Chapter Eight ~ Traitor

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

The Veiled Forest is located along the eastern border of Amaria. Those that dispute for the Veiled Forest will tell you that it protects our eastern border, for none wish to travel through the forest to get into Amaria.

Warning: Themes of Violence/Death

Duke loved the quiet, early mornings of autumn, so still and beautiful. The scent of the forest blew on the breeze, a calm and earthy smell. The leaves were falling faster now, and a hint of the next season's coolness laid in the air.

In Amaria, winter would come suddenly and without much warning, but when it came, it would be beautiful. Beautiful and dangerous. Duke immediately thought of Sophie. But he could not let her allure pull his guard down now. She was not to be trifled with; he knew that.

Just then, she came walking into camp, dressed in a black dress and a dark green cloak. Her blonde curls were tied back in a ponytail. Her blue eyes were bright, and she looked almost happy.

Darius was beside her. He held the fragile stem of a blue wildflower between his fingers. When Sophie glanced at him to say something, he bowed and offered it to her but when she reached to take it, he pulled it away, a roguish grin spreading over his face.

Sophie pressed her lips together, and the dimple that Duke had noticed the day before made its appearance as she suppressed a smile. "You are such an ass," she informed the officer.

Darius' eyes twinkled. He waved the wildflower in front of her, and she made a grab for it. She was too quick for him and managed to close her fist around it, pulling it from its stalk.

"Aww, now you've crushed it," Darius scolded. "Why would you do that?" He hit her arm with the stem.

The smile Sophie had been holding back escaped and spread over her face. "Don't you have more important things to do today?" she asked him.

"Not until later," Darius replied. "I have to go into town at some point. For weapons."

"Alright. Well, don't get into trouble," Sophie cautioned him as she busily straightened the front of his shirt.

"Course, love. I'll be careful," Darius responded. He turned away from her, dropping the flower stem onto the ground when he caught sight of Red—his officer.

Sophie turned her gaze to Duke. "Good morning," she said, still smiling though perhaps not as widely as she had been a moment before.

He dipped his head to her and took a sip of coffee from the mug in his hand, rather hoping to see the dimple once more. It was adorable in a delightfully maddening way. "Morning."

"I didn't know you would be awake so early." She studied his face.

He grimaced, remembering how long he and Darius had drunk the day before. "Headache's almost gone," he said with a sheepish grin.

His reply coaxed another smile, and he marveled at how stunning she was when the morning sunlight lit up her face.

"I will be here today," she informed him. "Training."

When he looked at her quizzically, she went on. "The children in the clan. They receive training so that they can protect themselves."

"I see." He nodded. That made sense. Starting the children out young was a good way to ensure that they could protect themselves if they were ever in a dire situation.

"We divide the young ones into age groups, and they train that way," she continued. "The very young ones start by learning the basics with a small dagger or knife. They older ones learn how to defend themselves against an opponent."

"How young do they begin?" Duke asked curiously.

She shrugged. "About three, some at two. It depends on the child."

"Two!? Don't you think that's a bit young?"

"It is never too young to learn how to defend yourself," she answered without hesitation, and he looked away from her and out into the tree line, disagreeing but not willing to confront her. He needed to stay on her good side.

"I suppose so," he resigned.

Sophie studied him for a moment before speaking again. "It's the older ones today. Soon."

Duke glanced around the camp. The sun was just starting to come up in a brilliant display of fiery orange, lavender, and soft pink. He saw a young boy, probably twelve or thirteen, approaching them.

He was slim and wiry, with soft brown hair and eyes of the same color. He bowed, maintaining a respectful distance from Sophie and Duke.

"This is Karl." Sophie introduced the boy, who also dipped his head to Duke.

Duke nodded in response, glancing at Karl's belt, which held several sheathed blades. A few other young ones came and stood with Karl, dipping their heads respectfully to Sophie and Duke. They all had weapons sheathed or in their hands.

When there was a group of nearly fifteen, Sophie motioned to a grove of trees to the side of the camp. The young ones made their way to the trees, unsheathing weapons and getting ready for their training. They chattered to each other, each one so vibrant and full of life.

