by Missy Lyons
"So tell me, are you of dragon blood?"
"Elsbeth, you should not talk of such fairy tales. Dragons love to eat young virgins, and if there were such a secret..."
"But you won't kill me. You are dragon aren't you? Xanther wouldn't have brought his humans with him. He doesn't trust them enough to bring them here. Which means you can speak of it freely with me."
Liam and Remington looked at each other inquisitively.
"I can see you still don't trust me. I wonder how you two get along at home. Do either of you have any wives or favorite women at home to call your own to explain why you aren't interested in any of my friends?” Elsbeth pouted her lips, letting her tongue dart out to lick the top lip.
"No ma'am,” Remington answered.
"So why do you men keep chasing all the girls off? They are just trying to be friendly. Just like me,” she added, moving slowly behind the bigger soldier. She moved her hands up to caress his shoulders and neck that were bared by the armor. She kneaded the muscles with small circles, easing away the man's tension. Liam stiffened at her touch.
"We are honor-bound not to enjoy physical comfort tonight."
Elsbeth tilted her head forward to grab hold of Liam's left ear with her teeth, just barely grazing the skin before kissing lightly just below his ear. He smelled of leather, sweat, and a sweet smoke. Maybe he favored smoking the pipe?
"Not even me?"
"Not even you, Elsbeth."
Elsbeth snorted in disbelief before pulling away indignantly from the man. He spurned her? What nerve! “I can see I should have asked Remington for his attention and not you."
Elsbeth turned her back on him and rose to leave. One strong arm lashed out to grab her wrist pulling her back down into his lap. When she tried to rise again, both arms encircled her, trapping her on Liam's lap. Elsbeth blushed, embarrassed by his touch and slightly disconcerted as to why he would refuse her attentions but then refuse to let her leave.
"That is not to say I would not enjoy your company. Why don't you stay here with me, Elsbeth? I would enjoy knowing you better."
"Are you sure I could not change your mind? We can go somewhere more private and I could make it worth your while. Xanther will never know; he is already gone to enjoy his fair share of the ladies. Why should you not enjoy yourself as well?"
"I can tell you I want to. If I could I would keep you, but I am a man of honor and must keep my word."
Elsbeth looked over at Remington slyly. “And you Remington? I can make you a man tonight. Would you like that?"
Remington blushed and looked down at the floor.
"Elsbeth. Don't make me have to kill my friend.” Liam's voice carried a warning she didn't miss. She felt a thrill at such possessiveness. It wasn't in her training to belong to a man. Any man. It should have brought up her temper. Her question was innocent enough. Liam showed no interest, so what harm did it do to ask his friend?
"You wouldn't kill him over me,” she laughed. His eyes were a sparkling brown of such chocolate depths, it distracted her. She traced the line of his jaw with her finger, to end at his mouth. All the while feeling a warmth grow in her stomach moving slowly, steadily to between her legs. The moistness signaled she was ready.
According to the books it was even her time when she could bear a child. But he wasn't about to help her with that. Perhaps she could go with them and pick out a man to bring back with her. She wanted children and if this was the only way, she would make the sacrifice. It seemed enjoyable so far. Being held in his strong arms was strangely comforting.
Then his lips came down on hers, bringing a thundering heat through her blood unlike any she had ever known. Her mind emptied, becoming as empty of thought as the desert was barren of vegetation.
* * * *
The women gathered early, welcoming the sunrise on the bailey. An early morning mist wrapped the bailey in silky clouds, obscuring the long-distance views, but it wouldn't stop the fights. The mist kissed the walls and the grass with dew drops brought a brisk chill to the air.
Alyssa had been up for hours and was staring blankly into the circle marked in white dust on the ground for the fighting.
"I know why she is not going to fight,” Elsbeth said, taunting Alyssa out of her reverie.
"You do?” Alyssa turned around, immediately wondering if it might have been Elsbeth, who found the prince chained to the bed this morning. She had missed her normal exercises of meditation last night, her mind constantly returning to the state she left Prince Xanther in.
