Thirty

I thought that Gwenn was joking when she said that we have to reach Rockton, we were with tents and it was late but Gwenn had no plans of stopping, when Dyane pointed out the tents, she laughed and said those were brought along for emergency resting and that this was our first day, we can ride through the night if we must.

She seems that she was putting her threats to work. When Dyane fell off her saddle twice, she was put in one of our escort horse with him as she slept on him, my legs were numb and no doubt in pain but although I held out longer than Dyane did but when my eyes started to droop with sleep, Orel plucked me off Tyra and settled me in his front. Riding with Orel is nice, especially when Stormpacer was not running as if he was trying to race against time, but it would be too tiring for Stormpacer to carry double wait and as much as the horse annoy me, I didn’t like to make the horse carry extra weight.

“We are close.” Orel whispered with his breathe raising goosebumps on my skin but I am too tired to do anything about it. “Sleep, I will wake you when we reach there.”

I nodded as I drifted off to sleep only for me to open my eyes to see that everywhere was shining brightly with the sun, of course I should have known better that he would not have woken me up.

I left the room after putting on another riding habit only for me to see that my room faced a balcony which I could use to watch what’s going on downstairs. Downstairs was bubbling with activities as people rushed around, cleaning, airing out the house, putting flowers in vases, arranging food on the table and so on. All those activities grounded to an halt when they saw me standing on the top floor looking at them, they all bowed to me when made me shift back in shock and then I walked downstairs only for their uncomfortable smiles to grow tense.

“Please stop bowing, what is this.” I questioned trying to make my tone less annoyed which was making me angry. I hate waking up in unknown places with my husband missing.

“We are sorry that we were unable to finish the instructions given to us by your husband.” A round woman who looked motherly with her hair tied up, wearing an old gown with an apron tied around her generous waist said.

I took her as the spokesman of the group as I faced her expecting her to answer my questions. “And what was those orders.”

“The warlord wanted us to take care of everything before you wake up as he wanted you to be happy with your environment when you see it.” She swallowed as she continued. “We are sorry if the house is not befitting to your liking but this is the best that Rockton has to offer, if you would just give us a minute to put it in order, I am sure that you will see that it isn’t so bad after all.”

I rubbed my hands against my eyebrows as a headache began to form mainly because of how everywhere is bright, in Orel tent it isn’t usually as bright as this. Her words came out wrong, like she knew my tastes and that I cared about where I stayed that much. Orel would not have given her that information because he doesn’t pay attention to things like that.

“Who gave you the impression that I cared about the place.” I waved my hand to gesture the house to show her what I was referring to.

“Your husband my lady.” The woman replied confused as I nodded.

“And who else.” I asked.

“Lady Gwenn, she has been so insightful about what you will like.” The woman brightened as she mentioned Gwenn but I just cursed under my breath, Gwenn was pulling another stunt again, at least this time it was harmless. I don’t know what I will do if I woke up all alone in a strange environment.

“I see.” I muttered. I didn’t see, next time I see Gwenn I don’t know what I will do to her. “What did Orel tell you?”

“He just said that we should try and put the house in order when it isn’t in use and to be close to you when you wake up, give you something to eat and escort you to where he is.”

I nodded, now that sounds more like my husband. “Please, ignore the words of Gwenn, she is fond of annoying me. You don’t have to fear me or think that I would not like the house, I actually do. It is homely.” Some of the tensions left some of the people body and they were no longer acting to scared of me.

“Thank you, my lady.” The woman bowed but this time she did it with a grin and not the tension she exhibited the first time.

“Now, I just want something to eat and see my husband, maybe I will be back before noon to take my bathe.” I tells her as she nodded and started giving orders, before long. I have eaten my fill and was on my way to Orel with the woman guiding me and explaining to me their history and how the Warlord holds a special place in the lives of those who lives in Rockton.

When I got to the place where Orel was, I suddenly understood why there was no mention of deploring Warriors here. That was because Rockton a base for his army. There were at least a thousand warriors here and Orel was talking to the commander in charge when I arrived, a person whom I soon learnt was under Gwenn command.

“Hello Lady Themis, had a wonderful morning.” Gwenn smiled cheekily at me.

“One day, I am going to repay you for this.” I informed her but she just rolled her eyes at me as if I was just a little child throwing a tantrum.

“At least this time, it didn’t hurt you.”

“What I will do will hurt you.” I responded but she just laughs as she paired me up with a warrior for me to continue my training. This was not what I had in mind but I didn’t complain, not like me complaining will change anything for the better when Gwenn is in charge of my training.

I also could not be cuddled by Orel, he was clearly busy.

“I thought we were on a time frame.” I gasp out when the warrior knocked me down when I was not fast enough to evade him.

“We are.” Gwenn replies from the side, she was calling out instructions to both me and the warrior that was fighting with me.

“Do we have time for this?” I asked

“We will always have time for you to be knocked off your high ego.” Gwenn grins at me but I ignored her trying to rile me up. That was how mistakes were made.

“You know what I mean.” I gritted out as I stood up to take a fighting stance again.

“True, we will be here for just one day. Tomorrow we will continue our journey, should be in Brookston in four days’ time.” Gwenn said as I nodded then tried to block his attack, I learnt soon enough to blocking his attack was more draining, his every hit was weakening me because of the force he threw behind it. When I learnt to dance out of his sword, I saw the mistakes he made and capitalized on them, one of his attacks he lean forward hoping that I would dash backwards out of his way at usual instead, I moved to the side as I directed his sword with one of mine and that led to his off balance, to make sure he was down, I set out my leg for him to trip and when he did, my sword was at his spine while the pother was at his neck. There was no way he could get out of this situation.

“Good job” Gwenn claps as I stepped back.

“Thank you.” I smiled happy that I had bested someone, although training with Gwenn is very illuminating but when you don’t win at all, it gets to make you down. This was the first training session I won without riding on anger.

“What was the lesson you learnt.” Gwenn asked as she helped him up then sent him on his way.

“Was I supposed to learn something even as I was trying to make sure that he didn’t sever my head?” I quipped as Gwenn nodded.

“Yes, you were. Most especially since he was trying to sever your head.” Gwenn answered as I frowned at her and thought back to my fight of just now.

“Learn everybody weakness or mode of fighting to win over the person?” I said as Gwenn nodded.

“Good, what are the other ones?”

“We should always switch our fighting styles and never get comfortable in a fight.” I said as Gwenn nodded.

“Anything else.” She asked and when I shook my head she sighed. “I should have known that just a day without fighting and some of your senses are already dull. The most important lesson of them all is to always use your brain. Even the best fighters are defeated by those who used their brains in the middle of fights.”

“Okay.” I tried to ignore the feeling of wanting to crush her head for her statement.

“Get some rest and bathe. You reek.” Gwenn wrinkled her nose at me and when I advanced towards trying to strangle her even though I knew that she was right. I do reek.

“Come on, you cannot blame me for saying the truth.” Gwenn teases.

“Die in hell.” I called back to her as I turned to return back from the direction I came from, I cannot believe she reduced me to running from her.