Mercenary Little Death Bringer

by Banks, Catherine

  Slowly his knife was pulled away and so I pulled mine away as well.

  “You’re bleeding,” Favian said in his normal worried voice. He reached out towards me, but I backed away from him, keeping my eyes downcast to avoid looking at anything but his face. I pulled my shirt down to expose the wound as Master Sean came towards us.

  Master Sean examined the wound and frowned at me. “You should have told me you were injured after your fight with Christopher. Go to the healing building.”

  “Have I passed the trial?” I asked as I started walking out of the arena.

  “The Masters and I are going to discuss your performance and I will let you know tomorrow,” Macon said as he walked beside me towards the healing building. “You did well though. I’m proud of you.”

  “Thank you, sir,” I said. I was truly happy to receive such praise from Macon. It was a high honor.

  Macon pushed open the door and the healer, a short man with thick glasses looked at me and smiled. “I figured ye would be here soon. What did you make bleed this time?” I sat down on the examination table and pulled my arm out of my shirt so he could get a good look at the wound. He scoffed. “That little scratch is what brought you in here? Usually you won’t come here unless your arm is hanging out of the socket or cut in a billion pieces.”

  “I was ordered to come here,” I said quietly.

  “Ah, that explains it then.” He went to work cleaning the wound and then started stitching it up. I hissed in pain a few times, but managed to hold it in so as not to appear as weak as I truly was. In truth I wanted to cry uncontrollably from the pain of the stitches and the pain at the fight with Favian. I felt alone and I didn’t like it at all.

  “All done,” he said. “Now go to bed.”

  “Yes, sir,” I said as I put my arm back in my shirt and walked out of the healing building. Students were milling about, trying to have a little bit of fun before we were ordered to our quarters for the night. Some gave me thumbs up while others glared at me. I ignored them all.

  Several of the other students congratulated me or told me good job, but none of it mattered. I made it to my dorm and stepped inside to find Favian sitting on my bed. I immediately turned around and headed towards the stables.

  “Marin!” he called after me, “Wait.”

  I ignored him, trying my hardest to hold in the tears that I had been holding in since the fight. I only wanted to go to my dorm, bury my face in the pillow and let the tears flow. Now I couldn’t even do that. I was almost to the stable when he grabbed my arm and stopped me. I turned my face away and tried to hide the tears falling down my face. “Release me,” I said quietly.

  He released my arm and I bolted around him back to my dorm. My only hope was that I would be able to lock the door before he could get in.

  Sadly I didn’t have good luck. He stepped into my room and closed and locked the door behind him, trapping me inside. I sat down on my bed and calmed myself by taking deep breaths to stop my tears.

  He squatted down in front of me and wiped my face. “Why are you running from me? What have I done to upset you so?”

  How could I answer that? I couldn’t say that he’d frightened me and hurt my feelings, could I? I couldn’t tell him that I felt alone. Fresh tears spilled from my eyes and he whispered, “Tell me what you are thinking and feeling, please.”

  “Swear not to laugh?” I asked softly.

  “Of course,” he said seriously.

  “You’re mad at me and not talking to me and then when we fought you looked at me like you didn’t know me. You looked at me with cold eyes and like you didn’t care if you hurt me or not.”

  “I frightened you,” he guessed.

  “Yes. I was shaking and I couldn’t look at you. I couldn’t see your cold eyes directed at me. It was like you weren’t my friend anymore.”

  “I was ordered to do that,” he whispered.

  “I feel so alone and scared. I am scared because I could die next month and I don’t want to die. I’m scared because I feel like I’m losing you and if I lose you…”

  Favian wrapped his arms around me and hugged me against his chest. “I’m sorry, Marin.”

  The damn tears wouldn’t stop coming and as I wrapped my arms around him they turned my body into hard, body shaking sobs. Why was this happening? Why was my life changing so much?

