章節 7: Chapter 7
Seven days. Seven excruciatingly long days she has trained her body. From the moment the sun peeked above the horizon to disappearing below it, but even then she didn't stop. When her body wanted to cave on the colder nights, she continued to push herself until Vixen would force her to stop. Her body ached, but she couldn't stop. Even though she trained day and night, the creeping thoughts still echoed in the back of her mind, taunting her abilities, attempting to slow her down. Though she pushed to her limits, those dark thoughts lingered, gradually carving their way deeper into her mind.
Rayne stood across from the guardian, sweat dripping from her chin and staining her tunic. They have been at it for the last few hours after the sun came up, but she felt the energy coursing through her body. Her muscles relaxed, her heart racing slightly, but not overwhelming her. She evened her breathing as she shifted her feet against the dirt. The creature pounded his fists into the dirt, slightly aggravated.
The wind blew against her back, cooling her heated body and pushing her forward. She stepped within range of the creature, his giant fist swinging downward, but she sidestepped it. Even though this monster was well over ten feet tall and purely muscle, it was still slower than her, so she focused in on that.
Rayne watched as the other fist came around to her right side, but she ducked down as it grazed the top of her head. She arched her back, her hands reaching back and planting her palms to the dirt, she slammed her feet into the left arm of the monster. He howled, growling at the stinging pain she caused him. She sprung backward, landing on her feet just as his right fist came from her left side and collided with her ribs. She grunted, stumbling, but she grabbed ahold of his fist. She shoved it down toward the ground, propping her feet on top of it so as she let his fist go, the monster launched her into the air. She spun her hips as she came back down, landing behind his head with her legs on his shoulders. This was going to be the hardest part for her.
Rayne felt the monster grab her legs, wanting to through her off, but she tightened her hold around his neck. She watched as the guardian struggled to throw her off, spinning this way and that. She rocked with his movements until he favored his left side for too long and startled to lose his balance. She twisted her legs, turning his head hard, but not enough to properly snap it, disorienting the creature. The guardian lost his footing, tumbling to the ground and Rayne rolled off of his shoulders, hitting the ground on her wounded side. She pushed herself up as the guardian got to his feet, rage boiling in his eyes as he swung his fists wildly.
She stepped back out of range as it closed in on her, not focusing on where his fists were flying. As one of the fists swung from her right, she moved in, closing the gap once more. She focused on the energy and force of her body, moving it to her hands as she slammed her fist into the guardian's throat. He choked, his giant hands grasping his throat. She brought her fist back again, feeling the energy in her feet make its way up her thighs, her abdomen, chest and arms. When it finally settled in her fist, it tingled her nerves as she thrusted her fist forward and clashed it with the guardian's face. There was an audible crack as the creature stumbled away and fell onto its back. She stood there, feeling her hand go numb from the aftermath when soft applause drew her attention away from her fight to a crowd of unfamiliar Elvish faces. Just as she went to snap at the strangers invading her home, a voice she easily recognized rang out from the crowd.
"Good to see that you've finally found your strength again." Gideon broke through the crowd. She looked at the knight, his hair in disarray from the traveling, but his piercing sapphire eyes struck her.
"We'll see for sure when I kick your ass next." she threw back at him, making him smile. Her heart squeezed at the sight, but she forced the growing emotion away. Another face stepped from the crowd, a face she never thought she'd see again.
"I am happy to see that you are well." Mel-Darion said with a softness that made her stomach tie in a knot. She looked between the two men, realizing what was happening within her body and groaned aloud. They exchanged quizzical looks before being pushed aside by none other than Xerath. He rushed over to his guardian who was sitting up and being tended to by Vixen.
"You couldn't have taken it easy on him?" the Wizard asked her as he examined the damages. Rayne touched her bruised side carefully.
"To be fair, that was the first match I have won all week." she told him before walking over to the guardian. The monster looked up at her, a soft blue aura wrapped around his nose and throat, Vixen chanting an incantation while holding what appeared to be herbs against those areas. The guardian met her gaze, growling softly as it reached up with its hand. She shook it as firmly as she could.
"I'm assuming the meeting went well?" she asked Xerath as he stood back up. He glanced over to the large group of warriors, looking a bit distraught.
"Yes, but now I don't know where to put all of them or their mounts." he sighed deeply while stroking his beard. Rayne held a hand over her ribs while she surveyed the small army they brought back with them. They were talking with Mel-Darion, most likely wondering what was going to happen next.
"I know this is new to most of you that have never left Arakhora, but believe me when I say that you have my deepest gratitude." she walked over to address them. Each warrior fell quiet as she spoke. Gideon inclined his head thoughtfully.
"We'll find quarters for you all, and your mounts can roam as long as they remain in the safety of the grounds. If they need to hunt, there is a valley below that has plenty of game." she gestured to the open field before it dipped down into the valley.
