Nelina walked behind Lucas, who was leading her to meet Elian and Adar. She knew her focus should be more on the training she would receive today, but her thoughts were not there. Gwendolyn and Lucas preoccupied her mind to no end, her last bath was ice cold. “I am sorry for the offenses I have caused Gwendolyn and yourself.”
“I’m sure you are, and you’ll keep paying for those offenses too,” Lucas was eager to get Nelina to his Captain and to catch the morning meal with Gwen. Eating with the guards was standard fare, taking meals with Gwen consisted of the same food the Magus was having.
“I didn’t ask to be here or to take anything away from Gwendolyn.” She reached out to touch his arm.
“Yet, here you are.” Lucas spun around, clenching her forearm with an iron grip while his fingertips pressed hard into her inner arm. “If my Captain or the Magus asks me about your bruises, I’m going to have to tell them that you tried to grab me and how I defended myself. They’ll believe me before you, so make no mistake about that.” He let go of her arm pushing her backward a little. “Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Fearful of him doing more to her, she stayed quiet the rest of the time walking past the private garden, atrium, and along the wall with the delicate tapestries depicting the history of the Kings of Danthamore. Finally, they arrived at the courtyard where she had first met the Magus. Lucas said nothing else and left her a few feet away from Elian and Adar.
She inhaled sharply walking toward the two men waiting for her.
“There you are,” Elian greeted a dour Nelina. “You’re late.”
“I am sorry and it won’t happen again,” incurring Gwendolyn and Lucas’ wrath was bad and the thought of suffering under either of these two worsened her fears of this new home.
“Our first meeting was different to say the least,” He stepped closer until realizing she was standing still, almost frozen. He bowed gallantly and softened his tone as he often did with women. “Maybe we can start over?” He swept his arm forward from his bow in a playful manner, smiling. “What do you think, could we do that perhaps one day be friends even?”
She smiled back, disarmed by his chivalrous good nature. “I welcome the opportunity, Milord.”
“See Adar?” Elian put his arm around Nelina’s shoulders “My friendship is an opportunity you know.”
She laughed at his humor.
Elian gave her a light squeeze before letting go. “I’ll meet up with you after the midday meal, and don’t be afraid of old stone face who never talks ok?”
“Okay,” she was more at ease to go off with Adar after Elian’s kindness to her.
Adar stood a few inches shorter than Elian with his hair shaved to his scalp dressed in plain tan clothing and not armor. Politely, he bobbed his head and indicated to her to accompany him.
He backtracked with her past the private gardens and hallways leading deeper into the recesses of the palace. She recognized the hallway going toward her room and Ru’ark’s household. Finally, the hallway opened up to the arched doorways leading out to the Royal courtyard and Grand balcony. The courtyard consisted of small, elaborate tables interwoven with small trees and fountains. Adar continued on with her to the grand balcony with its expansive view of the Torbian Sea, which allowed her to see the harbor far below.
As instructed by Adar, with a tap on her shoulder and a pointed finger, Nelina walked into the center of the wide balcony. The first thing Adar did was teach her how to stand properly with her knees partially bent in a defensive stance. He also moved her arm several times to teach her a blocking maneuver against an opponent trying to punch her. Although he did not talk, he had no need to. If she did something wrong, he tapped her with two fingers. For what she did right, he would smile or nod, or both. When he seemed to think she had grasped that, he taught her a simple strike to the throat using the side of her hand, which she had worked on for the remainder of her morning.
When she was finished, he walked her over to the table where she was to take her midday meal alone.
“Adar, will you stay with me and walk with me to Elian, please?” She was too fearful of Lucas.
After a brief pause with his back to her, he turned around with a nod then stood at her side.
Rushing, she ate less of her food, figuring she could depart from the palace balcony before Lucas arrived.
“By the God of All-” Lucas was about to insult her and tell her she was similar to a pig stuffing itself until he noticed Adar. Squinting, he directed his glare at Nelina. “You don’t want to be late do you?”
Adar’s keen eyesight caught Nelina’s leg bouncing in anxiety under the table. ‘Fear.’
With wary green eyes, she answered her jailer. “Um, Adar is supposed to come with us.”
“That’s not necessary is it Nelina?” His question was meant to intimidate her into dismissing Adar.
Instead, Adar widened his step next to Nelina signaling his intent to remain with her.
