The sword slashed through the air with a hiss. She moved her feet further forward, swiping downward with her blade. She held the blade perfectly balanced, leveled with the nose, just as she had learned. Her uneven breaths fogged the atmosphere. The cold air nipped at her through her clothing, sending a chill down her spine.

She slammed her sword down again; she was heavy on her feet, but swift with her swing. A grunt escaped her lips as she parried away from nothing. With the next cut, she threw her hands up, high, with her point above her face. She brung her weapon in, circling. 

One last strike with her sword, it was hard and fast; but she hadn't been stable enough. There was no confidence in her blow.

She cursed as she stumbled forward a bit. 

Her eyes narrowed to the left, hearing the soft scribbles coming from the other woman. "Yvonne! Were you even watching me?" Her head shot up, away from the pencil she held to her thick sheet of paper. "Yes!" Yvonne chirped, putting the paper down. In the cold her tawny skin was paled. She batted her soft brown eyes at her. "Oh? Then what did you think about my form?"

She blinked."Good? I...guess? I-I don't know much about this fighting stuff Naelle!" She put up the paper, showing the drawing of her design. Naelle wasn't surprised. The only reason Yvonne was here was because Naelle agreed to spend the days with her sowing. So Yvonne agreed to spend the evenings with her in the yard, practicing her sword work. 

Naelle groaned, flopping down into the snow. "This is a nightmare!" She exclaimed up to the grey glooming shy, both her arms up. Yvonne walked over to Naelle, bringing her blanket with her. 

"What's wrong?" She asked. "Nothing!" She snapped, but Yvonne didn't budge. She rested her head on her chin. Naelle blew out air throughout cheeks. 

"I just want to impress him when he comes back. I mean I have to be better, maybe if I am he'll finally let me fight with the army." She slapped a hand on her forehead. 

Yvonne lifted her oil-black hair over her shoulder and sat next to her. "I'm sure you'll impress him Naelle! If not with your fighting skills then your undying spirit..which can be taken as stubbornness, but still!" Naelle casted the girl a harsh glare. Yvonne cleared her throat. 

"Plus, your brother not letting you fight has little to do with your skills and a lot to do with the that fact that he hates the queen and her army." Naelle rolled her eyes. "All because he has this narrative that she's some evil witch. Sometimes I swear he acts more like a father than a brother." She added, wiggling her fingers out. "Well technically he is your guardian." 

"That doesn't make it any less infuriating!"

Yvonne sighed, picking up her notebook. "In his defense , this fight is dangerous Naelle. I heard the creatures on the other side of the Scoy Gria will give any man nightmares for years." Naelle tched. "Danger? I laugh in the face of danger." Yvonne shivered. "I don't."

"Smart girl Lady Xyrlynn, I cannot say the same for your peasant friend." 

The snow was crushed under their feet, as they approached. The snorts and blows of horses followed. The armor that protected their body glimmered under the grey light of the sky. Soldiers- Two of them stood in front of the girls, holding the leads to two beautiful stallions. 

"Hassan." 

"Naelle Shae. Still trying to be a warrior I see. How pathetic." Naelle shook the snow out of her braids, reaching for her sword. Her least favorite solider-least favorite human being. 

The man scoffed. "And what are you going to do with that?" He mocked. "Come closer and I'll show you." Hassan sneered at her. "I see still no one has taught you the manners to use when talking to a man of the court, perhaps I should reteach you that lesson." 

Her jaw clenched. "Man of the court? I'm sorry I mistook you for a talking pig."  

He sprung, ready to wring her neck or something else cruel, but the other solider held out his arm. "Enough! Do not forget yourself." He scolded. 

The solider sized up Naelle, dropping his arm. "I assume you are Naelle Sahe, a neighbor told us that we could find you here."

She scoffed. Mrs Elans nosey ass. Was her guess. "That is me, and you are?" She queried, brushing the slush off her trousers and shoulders. His face was serious, but not overly hardened. "My name is Samuel Ashford."

"What's going on?" She asked. He cleared his throat. "The queen has requested an audience with you."