"We appreciate your hospitality." Mel-Darion spoke up for his warriors, bowing his head toward her. They each followed suit which put Rayne in an awkward and embarrassing position. The warriors fanned out afterward, most heading inside to see the layout of the temple while others tended to the mounts. He reached over, taking a lock of her hair that was loose from her braid, "How are you feeling?" he asked her. Rayne couldn't deny the confusion she felt when he asked that simple question. Her eyes catch Gideon's for a second before he walked off.
"I'm fine, just bruised." she patted her side gently. Mel-Darion frowned, reaching out to her side, but she stepped away. "Sorry, it's just..."
"You do not need to explain. Gideon informed me as well as my father of what you endured while being Ravnyk's prisoner." he informed her. Her eyes moved away from him, searching for the knight, but he was mingled in with the crowd of warriors.
"How much did he tell you?" she asked, unable to disguise the anger she felt.
"Enough to bring an army back with him." he pointed out, "We will end Ravnyk and his reign before anymore go through what you did." he lowered his voice. He sounded sweet as he tried to soothe her worries, but she didn't want to be soothed. Indeed she wanted to end Ravnyk with her own hands, but she didn't want to be treated like a broken child because of what she went through.
"If you'll excuse me, I have some words for that bastard." she grumbled before storming off. There was a bit of pressure behind her ears as she made her way through the crowded hallways in search of the knight. Accompanying the pressure was a light humming sound like a fly buzzing around her head that just wouldn't leave her alone.
She turned down one of the hallways that was opened up to a large courtyard where she found Gideon walking across it, heading toward his room. He had pulled off his leather armor sometime during his walk, his grey tunic tight around his broad shoulders. He stopped, turning around with a surprised look on his face.
"Done so soon?" he asked sarcastically before turning and heading off again. She followed after him until she was sure they were out of prying eyes. He opened a sliding door, letting her in before closing it behind her.
"You told them what happened to me?" she raised her voice as she turned to him. He tossed his armor down in the corner of the room, cracking his neck and stretching his arms. His muscles bulged in his shirt, forcing herself to look away.
"It wasn't my original intention. Lord Adkas assumed something had happened to you, but then that bitch questioned the importance of this alliance." his tone changed, angrier and a bit harsh. The bitch he was most likely referring to was Inaleth.
"Did you bed her before or after you pissed her off?" she asked him. His eyes flickered as he moved quickly. Before she realized what he was doing, he pinned her down on his bedroll. Pain erupted in her side as she stared up at him. If it wasn't for the fact that she just got done fighting the guardian, she would have turned this around on him. His eyes were fierce as they penetrated her, melting her until she was nearly a puddle beneath him.
"Apparently you need to be reminded of our time on the mountain." his voice dipped low as he lowered himself closer to her, his warmth radiating off of his skin. His lips pressed against her and everything else faded away. The humming sound that was in her ears faded away, and the pressure vaporized. For once in the last week of training her ass off, her mind finally felt at ease.
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Rayne knelt in front of the tree, listening to the wind rustle its leaves. She could vaguely hear the warriors passing on by, murmuring about her in their language. If they only knew that she could fully understand what they were saying about her right now. It had been a couple of weeks since the Elvish army arrived at the temple, waiting for the next leg of their journey to Barboulder. Gideon had filled her in on what Ravnyk was planning with the Dwarven Kingdom while he was feigning his loyalty to the false king. She can sense the uneasiness in the air as they waited. And waited. And waited some more. The Elves were naturally patient folk, but even now with the danger that lies ahead, some were squirming to leave the safe haven of the temple. Rayne couldn't blame them either. She's been wanting to leave after her strength came back, but Xerath refused those that wanted to depart without proper instruction first. What was the old fool waiting for anyway?
"May I join you?" the old fool asked as he stepped off the stone path. She opened an eye before shifting over to give him space at the base of the tree with her. He knelt down, flattening out his white robe. Silence fell between them as she attempted to meditate, but the murmuring only continued around her, slowly getting louder until the noise drowned out her own thoughts.
"Why can't they all shut it for a minute?" she grumbled with annoyance. She felt Xerath fidget beside her.
"Who?" he asked. Could he seriously not hear them?
"The damn Elves. They've been talking none stop since I've been kneeling here." she said through gritted teeth. The murmuring intensified until it was ringing in her ears. She snapped her eyes open when she couldn't concentrate anymore, but when she looked around, it was just her and Xerath in front of the tree. She looked up at the strong oak before her.
"Rayne." Xerath spoke her name, and when she looked at the Wizard, genuine concern glistened in his eyes as he reached forward and rested a hand on her forehead. "I'm sorry, child." he whispered as her vision goes dark.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票