“It’s not up to me,” She shrugged her shoulders, praying he accepted her words.
“No, I didn’t mean to imply it was.” His demeanor changed, “I apologize if I entered in too gruff of a manner having a charge such as yourself is new to me, I am gladdened by the company of the Magus’ protector.”
“Well, you two, let’s be off shall we?” Lucas brought them up through the tower and past the palace guard station. After pushing open a heavy iron door, they came out to the city guard post at the high point of the eastern outer wall of the city.
Nelina could see the whole expanse of the palace. The centered King’s Tower was the highest point dominating the rest of the palace, its construction while similar was apart from the form of the surrounding palace or city. Also, from this angle, the royal courtyard and rand balcony where she had spent the morning training could be seen. Continuing their walk along the outer wall of the city, the Torbian Sea stretched out to the left of her where she saw the docks with their waiting ships. They descended further down the cliff slope where she was able to distinguish between each of the city quarters themselves. Coming to the last guard post off the wall, they passed by the Northern barracks reaching the edge of the courtyard. “I can go from here, thank you both for the escort.” Getting Lucas in trouble would raise his ire against her so she did not want Elian to see Adar with them.
Adar’s sidelong stare unsettled Lucas to where he left before him.
Elian was waiting for her and holding a recurve bow and an arrow. “Good Day Nelina! I hope your morning with Adar was well spent.”
“It was, I think I did alright.” She looked at the bow he was holding in hesitation. “I tried to use one of those once, I didn’t do very well.”
He dismissed her hesitation. “Come now, you’ll do fine.”
“Can we do the bow later? Do we have to do it now?” The last time she used one she barely had the arm strength.
“The bow is important, and you should learn to use it.” He put his arm around her shoulders and brought her to the archery targets. “How about you try it for me? I promise it won’t be that grueling.”
“I will, I’ll attempt it.” She remained doubtful of her ability, but Elian wanted her to do it so she was willing to.
“Good then,” Elian was sure he judged the weight of the bow correctly for her draw strength. “Take this,” He gave her the bow, then stepped behind her to help her shoot the arrow.
Nelina drew back the bowstring easier than she thought she would be able to “I can pull the string back on this one.”
“You couldn’t before?” Now things made sense to him. “Whoever taught you before probably gave you a bow too heavy to use.”
“Oh, it was my father and we only had one bow.” She took another arrow out to try again.
He smiled, “We can only do the best with what we are given, and I think with some practice you’ll find that your skill gets better with the bow.”
Nelina let her next arrow fly and watched it soar in the air to hit the outer section of the target circle “I hit it a little! I can’t believe it!”
He chuckled at her newfound enthusiasm. “That’s the key, to keep working at it.”
She practiced for an hour or so until her arms grew too weary to continue.
After her archery lesson, Elian led her over by two horses and commanded a couple of guards to pick up the courtyard. “You’ll need to learn how to ride,”
Nelina grinned with confidence, “I can ride a horse.”
Elian had his doubts about her ability to ride. “Then we’ll see how you do, won’t we?” The open courtyard was long enough for two horses to joust and would suffice for getting a basic idea of her capabilities.
Nelina walked over and patted the horse’s muzzle, then removed the reigns and the bit from the horse.
“What are you doing?” He was dumbfounded she took off the reigns.
“You wanted to see how well I can ride, right?” Adjusting the saddle she mounted her horse. She made sure her weight was evenly distributed so the horse would understand her cues.
He folded his arms intrigued, “I did say that, didn’t I?”
“I’ve been riding for as long as I can remember.” with no reigns, she signaled the horse to trot, to gallop and to come to a stop using her legs and weight.
Elian put his hands up, “You win, you’ve completely convinced me you can ride a horse.”
For good measure, she made the horse lower itself down in a bow before dismounting. “Not bad then?”
“Certainly not bad, I’m almost jealous.” He grinned, “But have you ever ridden a war horse?”
Her eyes grew wide, “No, but does this mean I will get to?”
“As a matter of fact, that’s what we’ll get started on the morrow with.” Her first day was not as bad as he had expected it to be. “You did well today Nelina, I’ll escort you back to your chamber, I need to speak with Master Ru’ark.”
“Thank you Elian,” Relief filled her voice since she managed twice today not to be alone with Lucas.