"Of course. You are scared. Everyone expects you to do so well, but I know the truth. You're going to lose and if you don't fight, you can't lose. They can still call you their precious chosen one."
"I am not afraid."
"Of course you are. You're a loser, Vara. Why don't you go home where you belong?"
Home? That was a cruel jibe, Elsbeth knew she didn't have a another home to go to.
"I don't have to prove anything to you or anyone else here. I belong here. That's why I am not fighting. The winner leaves."
That wasn't quite all the truth. Alyssa had planned to leave after she came into her powers. This contest would bring her to where she needed to be to see that revenge fulfilled. She would also be welcomed back among the Elisaid upon her return. If she didn't have to leave in the presence of that man maybe it would be a blessing. An avenue to her vengeance.
"So you are scared. You know you are not the best.” Elsbeth's eyes defied her to say otherwise.
"I never said I was. Who cares about a silly competition?” Scared yes. Scared of being left alone in that man's presence too long. Scared of what it could do to her resolve. Scared of losing a part of herself to him. She was definitely not afraid of a fight. It would be the perfect plan if it wasn't for him.
"No, but everyone here believes you are so special. But I know better, and I'll prove it. I could beat you any day of the week and I don't need a match to prove it."
"May your match show your skills, Elsbeth.” Alyssa said.
Her biggest fears concerned Xanther, but he would claim her as his, if he saw her outside the Elisaid walls. What if she did go there to seek justice and she was spotted or captured? She would never get a second chance. This could still be the perfect plan. He would take her straight to the very palace she needed to go to.
If she could escapee him one night, she could find Drake and kill him. She could do it. She could find her father's killer, her own persecutor. He would die as surely as the sun would set, and Xanther would lead her straight to him. With that thought, she decided to follow a different destiny than the one she had started out on that morning. Perhaps being so close to the crowned prince, she could see whether the king had anything to do with being marked and losing her inheritance as well.
"It will, because I intend to win.” Elsbeth narrowed her emerald eyes at the girl who so quickly dismissed her.
"That may be difficult, because so do I.” Alyssa strengthened her resolve. She had to do this. She had to win. Hopefully, he would accept an apology from her so that they could get over last night. Perhaps being so close to the crowned prince, she could see whether his father had a hand in her current predicament. What if the steward had done everything at the king's request, as he claimed?
"We'll just see about that."
Alyssa saw Xanther watching her from across the circle. No emotion betrayed his thoughts. Hopefully he could forgive her for last night. She would just have to swallow her pride. She would have to explain it was for his own safety that she restrained him and it was because of her fear that she left him that way...
* * * *
"Sisters, the Elisaid have been called upon their duty to protect the crown. Any who fight must come toe the line. Two shall be picked out of the very best. You know the rules, and the two that win shall leave for one year to live among mankind and be rewarded with dragon stones. We live to serve."
The women warriors who had gathered to battle echoed in harm
ony, “We live to serve."
"May God bless you in battle!” Isabella's voice rang out over the crowd.
When Alyssa joined this group, she swore to share their knowledge and their cause. She took on her training with a purpose beyond any of her sisters. She had been driven by a fire from within. She needed to be better very quickly. She wanted one thing above all else and that was simple revenge.
Becoming an Elisaid was the answer to her prayers. She would become a weapon. A weapon made for killing. She pushed herself harder even honed her skills to be as sharp as her sword. Alyssa traded her service for one year but once her oath was sworn, there would be no way out. The Elisaid would keep her in its field and not let her go. She couldn't finish her quest if she couldn't leave this hill.
What could it be but fate? These men who visited, where no strangers had been welcomed, who came from the very place she needed to go.
Once off this rock, she could find Drake McAllister, the man who sold her into slavery. The man who killed her father. The man she marked with a death sentence.