  He held me while I cried and then wiped my cheeks once the tears had stopped. “You aren’t losing me,” he whispered, “I’m sorry that I was so upset with you, but it was only because I am worried about your safety. And I am very sorry that I frightened you.”

  I relaxed against him and said, “I’m sorry I got emotional.”

  “Don’t apologize for being a girl,” he said as he released me so that he could face me on the bed. “You should have told me you were feeling this way.”

  I wiped my cheeks more and then grabbed the leather pouch the goblin twins had given me.

  “What’s that?” he asked.

  “What Lucias and Lucian gave me,” I answered as I pulled out the pain medication and put some on my tongue.

  “Is that how you healed your rope burns so quickly?” he asked as he took the medicines to examine them.

  “Yes,” I answered, “Otherwise I would have gotten slaughtered at the trial today.” The trial worried me. I had no way of knowing if I passed. I had done well, but that didn’t necessarily mean they would agree to allow more girls in. Not that I cared if more girls were allowed in or not. Truthfully I only cared if I graduated. “How do you think the trial went?”

  “It’s hard to say,” he answered me honestly, “but you did very well. I was surprised you beat the first years so easily though.”

  I punched his arm and laughed. “Shut up.”

  He laughed and then met my eyes. “Are we okay?”

  I shrugged. “Are we?”

  He smiled and then his serious face was back and he reached forward and grabbed my chin to force me to stare into his eyes as he met mine. “My number one mission is to protect you, do you understand? I will never stop being your friend and I will protect your life with my own. I’m sorry I frightened you, but you must know that I would never hurt you, even if I was mad at you.”

  My heart was fluttering in that new weird way and my eyes kept dropping to his lips as he talked. Why? What was happening to me? I met his eyes again and then wrapped my arms around him to keep from kissing him like one part of my brain was telling me to do. “Thank you.”

  Someone knocked on the door and I jerked away from him in surprise. Favian walked to the door and unlocked it. “Enter.”

  Micah walked in and held out a piece of paper towards me. “Your new schedule.”

  I took it and groaned. “I have training with Masters Martin and Sean before the morning wakeup call and training after dinner.”

  “They want to be sure you are fully prepared,” Favian said bitterly.

  “Favian,” I whispered, “I know you don’t like this idea…”

  He shook his head and smiled. “Don’t worry about it. I trust Macon.” He meant the words, but I could sense he wasn’t being completely honest when he said them about this instance. “Oh, I sent word to Father so we should be hearing back from him shortly.”

  “Lights out!” the blacksmith yelled from his workshop.

  “Goodnight,” Micah said, “And good luck tomorrow.”

  “Thanks, I think I’m going to need it,” I said with a bitter laugh.

  “You’re alright?” Favian asked.

  I nodded my head and smiled. “Yes.”

