“What is this?” Apondra asked with a suspicious scowl at the rickshaw that almost resembled a two wheeled wheelbarrow. Its thick cut wood was rough and stained with all manner of colors, mainly the familiar dark stains of red. Was this a butcher’s barrow for transporting livestock?
Dreco crossed his arms, his serious demeanor returned as he said matter of factly, “This is where we start your training,”
She fought her tongue in retort. How could this possibly be where he started her off in her training? Every other person who would begin their training soon would be doing so with weapons techniques and how to use them properly. She was starting with this rickety old wagon?
Dreco could see her frustration growing deep and laid out her instructions; she was to take the wagon from here on the dirt path at the base of the mountain, down through the streets of the entire capital city, and make her way back here to this path. “Your pace is up to you, but I expect you to get three full trips to start before you go back to the training grounds for rest tonight. If I get word that his Highness is in need of me I will send for someone to take my place here,”
Apondra nodded, taking a moment to retie the belt at her waist so it fit loose and would not constrict her as she went. Its only purpose was as an accessory anyways, She could fix it later if need be.
“Lift with your legs, and keep a steady pace. Go ahead when you are comfortable. Once you start, you must keep yourself going, even if you are out of breath and your chest is on fire,” Dreco could see her hesitation as she positioned herself between the poles and brought a piece of home to inspire her, “Think of it like being at home, the deliveries that your father no doubt made for his business,”
The deliveries that I made… she inwardly corrected him. She took the poles in hand and struggled under the weight to lift the cart base off the ground, Apondra grit her teeth and hefted the weight.
Dreco nodded and reminded her to breathe through the weight. With that she was on her way.
Apondra’s arms shook as she approached the city, and her breath came out in huffs, but she forced herself to continue, remembering Dreco’s instruction to push through it. Everyone who walked the streets appeared to be in some form of comfortable living, she observed as she went, the vendors were well dressed, children laughed and played in the streets without a care in the world, even the occasional alley cat that wandered nearby seemed well fed and cared for. She admired the many homes as she passed by, all kept in good repair, many hanging the colors of the kingdom, whether from a banner on a post, a decorative piece on a doorway, or even curtains drawn in the windows. No one gave her a second glance, or a stern look. Many greeted her kindly as she passed by and she returned their greetings with a warm smile, even if some greeted her in a language she did not understand. An older woman tending to the front garden of her home even offered her a skin of water, which Apondra tied onto her belt. The coolness of it as it swayed against her hip was enough to keep her moving.
Dodging alley cats and small children, moving her way through small crowds at the marketplace, Apondra began feeling the heat of the sun above her, and reached for the waterskin, which would run dry before she had completed her task.
As she made her way back up the dirt path for the first time to where Dreco would be waiting on her, her breath was ragged and her sides hurt, her hair began sticking to the back of her neck. But she pressed on. Two more rounds to go. She thought to herself as she continued the route, determined to do her best.
As daylight turned to dusk, Apondra struggled through the last round with the rickshaw, her body drenched in sweat, her legs and arms burning with pain. Dreco was absent on her second round and a guard she had not seen before had taken his place, encouraging her in a rough, demanding tone to push forward.
She hauled the rickshaw up the path and set it down with a dull thud in the dirt next to Dreco's replacement. The man only nodded, took the rickshaw with an aggravating ease, and proceeded towards the city.
When he was out of sight, she panted harder against her burning chest and slowly, pain ringing through her body, she trudged back to the training grounds.
Apondra sat heavily at one of the empty tables in the tavern of the grounds, breathlessly asked for a drink and some food, and rested her head on the table. The chatter of the men around her seemed to quiet only for a moment, then resumed quickly.
Once she caught her breath, Apondra lifted her head, and exhaled slowly. Her first day was complete. She went to the bartender and ungraciously used hand gestures to signal him what she wanted. Successful in her endeavor she soon returned to her table with a plate of meat and potatoes, and a mug of ale. She enjoyed her meal in relative silence and retired to her bed for the night.
The following days were much the same, Apondra woke at dawn, paid respects to the statues in the garden, sometimes greeted with the company of the prince as she did so, offered a short prayer to the Mother and Father, and off she went to continue training with the rickshaw. Dreco began increasing the number of trips she would need to make through Etecia, so Apondra made a point to find ways to make the experience enjoyable; counting the number of alley cats she saw as she rounded her way through the streets, greeting everyone she saw and sometimes singing to herself as she went through the streets. She made a stop at a merchant and purchased a pair of leather gloves to wear, which she soon found took much of the strain off of her blistering, calloused hands. The day’s training from then on became easier, and she began completing the day’s training faster and with more resolve than the days before.
