Chapter four

Ten years later- Adeline.

Rain slapped the side of their small, poorly built cabin. Ade looked around at the candles that hung on the walls, the puddle slowly forming in the corner of the cabin, then at Alexander. He stood hunched over a small table that rocked as he moved, looking at the city's map. Four other men were at the table, but they weren't important as she didn't come for them. She never even bothered to remember their names.

“We have only five men,” He never acknowledged her, what did she have to do to be recognized?

“Ahem,” Ade cleared her throat and watched Alex as he rolled his eyes. Ade wore Iron armor that was too small for her, she felt smothered inside it with no room for her breast. Ade leaned forward, “and one woman.” she spoke flatly.

“The battlefield is no place for-” Ade cut him off by holding her hand up, she spoke softly despite feeling tempered.

“For a lady?” She asked adding a sarcastic tone in her voice. She stood, her golden sword swaying as she walked around the table. “I'm not weak, Alex. I'm here to fight for my reasons.” Ade scratched the side of the cabin, feeling the splintered wood as she walked, stopping in front of Alex. He wore iron that perfectly matched the curves of his muscles, she had hoped at least. The four men at the table watched intently.

“For a soft warrior who will interrupt their command,” His eyes were piercing now. “When orders are given you follow, no matter how little you like them. I will not let you fight until I have seen what you can do.” Ade was furious. Were the other people allowed to join because they were men? … Or

“For a woman you’ve known? ” She leaned on the table, there was the clinking of metal as the men shifted their gaze away from her waiting for a response from Alex. She dared not to finish her sentence, or for one you’ve fancied? She wanted to add, that she remembered him since childhood. She remembered the way he disappeared, that's what did it for her, she knew something was wrong when he ran from kingsmenship and then she found Ziel.

Alex wore a greatsword on his back, one that was enchanted. Frost covered its blade and a cold smoke emitted from the weapon. He stood a foot taller than Ade and she had to look up to meet his eyes, they always kind of pulled her into their brown abyss, they looked almost golden in the sun. His hair was black, like Ade’s, and always seemed to fall perfectly, almost framing his face.

Ade turned her back on him, her fists balled, and she walked over to the largest man at the table. “Get up, she said poking at him. “Get up and spar with me.” She didn't care about being a part of them or being accepted. She wanted to be respected. There was a slight murmur of laughter among the other three men at the table. Alex was silent as he looked at Ade, his face was emotionless as always.

“What’s my name?” The man asked her, she didn't know. She never came for them or cared to listen when they spoke. She stayed quiet as the large man stood, the table rocked as he did. “Being a woman isn't an issue.” Ade stayed silent as the man, who stood two feet taller than Ade, spoke. His voice wasn't as deep as she would have thought it, she expected a deep voice with a man of his stature, but as he stood and looked down on her she cursed her pride. “What will make this fight against Calvin work, are warriors who fight like as one. You don't even know our names, how can we fight as one? We are too separate a people, but sparring!” He took a deep breath through his large nose, “now that's a good way for a unit to connect. “My name is Agnes, but call me Teensy.” He added before he bowed his head.

Ade didn't care she wanted respect, but if remembering his name would be the key then she would remember, “Teensy,” she repeated after him and they walked out of the cabin into the thickness of trees. They walked only a moment before they came to a clearing and Teensy pulled a dagger from his belt.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“A Dagger?” Ade was surprised that such a large man chose such a small weapon. Teensy twirled the blade beween his fingers.

“Never underestimate someone, rarely will someone walk into war unprepared, and those who do die first,” Teensy took a stance with his dagger aimed at her, and his other arm was bent in a defensive position, she noticed his feet were spread out with a slight bend in his knees.

She drew her sword and, like usual when she had the sword drawn, she smelled rosemary and mint. It always felt warm when she held the golden sword. She closed her eyes rushing through her memories trying to gather the fragmented pieces of when her parents trained her. The mind fog still clouded the truth with lies, the memories the king forced into her head pounded like a raging drum. Her head felt as if an axe was swung and lodged deeply into her skull, she grabbed her head and battled for balance as vertigo came in.