Duke turned to Sophie. "How old are they?"

"Eleven and twelve. Some thirteen," she replied, motioning to a tree stump. "If you would like to watch, you can sit. They will train until noon."

First light until noon. That was long time. He sat down on the stump and watched as they stretched and unsheathed their blades.

Soon Sophie paired them off into groups. They sparred with each other, and Sophie walked around them, sometimes stopping and instructing one of her young charges. Duke found himself watching one child in particular, a fiery-eyed girl who could not seem to beat her opponent. The boy was a whole head taller than her and was sneering infuriatingly.

Again and again, he disarmed her and each time he grew more big-headed than the last, strutting about with his chin up.

Finally, Sophie turned her attention to the two of them. She stood with arms crossed, watching the fight. "Elise, look him in the eyes," she instructed. "You can't anticipate what his next move will be if you don't look at him."

Elise scowled. "Milady, he is mocking me."

"That is no reason to look away. You are letting him inside your head. We've talked about this."

Elise did not look pleased but dipped her head. "I am sorry, Milady. I will try."

The boy was grinning insufferably and holding his sword out in front of him. Sophie stepped away from Elise. "Go again."

In a matter of minutes, Elise's sword once again clattered to the ground. Her black eyes sparked with anger, and she stood holding her wrist and appearing ready to stalk away and sulk over her loss. 

Noticing Elise's attitude, Sophie motioned to the boy. "Luke, go practice alone." Luke trotted off, and Sophie looked down at Elise.

"What is going on?"

"I am sorry, Milady. He just... he makes me angry."

"I can see that. What are we going to do about it?" Sophie raised an eyebrow, waiting.

"Uh...I am not sure Milady," Elise mumbled petulantly.

Duke watched as Sophie bent down closer to Elise, just able to hear her words. "Now, first of all, you look upset. You can never let him know what you are thinking. When you do, he has already won half the battle."

Elise nodded, and Sophie continued. "Now, you need to get inside his mind in any way that you can. Be creative. In a real fight you would only have one chance at this." Sophie paused, and then lowered her voice and said something more.

Elise nodded and grinned rather nervously. "Yes Milady, let me try again."

Soon, Luke and Elise were once again circling each other. This time there was a glint in Elise's eyes and a smirk on her face. She tossed her head, black hair flying over her shoulders.

When Luke lunged, she was ready. She danced to the side and deliberately put a hand on his arm. He stopped, looking confused, and she smiled at him sweetly.

Duke watched with great amusement as Elise worked her magic on her unsuspecting opponent. Soon, she had him disarmed and red as a beet. Duke glanced over at Sophie, whose face bore a faint expression of entertainment.

Luke did not appear displeased, just embarrassed, and he continued to watch Elise as she sauntered over to Sophie, still smiling. "Like that, Milady?"

"Good work."

Elise beamed at the praise.

"She's good, isn't she?" Darius' voice came from behind Duke. He sat down on the ground and motioned to where Sophie was instructing another of her young trainees. 

Duke moved from the tree stump to sit beside him. "I suppose."

Darius stretched his legs out, and Duke glanced at him sideways. "Whiskey?" he asked, jerking his chin toward the mug in Darius' hand.

Darius smirked. "Just coffee."

Duke turned his attention back to the young ones. "Some of them are quite skilled already."

"Because of her," Darius replied.

"She said they begin at two or three."

"Ah. The sooner the better."

"And their parents consent to them learning to use a blade at such a young age?" Duke asked with interest. The forest was dangerous, and it was good for a child to know how to protect himself, but a two-year-old hardly left the sight of his mother.

"It's the Clan Protector's job to decide when they will begin lessons. It's always been that way."

"I see." Duke watched as Elise disarmed another male opponent with her new-found charm.

Darius, seeing it as well, laughed outright. "Learning some valuable lessons, that one. She's a spitfire. Sometimes I wonder if Sophie will choose her."

Duke glanced at him questioningly. "Choose her for what?"

"To be the next Clan Protector."