As Apondra made her way to her and Dreco’s normal meeting place on the path outside of the city, ready for another day’s training, cloak in hand to stave off the evening chill that would inevitably come by the time she was finished, Apondra was surprised to see Elwe and Colin there with him, each standing before a wooden crate.
She greeted them kindly, and nodded to the prince, who smiled back at her, “What is happening today Dreco?” she looked at him, always gruff and to the point, even in emotion.
“You have done well with this training so far, you hardly come back winded, and have found ways to make this task easier on your body, so we thought we would up the workload,” Dreco lifted his crate, as did Elwe and Colin, and they loaded the rickshaw.
“Same as always kid, but push yourself to go until sundown,”
She nodded, tossing her cloak in among the crates and went to lift the rickshaw, finding it difficult, but with the right footing she could keep it in her hands.
“We will come with you on your way this time,” Colin added at Dreco’s nod, and as Apondra began her rounds, feeling the burn in her body from the added weight, the trio walked alongside her as she went.
Apondra focused herself on the route, as the men chatted alongside her. She quietly listened in, curious as to what they were talking about.
“So your father informed us that the king of Vohabard will be making a trip to Etecia in the coming days?” Dreco seemed to be continuing an earlier conversation.
“Yes,” Elwe answered, “Though it has been some time since those two had an audience together, though Father did not say what the meeting was about, it is most likely to discuss the passenger ships that came into Aetis from the mainland a few days ago,”
Dreco hummed at the mention of the ships, “Are you looking forward to Tyria’s return? She has been gone quite a while now,”
Tyria? Was she a relative of the prince’s? Or something more? Apondra failed to keep the jealous thoughts from surfacing, rounding through the marketplace, nodding to the merchants as they went. She set the rickshaw down here and took a swig of water and shook the ache from her arms before continuing.
“Of course I am looking forward to her coming home in the next few days,” Elwe said jovially, “she will be eager to meet Apondra I am sure,”
Apondra frowned and spoke up for the first time since they began, “Why would she be eager to meet me?”
Elwe laughed, “She has always wished that more women of interest would be close to the castle, Tyria grew tired of the formal conversations of the servants long ago, so she spent much of her time in the library before going to the mainland in search of new books to read,”
Dreco laughed at this and commented, “She became so bored by the books at one point that she began seeking me out for something interesting to do! It felt like she was more entertained walking with me on my rounds than her studies,”
Apondra could not help but smile at the thought of having another woman to converse with, most of the fellow recruits were too focused on their training, or trying to sabotage one another, to strike up conversation with her about anything else. It would be nice to have a true friend here.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Elwe turned back to the previous conversation and stated, “Unless we have suitable accommodations, Vohabard’s guardsman will be bunking with the recruits until their leave. Does that sound alright to you Pond?”
She frowned at the thought of another strange man bunking alongside her, but she found no objection to it beyond her own selfishness, so she agreed, Apondra wondered why the king would only bring one guardsman to a neighbouring kingdom, but rationalized that the king was only there on short business, so there would be no need for more than one or two of his guardsmen to accompany him.
They continued back to the path after a while, and the prince politely excused himself from their company, as Apondra continued on her rounds with Dreco and Colin walking alongside her.
The sun began to set and Apondra sighed, setting the rickshaw down and retrieved her cloak watching as Colin and Dreco departed with the crates and cart, rolling her shoulders with discomfort. Her breath was steady so she quietly checked around herself, noted that no one was within eye line, and removed her bindings, securing them around her waist. Easing her wings through the open back of her shirt, Apondra sighed at the relief. How long had it been since she had freed them of their bonds? She could feel the ache of them and stretched them to their fullest, the relief that came almost brought her to tears as she found a secluded spot further into the trees, almost to the mountain range that was shared among Etecia and Vohabard’s lands, and took to the sky for the first time since leaving home.