“Trying to remember your training?” Teensy asked relaxing from his stance. Alex took a step towards Ade, she saw his boots make strides to her and she closed her eyes to gather her equilibrium. She felt as if someone held a rope, tied to her neck, and was pulling her over to one side. She opened her eyes and, with words that rang in her head like chimes on a windy day, “Keep your feet apart!” She took a stance. She remembered those words to be her father's on the days he had trained her, and she separated her feet making sure to thank him, wherever his spirit was now. Teensy retook his stance, Ade saw worry in his eyes. Was he going to go easy on her? Ade scoffed to herself.

Ade decided to take the first move and ran ready to swing her sword at him, she wanted to knick his arm just a little to show how serious she was. She swung her sword but it was over just as quick as it started. She heard metal clattering and the sword had left her hand before she knew it. She felt a strong grip on her wrist and closed her eyes as she came in contact with the dirt rolling into a tree. Her whole body was screaming in pain as she lay on the ground. She wanted to blame it on how she was crammed in the armor. There was laughter among the men watching them, then she felt it.

It was as if someone wrapped their arms around her but she wasn't afraid, she welcomed the warmth that wrapped around her. Then she heard it, “Breath Ady,” Ady… the nickname her mother called her as a child, whispered into her ear. She still wasn't afraid, she felt overwhelming trust filling her heart and she took a deep breath filling both her lungs. She was standing now, holding her sword with her right hand, her eyes were closed, and she was hunched slightly. Her body moved on its own guided by the unseen. She knew who it was, the smell of Thyme and Rosemary filled the air around her and gave it away. Her mother used thyme and rosemary as a perfume, “I trust you,” she said and her body moved on its own gently gliding the sword over her head to her other hand where she held the weapon with the blade facing upwards. The diamond heart pulsated in her hand and she swung the sword with the air in her lungs disappearing as if she suddenly exhaled hard.

The others in the group watched as Teensy was thrown from where he stood, now they were silent. Ade opened her eyes and sheathed her sword, thank you, she thought, holding the sword's golden hilt. “I am not weak,” she spoke to the men as Teensy got back to his feet.

“Been a long time, long time indeed since Teensy was off balance.” Teensy rubbed his ass as he walked to Alex, “She would be an asset.” Ade heard him say in a failed whisper and he limped past Alex, hunched over holding his left knee while he moved away.

“I can't control what you do, you don't follow orders. We don't have room for lone warriors to get in our way.” Alex turned to the men who were not laughing now. They stared at her in what Ade thought looked like shock, did she earn respect now? “Henry. You will be training her, teaching her. She has to learn what it means to be a part of us.” he was looking Ade in the eyes, pulling her in. He stared for a second before walking away into a large tent behind the Shotty shack they all were stuffed in. Ade had never seen it before and wondered why they couldn't have their meetings there instead.

“That's the commander's living quarters, we don't go in there.” A voice came from behind she turned around to see a man about the same height as her with brown hair that was cut short. His face had harsh features as if they were cut from stone. He held his helmet under his arm, “I’m Henry, you better remember it if you want to be a part of us.” He was looking at her with piercing eyes that told her he was a brute, despite his size. She suddenly felt her heart beat the rhythm of apprehension and she turned away from Henry. She felt death was inevitable, she feared that it was. “We aren't a team,” Henry continued. “ We are not a group or a squad. We are a Brigade, a rebellion. We fight and lay our lives for others.” She had just remembered she forgot to tell Alex about Ben and everything Henry said was unheard.

“Henry, was it” She asked. “I need a second” She walked away from Henry, who went back to the raging laughter from the other men. She walked to the tent and stopped, her heart sped up again as she stood outside his tent, but she walked in anyway.

Alex stood in the middle of the rather large tent with a metal basin of water, with suds. He stood over it ready to get in, completely naked. Ade thought that his armor did perfectly trace his curves and her gaze didn't stop moving until she was staring beneath his waist. She couldn't help it as he stood so confidently.

“Ziel already told me,” Alex spoke smoothly looking at her not moving. She still stared quietly, feeling the blood rushing to her cheeks. She wanted to undo her armor and let it fall to the ground, she wanted to grab him and take the bath with him but she simply turned and walked out of the tent without saying extra words.