September 21, 1000 - Early Morning
Ponia had enemies inside it now. The people had lost four areas to the enemy. Mila had been to each place in the aftermath of the fighting. Battles continued to be lost. Something had to happen and soon if the war was to be won. Troops were spread thin across the mountains while those who were trying to overtake Ponia multiplied. Now Mila was scouting again for Tink, if it could be called scouting. It was a boring, no action order. Go in, ensure the place is empty then move out. A dog could do the job. Her breath came out in white puffs her nose was red. No matter how hard she tried Mila couldn't seem to coax the old excited feeling to light. A dog barked far off.
There shouldn't be any dogs around, not here, in the midst of the forest. She glanced left, right then waited. It must be someone out hunting. She leaned from one side to the other her eyes closed. The moment they were, images from past battles swarmed in. Men moaning or crying for someone to put them out of their pain. Vultures circled over the battle field that used to be a village. The enemy threw feasts in the homes that were not destroyed, ignoring the dead and dying.
If I mess this up I'll never live it down. Keep calm, just a hunter trying to feed his starving family. Almost everyone is getting desperate for food nowadays.
Mila held her head high, resolve solidifying someplace deep inside. She was the queen's daughter, one of the Royal Blood. It would be ridiculous to be frightened of a simple dog. A leaf floated down from overhead.
Eyes strained to see through the foliage overhead, her hands clutched the dagger tighter than before.
I'm being stupid, what would be up a tree but a squirrel or a bird?
She moved forward small step by tiny step. As she got closer smells drifted on the stiff breeze. Fried fish, dung, and sweat along with another smell that is unidentifiable.
Who was there, someone must be living in the building if those smells were near. Mila's heart pumped triple time making her entire body tingle. Holding the dagger at the ready she moved backward, eyes on the building.
The smell of trees got stronger, shadows leaned toward Mila until they covered her again.
Crach!
Crach!
"No,"
a man's voice whispered. Mila gasped staring upward. A man's chain mail legs kicked from a tree but a few feet away. The limb that held him bent down. Alarms burst in Mila's head. She crouched, ready for a battle.
Craaa- whump!
The man landed on his bum cursing under his breath. His blond hair covered his forehead and eyes, his sword fell from his open hands. Now or never. He was defenceless, one decent throw and she would have one less worry. Her hands moved down the handle, her arm went back. Honor, the thought nibbled through the barrier of fear and pumping blood. He was unarmed, no way to defend himself. Guilt floors Mila.
Am I so callous that I'll kill an unarmed person? Have I become cold and unfeeling?
Something crunched on the left, it growled. A dog leaped in front of the man, lips pulled away from his teeth, feet wide apart. Mila's mind whirled with the few facts she knew about dogs. Stay put, running makes them chase, she knew that much. Other than that her knowledge was small.
Mila raised her hands keeping the rest of her body still.
"Call your dog off,"
she whispered. The man brushed dirt and leaves off his clothes. He looked Mila over from head to toe like a piece of candy.
she whispered. The man brushed dirt and leaves off his clothes. He looked Mila over from head to toe like a piece of candy.
"Fine."
His word was reluctant, like he would be the poorer for giving it away. He spoke with a northern accent, the words had a certain tang to them.
"Safe,"
he whispered, moving his index finger toward the dog. It scurried away, stopping to sniff his master before it jogged back into the forest.
he whispered, moving his index finger toward the dog. It scurried away, stopping to sniff his master before it jogged back into the forest.
"You are very loud,"
he said, he turned to face Mila. On the left side of his face a large bruise surrounded his bright blue eye. He had the raw beginning of a beard sprouting.
"If you had not fallen from the tree I would have been silent,"
he said, he turned to face Mila. On the left side of his face a large bruise surrounded his bright blue eye. He had the raw beginning of a beard sprouting.
"If you had not fallen from the tree I would have been silent,"
Mila said, face red, hands clenched tight. He stared at her, the edges of his eyes twitched.
"Where are you from?"
he asked taking a step closer.
he asked taking a step closer.
"It is not of your concern,"
she said. She didn't have time for this there were the orders from Tink. Instant decisions. This man didn't appear to be interested in killing anyone. She had to move to the building.
she said. She didn't have time for this there were the orders from Tink. Instant decisions. This man didn't appear to be interested in killing anyone. She had to move to the building.
Mila turned the fanciest way she knew how.
Ha, he'll at least see that I have good blood in my veins if nothing else!
The door opened.
"Just two of 'em, I can handle it!"
a man yelled over his shoulder. He sighed, pulled his pants higher and held his sword at the ready.
a man yelled over his shoulder. He sighed, pulled his pants higher and held his sword at the ready.