The cool autumn breeze wafted the forest scents above to meet her as Apondra flew among the treetops, lost in the freedom of it. She pushed herself to go higher, meeting the snow capped mountains and soaring above them, taking lungfuls of the mountain air by mouth to give herself the rush of her stomach flipping in response. She laughed cheerfully as she spent the darkening hours flying among the mountains, mindful to steer clear of Vohabard, should they see her presence as a threat of some kind, putting her wings to the test. Speed, awareness, even going back into the denser parts of the trees to test her reaction time as she wove around the treetops. She had never felt so free. As the sun was nearing the horizon Apondra returned to the ground, sighing happily as she re-bound her wings and returned to the training grounds to rest.
It was a few days later that Apondra found herself at the tavern after another long day of training. She rolled her shoulders and took her food to her table, eating in silence until a man in a dark cloak accented with red trim and a brooch of a red rose at his throat, came and stood next to her table.
She glanced at him for a moment, mouth full of roast beef, his attire was unfamiliar to her. Who was this man who just came to her table unannounced? At least Dreco and Colin made themselves known if they were coming for a drink with her.
His long dark brown hair came to his broad shoulders, though beneath the cloak a lot of his features were left to the imagination, Apondra could tell that he was well built.
Apondra took a swig of ale and said pointedly, “I know many of them expected me to be packing my things by now,” she eyed the elf who had greeted her in the bunkhouse on her first night, who sat at a table with equally muscled men, loudly chatting and drinking.
The man followed her glance, noting the man.
Apondra noted that the man was not of Elven descent, but there was something off about him; the way he was standing, though evidently relaxed, was almost too casual. LIke he had just found himself with an old friend, not a complete stranger. His eyes casually returned to studying her features, once, twice. She felt a moment of discomfort in it and hid the emotion behind a mouthful of buttered potatoes.
She sighed and motioned for him to sit, at least she would have some company for supper.
He nodded and took a seat, seated back yes, but gently, as she was. As if he was protecting his back.
“If we know each other I do not know your name. I may have seen you in passing at some point today with my training, but I do not recognize you,” Apondra felt as though she was talking to herself, as the man continued to sip his ale casually.
“Who are you?” Apondra almost snapped at the quiet man, growing irritated with his casual demeanor.
He cleared his throat, “Apologies, it was rather rude of me to not start with that… miss?” he was trying to lead her.
“I should ask your name first. I do not recognize you, and it seems that none of the other recruits do either. You are a stranger here, what is your name?” she asked skeptically, noticing that many of her fellow recruits had been eyeing this man since he sauntered in.
“Jasper,” he responded casually, “My king is here on business, one of the guardsmen directed me here for the time being,”
So this was the Vohabardian guard that Dreco and Elwe had been talking about those days ago. Why would he not be escorted by one of them? She frowned at the thought that he had simply walked in of his own accord. King’s attending or not, it was rather rude of him.
She nodded, finishing her food quickly, “Name’s Pond,” she used her shorthand, to keep inconspicuous.
“Pond?” Jasper mirrored, “A rather interesting name. I assume it is a nickname?”
She stood from the table, “Yes it is,” she straightened herself and turned her back on him, when someone touched her back, right over her bindings! She whirled around, ready to connect with the man, but stopped short as she saw Elwe standing next to the man. She lowered her hand immediately and muttered an apology to Elwe. Anxiety rushed her, had he felt her wings? She could not tell by the look of shock on the prince’s face.
“I was just getting my guest here a drink, my apologies for startling you,” Apondra shrunk slightly, she should be the one apologizing.
Apondra sighed and put her hands to her sides, “So Jasper is the one who will be bunking alongside us your Highness?”
Elwe nodded, though his down-turned brow showed he clearly did not like the formality from her, “That is right. However Pond,” he was getting used to using her nickname, she smiled at the use of it, “I need to speak with you privately for a moment, would you mind if I took your company for a moment Jasper?”
Jasper shrugged casually, and took a sip of ale, “Not at all your Highness,” his eyes seemed to still linger on her face, as if he was trying to figure out who he was looking at.
Apondra let the prince lead her by the shoulder out into the night, making their way to the statue garden.
Her heart raced as Elwe bid her to stand with him before Adeena’s statue, even her eyes seemed to burn into Apondra now, like she was staring right into her, bringing her fear and anxiety further to the surface.
Elwe quietly went to water some of the flowers nearby, as if this was the most casual meeting in the world, and retrieved a lantern from behind one of the statues, and came back to her, his pace smooth and even. He stopped and guided her hands to join his in holding the lantern. His emerald eyes met hers, she felt her heart flutter and blush fill her cheeks, not bothering to hide it. Elwe thumbed an envelope into her hand, letting her take hold of the lantern.