It was imperative she get off the mountain before she spoke the oath binding her eternally. Running would only bring their wrath. She meant no harm, not to be resentful of their care. They had fed her, given her shelter, and she learned how to fight from these warrior women. It had been the first place she felt accepted for who she was in a long time. It had become home.
However, she had to leave. Even without the full use of her skills, she had to leave. No one else would take up arms in her war. No one else would fight her battles.
Alyssa counted twenty women on each side of the circle awaiting their turn. Although her training had been for a full year now, full fighting had never been allowed before. Spars had been brief but taught the necessary skills. This was a serious fight. The air hummed with energy.
All the women were taught by the same master, had the same knowledge, but still some were better than others were. Some might call it natural ability or instinctive. Alyssa knew better. She was better because she had to be. A weak hand could not carry out revenge. She had to know the secrets of her sword to kill a man.
The man who left her empty inside two years ago not only killing her father, but also leaving her alive with no hope and no love. She was left alive to be sold into slavery.
At first, her emptiness filled with pain. When the pain left her, she replaced it with anger. The anger festered inside her, fermenting into resentment. She honed it, sharpening it, living only to plan an attack. A single act of revenge. Could I be ready?
Would one more year help? There was no doubt that she was good, but even Alyssa did not know how good she was; no real fighting had been permitted, only sparring.
Alyssa knelt on the carpet humbly, analyzing the two girls face to face within the circle. They were women well matched for their strength.
Jana posed in the Tiger stance and Phillipa chose the Sun worshipper, hands outreached to the sky.
"You have chosen no weapons. You may commence,” Lady Isabella's voice boomed over the audience. At those words, flesh hit flesh, striking, defending. It was a fair match, but Alyssa noted Phillipa was not as quick. Jana saw the opening too, and a blow to the chest left Phillipa momentarily stunned. Phillipa was knocked to the ground and held there by Jana.
Applause and stomping feet greeted her. “Our winner, Jana! Next challenger come forward!” Lady Isabella's voice boomed out.
Misty stepped forward, petite, but large chested. She was a model of what her mother Hannah had looked like in her youth. Age and childbirth had left Hannah rounder, but still shorter than most of the Elisaid.
"You may choose your weapons."
The challenger had the right to choose the weapons and even Alyssa was surprised when she brought the wicked-looking metal to the circle. She chose death sticks, a double bladed sword with a handle in the middle. It was a dangerous choice. If Jana won, she would be tired and possibly bleeding after this match.
Plan 1: Fight last, save your strength.
"First blood,” the woman next to Alyssa whispered.
"What?"
"You have chosen death sticks. Commence,” Lady Isabella's voice boomed out. The metal hit with force, eliciting a musical quality.
"I said the first to draw blood wins if there is a blade. She must not like Jana. No one picks a blade unless they accidentally want to kill someone."
Plan 2: Let Elsbeth be declared a winner before challenging, since weapons are chosen by the challenger.
The swords were drawn and the bailey echoed with the metal ringing. Death sticks were awkward and heavy, but similar to Alyssa's favorite—the fighting sticks.
Alyssa hissed through her clenched teeth in reaction to Misty's thigh opening up. The blood was real and would require stitches. This was not play fighting.
Plan 3: Fight to win.
Alyssa contemplated the fighters’ styles and techniques, watching each in turn as they stepped up to the line in the circle.
So far the fighters had stayed within the teachings of the Elisaid, practiced moves that were known and reacted to.
Action that begets reaction. Simple yet expected. Simple, yet no one fought with the passion of survival, or outside their own rules. So heavily dependent on magic they used for the fight, it had softened their skills with the sword and the physical world.
"Elsbeth wins,” Lady Isabella's voice broke Alyssa out of her reverie. Not many were left. One other woman sat across from her on the other side of the circle. Too late Alyssa realized her folly. Only two would be chosen. Elsbeth had already proven herself with so many wins. Ceallach was second best with three wins. Alyssa would only win if she was the victor of the contest. Even then it was most likely she would spend her entire year with Elsbeth, because Elsbeth had been allowed too many wins.
