The Alora and the Knightlys Trilogy: Books 1-3

by A. J. Medina

  Next up were my thigh and shin protectors. Where were these when I was fighting Lucah? They would’ve come in handy and protected me from the black and blue marks I was positive were forming there.

  After the smith boys collected everything, they wiped the sweat from their brows and handed the princess a sword sheath. Her pursed lips transformed into a smile as she spread the leather harness wide, slid it up my arms, around my back and buckled it across my chest. “M’lady, her sword,” the boy said, handing her a real sword.

  I’m sure the boys were getting angrier by the minute. Ladies first and such. The princess held my sword across both of her hands and presented it to me. I bowed as I reached for it and noticed immediately that it was heavier than the wooden practice swords, Tessa was going to gripe about it for sure. Reaching behind my back to take hold of the sheath, I lifted my sword over my head, lined it up with the sheath and slid it down.

  The princess curtsied and moved on to Ryanne.

  After all of us girls had been given our swords and measured for our armor, the princess left the courtyard and went back to watch us from the balcony. And then it was our turn to wait as the boys were measured by the smiths. It took them less time to measure the boys since they knew what they were doing and it appeared they weren’t trying to be as exact as Neala and Branna had been.

  “From this point forward you are to keep your sword with you at all times,” Ser Erwin announced.

  “Even when we’re off duty?” Tessa asked.

  “Knights are never off duty. At all times means at all times. Understand?”

  “Aye.”

  “The edges are blunted, for now. When you are ready, Smith will sharpen them.”

  Ser Erwin had a squire collect the wooden practice swords and place them back in the barrel from earlier. “That’s enough for now. Let’s break for the midday meal. After the meal, feel free to return to your chambers for some rest. The squires and chamber maidens will bring you back when it is time.”

  The wizard waved for Ser Erwin and Ser Hector to follow him and they left through the main gate of the guard’s wing and out into the castle city.

  At the midday meal I sat and waved Lucah over again. He refused to sit with me, instead choosing to sit amongst the other boys at the other end of the table. “I can’t believe they kicked that guy out,” Ryanne said. “I can’t believe it.”

  “Maybe if m’lady Alora didn’t beat him so bad he would still be here. Remind me to stay away from you,” Aednat said. “You girls might want to stay away from her too. She might get you kicked out.”

  “Dragon dung!” Tessa argued. “You can learn a thing or two from Alora. Besides she tried to help him.”

  Silas sat down in the empty space between Aednat and some of the other boys. “He should’ve just apologized. I would’ve if that had been me,” Silas said, stuffing his mouth with goat cheese.

  The boy he sat next to, Thomas, joined in the conversation. “Liam was a fool. I knew he wouldn’t make it. He was the first one to complain about us having to wash together. He wouldn’t do it and that’s why we weren’t allowed to tour the castle yesterday.”

  “Who are you?” Ryanne asked, flicking her hair and eyeing him hungrily.

  “Thomas.” He bit a chunk out of his bread.

  “I’m Ryanne.” She smiled and twirled her hair around her finger.

  He smiled back while swallowing. “She’s Alora, right?” Thomas asked.

  Ryanne huffed. “Aye.”

  “How do you know me?” I asked.

  He shrugged.

  Silas continued to eat, and he had that same smirk he had the first time I laid eyes on him. When I was done eating I took one last sip of water, stood and headed to my chambers. Before I could leave the dining hall, Lucah grabbed my arm and whispered something to me. “Meet me on the second level balcony tonight after everyone is asleep,” and then he went back to his seat.

  I stood there trying to absorb what had just happened and wondered if I had imagined it. I left the dining hall murmuring and cursing him, but knew... I knew I would be meeting him on the balcony anyway.

  Back in my chambers, I was looking over my sword. I watched as the light twinkled off the metal as I turned it in my hands. The handle had leather wrapped around it for a better grip and it ended with a metal ball at the tip. Something seemed interesting about the ball and I wasn’t sure what it was, but I took hold of it and gave it a twist. I unscrewed it and found that the handle was somewhat hollow. It was perfect.