Yvonne and Naelle looked to one another, eyes bulging. Yvonne shrugged. "My parents didn't say anything." She whispered. Yvonnes parents were apart of Queen Nileas court, earning them an insight to almost everything she did. 

But clearly not everything. 

"Why?" She tried to sound as calm as possible.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

To ask me to be a solider?

"Probably the cut out your unpleasant tongue." Hassan laughed at his own remark, earning a glare from the other solider. "We need you to come with us." 

She raised her brows. "Oh? And why should I believe you? Why would the queen even send you? She has messengers."

"This is apparently urgent." Samuel said. "And I was given orders by the queen to bring you by any means necessary. This can turn into an arrest, if you'd like."

"You still haven't answered why. Why does the queen want to see me?" Hassan snorted, pulling the rope off of the top of his horses sattle. 

"Looks like this will be an arrest. Perfect for me."

Yvonne held out a hand towards the solider. "Wait!" 

She squeezed Naelles hand. "Naelle, you should go with them. It's late and you don't want to get arrested at night. I'll tell my parents where you are." Naelle bit the inside of her cheek. She handed her sword to Yvonne, the only person she trusted to hold it for her. 

"Fine, I will go."

Hassan smirked. "Not like you had much of a choice."

~

Naelle had never been in side of the gates where the castle was. She had only seen the large stature from miles away where she lived. 

No matter how much she begged, her brother never let her get close. No matter how much Yvonne begged him to let her come stay with her.

The white castle was like Asweyns personal star. People wished to it, told their dreams to it, even bowed to it. In the darkest hour of the night, it could still be seen. 

The highest points of the castle were towers made out of gold with long pointed tips. She could see the stained glass windows; the images of firebirds and women with swords. She couldn't help but grin at the sight. 

The soldiers rode across the drawbridge, Naelle still taking in the sights around her. She hung onto sattle instead of Samuels back. The waters of the moat below were frozen,snow covering most of the surface. The cold frosty wind blew in her face and twisted her coils up and to the side. 

As they raced across the stone bridge, the royal guard began to open the gates. When they passed under it, Naelle couldn't help, but hear the voice that screamed in her head. 

The voice that reminded her that her brother would have a conniption if he found out about this. 

She sighed, clenching her eyes shut. Perhaps he wouldn't be upset when he returned, he'd realize that this wasn't her fault-she didn't particularly have a choice. Or he could move her as far away from Asweyn as humanly possible. Now that-that sounded like something he'd do. 

Or maybe just don't tell him. Another voice whispered in the back of her head. 

The horse slowed down, the solider sitting in front of her turning around. "Naelle? It's time to get off." He waved his hand at her. 

She dismounted, wrapping her arms around herself. Hassan grabbed her elbow, yanking her towards him. "Keep your mouth shut and follow us." He snarled. She tugged her arm away from him. "Yes, whatever. Just don't touch me!" 

They led her to a staircase, guarded by two men in red tunics. They stepped aside allowing the four of them up the stairs. 

Their steps echoed off the walls as they walked. Naelle put her thumb in between the spaces of all her fingers, her heart racing. 

One of the soldiers swung the door open, leading them into another hall. The floors had maroon carpet with golden designs on it, the walls decorated with gold paint. 

They turned down another hallway and another. Naelle began to count her steps as her hand laid softly on where her sword would have been. 

She grunted as she hit a back. "Why did you you stop wa...oh." She breathed out, looking at the large double door. 

"You will bow as soon as you enter." Samuel ordered sternly. "And for your sake, you'll say as few words as possible, understood?" She exhaled dramatically but quietly. "Are you going to knock or are we going to stand here?" 

Hassan shoved past her, hitting his knuckles against the sliver doors. He did it with a softness-a respect that she hadn't thought possible for a him. 

There were no words, just a haunting moment of silence before the doors opened. All of them entered, before the men bowed on their knees; Naelle at the waist.

She sat cross legged on the crystal throne. The purple amethyst was round in the back and perfectly curved for her in the front. A thin carpet stretched out from the throne to the door. 