"I've got this one,"
blondie said, he did not even look at Mila.
blondie said, he did not even look at Mila.
Metal clashed on metal. The two men moved in a circle. Blond lunged, brown stepped backward out of range. Mila tip-toed around the men. Brown's strike went wide, she heard it whistle past her arm. Uncertainty held her feet in place, right before the door. She stared at the fight. Blond feinted right then striked left, catching brown off guard. The blade hit his shoulder, non-sword arm. Blood dripped down his arm, he clenched his teeth so tight lines appeared on his face.
"You sure are taking a long time!"
a female voice yelled from inside. Mila turned the knob, head throbbing with the pressure of having to decide. She pushed the door open and slipped inside without a sound. The place smelled of moldy straw and fish. Mila's stomach curled and she struggled to stay her ground.
a female voice yelled from inside. Mila turned the knob, head throbbing with the pressure of having to decide. She pushed the door open and slipped inside without a sound. The place smelled of moldy straw and fish. Mila's stomach curled and she struggled to stay her ground.
"Who are you, another of his lovelies?"
the female voice said.
the female voice said.
The woman sat on a pile of straw with dagger drawn. Her skin was the color of cinnamon and her hair topsy-turvy.
"No, I suppose you can't be one of those seeing how he isn't here right now." She stretched before leaping nimbly to Mila's side, "Oh, I s'pose adding another to the death tolls will make Crispin happier with me."
Anger built inside her like water in a dam. Up and up until it was ready to overflow.
"And how many of the defenseless have you killed?"
she asked her face flushed.
she asked her face flushed.
"Too many to count. We've conquered two villages, one city, and the nearest mine," the woman chuckled leaning even closer to Mila's splotchy face.
"Your country is poorly defended."
From the corner a male voice lowers the dam of anger a fraction.
"We didn't kill anyone who didn't fight. We aren't brutes. However, I will enjoy watching you two ladies fight, I do love watching my girl."
Mila glanced his way, keeping the woman in the corner of her eye. He was tanned with dark hair and eyes, white teeth. He sat in a wooden chair under a lookout window on the far wall.
From the corner a male voice lowers the dam of anger a fraction.
"We didn't kill anyone who didn't fight. We aren't brutes. However, I will enjoy watching you two ladies fight, I do love watching my girl."
Mila glanced his way, keeping the woman in the corner of her eye. He was tanned with dark hair and eyes, white teeth. He sat in a wooden chair under a lookout window on the far wall.
"Go!"
the woman yelled. Mila turned too slow, the blade nicked her left hand.
the woman yelled. Mila turned too slow, the blade nicked her left hand.
"Don't make this easy! I've been bored and want it to last. Ain't nothing to do around here."
Mila hesitated. I don't want to kill anyone, not anymore. God, help me do what is right and good. Help me to know if I should attack or run, please.
A little voice whispered in her mind, a reminder of a phrase she had read somewhere. 'I believe in protecting my people'. She was His, that she was certain. The woman slashed and Mila ducked. She put her hands up and stood. Emotions tangled and knotted like Mila's floss when she tried to embroider.
Mila stabbed toward the stomach of her opponent, she moved aside. The next strike the blades catch on each other. Their faces inches apart Mila could smell the drink on Miss Cinnamon's breath.
The man in the corner chuckled, shaking his head.
"You won't win miss!"
he yelled. Mila gathered her strength to her arms. Concentrating on the hilt she forced the energy out and pushed away. She took a step back, feinted to the right and got caught up again when she tried to strike the left.
Miss Cinnamon knows what she's doing, trained.
She ducked a strike then leaped up aiming inward at the neck.
Mila hesitated. I don't want to kill anyone, not anymore. God, help me do what is right and good. Help me to know if I should attack or run, please.
A little voice whispered in her mind, a reminder of a phrase she had read somewhere. 'I believe in protecting my people'. She was His, that she was certain. The woman slashed and Mila ducked. She put her hands up and stood. Emotions tangled and knotted like Mila's floss when she tried to embroider.
Mila stabbed toward the stomach of her opponent, she moved aside. The next strike the blades catch on each other. Their faces inches apart Mila could smell the drink on Miss Cinnamon's breath.
The man in the corner chuckled, shaking his head.
"You won't win miss!"
he yelled. Mila gathered her strength to her arms. Concentrating on the hilt she forced the energy out and pushed away. She took a step back, feinted to the right and got caught up again when she tried to strike the left.
Miss Cinnamon knows what she's doing, trained.
