I truly hate living at times.

Even after I was released from the infirmity, I was forbidden from fighting. No matter how much I wanted to ignore these orders, the weakness in my shoulder prevented me from doing so anyway. I couldn't properly swing a blade, the strength in my arm felt like it decreased, and every time I put too much exertion on it, it felt like it was breaking again. There was nothing for me to do except attend war meetings or spend hours uselessly reading or attempting to draw new war maps.

Now, here I was again, at an ungodly hour deep into the night, trying not to fall asleep at yet another mind-numbing war meeting. The only mildly entertaining factor was the ongoing argument between advisors, but I wasn't sure what they were arguing about.

"I told you it would be best to retrieve the King."

"I doubted Ravennisse would ever agree to those terms, and the bargain we stuck was successful."

"We need the King to command the kingdom."

"It's practically us advisors running the kingdom, even when the King is present. It was a much better choice to retrieve General Blackwoode and his companions."

My head snapped as I heard my name. Now that the conversation was turning to me, I was intrigued.

"A General for a General, or a General for a King, which do you think is the better option?"

I felt awake now as I butted in. "What do you mean a General for a General instead of a General for a King?" I coldly spoke, dreading the answer I may receive.

The advisors were undoubtedly talking about the Ravennise General, as we were on good terms with all other countries. They were conversing about a bargain, and I felt like they were speaking of a trade between us and their General to retrieve Dell, Ivrette, and myself from the dungeons.

"We traded Ravennisse, their General, back to retrieve you and your companions from the dungeons." The advisor spoke nonchalantly, and antipathy filled my body.

"To summarize, we had Ravennisse's General captured, yet you traded him back for me?" I spoke slowly, ensuring that I articulated each word while staring at the advisor dead in the eye.

"Why, of course. It was a marvelous deal in my opinion." He spoke jubilantly, completely oblivious to my tone.

I stood from my seat and slowly walked toward him, speaking with each step I took. "The same General, the one as strategic as myself, having combat skills that could even overpower me?" That was an over-exaggeration, of course. Nobody's fighting could match mine, but I needed to make the advisors feel regretful. "The same man that nearly singlehandedly guarantees Ravennisse's success? The one, that if deprived of Ravennisse, would lead to the fall of their kingdom?" I was standing beside the advisor, towering over his seated form as he cowered from my presence.

"Y-yes, General," he stuttered.

It was pathetic how some acted when faced with slight oppression.

"Then why would you release him?" I hissed, leaning close to the advisor's face.

"B-because we need you, sir, to support Oriad."

"Ravennisee cannot survive without their General. Even if I was gone, multiple capable men in Oriad's army could support it. We could have easily won this war without me."

"I-I fear you underestimate your skill, General, for I do not believe we would succeed without you."

The advisor picked his words wisely, but I made one last remark before returning to my seat.

"Well, no one knows me better than myself. I argue that you should have left me in the jail cell." I heard the advisors whispering behind me but paid them no attention as I sat down.

"General Blackwoode," a different advisor began, "seeing your desire to be left in the jail cell and your inability to train the army, we have offered you paid leave until you can assist Oriad. Either this or we can discharge you."

I coldly laughed before speaking, "Discharge me? Oriad will be demolished within the month."

"You stated it yourself. There are plenty of capable men in the army. Captain Hart, you are now General Hart. Please be dismissed, Blackwoode. We'll notify you when your presence is wanted again."

"Don't come begging at my doorstep for my help when Oriad begins to crumble," I growled before standing up and exiting the war room, ensuring that the doors slammed behind me.

I wouldn't have noticed her if she hadn't spoken. I was fiercely working my way down the hall, my only intent to go to the stables to retrieve Delta and then go take my anger out when I arrived home.

"Laid off, eh? Shameful, Blackwoode."

I spun around angrily, intending to destroy whoever had spoken to me like that, yet my eyes didn't settle on anything. That was until Ivrette revealed herself from her hiding spot behind a bunched curtain. She had her arms crossed over her chest, a critical look on her face.

The face of a loving, yet disappointed mother.

"You should be thanking me. Without me, you would still be stuck in that Ravennisse jail cell. And, haven't you learned from past errors? Don't you know better than to listen in on the war meetings, which are hidden from the public for a reason?" I spat my thoughts the moment they surfaced, anger taking control of my rationale.

Ivrette seemed unbothered. "You know, George used to be short, as a small child. I can barely remember it, but it was a running joke in our family that he had gone to seek a wizard's help to grow so tall and bulky."

"What?"

"Great, now you're not as angry. I want to ask you something, c'mon, walk with me."

"What makes you think I want to do that?" I tried to make my voice cold, but Ivrette was beginning to break my façade.

"You likely don't have any plans, seeing you've been relieved from your General duties," I grumbled in response. "Aw, can't you lighten up some? Aren't you glad to have this stress taken away from you?"

"Being the General is the only life I know."

"Marvelous, then I think you'll like my proposition."

"And what would that be? I'm not willing to start a new life. I rather enjoyed being the General."

"Train me."

    "Pardon me?" I never gave private lessons, and no matter how determined Ivrette was, she was a woman. What could she do with combat skills, forbidden from joining the army, with her brother and a likely suitor to protect her?

"You heard me. Train me. You don't have anything better to do, and you still have an opportunity to do what you enjoy, for part of being the General is to train the army, yes? I've always wanted to fight, to be a war hero seeing everything my brothers accomplished. Yet, I never had the opportunity because I'm a woman." It was evident to me that Ivrette had put much thought into her argument.

"No. You're a woman. You cannot join the army, and you have your brother, a future husband to protect you. A woman warrior is unheard of and you would be ignored in society."

Ivrette stopped to stare at me, her smug expression faltering. Instead of wearing a pompous expression, her face twisted into disgust, but underneath that, disappointment. "I thought you were different, Blackwoode. Do you think I care about being ignored in society? I'm already an outcast among the other women." Her voice had lost all her previous animation, instead growing as cold as mine had been a moment before.

Ivrette spun on her heel, turning away from me, her blonde braid flailing behind her. She stepped forward, away from me. My mind raced.

Ivrette has a lot of potential, that's for sure. You've seen how far she's gone to train herself, and from what you've seen so far, she's incredibly determined. She doesn't care what others think of her, and she shows a strong desire to be trained. You know she would stop at no cost to learn if you were to train her, and she strikes a fair point. You still do something you enjoy, and you have nothing better to do.

She took another step away from me.

Yet, women warriors are a thing of myth. They don't exist for a reason. What if the physical exertion was too much and she quit? What if she's dreadful with a blade? And, why does she want to fight? Women don't fight because there's no reason for them to.

"Ivrette, wait. I'll do it."

She spun around again, and her smile ignited something in me—a brief, flickering glowing feeling of compassion in my abdomen. You're proud of your decision and her determination, that's all.

"I knew you'd come around, Blackwoode."

QOTC: What's more surprising, the fact that Graeme left the meeting peacefully, or how some new emotions may (heavy emphasis on the may) be developing within him?