I laughed, and so did she. We leaned forward to hide our giggle from Makrus who turned our way when he heard his name.
I rolled my wrists for the hundredth time to stretch the stiff from them. “I wish the Commander saw the same hilarity in it as you do. I didn’t think it was possible for someone to despise another like she does with me,” I said.
“I wouldn’t take it personally. It would seem she pretty much despises the entirety of rank Clarak since we are the only rank that have been placed on any type of duty,” Nyah replied.
“Is it bad that I feel slightly relived her attention has spread to others and not just me?” I picked up another carrot, chopping it into thin chunks and throwing it into a pot of water beside me.
“A little, but I get it. Seems like you truly are her favourite. I noticed she dropped you off personally this morning.”
“You saw?”
“Hard not to.” She giggled.
Someone across the room shouted at us for talking. I could see, from the corner of my eye, Nyah’s shoulders heave from laughter. I had to bite my lip to stop myself from joining.
***
TIME PASSED AND with it the pile of food before us lessened. I didn’t stop my flow of work until the door to the kitchens burst open, catching me off guard and causing my knife to slip. I gasped as deep, red blood dripped onto the side board and I stuffed my finger into my mouth to suck and still the flow of blood. Everyone was silent, even Nyah’s eyes were wide as she looked to the door. I turned, following her stare, to see Hadrian. His face a picture of anger, eyes searching. I caught his glare the moment they landed on me, my breath hitching. Heads of those watching followed Hadrian as he strutted across the room, right to me.
“She brought you here?” His question was directed at me. I could feel the warm creep of embarrassment flush over my face.
“Did she?” he shouted, slamming a palm onto the side.
I pulled my bloody finger from my mouth to reply, “I tried to tell her, but Commander Ali—”
“Come!” he interrupted, moving back for the door.
I turned quick to Nyah whose emerald eyes burned with concern.
“Go…” she whispered, passing me a wad of material to wrap my finger in. I took it and thanked her, moving to the door Hadrian exited from.
He didn’t look back to check that I followed, not until we had walked up two flights of stairs and reached an empty corridor.
“I knew she would do this, I should have come sooner,” Hadrian hissed, his voice riled with frustration. “I went to collect you, but your roommate explained to me what happened. Finding where she brought you was a hassle, one that I could have evaded if I only came for you sooner.”
He walked back and forth before me, his breathing harsh.
“She said King Dalior gave her the command,” I said, leaning against the wall behind me, catching my breath from the quick walk.
“I know her, Zac, she had a part in this. I spoke to father last night and told him I was to train you. He did not mention anything about you working to earn your keep. I am sure Alina had her say in this since. And I am not having it.”
I would have told him not to call me Zac again, but it wasn’t the time. Between the throbbing of my cut finger and the anger that radiated off Hadrian, my anxiety spiked.
“I honestly don’t mind.”
“Well I do. Now come. I think it is time I pay her a visit.”
WE SLIPPED INTO the room. Hadrian didn’t tell me where we were going, it seemed like everyone in this blasted palace lacked necessary skills in communication. No one noticed us enter, not the crowd sitting in the elevated stands, not even Commander Alina who stood in the middle of the room.
I first thought she was dancing. Until I saw the double ended staff in her hands. She threw the staff into the air, moving like water, throwing a leg into a wide kick then snatching it back into her hands. Her feline movements were precise, strong. The staff whistled through the air again and she cut, swung, and bashed at invisible enemies. All the while not noticing the two new occupants in the room.
We kept in the shadows of the towering walls, giving me a moment to absorb the details around me. The room consisted of two levels. My eyes were drawn to Illera first; I then caught onto other faces I recognized. The entirety of Rank Mamlin watched in awe as the Commander demonstrated her movements below them.
I turned to still a wobbling shield that threatened to fall. I’d been too transfixed by the Commander to watch where I was going. My heart stopped, worried it would fall and give our presence away. But it didn’t, and nor did it catch Alina’s attention. I then noticed more shields each pristine and painted in of reds and blues. I could tell they were nothing more than decoration from the lack of marks across their surfaces.
Lining the bottom of the walls, countless wooden weapons sat propped up, just like the one spinning in the Commanders hands.
Hadrian stepped forward and made a coughing sound from his throat. Gasps from the watching initiates spread like a wave. Distracted, Commander Alina dropped the staff in a loud clatter against the floor. She turned towards us, ready to reprimand who ever had interrupted her lesson, but choked on her words when she spotted who it was.
“Prince Hadrian...” She bowed, her eyes not leaving him as she dipped. “I didn’t expect a visit from you today.”
“I too did not expect to be visiting you today, Commander,” he replied, gesturing dramatically around him, “but here I am.”
Her eyes flickered over his shoulder towards me where I stood, still in the shadows. I held her intense glare until she dropped it first. Her lips tugged ever so slightly, pulling downwards into a frown.
“I see Zacriah has left his staff duties early, I’m sure King Dalior would not be happy to hear this.” She slammed a foot down onto one end of the staff, sending the other end up into the air before she snatched it. The slap of her hand against the wood made me cringe.
“He is to be brought to me for training, not wasting his time staffing. I find it odd that King Dalior did not inform me of his decision last night over supper and why I had to find out this morning instead.”
“Yet, it is still King Dalior’s wish for him to work to earn his keep. That is until he decides if he is ready to share his shifting ability.” Again, she shot her eyes right at me. “Train him your highness, by all means, but Zacriah is to work mornings in the kitchens with the rest of Rank Clarak until he proves himself. If you have an issue, please bring it up with your father. As you can see, I am otherwise occupied.”
I couldn’t see Hadrian’s face from my vantage point, but I could hear the slow clicks of his tongue whilst he walked forward and snatched the staff from Commander Alina’s hand. Commander Alina’s face burned red and that same bulging vein I had seen this morning began to push through her skin.