The training field was a short walk outside the inner keep walls on the opposite side of the river. Leyla took in the smattering of soldiers practicing sword fighting on the wide field and several dozen others who were eating under a tent at the far end. No one was running laps, no one was shouting orders. Where were the drill sergeants and officers in charge and why was no one telling the youngest looking recruit that he'd get his fingers chopped off if he held the sword in that manner?!

Leyla only noticed that Delphine had stopped walking when she was a few steps into the field. "Only Light Guards are allowed to enter the field," she warned.

Leyla nodded in understanding. "I won't be long. You should go back if you're uncomfortable."

"I'll keep watch incase I have to run for help," Delphine muttered making Leyla smile. It wouldn't come to that, but in the very unlikely case that the soldiers got violent, she would take the one with the highest rank hostage.

"It will be fine," Leyla assured her, then turned back to the field and marched towards the soldiers practicing sword play. They noticed her presence when she was within shouting distance, their expressions turning from surprise to anger when she drew near.

"Consort, this is not a place for women..." a black haired soldier with a scar on his chin spoke in clipped tones.

It had taken Leyla a few days of being in the Land of Light to figure out the Kingdoms' military coding. The soldiers all wore white uniforms with short jackets, high collars and silver belts. The officers carried slim swords and their ranks shown by the gems on the shoulder pads. This soldier had two blue gems; a low ranking officer.

"Officer, I have come to offer an apology."

"Apology?" The officer's voice rose an octave, his shocked expression reflected in the faces of the half a dozen soldiers around him. They had now attracted the attention of the rest of the guard under the tents; many of them put down their forks and knives as they watched. "With all due respect, Consort, you can't apologise. The Prorex made it clear that since the punishment was carried out, we are to consider the incident erased."

Leyla's eyes hardened at the bitter tone in the officer's voice. "You've misunderstood. I'm not here to apologise for things I haven't done. What I did do, was neutralise the two guards who came to restrain me on the stage. They were doing as they were instructed and due to circumstances, I had to attack without warning." She scanned the faces of the soldiers under the tents, raising her voice. "I've come to give those two soldiers a chance to retaliate."

This announcement produced some comical expressions of shock while the officer spluttered. "You can't be serious! Light Guards don't fight women!"

Leyla snorted at the bias. For all that the land was enlightened, they had some incredibly backwards notions about the sexes. Stepping closer to the officer, she lowered her voice so that only he could hear her next words. "I can imagine what you think of me, so why don't you indulge my request? You've been told you can not seek retribution for what was done to the two night guards, but at least the ones who were on stage yesterday will get a chance to embarrass me."

The officer gave her a hard look. "I don't know what you're playing at, Consort, but have it your way." He turned to the tent, barking orders. "Reuben! Felix! Into the ring, now!"

The soldiers under the tent flooded onto the field, forming a large circle five men thick around Leyla and the officer. Then, the two guards she recognised from the previous day walked into the ring, carrying long thin swords in their hands.

"The Consort would like to give you two the chance to fight her fairly since she attacked you without warning yesterday. She says she can fight, so why don't you two show her some basics?" Sniggers sounded from around the circle. Reuben and Felix did not indulge in the hilarity. Leyla could tell by the barely restrained anger in their eyes that they were looking forward to getting back at her.

"Who would like to fight first?" The officer asked with exaggerated politeness provoking another round of laughter. He offered her his sword, then frowned when Leyla shook her head 'no'.

"There is no need," she smiled. Then she addressed her opponents: "You were both embarrassed yesterday because you thought a weak woman got the better of you. I came here to show you that you have nothing to be embarrassed for as there's no dishonour in losing to a superior soldier." Seeing their narrowed eyes, she moved her right foot back and adjusted her weight. "You may attack together."

The smirks disappeared off of the onlookers faces. Taking her words as an insult, Reuben attacked with a snarl. Leyla moved out of his way easily, kicking him from behind to propel him into the circle of bodies. Felix had a cooler head, but his sword skills were mediocre at best. He swung at her, missing her once, twice, before she grabbed his wrist and twisted, plucking his weapon from him.

She faced them both now, moving the sword to her left hand. The officer had moved to the side, his eyes glued on their fight. Felix reached for the dagger in his boot, then the men attacked together. Leyla crouched ever so slightly, spinning out of Felix's reach while clashing swords with Reuben. In three moves, she had her opponents sword flying out of his hand and rolled to grab it. Both swords in her possession now, she stabbed them into the ground and faced the men again.

They looked from her to the weapons, confusion written across their faces. Reuben reached for his dagger, but his anger had dissipated and he looked far from confident. Felix nudged his partner and they ran at her together.