Gwendolyn had already stood up to accept the challenger's place at the line. No weapons. This would be over quick.
Elsbeth had already won her place in this match. She won the last eight rounds. More than any other woman. She would be one of the two chosen. If Alyssa did manage to best the winner at the end, she would be in her company for one year and possibly have a chance at her mission in life.
In moments, Elsbeth had Gwendolyn pinned on her stomach with her hands twisted up behind her back. Elsbeth's knee kept her in place, and she had a pained expression on her face.
"Elsbeth wins!” That meant she had won nine rounds now. Elsbeth was definitely one of the best. Elsbeth would be one of the chosen. Alyssa stretched to her full upright position, ignoring the eyes of the room on her before she picked up her choice of weapons.
"Fighting sticks?” Elsbeth huffed disapprovingly. “You would pick sticks. Only a child would pick sticks."
Alyssa tossed a stick to Elsbeth, keeping her expression noncommittal.
Plan 4: Don't break under pressure.
Elsbeth was attempting to undermine her self-confidence, distract her into making a mistake.
"Then you shouldn't have any trouble fighting with sticks."
Lady Isabella stepped between the two women.
"Alyssa, you don't have to fight. You should want to finish your training. You have not even grown into your gift yet."
"Does not every Elisaid have the right to fight? I choose to fight."
"Be patient. Go sit down."
"What if I lose? Then nothing will change."
"What if you win?"
"Mother!” Elsbeth's impatient voice interrupted them.
"Then you admit I could win."
"Without your gift? This is not just about the weapon, but also about the body and the soul."
"I claim my Elisaid rights. I will fight. Let me fight. If not her, than I would fight you.” A direct challenge to the leader of the Elisaid was overkill. Alyssa knew it but did it anyway.
The challenge to Isabella was an insult, but Lady Isabella chose to ignore it. The insolent girl could hardly know that a proper fight would end in the loser's d
eath. The winner would become the new leader. The Lady of the house was always the strongest and mutinous claims to power had to be discouraged.
Lady Isabella chose to ignore the brazen girl's request. She had other plans for Alyssa, whether Alyssa agreed to those plans or not.
Lady Isabella stepped back, looking from face to face. “You do not have to fight—you could stay another year. This fight is by the rules. Elsbeth may use any of her gifts to win. Do you still want to fight?"
"I fight,” Alyssa said.
"You mean let you lose, because that's what you will be doing! Losing!” Elsbeth blustered. Alyssa straightened her spine. She couldn't let Elsbeth threaten her calm.
"I fight to win.” Alyssa spoke with a steely resolve that was not there before.
"Commence!” Lady Isabella did not argue again but spoke the word before backing out of the circle.
Elsbeth's stick struck first with such a force that it nearly knocked Alyssa over, and with the spirit invading her mind, she had to struggle for control. Of course, that was part of the fight.
Alyssa closed her off from her mind, not allowing her to see what she would do. How she would react. Like so many times before, she erected a barrier that no invading mind could penetrate.
Just as innocently, she tried to throw out useless and distracting information. After a year spent at finishing school, she had a lot of useless information to throw Elsbeth's way.
Captain Hawkins would be rolling in his grave if he knew what his money could buy. It sure didn't buy the respect or acceptance of the wealthier or titled class. Not that many people were wealthier than Alyssa should be if she had her rightful inheritance, which was stolen from her.
When taking tea, a lady will wait for the hostess to sit and drink before she does.
A lady never slurps or swallows, but sips.
When presenting the tea, all the accessories should be ready before the tea. A hostess should not have to leave her guest to procure such mundane things as tea or sugar.
The only thing that broke the silence was the crack of the fighting sticks. It had been a full year now since Alyssa had left her home for the mountains of Jabar, following her instincts and a call she could not understand. She came to this place built on legends, waiting for her revenge to take shape. She had a natural courage and quick thinking, and while on her father's ships such thinking had been encouraged, she had found her natural audacity had been frowned upon in society.