SYLVAN ELF CHRONICLES. Christianne Van Keuren
she found a suitable spot she took a few practice swings with her sword to loosen muscles stiffened by the long ride. Tobias stood nearby holding her outer tunic.
True to his word, Nalas appeared on the fields within the hour, much to Mattea’s annoyance. He made his way quickly across the ground, barely acknowledging the salutes thrown his way from soldiers he went past. His gaze totally focused forward on the pair, but mainly on Mattea. Mattea could feel his stare and trained her concentration on her movements. She moved herself about so she always kept him in her line of sight.
Tobias watched her face and the slight strain that increased the furrow on her brow with each step bringing Nalas closer to them. At first he thought it was nervous apprehension, but the more he observed the more it became evident it was aggravated annoyance. She was able to read Nalas’ face from where she was and her harsh whisper was spot on.
“His intentions were more than just a personal bodyguard as you said. Did you lie to me to get me here?” The blade she wielded was warmer and softer than the cold, razor sharp glare directed his way.
Tobias couldn’t meet the steeled deadly gaze, so he sidestepped it as best he could with his answer.
“I knew you rattled him badly, but I thought it was just for your skills.” Tobias partially told the truth. “He just told me to find out who you were, I wasn’t privy to his other intentions as I said before. I wouldn’t intentionally lie to you. If I knew this was his intention, I would have taken off and paid the price for defying a direct order.”
“I have no intentions of bedding the bastard. I have a husband and I won’t betray him. I’ll kill him first.” She indicated with a nod of her head towards Nalas.
“I’ll hand you the knife.” Tobias said meeting her gaze directly. Truth setting his jaw line. He also knew it would be the last thing he did and he would be proud to die by her side.
“I’ll hold you to it.”
Both grew silent as Nalas got within earshot. You couldn’t miss the milksop expression painted across Nalas’ face, like a schoolboy with his first crush. Mattea bowed as she spoke. “Lord Nalas. You summoned me for your personal guard attachment?” She didn’t look up right away as she couldn’t stomach the look on his face.
“I…well I…” Nalas started, his tongue tripping and stumbling over his words like an infant taking its first tentative steps. He turned to Tobias, flustered and confused. Tobias stepped in, winging it.
“Lord Nalas had requested you for his personal entourage, because of the courage and abilities you displayed under pressure on the training grounds. He felt you deserved a position worthy of your talents.”
“If that is the real reason, I accept the position.” She gave Nalas a hard look as she added. “And for that and only that.” She highly doubted that Nalas or Tobias knew of her skills as an assassin. She was going to keep it that way. “I shall try and honor your wishes and fulfill it to the best of my abilities. I only have one request.”
“What is that?” Nalas’ voice and posture almost well for lack of a better term ‘soft’. Tobias did a quick side glance at Nalas, trying not to get caught doing it. Not believing what he’s hearing from Nalas.
“Only to be treated the same as your other male soldiers of this detail. No better, no worse and definitely no favors or special treatment. I do not wish to draw attention to myself and create any problems.”
Nalas searched her face for a moment before her direct gaze pulled his eyes towards hers. She didn’t look away as she waited for his answer. She showed no fear, no apprehension.
“I think you should…” Nalas watched the look go from waiting to ‘choose your words carefully’, eyes narrowing to thin slits. He started again after a moment’s thought. “I think you have made a fair, simple request and it can be granted.”
The look eased, but the guarded posture and expression remained. She trusted no one, especially Nalas.
“I’ll have you train down here on your time off. I want you to keep your skills sharp and train some of the raw recruits.”
“That, M’Lord, is what I do best.” Her face and voice flat, devoid of emotion. She also had every intention of honing her other skills that she had let slide of recent. Her victims would be some of the older soldiers that would not be missed as much, none of the servants for they were all slaves. She needed to find a spot to dispose of the bodies and would be scouting for this by going for long runs to increase her lung stamina. This would be the perfect cover. Mattea had immediately noticed shortness of breath from the lighter air of the mountain’s elevation. She was in fairly decent shape so it wouldn’t take long. Running with a full pack would also hasten the training.
Nalas’ continued stare made her skin crawl, but she would not allow it to control her. She appeared as calm as a cucumber. She stared right back, no indication of what was going on behind those cold eyes. She sensed Tobias fidgeting ever so slightly beside Nalas, but she refused to look away or back down. She saw the corners of Nalas’ mouth curl up ever so slightly, his eyes seeking some type of response from her. He was rewarded with a nothing, but a flat, deadpan rejection. Mattea broke the suspense with a statement as effective as a cold bucket of water.
“Will that be all M’Lord?”
It left nothing to the imagination as to her feelings towards him. It brought him out of his goofy silence.
“Ah…yes…yes that will be all for now.”
“Then I shall return to my quarters and change into more appropriate training gear so as to assist the trainees.” And with that she saluted, refusing to move until Nalas half-heartedly saluted back. She strode away from him as controlled as physically possible without breaking into a run. She just wanted to get as far away from him as possible. She knew the look and didn’t send any welcoming response to encourage any further advances from him. She was very happily married. Would kill to protect her children, hoping she would see them again. She was very seriously considering praying to the Graces for assistance, they hadn’t lied to her or interfered into her life.
Nalas in the meantime just stood and stared at the retreating figure wondering what he had done wrong, he could think of only one thing and he could solve that quickly.
“Does she have a husband?” Nalas asked, anger tainting his words.
Tobias almost answered before he caught himself and flat out lied to Nalas. He owed this miserable being nothing. “No. And from my conversation with her superior she never did. She didn’t want any type of; now how did he put it? Oh yes She wanted nothing to tie her down or could be used as leverage against her if the situation arose.”
“Hmmm…” Nalas scratched at his chin as he spoke out loud. “Maybe I can change that.”
Tobias never said a word, but thought to himself. ‘You’ll die trying.’
Chapter Ten
THE town elders discussed at length what was to happen in the next two weeks. Provisions were to be gotten in order and packed. A final survey was to be made of the trainees as to who was ready to leave and who still needed more training. There was also the decision as to who would have to remain behind to protect the village. Darius already knew that he would be remaining behind so he didn’t even put up a fuss. He knew he had to heal more.
“Master Peter, do you feel you can spare young master Jake?” Jeb Thornton asked.
“If it’s a dire necessity I can, but it will make it tight for getting the remaining weaponry ready. But we can make do.”
“I don’t know whether to be happy or disappointed.” Jake whispered to Darius.
“Lucky to be putting off the inevitable of having to make the decision.” Came Brian’s interjection. “Darius only had a brief brush of things to come and came out quite lucky considering what could have happened.”
“It