  I went into my closet, opened the drawer and retrieved Mother’s emerald. I ripped a small piece off the tunic pants and wrapped the emerald inside of the material and stuffed it into the handle. It fit perfectly.

  Now I wouldn’t have to worry about it getting lost, or worse, thrown away. I slid my sword back into its sheath and hung the harness up on the nail. I kicked of my boots and laid down on my bed. I splayed my toes trying to stretch them out after being mashed together all morning. The sides of my pinky and big toes protested by glowing red like tomatoes.

  I found myself thinking about Lucah and how he didn’t ask me to meet him tonight, he ordered me. What confused me even more was that I was going to meet him. I couldn’t understand why. Maybe he wanted to apologize for ignoring me. Or maybe not. Either way, I shouldn’t give him the opportunity. But like I said — I was.

  Aednat burst into the room just then, with Ryanne on her heels. “I told you not to trust her,” Aednat said.

  I ignored their conversation.

  “Maybe you’re right,” Ryanne answered, looking at me with fire in her eyes.

  Wait... were they talking about me? What did I do now?

  “She thinks she’s the best at everything. Now she wants all the boys to swoon over her too,” Aednat said, jumping onto her bed. She patted it with her hand, motioning for Ryanne to sit on the edge.

  Tessa entered the room and helped shed some light on what was going on when I asked her why they were talking about me. “Didn’t you notice the way Ryanne was acting around Thomas?”

  “Nay. How was she acting?” I asked, utterly oblivious.

  “Didn’t you notice? She was twirling her hair.”

  “What does that mean?” I truly didn’t know.

  “It doesn’t matter. What matters is that he ignored her and focused on you. And now Aednat has her convinced that you did it on purpose.”

  I sighed. How is it that I can do all these things to all these people and not even realize it? All I did was sit and eat my food. Yet somehow, someway, I want to be the best and have all the boys swoon over me.

  “She’s just jealous of you and your body. We all know you have the most… womanly body among us,” Aednat said, coaxing her on. “No one likes her fiery hair and her horse legs anyway.”

  I closed my eyes and tried to drown their voices out. I tried that meditation — clear your mind — thing the wizard was trying to show us. I pictured my meadow. The wind, the trees, the leaves rustling quietly with the breeze. The way the sunflowers shifted in the wind and I remembered my father lifting me into the air. I snapped back into reality when I realized I was flying through the air.

  “Thomas is mine! Stay away from him!” Ryanne screamed, standing over me with her hands resting on her hips.

  “I don’t want Thomas. He’s all yours,” I said, rubbing my elbow where it had hit the floor.

  Ryanne huffed and then went to sit on Aednat’s bed again.

  “You should’ve let her have it,” Tessa said, “for knocking you off your bed.”

  “Not worth it. I don’t even want Thomas.” Still rubbing my elbow, I decided to sit on the edge of my bed this time.

  “Why not? He’s cute.”

  “You think so? Then you can fight her for him.”

  The rest of the day consisted of the wizard having us work some more on meditation and clearing our minds. Along with that, he had us practice a slow form of fighting. He said it would help us focus on the movements
and when we needed to, we could speed it up and get the desired effect.

  I ate my evening meal and patiently — well, as patient as I could — waited for the time when everyone would be asleep so that I could meet with Lucah. Neala and Branna prepared the bath and when Neala announced it was ready, one by one we each said — expansionem — to remove our second skins and headed in. Everyone except Aednat that is. She sat on the edge of her bed twisting her fingers in her hands staring at the floor.

  “Aednat, come on,” I tried to coax her. “It’s no big deal. Just get undressed and get clean.”

  For the first time I didn’t see hate or anger in her eyes. “I... I can’t,” she said stuttering.

  “But why?” I asked, surprised to find myself concerned.

  “I don’t want to.”