Deciding this had gone on long enough, Leyla took three quick steps towards them, then slid at their feet. Reuben tripped, flying over her and tumbling to the ground. Leyla swung her foot out, kicking Felix's leg out from under him, then straddling his body to disarm him. With his dagger in her hand, she raised the knife high over his head. Gasps surrounded them, the sound of feet stepping forward, but they were all too late. Bringing the weapon down, she slammed the blade into the ground beside the soldier's head.

A hush fell over the training field as Felix opened his eyes. Leyla looked down at him, then at Reuben who was picking himself off the ground. "It is not my wish to spill blood. Are you satisfied, or shall we continue?" Seeing the answer written on their faces, Leyla rose and shook dust from the skirts of her dress. "Then I shall consider my debt repaid."

Felix and Reuben straightened their uniforms, then glanced towards their officer who stepped forward. "As you said, there is no dishonour in losing to a superior soldier." His eyes alight with curiosity he went on. "How is it possible? You fight like a Warrior. Better, in fact, than most Warrior's I've seen."

When she didn't respond, his eyes suddenly lit and his brows rose. "The night guard - was it really not you?"

Leyla saw that he regretted the question the minute it was posed, since even saying the words smacked of a lack of loyalty towards the High Council.

"What I meant to say - " the officer stammered.

"The council made a decision and I've taken my punishment. I hope we can leave it at that."

Gratitude filled the man's eyes. "My name is Commander Harvey, Consort. We apologise for not greeting you formally."

As if on cue, Reubens, Felix and all the soldiers around her raised their fingers to their foreheads, bowing in show of respect. "Greetings, Consort."

A warmth filled her chest as she took in the now smiling faces of the Light Guard. It would never be spoken, but she could see that many of them believed in her innocence now and even those who might not, looked on with respect.

"Commander Harvey," she gave a curt bow. "I will leave you to your training." She took a step, then hesitated. Pointing to the young recruit with the curly red hair she had spotted earlier, she said. "His grip is too high, the drill master should fix it."

"Most of the drill masters are in the other training field with the new recruits," the young boy took hurried steps forward. "Consort, could you show me?"

Leyla looked from the boy's hopeful blue eyes to Commander Harvey, surprised that the older man had not immediately forbid it.

"Zackery, you would be lucky to have the Consort's guidance, if she would give it?" The Commander looked to her in question.

Leyla couldn't believe she was being asked to train a Light Guard. Did they really believe in her ability to this extent? She hesitated for a moment, not sure what to do. Would it hurt to show the boy some moves? It would be easy enough to do, after all training soldiers was what she was good at...Berating herself for hesitating when she was finally being given an opportunity to stand on solid ground, Leyla nodded her acceptance.

"Excellent!" Commander Harvey clapped three times in quick succession. " Lunch break is over! Back to training! Group A: laps. Group B: clean up duty. Everyone else: grab your swords!"

As the men rushed to do their officer's bidding, Leyla led Zackery to a free spot on the field and asked him to hold his sword. His basics were good and he was a quick study, listening intently to every word she said. As she showed him how to adjust his balance, Commander Harvey sent a few others over to join them.

Several minutes later, Leyla was showing her group of six how to defend against an attack from behind when Delphine's panicked voice reached her: "STOP!"

Her face pale and sweat marring her brow, the lady rushed to Leyla's side, Michael right behind her. "Curator!" the soldiers around them bowed.

"What is going on?" Michael frowned, looking fiercely at the men around him. "Delphine said you were surrounded! Were you threatened?"

The soldiers beside her looked decidedly uncomfortable, but Leyla just laughed, "Threatened? Commander Harvey just asked me to help with some basic training, that's all."

The tension in Michael's shoulder's drained away and he smiled. "Now why am I not surprised?"

"Are you sure everything is okay?" Delphine still looked a little worried, but her colour was beginning to return.

Realising her friend must have panicked at seeing her disappear in a circle of soldiers, she put her hand on the girl's shoulder. "Everything is alright. Well, almost. If these fools don't get their grips right, they are going to lose fingers."

No longer worried, the soldiers now looked sheepish.

"Do you think I'm joking?" Leyla frowned at them. "Get back to it!"

"Yes, Consort!" they said in unison, then rushed to return to their practice.

"This is annoying," Michael muttered as he pulled her a little distance to speak freely. "I fell for Delphine's panic when I should have known better."

Leyla looked in Delphine's direction, "I'm sorry, I worried you."

"I should have known better too," Delphine shrugged off the apology. "It seems the Prorex is the one who knows you the best after all. He wasn't in the least concerned when I burst in on the meeting."

"He wasn't?" Leyla asked, unsure how she felt about that.

"No. He said you would never have walked onto the field without a strategy." Delphine looked at her, "He told us to have more faith in you."

Raphael said that? About her? Embarrassed by the warm feeling that enveloped her Leyla turned back to the soldiers. "I'm getting back to training. These guys can't be trusted not to hurt themselves."