  He smiled back. “Good. I’ll see you at breakfast.” I walked him to the door and then locked it so that no one could sneak inside. I wasn’t afraid of being kidnapped inside the Academy’s grounds, but I was afraid of people playing pranks on me. I’d had it happen a couple of times and learned that you cannot get berry juice out of shirts after they’ve been soaked overnight. I’d had to wear a purple shirt for the rest of that s
emester, which had irritated the Masters more than me. I lay down and hoped I slept well since I would need all of the energy possible to make it through the next day.

  ~~~~

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “You have to get out of the ropes without tightening the ones around your throat,” Master Sean said as I struggled to do that very thing. “If you struggle too much then you will end up choking yourself until you pass out, or completely cutting off your blood supply and killing yourself.”

  “I’m trying,” I said through clenched teeth. I wiggled my left hand and finally got the first loop over my wrist. The rest was easy and I was soon out of the ropes completely. “Yes!” I said happily.

  “Good job,” Master Martin said, “Your next objective is to get out of that situation in less than thirty seconds.”

  “Thirty seconds?!” I asked in shock, “Is that even possible?”

  Master Martin smiled, “My record is fifteen seconds.”

  That was simply amazing and ludicrous at the same time. I straightened my spine and nodded my head. “Alright, then I’ll learn to do it in ten seconds.”

  Master Martin smiled and patted me on the back. “That a girl! Let’s get to work.”

  I stood still as the two Masters tied me up and then helped me sit on the ground, completely immobile. I recalled all of the advice they had been giving me and then nodded my head. “Okay, start the count.”

  “Go,” Master Martin said.

  I wiggled my hand slowly and precisely, being mindful of the rope around my throat which tightened if I wiggled too much. The rope around my right wrist slid down slightly, but wasn’t far enough.

  “Ten seconds.”

  I struggled harder and faster and the rope moved farther down my wrist, but the rope around my throat was tightening… and I blacked out.

  I woke up and the Masters were laughing as they finished untying me. “We told you not to move too much.”

  I took a deep breath and tried to clear my foggy mind. “I know.”

  The bell sounded for breakfast and for the first time I wanted to stay in training longer. “Go eat and attend your other trainings. After dinner we will work on this more,” Master Sean said.

  I knew better than to question them or beg them to reconsider so I bowed to them and walked towards the food hall. At least I wasn’t as sore and rope burned as I had been the previous day. The lessons were working and I was learning a lot in a short time.

  The hall was crowded as everyone stood in line to get their breakfast. I felt irritated that they were all whining for food when they hadn’t even had to train yet. My frustration grew as the line moved slowly forward and my hunger continued to gnaw at my belly.

  “Marin,” Favian called. I looked around the room for him, finally spotting him sitting down at a table with Micah. He waved me over and I shook my head and pointed towards the line. I hadn’t gotten my food yet, why would I leave the line? He held up an extra bowl of oatmeal and smiled at me.

  I walked quickly over to him and took the bowl. “Thank you,” I said seriously and then began stuffing my face.

  “How’s training?” Micah asked.

  “No talk, just eat,” I said around the food in my mouth.

  Favian slid my bread roll and a mug of water over in front of me. “Slow down or you’ll upset your stomach.”

  “Yes, father,” I said between gulps of oatmeal.

  “How did you know I was here if you hadn’t seen me?” Father asked.

  I jerked my head up and stared in shock at the Elf King standing in the doorway of the food hall.

  Favian stood up quickly and walked to him. “Father, I did not know you were coming.”

  Father sat down across the table from me and said, “How could I not come when I heard Marin was in danger?”

  I stopped with the spoon halfway to my mouth and smiled. “I’m safe here.”

  He patted my hand. “We’ll talk after you finish eating. You’re obviously very hungry.”

  I nodded my head and went back to eating my bread and oatmeal. I was interrupted again when Mother walked inside the hall and every male turned to gawk at her. She found me and hurried over, sitting down beside me and hugging me. “Marin,” she whispered.

  I fought the tears that wanted to come at her show of affection and Father noticed my issue. “Amadis, let the poor girl eat. We will talk with her afterwards. Favian, we will be at Macon’s office. Come there when Marin is done.”

  “Yes, sir,” Favian said as he sat down next to me again. Mother kissed my cheek and then patted Favian’s cheek before following her husband out of the food hall.

  “That was fun,” I whispered before tilting my bowl of oatmeal up to eat the last little bit. I was glad Mother had left because if she had seen me using such poor table manners she would have chastised me. I could have not stood the embarrassment and teasing from the others had they witnessed that. I chugged the water in my mug and then picked up the bread roll. “We better head over before Mother threatens Macon for his plan.”