"Will Sophie not be in the position for a time yet? She's young." As he asked the question, he glanced back toward the Clan Protector. She was standing with her hands on her slender waist, golden hair blowing about her ears. When he met the angels, he supposed they would look just like her. "One score?" he guessed, tearing his eyes from her.

"Nearly a score and two, but tis a dangerous job. The last Protector died not long after he chose her. She hardly had time to train. The sooner the next one is chosen, the better. In case anything would happen to her."

Duke turned his attention back to the young trainees, mulling this over. "Will she choose from this group?" he asked. "Or will she choose from all of the young ones? Or... perhaps someone older?"

Darius shrugged. "Whomever she pleases though I wager it'll be from this group. There are a lot of promising ones." He motioned to Luke, who had just disarmed his new opponent for the third time. "My bet is on him."

Duke nodded and would have agreed had he not been startled by a sudden commotion coming from the edge of camp. The young ones halted their training and stared in the direction of the noise.

Darius jumped to his feet, his hand going to his scimitar and then relaxing when he saw the cause of the noise. He grinned brutishly. "Looks like they finally caught the clout."

Coming into camp was Ghost, trailed by several more of Sophie's men. With them, they had a man. His hands were bound tightly in front of him, and his face was bloodied. He walked with a heavy limp, dragging one foot behind him.

Ghost bowed to Sophie, appearing unbothered by the captive standing behind him. His apparent indifference caused Duke to wonder if this was a regular occurrence. "Here he is, Milady. What shall we do with him?"

Sophie regarded the man with an inscrutable expression. "Good day, Raul."

The man spat, and Ghost cuffed him soundly on the side of the head. "Bow to her ladyship, you churl," he snarled, "and show some respect."

Two men forced Raul to his knees, and Ghost used the heel of his leather boot to push the man's face into the dirt.

Sophie crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head as she studied the man. "Now Raul, what have you to say for yourself?"

"Edgar is not my king," the man growled in defiance as he managed to heave himself back into a kneeling position. There was a desperate fire in his eyes—as if he knew what his disrespect would cost him.

Sophie's expression did not change. "Then you are a traitor. You will be executed."

"Aldrich has ensured my protection."

Sophie stared at him. "How will Aldrich know that we killed you?"

"He will know. None of the other clans would dare touch me. If you kill me now, you will be defying his orders directly."

"You are defying his orders yourself by declaring your independence from the Fire Clan."

Raul let out a barking laugh. "No Milady, I am afraid Aldrich does not see it that way. And he's the true king, after all."

Duke looked from the injured Raul to Sophie, standing imperially in front of the captive. Another king?

Darius saw his confusion and explained in whispers. "Aldrich is the king of the Forest Clan. That is the mother clan of the Guardians of the Forest. The Fire Clan falls under his rule, and Edgar swore an oath to him when he became the king of the Fire Clan."

Duke shook his head, still confused. "So, what did Raul do?" he whispered back.

"He was one of Sophie's men, but he disobeyed a direct order and instead of facing the consequences, he fled. He has now denied Edgar's kingship and is a traitor."

"But Aldrich?"

Darius shrugged. "Let's see what happens."

Sophie stood for a moment longer, still watching Raul. Her unemotional countenance had transformed into a horrible, predatory expression. Then, to Duke's utter surprise and dismay, she motioned to Elise, who stood with large eyes, watching the ordeal. "Elise, come. You are ready."

A look of panic flashed across the young girl's face. "I... I am?"

Sophie nodded calmly. "Ah." She pulled Raul's head back, sliding a hand across his throat.

Elise tentatively stepped forward. Even from where he was standing, Duke could see her hands trembling.

"You'll be fine." Sophie's voice was gentle.

Elise nodded, gulping. She pulled out a knife, and then put it to Raul's throat.

Duke, realizing that she was actually going to follow through, stepped forward. Darius grabbed his arm. "Don't you dare," he hissed, "or you'll be next."

Raul chuckled darkly. "Go on, little one. Do it. And after I am dead think on what you have done. Think before you blindly follow those above you."'

