believe that I'm in a better condition to do so, as previously stated. Graeme, you need time to recover after your... accident. Consider this a favor."

    I blame the alcohol for what happened next.

    Throughout our conversation, my right hand had curled itself into a fist. That last snobby remark from Dell was enough to push me over the edge. I felt myself heaving into the punch, throwing my arm into it to have a devastating impact. I saw Dell's face rebound, smashing into the tavern wall.

    "The only reason I'm not serving as General is because the council is blind," I snarled into Dell's face. I ignored the twinge in my shoulder. I thought that would be enough to intimidate him to run off, for even though he had made a mistake, I still respected the man.

    I wasn't expecting him to fight back. Because I was so close to his face, I didn't see his fist coming, and by the time I sensed it, it was too late. I felt the connection to my left cheek, how his knuckles slammed into my back teeth.

    Stepping back, I stared at him in disbelief. Feeling something swirling in my mouth, I prod at it with my tongue. That little bitch chipped my tooth.

    Spitting a combination of blood and saliva, I wiped my lip with the back of my hand, my glower deepening as I saw how my blood glistened on my gloves. "I'll give you a chance to back down now. You'll regret it if you don't."

    "I thought you taught me to never back down from a fight."

    "I also thought I taught you about common sense. If you try to fight me, it will show that you have none."
    "Let's put that to the test, Blackwoode."

    The two of us stood for a moment, neither moving. I didn't want to initiate an attack, Hell, I barely wanted to attack Dell in the first place, but he had dug himself into this hole. Eventually, he got tired of waiting and advanced. I could see how his emotions were taking charge of his actions, and instead of thinking about his attack, he swung at me, his fist exposed.

    I easily sidestepped his attack, and as he was defenseless now, I attacked, punching him fast and hard in the neck. He recoiled yet again, and as before, blindly launched another attack at me. He kicked in the direction he assumed my body was, but instead just weakly grazed my wrist. I returned the kick, this time on his side, knocking him to his knees.

    One more hit. That'll teach him a lesson.

    Dell seemed to realize his mistake, and instead of fighting back, now was attempting to protect vital parts to minimize damage. Seeing my opportunity, I brought my heel down upon his foot, awkwardly sticking out from the rest of his body, and heard a crunch. This time, instead of absorbing the blow with only his body, the attack seemed to finally get to Dell as he howled in pain.

    "That'll teach you to not mess with me again," I spoke, marching back to my manor.

I had had enough excitement for the night.

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    A pounding headache and an official-looking letter on my doorstep were waiting for me as I awoke. Ingredients for disaster. Spotting a half-eaten loaf on the table, I chewed on a chunk of it while reading the letter.

    Sir Blackwoode,

    We have been alerted about the foul actions you have committed. The Council requests to meet with you to determine the outcome of your situation. Show this letter to the guards at the gate and they shall let you into the castle and guide you to the courtroom. Be there at the chime of the eleven o'clock bells or the severity of your punishment shall be worsened.

    Oriad's Mighty Councilman

    What's the time? I wondered, trying to glance through the dust-coated windows for a sign from the Sun.

    It appeared that was unnecessary for as my thought finished, I heard the bells ringing outside. My body jolted in shock for a moment, but counting the chimes, I was relieved as they ended at ten.

    I rarely sleep this late. Fucking hangover, I thought while throwing on clothes and hiding a dagger in my boot, as always when going to places where carrying a sword would be in a bad manner.

    The Blackwoode manor was just outside the outskirts of Aeskrow, Oriad's capital, and it could take up to a half hour to ride into the city, especially with midday traffic. Carriages, villagers going about their daily business, the bustling marketplace. While it made for a nice scene, it was quite a headache to go through.

    My manor was unkempt, the only traces that someone living it were the attempted cleaning in the rooms I used, my bedroom, and the parlor. It disheartening to see the imprints my boots made in the dust in certain parts of the house, but for a place that I spent so little time in, I didn't feel the need to clean.

    I hustled to the stables and bursting through the door, I saw Delta awake. She looked at me with eyes that seemed to communicate the desire for breakfast.

    "Sorry girl," I muttered to her while stroking her mane, "I've got somewhere to be today."

    Delta huffed in disapproval as if she understood my words. Seeing how intelligent she was, I wouldn't be surprised if she had connected certain words to actions. Nonetheless, she allowed me to saddle her, and we set off toward the city.

    The Blackwoode manor was on a hill, mostly surrounded by forest. Peering from the third-story windows, not that I had been to the third story for years, you could see the castle's tallest towers are turrets. The manor itself was a beautiful building with arching wooden pillars on the outside and designs that must have taken hundreds of hours carved into them. A cobbled path, now overgrown, led to the front deck, shaded by an overhang. A spacious riding green and stables were behind the house and all accommodations were inside. It was more than I needed, but I couldn't bring myself to sell the home. Even if it was tainted with bad memories, it had been in my family for generations, and there were always good memories outlining the bad.