  “Was that the Elven King and Queen?” Micah asked in shock.

  I nodded my head. “Yep.”

  “She’s incredibly beautiful,” Micah said.

  Favian rolled his eyes. “Yes, she is. Come on Marin.”

  I followed him out of the room with the sound of gossip behind us. I was truly shocked both of our parents had come to the Academy and also honored even though I wouldn’t admit that to anyone. We knocked on Macon’s door and he called us in immediately. Apparently we had come just in the knick of time because Mother looked ready to murder Macon.

  “Marin, I’m glad you’re here,” Macon said as he eyed the Elf Queen with fear.

  “Please tell me you did not agree to be used as bait?!” she asked with flames dancing within her eyes.

  “Of course I did,” I said honestly, “It’s the best way to discover who is after me.”

  “Are you mad?!” she asked me, “You could be killed!”

  “I could be killed as a mercenary yet you allow me to complete this training to follow that path. Why is this different?”

  “Because someone is after you with the intent of kidnapping you, which will possibly lead to your death,” Father said matter-of-factly.

  “There is no other way for us to discovery who it is. Besides, if they wanted to kill me they could have just ordered the bandits who attacked us to do it,” I replied in a neutral tone so as not to upset him.

  “I told you she wouldn’t listen to reason,” Favian said to Father.

  “What are you planning for this test?” Mother asked as she sat down in the chair beside Father.

  Macon relaxed now that she had sat down and said, “We are going to have Favian and Marin go to the town square and appear as though they are shopping for gifts to try to lure the kidnappers out. The rest of the sixth years will be spread throughout the town either in hiding spots or shopping as well with some at each escape point in case something goes wrong. Masters Sean and Martin as well as myself will be watching as well. She will be completely protected.”

  “I don’t like it,” Mother said and shook her head.

  Father put his hand on Mother’s and smiled. “Dear, it is a good plan.”

  “They are going to risk her life!” Mother said, “That is never a good plan.”

  “You cannot protect me all the time,” I told her.

  “You cannot risk your life all the time,” she said back to me.

  “Are you telling me that I cannot become a mercenary?” I asked her softly. She turned her head away and my anger skyrocketed. “It is my life and I will decide what to do with it. I am going to be a mercenary. I am going to go through with this test. There is nothing you can do to stop me. If you take me back to the castle I will escape and come back. If you try to hold me against my will I will attack any who guard me and escape. I will do as I wish,” I said angrily before storming out of Macon’s office and walking to the stables.

  Fire n
ickered in greeting to me and I hurried to her stall, burying my face against her neck as I cried. I had training in thirty minutes, but I was in no condition to practice my swordsmanship so I walked to the tack area and grabbed Fire’s saddle and bridle, quickly tacking her and led her from the barn. I swung up onto her back and kissed to her. She took off at a fast gallop, eating the ground up quickly with her hooves as we passed the outdoor training arena and began the five mile trip to my favorite hiding spot. Fire galloped happily since she hadn’t been out of the stable and had been craving to stretch her legs. She slowed as she started the climb up the side of the mountain and she was forced to use some of her energy for the steep climb.

  We rounded the mountain and I spotted the trail off to the right, slowing Fire so we could make the turn onto the mostly unused path. Most didn’t know the trail existed or where it led, but my first year I’d found it and had often visited it while attending the Academy. Fire was forced to walk since the path was narrow, steep and windy, but she didn’t seem to mind. It took twenty minutes before we finally made it to a spot where the trees stopped fifteen feet away from a rock which overlooked the lake further down. I dismounted, dropped the reins on the ground to ground tie Fire and then sat on the rock.

  How could she do this to me? How could she plan to keep me from being a mercenary? Why even let me go to the Academy if she wasn’t going to let me do the job afterwards? I felt awful for the way I had spoken to her, but I had meant every word. I greatly appreciated them raising me as if I were one of their own, but she couldn’t force me to stay at the castle. I wasn’t built to be a lady who sat on her hands and let the men go off and fight. I was a fighter and I needed to be out slaying ogres and protecting defenseless people.

  Tears leaked from my eyes again and I hated that I was crying yet again! I rolled onto my back and let the tears flow as the sun warmed my face and body. Before I’d realized it, I had fallen asleep and then was woken by Fire’s nicker. “How did you find me?” I asked Favian without sitting up or opening my eyes. I knew it was Ice who’d come, by the way Fire had nickered so I didn’t need to look to know it was Favian on his back.