She ducked a strike then leaped up aiming inward at the neck.
The woman ducked a second before the strike would have landed. Her slanted eyes showed fear. Mila's wrist ached. Her left hand stung from sweat seeping into the cut Miss Cinnamon had given.
"Stick 'er, I want to get back to my nap,"
the man said. Mila closed her eyes tight. Her thoughts were coming back after being able to only dwell on the motions of fighting. She felt ill and her eyes filled with tears. Just once before she had killed.
"I'm going to!"
The woman tried to stab her thigh then her belly. Mila dodged, twisting backward then sideways. She kneeled, reached up and stabbed.
Her knife plunged and hit its target. Mila glanced upward at the girl's face.
"Stick 'er, I want to get back to my nap,"
the man said. Mila closed her eyes tight. Her thoughts were coming back after being able to only dwell on the motions of fighting. She felt ill and her eyes filled with tears. Just once before she had killed.
"I'm going to!"
The woman tried to stab her thigh then her belly. Mila dodged, twisting backward then sideways. She kneeled, reached up and stabbed.
Her knife plunged and hit its target. Mila glanced upward at the girl's face.
Her lips were parted in the mangled cry of a wounded creature. She held both of her hands to the wound and gasped for breath.
"I'm sorry,"
Mila whispered and pulled the dagger out. Her gut wrenched and she stared at the dagger unable to rip her eyes away. The girl slipped to the floor. Her eyes closed. Mila watched as her shallow breathing slowed then stopped.
I'm a soldier now. I've killed a person on purpose.
"You killed 'er, how could you have killed 'er?"
the man yelled. He leaped up rushed to the girl and felt her pulse. He gasped, took a step back, then stared. Mila struggled to not cry. Everything felt filthy and bad. The world looked blurry and quivered.
the man yelled. He leaped up rushed to the girl and felt her pulse. He gasped, took a step back, then stared. Mila struggled to not cry. Everything felt filthy and bad. The world looked blurry and quivered.
"How could a wench like you kill 'er? She's the best in our entire company!"
His mouth worked like he was trying to say more. He clutched at air then drew his sword.
"She's a Ma. Got herself a little two year old back home, now all she's got is an orphan! Who's gonna take care of that baby for her? How could you!"
Mila shook her head, heart aching so fierce she thought it wouldn't heal, ever.
Mila shook her head, heart aching so fierce she thought it wouldn't heal, ever.
"She attacked me first, I did not have a choice,"
she said holding the dagger up. The man snarled, his face turned into a grimace.
"I'll get my revenge on you, wench, if it's the last thing I do,"
he said creeping closer in the small shack. Mila's hands shook on the small hilt, she feared dropping it to the floor.
"Please, I did not wish to kill her,"
she said. Her knees felt like gummies. The man stepped one last step. He was in range to kill.
The door thrust wide smacking the man square on the forehead. He fell backward holding his head with his only free hand.
Chain mail clinked as the newest arrival stomped in. Mila grinned and her face flushed. Her fingers slipped away from the dagger.
"Thought I told you to scoot,"
he said and pointed at her. His words twanged like a guitar. His right hand clenched the sword. Her eyes followed his grip up his chain mailed arm. That chain mail... it looked to be from the mountain district. She had studied all the mails and knew where the best could be found and that was the mountains. There the people had learned from the neighbors that now fought to unseat all of Ponia. The man leaped around the door to the enemy.
"Arm yourself,"
he said spouting the traditional call for an honorable fight, Mila remembered.
he said spouting the traditional call for an honorable fight, Mila remembered.
The dark and the light held their sword tips together then both swung at the same time. The dark went straight the blond to the side.
In the first sweep the light beheaded the dark. Mila turned her eyes away, face pale. She stared at the only table in the shack. On it sat two steaming dishes of fish. She always thought of food whenever she felt woozy. Even when she tried her hardest not to the images and thoughts of delicacies flitted through her mind and refused to be shooed away. Now there was the actual thing stinking up the room. Tink should have come by now. If anything took a minute too long she appeared out of no place to ask why it was taking so darn long. Mila bit back a moan. She was going to throw up. Right in front of the man who saved her. The man was silent. He stepped over the enemy and stared out the window.
"What's your name?"
she asked. Anything to distract from the food.
"Wisp of Wigmoore Castle. You?"
Mila mumbled in her mind over all the things she couldn't tell Wisp. She struggled to find a single thing she could say without revealing too much about herself or the others.
"I'm Mila."
She tried a smile but it felt stretchy like years old apple jerky. Just like ancient jerky she dropped the grin and vowed not to try it again.