    The manor was secluded from the bustling capital city and the smaller town that surrounded it. A short, woodland path led to it, one that Delta and I had traversed hundreds of times before. She knew the way to the castle as well as I did, and it took little guidance to lead her there.

    Soon, the forest gave way to Felden, the town surrounding Northwestern Aeskrow. Felden and Relden were twin towns, Felden in the Northwest while Relden was in the Southeast. The towns were suppliers of Aeskrow, and where most of the castle's staff lived, as the capital was only for the elite. Fields stretched for miles to my left as livestock grazed on the meadows to my right. In Relden, smog filled the air from the blacksmiths and other industries. I preferred getting my accessories from Relden, as shops in Aeskrow were grossly expensive for a decent product.

The townsfolk were hustling, hurriedly clearing from the road as I rode past. Children stopped their games to stare, but I had no time to pay them any attention. Aeskrow was a walled city, and even from this point, barely entering Felden, I saw many guards mingling among the common folk.

I was riding hurriedly, the world around me passing in a blur. The great stone walls of Aeskrow loomed ahead, the wall towering higher, the details on the bricks becoming clearer as I neared. There were four entrances into the city, one for each cardinal direction and all the main roads led to them. The reason I was rushing was because security was tough. Even though there were numerous guards on duty per entrance, each person attempting to enter the capital had to undergo a rigorous safety check, the security of the castle only increased with the King's kidnapping.

If the lines aren't too long, I'll be a memorable citizen and wait. If not, I doubt the guards would both resist if I twisted the rules a bit. Being the General, whether I'm actively serving or not, holds much weight.

I let out a disappointed sigh before even entering North Way, the Northern Road leading into the castle. I was on a side street, but I could already see the built-up traffic from the point on which I was standing. Glancing at the Sun for a clue, I judged it to be around ten–thirty. If the line was backed up here, it would take hours to wait through.

"Stay here girl," I muttered to Delta while disembarking.

Ensuring that I had the letter the Council had sent me, I rushed through the cobbled streets, ignoring the sideways glances I got from some. Curses were flung at me as I shoved through small markets, spilling products, and pedestrians. Eventually, I arrived close enough to the gate to slow down for a moment to recollect myself. Squinting my eyes, I attempted to identify at least one of the guards on duty, but it was fruitless with the visors that concealed their faces.

Strolling to the nearest one, I cleared my throat behind him loudly, watching as he spun to face me, evidently surprised. "Look, I have somewhere I need to be, so I would advise you to let me into the castle now and make things easiest for you."

"I'm sorry sir, I cannot-" the guard trailed off as he finally glanced up, comprehending who was standing in front of him. I was standing with my arms crossed, a scowl etched onto my face, yet dressed in common clothes which was something not much of the Guard had seen.

"Gen- Sir. Blackwoode. I wasn't expecting to see you here today."

"Yeah, I understand nobody was. You know who I am, and I believe you know that I have something important to attend to so I would recommend you let me into the castle."

"I must follow regulations, and you must wait to be checked into the castle."

I was quickly losing patience. "I can richly reward you if you decide to comply. The council is misguided. First, they put me on leave, and now they're calling me in for business. If you know what's best for you and your career, I suggest you check me in at this moment. If not, I'll ensure that I remember who you are. Now, here's the letter I was sent. Will you let me in or not?" I snarled.

I was almost certain that if I had removed the guard's visor, his face would be white from fear. "Y-yes, of course, sir. Right this way."

    My scowl turned into a smirk knowing that I still could assert dominance over some.

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    The banter between The Council and myself was tiring. I was truly beginning to regret the alcohol I had consumed the night before as a piercing headache was beginning to form.

    "As Lieutenant Dell has stated, he was enjoying a night at the pub when you suddenly approached him and nearly dragged him outside," That's a lie, "Then, you proceeded to beat him for no apparent reason, giving multiple injuries to the man." There, he only missed a few details.

    The Councilman who had been speaking continued. "As you tell it, he had come in looking for trouble, and you had asked him to meet you outside to settle the matter without the presence of others. Yet, he had provoked you, attacking first, and you were only defending yourself. Yet, we feel that we cannot get anywhere without knowing what he said to make you act this rashly." So much for not taking sides.

    I wanted to leave the courtroom, preferably not being escorted to the dungeons. My mouth acted before my mind could fully lay out all the details. "If you must know, he was coveting about one of the handmaids, Ivrette, George's brother. He couldn't stop going on about her, which is often severely looked down upon, especially if she's courting somebody else."

    "And who would this be?"

"Me."

QOTC: How do you think others will react to Graeme's news?