The people of Linova didn't sleep well that night. Word got out, the whole village now knew about what happened in the market and in the King's tent.

Tommorow, 12 o'clock daytime, the whole village must gather in the town square.

When the sun rose, it couldn't bath the village in his golden rays. The grey-black storm clouds was like a mask to the sun.
The chicken rooster didn't sing his melody that morning, as it was already cooked for the King's meal.

The King was standing outside, looking over the village. Today is the day he will unmask the warrior. Today is day he will finally get this village under his command.

12 o'clock came too fast, Yara's mother was sick of angst. Yara was her only daughter, she couldn't lose her, she already lost her loving husband. The village was confused when their warrior called her 'mother'. They thought she have lost both her husband and daughter. But she evaded their questions and went home.

The whole village, the king, and Falcon were gathered in the town square. Falcon in the middle, The king on a high platform and the village's people placed all around the square.

The town square was often used as training grounds for the soldiers. The square was on the bank of a river, so that soldiers could easily get water after a hard day of training. Some people now sat on boats, there wasn't any space left on land, as people filled it up.

The king stood up and silence settled over the crowd.

"People of Linova, you've come to witness the justice of your warrior, Falcon."

He then turned to Falcon and looked him in the eye.

"Falcon, you are to fight 3 of my men. Lose against all 3, and you just signed your death. Lose against 2, and you will be banished from this land. Lose against 1, and you will be forced to join my army, across the mountains. Lose against none, and you will be a free man. Is this agreement inderstood?"

Blue flashed against gray as Falcon looked the King in his eyes and nodded.

Loud thunder rang out from the sky. Another storm was coming.

Falcon turned and stood ready for the first opponent. One of the King's soldiers came into view, he slammed his sword aginst his boot, in a threatening manner. Suddenly the King interjected.

"Stop."

Yara looked up from behind her mask, annoyed.

The King looked her in the eye with a glimpse of smugness.

"No mask allowed."

Murmurs broke through the crowd and Yara clenched her jaw. With a murderous look in her eyes she turned around and walked towards the river bank. With her one hand she scooped up some mud from the ground, and with her other hand she removed her mask, but just as someone could catch a look, she smudged the mud on her face, forming another mask.

Throwing off her mask, she turned around. As expected some gasped, but nobody began screaming 'it's a woman!'.

The King sighed, and lowered his hand, meaning that the fight can begin.

The village watched with anticipation as Falcon shooted forward, catching his opponent off guard, but he was fast to recover. Falcon ducked as the soldier threw his fist, he then used the moment to stap the soldier in his stomach. The soldier groaned but still tried to stab his sword in Falcon's chest. Falcon dotched the sword with an inch and then as fast as lightning he slitted the soldier's throat. The soldier gurgled but was then silent.

The king clenched his fist and lowered his hand for the second time. Rain started pouring from the sky, but nobody minded, everyone were caught up in the fight.

The King's second soldier came running out and immediately tried to caught Falcon off guard. Falcon ducked from the sword coming his way and rolled away just in time. The soldier was quick to act and slashed Falcon's arm. He hissed in pain. Anger started to boil in him and with a wave of adrenaline he jumped up and stapped the soldier in his thigh, weakening him, without a glance, he made a solid blow to the recovering soldier. While the he was disoriented with dizziness, Falcon used that moment to stap the soldier's heart, taking his life immediately.

It was quiet at first but then a small child voice spoke up. "Look mommy, He's a girl!" Yara's eyes widened as she realized that the rain washed away the mud, and her cloak fell off, revealing her long, midnight black hair, now wet.

A old lady came to a stand and murmered. "Y-Yara, child is that you?" Yara's head snapped in the old lady's direction. It was Aunt Sarah, the woman who was close to a second mother for her when she was a child. Several people began to recognize her, speaking her name.

"Well this took a turn. Yara, is it?" The King recovered from his shock and were now speaking in a dry tone.

"Don't speak my name. Give me my third opponent." She spoke lowly but clear.

The king shrugged off his wealthy coat. The King walked off of the platform onto the fighting ground. He nodded and one of the soldiers threw him a dagger, such as Yara's. She looked up at him confused.

"Oh, I forgot to mention, warrior. I'm your third opponent." He then suddenly pounced foward while holding his daggar, ready to slash. Yara moved out off the way just in time, she was shocked to say the least. Doing a roundhouse kick, he ducked out of the way, she tried to stab him in his neck but he grazed her cheek with his dagger, spilling blood. For the first time both of them had a challenge, a strength match. Dimitri was shocked when he saw that the infamous warrior was a masked girl.

Yara was getting tired, she was already through 2 soldiers, and now a skilled king. They were fighting for some time now, both of them had some painful injuries. Yara went ducking for a blow when Dimitri suddenly switched his fists. The blow onto Yara's stomach, left her gasping for air. But she did not give up. She was doing this for her father, and everyone else that depended on her. His hands suddenly found her neck, choking her. She held her breath, seeing the right moment she shot her knee upwards into the King's groin, making him groan.

Her neck was free and she inhaled air while she still could. Her body was giving in, she could only take so much. While rolling on her side she made a movement to stand up but slipped in the mud, she fell back.

A sudden jerk, made her breath hitch in her throat. The king was above her, gripping her hair in a tight grip, while the other hand tried to force her in submission with a dagger against her throat. Her hand immediately tried to get the blade away from her throat but the hand the gripped her hair, was now holding her hands above her head.

"Submit." He ordered.

Her eyes narrowed in anger.

"I said submit, Yara!" He gritted out while pushing the dagger closer to her flesh.
Getting no answer, he gave a haunting smirk before saying. "If you don't submit, I will order my whole army to destroy this village, starting with your Mother. Submit and I will do no harm against this village."

Yara was conflicted between different emotions. Her father said she must protect her mother, herself, and the people around her. She must choose between herself and the people, including her mother. It didnt took a second for her to choose.

"Yara. You're testing me." He growled out while narrowing his eyes.

With a raspy voice she spoke up. "I submit."

The King smirked. "Good girl."

|♢|

Song: The humming by Enya