"That's it? Where are you from and why are you here?"
he asked. His eyebrows raised up so high Mila wondered if they might end up above his hairline and get stuck. Even as she thought it the idea sounded silly.
he asked. His eyebrows raised up so high Mila wondered if they might end up above his hairline and get stuck. Even as she thought it the idea sounded silly.
"I'm from Lim,"
she said. That was true- born in Lim only living in the queen's manor instead of a labi's hut.
she said. That was true- born in Lim only living in the queen's manor instead of a labi's hut.
"You still haven't explained why you are here," he pointed to the girl laying dead on the floor, "and why you killed that woman."
Mila gulped, hands behind clasped tight.
"I'm trying to help rescue Ponia from the enemy."
He laughed. Great big, deep chuckles that radiated through the room.
He laughed. Great big, deep chuckles that radiated through the room.
"A little slip like you saving the country? Best joke I've heard in weeks."
Then a change came over his face. The laugh lines faded and he squinted at the girl, shorter than him by a good three inches.
He held his index fingers to his lips. Of course he would figure her out. She had told him her real name. Stupid, ever so idiotic and unthinking. If the smell of blood would just get out of her nostrils Mila was certain she could think of a witty comeback.
"You're THE Mila!"
he yelled. The chain mail clicked.
he yelled. The chain mail clicked.
"Of course I'm not, how silly. That whole family fled I've heard,"
she said. He shook his head, gripping her shoulder.
she said. He shook his head, gripping her shoulder.
"No, you are it. I remember seeing you when I got knighted. Your hair was longer then and you didn't wear rags but I never forget a face." He patted her shoulder, mouth turning from grin to frown.
"You shouldn't be endangering yourself like this. You need to be someplace real safe and away from anything even remotely sharp."
His lips turned up the tinest bit over remotely sharp.
His lips turned up the tinest bit over remotely sharp.
Leave. Tink would be waiting and worrying no end now, this mission was supposed to be fast. It must be at least an hour, maybe two, past the deadline given by the leader. The other team members got antsy so quick they were sure to rush in. Mila shuddered. Getting found with a man was not her idea of a good time. The jokes wouldn't cease for at least six months, if then. Had he said a place where nothing was sharp? That couldn't be right.
"Why shouldn't I be out helping, proving I don't think I'm more important than anyone else?"
she asked. Wisp grabbed her arm too tight. She pulled but he hung on until she winced.
"You die and this country goes with it. There'd be civil war over who can be queen. I don't want to see that happen. Who're you going with? You must be with somebody. Nobody like you goes around alone."
Civil war. She had not thought of that yet.
Civil war. She had not thought of that yet.
"I'm part of a scouting team. I work as hard as everyone else does. I'm not going to sit around looking nice while everyone else fights and gets bloody to assure me a position!"
she yelled. Wisp let his hands fall to his sides. Mila looked at his face. His eye looked so painful. His mail covered him but she guessed it hid a great many scars and fresh wounds.
she yelled. Wisp let his hands fall to his sides. Mila looked at his face. His eye looked so painful. His mail covered him but she guessed it hid a great many scars and fresh wounds.
"Why are you here?"
she asked poking his shoulder. Her eyes squinted and her brows slanted down.
"I'm transporting a small group of labis to safety. They reported that a few of the enemy were holed up here. I couldn't bring the labis past here unless the ruffians were either killed or driven away."
Wisp bent down until his eyes were level with hers.
Wisp bent down until his eyes were level with hers.
"Go into hiding. Remember what I said, civil war will break out. I've heard it from the mouth of a District Chief."
Mila turned away making sure her back was to Wisp. Civil war. The name echoed in her head. Then the cry of the labis the day her family fled.
'You will never understand ruling until you see it from both sides.' they had said. She stood shaking. Her mind wrestled with what was the right thing to do. Her thoughts balanced on a fence. They piled up equally on both sides, the one side was civil war and the other the labis telling the truth.
"Mila, someone is coming,"
Wisp said. She heard his mail clink. She grimaced then in the midst of the grimace felt her chin and lips quiver.
Wisp said. She heard his mail clink. She grimaced then in the midst of the grimace felt her chin and lips quiver.
"Mila!"
Tink yelled. Tink. She had come looking for Mila, the wayward heir to all.
Tink yelled. Tink. She had come looking for Mila, the wayward heir to all.
"You don't understand my life,"
Mila whispered. She stepped outside without a backward glance. Her dagger lay still red on the straw.
Mila whispered. She stepped outside without a backward glance. Her dagger lay still red on the straw.
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