Elise glared at him. "You are a traitor," she snapped. "You deserve this." She closed her eyes and pulled the blade swiftly across his throat, cringing as his blood hit her face.

Raul fell back, choking. He coughed and gagged, putting his bound hands to his throat. After a few moments of painful and unnatural writhing movements, he let out a wet gurgle and slumped to the ground, twitching. Blood spilled from the wound, dripping through his fingers and pooling onto the ground. Mothers put hands to their children's eyes, some looking away themselves at the gruesome sight.

Sophie placed a hand on Elise's shoulder and turned to the crowd. "Let them see. Let them see what happens to those who disrespect the king." Her words rang clearly over the audience. She knelt down and whispered something to Elise, then stood regally and stepped over the body of her once-loyal charge.

Elise was trembling all over now, but she stood with her head held high, still clinging to her bloodied knife. A man and a woman, whom Duke assumed to be her parents, rushed to her. The women knelt and flung her arms around the girl. "Sweeting, it's alright," she soothed. "It's only part of protecting the clan."

Duke turned to Darius, infuriated. "She is twelve! Why is this allowed?" he began, his voice a harsh whisper.

"The clan has been doing it this way for years. I have no say in it. Besides, they are safer once they know how to kill," Darius replied evenly.

Duke glared at him, fierce anger building up in his chest. A young girl forced to kill. He should have known that the Fire Clan was nothing short of barbarian. "Sophie can do no wrong in your eyes!"

"That's not true. I just understand why it's done this way," Darius retorted, returning the look.

Duke shook his head as he felt the rage crawl up his neck and flush his face. "So be it, then. I will speak to her."

"Be my guest," Darius said with a chuckle. "Let me know how it goes."

Duke pushed his way through the crowd and entered the stone building where he had just seen Sophie go. He walked swiftly, propelled by his anger. "Sophie!" he called when he caught a glimpse of her form going down the corridor.

She turned and she raised her eyebrows at him. "Yes?" she asked, regarding him with a deliberate calmness that only made him angrier.

"What was that all about? She is only twelve and you had her kill someone! What sort of twisted person does that!?" he sputtered, growing more enraged with each passing second.

"Actually, she is eleven." Sophie's voice was calm and controlled, adding even more to his wrath.

"This is unacceptable," he spat through gritted teeth. "She's nearly in tears. She's only a child!"

"She is old enough to be taken advantage of."

The words stopped Duke in his tracks. "What do you mean?"

"Someday she will be out in the woods, all alone and unprotected, and someone will attack her. Then she will either die or she will learn to kill all by herself and have no one there to help her through it. Is that what you want?"

"Eleven is too young. I was eighteen, and that was bad enough," he retorted, suddenly unsure of himself. Now a little less angry, he was remembering that he was intimidated by her.

"Eighteen. Because you grew up a nobleman's son. All of these young ones will kill before then."

"Because you force them to," he spat back.

"I do not force them to do anything. I wait until they are ready and then I show them how," Sophie replied. Her eyes, wide and unblinking, were focused on him.

"How old were you when you first killed?" he asked.

"Nine," she replied in the same relaxed manner. 

"Ni...nine?" he stammered, his muscles stiffening in shock.

"Yes, Duke. Nine. Now if you would excuse me." She turned and continued down the hallway. Duke stared after her. Nine. His wrath melted into sympathy. No wonder she was so distant and hard to understand.

When he made his way back outside, Darius was standing alone, watching as several men transported Raul's body to a cart. "How did that go?" the officer asked.

"Well," Duke answered sarcastically, and Darius smirked.

"I tried to warn you."

"She said she was nine when she first killed." Duke glanced at Darius to catch his response.

The officer stared into the tree line, a faraway look in his eyes. "Ah."

"Why did she kill him?"

"It doesn't matter. All that matters is he deserved it."

"You and Sophie... you said you've known her since you were young."

Darius looked at him as if surprised by the statement, but he answered. "Ah."

"I see. And... you and her... are you...?"

"Are we what?" Darius looked amused.

"I know that the two of you are close."

"Very." Darius stood. He stared once more into the tree line before looking back at Duke, a warning glint

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net