Personal guard

"Thank you, it's beautiful." Mika stood up and bowed sincerely.

"No problem, I've been your father friends since we were fledglings. Anyway, I can help I will."

Lord Mano turned in Lord Tasar direction, "Lord Tasar, I have to be shameless again to you."

"Mano?..."

Lord Mano looked at the surrounding servants, dismissing them from the room. Lord Tasar seeing this had his steward wait for him outside. The only people left inside the meeting hall was Lord Mano, Lord Tasar, Lady Lyra, and Mika.

"Okay. Lord Mano, may I ask what this is all about? Why do you need to send your daughter to the steppes?" Lord Tasar thought Mano only needed the mask.

"Lord Tasar, I trust that everything I say to you will stay between us...."

"Of course."

"....Mikaela has been poison with Ivory Smother..." Lord Mano stop talking to let the words sink into his friend head.

"What!?... How?"

"....." Though Lord Mano trust Lord Tasar this was his family situation. And a shameful one at that.

"Okay...okay. I won't ask any further. It's just you know what kind of place the steppes are...."

"I know...but she needs the poison cleared. It's already been two months Tasar..." Lord Tasar looked at Mika in pity.

Mika looked at everyone dejected expressions, 'Well damn, I'm not dead yet. Geez...'.

"Okay. For the home in a month. I still have things I need to handle somethings here."

"She'll be ready...thank you Tasar."

Lord Mano walked Lord Tasar to his shuttle as they finalize the plans. Lady Lyra took Mika back to the training grounds.

"Mother, is this the reason you wanted to teach me the sword and bow?" Mika asked once they reach the sparring ring.

"Mika...the lands you are not ordinary. There is a reason why they call the steppes enchanted. The lands outside the capital hold their own magic. "

"Why...?"

"The Steppes happens to be the place where many Fae lost their lives at during the war....and it's been a warring place ever since." Motioning Mika to pick up her sword. "The minute to step out of the Amara gates, you must never let down your guard."

"Mmm."

"Good. Now show me your defense." Lyra picks up her short sword, attacking Mika with all her might.

_______

*Knock* *Knock*

"Come in." Lord Mano look up when the captain of the guards step thru his office door.

"Sir, you wanted to see me." The captain of the guards knelt on one knee in front of Lord Mano desk.

"Captain Kaze, I'm sure you know why I called you here?" After the first initial look his way, Lord Mano went back his to work.

"Yes, sir. It's because of young miss Mikaela circumstances and my negligent." He has anticipated his termination as the captain of the guards for two months now.

"You let an unknown male break into the house, got tricked by two young ladies and you allowed my daughter's life to be threatened. Though this is not fully your fault, the fact that they were able to do all this under nose; as captain of the guards do you have anything to say."

"No, sir."

Kare wasn't too heartbroken to be stripped of his station. Truthfully, he never this position.

To be captain of the guards was what his father wanted, taking over his role as the captain was his father's plan.

As a distance branch family of the Amara clan, the honor of being captain of the guards has always been in their family. Never wanting to disappoint his family, Kaze upheld his responsibilities as captain.

Now with the way things were Kaze had no effort to beg for his job.

Lord Mano lean back in his chair. He had watched Kaze grow up, and take to job as captain. He always felt he wasn't right for the position, but Kaze's father was persistent he was great for the position.

"Good starting today, you are no longer captain of the guard...."

"Yes. sir."

".....and instead will be Mikaela's personal guard."

"Yes....s-s-sir!?"

"Kaze, I have long known your gifts lean more towards being an assassin or shadow guard. It's just your father didn't want that life for you. And since I need to make an example of you to the guards, but I don't want to lose your talent. This is the best solution. From this day onwards you will be Mikaela's personal guard, you will only answer to her. Go and meet your new boss."

Kaze left Lord Mano's office in a daze. He couldn't say he was happy to be the personal guard of a young miss but considering it was a punishment he wasn't supposed to be happy.

Arriving at young miss Mikaela courtyard, Kaze was led to her sitting room. Waiting for two hours, Kaze finally got to see Mika.

"Why has Captain Kaze come to see me?" Returning to her courtyard after sparring with her mother all day, Mika was out of breath and sweaty.

"Lord Mano has handed down his punishment, and granted me as your personal guard." Kaze got up and knelt down on one knee. "I await your orders."