Queen Nilea's blue eyes pierced into Naelles as she straightened her back. 

"Finally."

Her skin was pale, her straight white hair flowing down to her hips. She uncrossed her legs, standing up from her throne. 

"My patience was starting to wear quite thin." She said as she waltzed down the carpet.  Nilea was tall and thin. Her long sleeved sliver gown dragged against the floor. 

Naelle swallowed as the queen got closer. Her eyes didn't leave the girl. "I suppose next time you'll be more time efficient when I request something?" Naelle looked up, no words coming from her mouth. 

"Yes, your majesty." The soldiers both muttered in unison. Nilea sent them both a curt nod. "You may leave us." She ordered the men around them. Without another word, they cleared out. The door shut with a loud click.

  "Naelle Sahe." She greeted. 

"No one told me of your beauty." Nilea hummed, circling her. She had rich dark brown skin and eyes that resembled sard brown chalcedonies. Her features were full, her lips, her broad nose and thick brows. "I thought I knew all of Asweyn. All it's treasures." She picked up a spiral curl of Naelles. "This is a pleasant surprise."

"Why am I here?" The words blurted out, but she hadn't regretted it. The queen cocked her head to the side, dropping the piece of her hair. "You do not fall for charms I see. Straight to the point." She let out a small chuckle.

"I don't fault you, I did send my soldiers after you, I suppose it is fair for me to tell you why you're here." She stood in front of Naelle, arms crossing against her chest. 

"Your brother, Gavin Sahe." 

Her chest stopped thumbing for a moment , she felt as if she was being hung upside down. The words repeated in her mind over and over again, muffled as if she was under water. She had already been worried,like she always was when he was away. 

"I-I..I'm sorry I don't think I heard you properly." 

Nilea turned away from her and went back to her throne, picking up her gown and sitting down. "You did, Lady Sahe. You are here because of your brother."

Her thighs wobbled and her lids fell open and closed, over and over again. "Why? Where is he? Is he here?"

Nilea crossed her arms against her chest once more. "He is not here." She answered, cryptic and short. "He is not even in Asweyn, but you already knew that." Her nerves spiked and her eyebrows shot together. 

She was right, she hadn't seen her brother in eight days. "Of course he's not here." She couldn't lie, not for the sake of her soul. "He's not here, because he's..he's a traveling merchant." 

The queen smirked. "Naelle, what a pretty name? May I call you that?" Naelle nodded. "Do you know of the effort going on right now?"

"I do, we are fighting with the up rise on the other side of the Scoy Gria. To reclaim all of Asweyn." 

'And I want to fight'

But it wasn't the time for that.

"Do you know who the uprise is?"

Naelle rolled her shoulders back. "Creatures, monsters..the fae." She said in a hushed tone. They were always described to her as clever hideous beast. That they would steal you if you so much as told them your full name. 

"Then you understand the importance of us winning this sorry excuse of a war. You understand the danger their kind posses to ours? Crossing the Scoy Gria is illegal for civilians!" Her voice began to rise. 

"I know. I know all of that."

For a moment, all the queen did was stare, perhaps she was trying to read her. "If you understand this, why doesn't your brother? Isn't he supposed to be your guardian?" 

"Excuse me?"

Nilea clenched her jaw. "What kind of trading could your brother be doing over the wall hm? Information? Secrets? Weapons?" 

"How dare you?!" Her voice cracked as she screamed. "My brother is not a traitor..he..he..is not like that." She put a hand over her chest as it stung. "He would not cross the Scoy Gria."

She plucked a wrapped item from the side of her throne, throwing it towards Naelle. "Do you recognize that?" 

The dark skinned girl caught it between her palms, giving the queen a suspicious look. She peeled the stretchy material back. 

The blade had writing on it-engraved on both sides. Letters from a language she didn't understand. The sharpest knife she had ever encountered. 

She never had understood what it said. Every time she asked, she was met with the same answer. 

'One day you will understand'

Her eyes fluttered shut. Then open again. 

"Oh my gods."

It was his.