  “Come on you two,” Branna said, emerging from the wash room.

  “I’m coming, but Aednat doesn’t want to.”

  “Aednat, you must,” Branna gasped. “If you don’t the princess will be angry. You are disobeying.”

  I took hold of her hand and pulled. “Let’s go.”

  “She yanked it away and yelled. “Nay. I... I won’t!”

  I had enough of her silliness. She wasn’t my concern anyway. And after being so mean to me and Tessa why should I care? I went into the wash room, snatched a wash cloth and climbed in the bath.

  “Aednat doesn’t want to join us again?” Tessa asked.

  “Nay, and Branna’s warning her about the princess.”

  “The princess will be furious if she doesn’t follow her commands,” Neala added.

  “What do you think will happen?” Davina asked her.

  “She will be dismissed, most likely.”

  Ryanne was blowing bubbles in the bath again and when she heard that Aednat might be dismissed, she stood up and climbed out. Leaving a trail of dripping water, she went to convince Aednat to wash up. Since she didn’t shut the door, we could hear everything.

  “Come on Aednat. It’s time to wash up.”

  “I don’t want to.”

  “Branna, I’m sure Neala can use your help with the others.”

  When Branna entered the wash room she was going to close the door behind her, but Tessa shushed her and motioned for her to leave it open.

  “You’ll be dismissed! Don’t you want to be here? Don’t you want to show her that you’re better than she is? Then come on.”

  “Nay!”

  “Is it your body? Are you ashamed of it?”

  She didn’t answer.

  “Is there something physically wrong with you. Scars? Burns?” Ryanne asked her, trying to sound sympathetic.

  “Nay.”

  Ryanne’s voice turned angry, the way a parent’s does when they scold their child. “I know you don’t have any of those, this is ridiculous. We’ve already seen you without your clothes this morning when the princess ripped off your sleep shirt. You’re not hiding anything from anyone. Getting dismissed because you’re shy or whatever the reason, is stupid. Come on now.”

  As I listened on, Aednat said — expansionem — and then Ryanne led her into the wash room.

  After I finished bathing, I talked with Tessa about home and about my father. We spoke in whispers, not wanting anyone to hear us. When the chamber maidens informed us that it was time to go to bed, I climbed under the sheets and waited. They stood on stools, so that they could reach the candles on the shelves, and blew them out.

  I wanted to be sure that everyone was asleep before I left so when I heard Aednat snoring loudly and the soft breathing from the others in the darkness, I decided it was time. I gently tossed my covers to the side and tip toed towards the door. I turned the latch, pulled it open and stepped onto the small landing at the stairs.

  While the candlelight in the stairwell cast eerie shadows as they flickered, I carefully and quietly as a mouse shut the door and then traveled down to the second level. When I arrived, Lucah was at the balcony leaning on its edge gazing out into the night. There was a half moon, high in the sky, and even without the lanterns along the walls I would’ve been able to make out the contours of his face.

  “Lucah,” I whispered into the night.

  “Aye,” he answered, turning to look at me.

  “What do you want?” I asked, trying to sound more agitated than I really was.

  “I don’t like how the other boys are treating you.”

  “How are they treating me?”

  “They’re showing you too much attention.”

  “At least someone is.” I was oblivious to what he meant. What attention?

  “This again?”

  “Aye, you’ve been ignoring me since we got here. You won’t even sit at my table.”

  He didn’t say anything. A shadow darted across his face causing me to look up at where it had come from. In the moonlight I could see a falcon headed west, away from the castle.

  “I don’t understand you,” I said annoyed.

  He pulled me close and grazed his lips across my forehead and inhaled deeply, taking my scent in. When his lips slid down to my cheeks and then pressed against mine, I new one thing for sure. I didn’t understand boys, or myself, one bit. How is it that he can ignore me and then with one kiss I was melting in his arms?

  “I should go. Will you meet me here tomorrow evening?” Lucah asked.

  “Aye.” What was I doing agreeing to his request?