Apondra held the lantern to her side and curiously opened the letter. Finding an invitation scrawled in Elwe’s own handwriting.
“I have been thinking of how to deliver this to you unnoticed, and this was the only way I saw fit to do it without suspicion,” Elwe explained.
Apondra’s mouth fell open in surprise as she read the invitation, “A masquerade ball? Tonight?” she looked at him.
Elwe nodded, “I thought it would be a good way to let everyone relax and enjoy themselves properly after a long week of training. I am inviting you as my guest, will you accept my invitation?”
Apondra smiled at the cleverness of it, “I will accept Elwe, but how will I know to find you?”
“I will be wearing my colors, and a white half mask, It should not be hard to find me,”
“I do not have a mask,” she pointed out the obvious, to which Elwe smiled gently, his face inches from hers, and took a moment to fix a strand of hair that came in front of her eyes, “I will find you something,”
Apondra blinked at him, his eyes were even more dazzling up close! “O-okay,” she stammered, chuckling breathlessly as Elwe took a step back to set the lantern down.
Apondra frowned at the lantern, “Not going to light it?”
Elwe smiled knowingly, “Not until tonight. Now head on back, and do not mind Jasper. He will not be here long,”
Apondra did as she was bid, trying her best to not jaunt and skip her way back to the training grounds, awaiting what the prince had in store for tonight.
Dreco discreetly delivered a package for Apondra late that evening, already dressed in his formal attire, a black suit jacket and white undershirt, dark green trousers, always brandishing a blade at his hip for emergencies, and true to Elwe’s word he had found her something to wear. Within there was a beautiful dress of deep red and black, the colors blended beautifully together at the midline, the rich red skirt flowing down to her feet. She slipped it over herself and noticed that the back was open in just a way that she could display her wings in complete anonymity hidden behind the intricate, dark green jeweled, black mask. Everyone would think it as just a decorative piece of her costume. Apondra unbound her wings in the privacy of the bunkhouse, and allowed her wings to become part of her costume. She smiled and pulled on the black heeled boots Dreco had brought along as well. Her mind raced with excitement as she laced the boots, shocked at the comfort of them. He had gotten her size right.
She called for Dreco to come in once she had gotten the dress fitted properly over her back and he stood in the doorway for a moment before coming to help with the fastenings. Apondra assumed that he was shocked at the sight of her wings and carefully lifted them out of the way of the fastenings as Dreco fixed the dress.
He came around the front of her and smiled, “It looks great on you kid, now let's get your hair and face done up hey?” He took a comb and some hair oil from a bag slung on his shoulder and sat quietly with Apondra as he began weaving her hair into a crown of braids around her head, leaving two thick front pieces loose from it to frame her face, smoothing out the stray hairs with drops of the hair oil. He took the crate from under her bed and felt around the box for one of the jars of blood meal. She smiled anxiously as he took a sealed bottle of seed oil from his bag next and began mixing it in with one of the more empty jars, the combination of which resulted in a deep rich red liquid. He then took a pointed brush and began applying the mixture to her cheeks, instructing her to dab it with a rag he passed to her, then applied it generously to her lips resulting in a glossy red lip color.
Satisfied with his work, Dreco then took a silver necklace decorated with a trio of deep green emeralds and fastened it around her neck, the largest oval center gem nestled just above her bust.
“How long until the ball begins?” Apondra asked, putting the makeup mixture back into her box and taking an almost emptied jar out. There would be many in attendance, and certainly royals. Reminding herself of Barri’s advice, she opened her half-empty water skin and tapped the remains of the jar into it, tipping it back and forth in her hands to mix the contents. This would have to do. She heard Dreco step away from her as she took a long swig from it and licked the top of the skin clean.
Dreco did not answer her and had moved to the door, his back to her as she finished her preparations, likely listening to the goings on of the remaining recruits as they prepared for the ball.
“Dreco, would you hold onto this for me tonight?” Apondra asked carefully, extending the waterskin to him, “I do not want to ruin my dress,”
He turned and took the waterskin from her, seeming bothered by the texture of it, “I will have a flask commissioned for you another day,” at her questioning look he smiled, “More discrete,”
Apondra tucked her clothing atop the jars and slid it back in place under her bed with her foot.
Dreco extended his arm to her and smiled , “C’mon kid, time to join the fun,”