  He strolled off towards the stairwell to his chambers and when he disappeared I walked up the steps to mine. I pushed the door open, slid in and then shut it carefully behind me. Tip toeing past Tessa, I climbed into bed.

  “Thomas?” a voice asked, snickering in the dark.

  “Nay.”

  “Then who?”

  “Go to sleep,” I told Tessa. I rolled over and covered my head with my sheet and then heard what sounded like a scream. I couldn’t be sure. A splash came next. “Did you hear that?” Tessa asked.

  “Aye, was it a scream?”

  “I’m not sure. Should we alert someone?”

  The door flew open and two knights emerged with lanterns reflecting the light off their armor. “Did anyone fall from here?” the first one asked. “Is everyone here?”

  There should’ve been five of us and as they swept their lanterns over the beds, there were.

  “Aye,” I said. “There are five of us here.”

  “Good. Let’s go,” he said to the other knight.

  “What’s happened?” Davina asked, suddenly wide awake by the commotion.

  “Don’t know yet. Sounded to us as if someone fell from the castle and into the water below. Stay put,” he said, and then left us in the dark once more.

  Tessa jumped out of bed and peered out one of the turret’s windows. I joined her, and even though I couldn’t see much, I wondered what or who had screamed. How was I going to fall asleep now?

  Chapter 11

  “Was the castle secure?”

  “Aye, m’lord?” the wizard answered, standing outside of the king’s chambers.

  “Do we know if anyone saw anything?”

  “Nay. The knights on guard heard a yell and went to investigate.”

  “And what did they find?” the king asked, scratching his chin.

  “In one of the chambers, they found one boy missing. In another chamber, they found another boy climbing into bed. He claims he was using the wash room.”

  The king scratched his head. “I wish to speak with all of them in the morning, starting with him.”

  “Aye, m’lord.” The wizard started to walk away as the king closed his door, when it jolted back open.

  “Did they find his body?”

  The wizard turned back to answer him. “Aye, it washed up on the beach below.”

  “Was there any sign of a fight?”

  “Nay. There were no puncture wounds at all. It appears the fall is what killed him.”

  “Send his body back to his parents with my condolences and one... nay, three
pounds of gold. Tell them he was a good squire and was on his way to becoming part of the king’s guard.”

  “Aye, m’lord. I will see to it immediately.”

  — — —

  I was able to fall asleep eventually. I tried to forget that someone might have fallen and focused on my kiss with Lucah, and the next kiss we would likely be sharing.

  The chamber maidens woke us in the morning, or at least I thought it was—the sun had yet to rise. I splashed the cold water on my face, took the towel from Branna and dried off. “My ladies, the wizard has requested that all of you report to the royal palace.”

  “Why?” Tessa asked, her mouth wide open, sucking in air and letting out a loud groan. Seeing someone yawn or even thinking about someone yawning always caused me to do the same thing. I stretched my arms wide and let out a loud yawn of my own.

  “A terrible thing has happened. One of the boys fell from the turret last night and is dead,” Neala informed us.

  “How’d it happen? Was he thrown?” I inquired, realizing that it was true.

  “No one knows for sure. I think that’s why the wizard wishes to see everyone.”

  I jumped out of bed and slid into my second skin and said the magic words, “apta magnitudine,” to fit it to my body. I tied the laces of the most uncomfortable boots in the kingdoms, threw my sword harness on and waited for everyone to be ready.

  I was surprised to see that Aednat was one of the first. She was, after all, usually the slowest. Maybe she was slow getting ready because she didn’t want us to see her body and was now past that issue after finally washing with everyone. But big and slow equaled not good as far as fighting was concerned. She must’ve been chosen for her strength and size and if she has to be here, I hope she speeds up some.

  “Who did you go see last night?” Tessa asked, slipping into her second skin.

  “Shhh.... No one.”

  “Whoever it was, do you think they had anything to do with this?” She slipped her second skin up and over her shoulders and said the magic words.