Chapter 8: Getting ready for a Duel

So Sil helped me finish getting ready. As soon as I was at the door I stopped. I hesitated cause I just can't believe she is gone. My brother and Jay saw me and came to my side. "It will ok sister. I promise. You will be ok. It will be fine." "I know. Its just the thought of never seeing her again." "I know sis. You'll be ok I promise." So I walked with my brother and Jay while everyone else followed Tax and his family.

I took a few hours but we finally made it. I had to sit down for a bit so I sat on a stump. There were trees on this mountain. I was panting hard not only from the walking but the grief I'm feeling for my friend. Tax, my big brother and Jay were there to try to calm me down. "Breathe sis. Take a deep breath." "I can't brother. I just can't right now." "You know I can make you right?" said Tax. "Yes you idiot. I know. I'll try then." So I took to breaths before it went in then I let it out I did that 2 times. "There you feel better now?" said Tax. "No not really but I can breathe better now." "Good. Can you walk now?" "I think so." I stood up and wobbled but my brother Tax and Jay were there in case I fell. I was so grateful for them.

Once I joined everyone, they had a box of her ashes and everyone was getting a fistful. It was finally my turn. I was leaking like a faucet. Then I finally let go of her ashes and the wind blew them. "Its all over now. Her wish is fulfilled. I'm sure she is happy now." I looked up to the Sky and said, "Ten-Ten I have fulfilled our wish. I hope you were watching up there." I felt so much relief that it was done I felt dizzy and light headed. I was about to fall off a cliff when someone caught me. "Woah there are you ok Talia?" "Thanks Tax. I just felt relief that I felt dizzy and lightheaded." "Here let me take you somewhere to sit down. I'll take you back to the stump." "Yeah thanks." He held my arm so I didn't fall and sat me down when we got there. Jay and Lycan noticed right away. "Talia!" They said in Unison. "I'm ok now guys. Just lightheaded and dizzy. Tax helped me from falling off a cliff almost passing out." "Thanks man. You saved her life." Said Lycan. "Hey she's an old friend of course I would help her out. I'm like her well I can't say brother I am ten years older than her but lets just say uncle." "Hehe. You know you were like a brother. Even if you are ten you older than me." Everyone came over to me a few minutes later to see if I was ok. I told everyone I was fine. After I calmed down and my lightheaded/dizziness was better we started heading back. Jay decided to carry me in case I felt worse. I fought him about it but it was no use. He Tax and my brother took turns carrying me. Once we got to the gate they put me down and help my arm so I didn't fall. "OK lets get you to your room to get some rest." Said big sis. "OK that sounds good." "Also lets have the doctor check on you just to be sure." "Ok." My sis helped me to my room and helped change my clothes. The Doctor came in and did a checkup and said, "With a day or 2 of rest she should be fine." Then he left and I said, "Sis. Stay with me til I fall asleep please." "Ok sure." I held her hand then drifted off to sleep. Once she was asleep Her big sis Azura left the room. Jay Lycan and Onyx were there to see how she was doing. "She is going to be ok. I'm sure the doc told you on his way out." "Yeah. He did." Said Jay. "Well she is asleep now so lets let her sleep." "yeah that would be best." "By the way Jay. I haven't seen your family around. Are they ok?" "Yeah they are fine. They have been giving Talia some time with her family since they know she hasn't seen them in a couple of years. They go to the village everyday to check it out." "Oh good. At least they are ok." Lycan and the others went about their business.

Lycan went back to the dungeon to talk to the boss. "Hello there. Sorry it took me awhile. She woke up the next day. I got tied up with other things. She is resting right now. She almost passed out falling off a cliff and Tax saved her. She needs a day or 2, to rest. I'll let her know you were worried about her and that you are waiting. When you all do go please protect her ok? If she gets a serious wound you will never leave this cell again got it." "Yes I understand. I am assuming me and some of my men aren't going to be the only ones. You will send someone else with us." "Of course I will. After what you did to get in here I will definitely keep my sister safe." I will be sending 2 knights with her plus you guys. You can hide right?" "Yes we are all good hiders. What? Your not coming too are you?" "I'm going to talk to my sister about it. That is the plan." "Well whatever fine with me. the more people to protect her the more reason for her not to get hurt right?" "That is why. Well I gotta go. This will probably be the last time you see me until then." "Thanks Prince Lycan." Then he waved and left the dungeon.

It had been 2 Days and I was fine. I may not be done grieving but I have calmed down enough to go about my daily jobs. The maids helped me get dressed. I told them to get me clothes that would be ok to go out and play in that wasn't a dress. So they got me a Tunic and a long sleeve shirt to go under it and some brown pants. I also put on my boots hand had them do a fish tail hair style. After they were done I went to the training room. To train a bit. I got my sword and swung it around. I also did some Target practice.

After awhile I needed to rest and that is when my training teacher came in. "Hello Tax." "Yes he was my new training instructor. My old one retired. He was an old man. He taught my father, Mother and my older sister when they were younger. Then he taught me and my brothers for a few years until recently. Tax doesn't start training me for another few days. Probably when I get back from my mission. "Hello Princess. Out here training?" "Yeah I have to leave in a couple of days on a mission. I can't say where. Its top secret." "Oh just be careful out there ok?" "You know me. that's my middle name." I joked. We both laughed. He gave me some water and I drank it. "Thanks I needed it. How did you know I was here?" "I didn't but when I passed by here I heard someone in the training room. Then I went to go get some water and brought it over." "Oh that makes sense. Well I have been training for awhile now. I have to be somewhere see you later Tax." "Yeah see ya." Then I left for the dungeon.

"Hello Boss. Sorry I haven't been here for awhile." "Good to see you all healthy now. Your brother came down a couple times he figured out that we were going somewhere now he wants to come." "Sigh. I knew it. I'm going to have to try to talk him out of it. Anyway we will be leaving in 4 days. I just came here from training as you can see I'm all sweaty sorry about that." "Its all good. I'm glad to see you aren't the type of princess to be a shut in and spoiled. In fact the whole family is the same way." "Yeah father decided he didn't want any of us to be spoiled like his sisters were so he raised all of us to train and learn to fight. My brother is already going to surpass father. They sparred the other day I was told and he only got hit once. A few more days and he will have surpassed him. We have a new instructor now. I'm sure its around the castle already you know who it is?" "Yep its Tax." "Yes it is. I'm glad. My childhood friend even if he is 10 years older than me. I don't care." "Ok well I better get going. I just wanted to tell you when we would be leaving. I will come back the day before we leave to go over that plan again." "OK sounds good stay in good health." "I'll do my best." So I left the dungeon then I went up to take up bath.

After my bath I got dressed into some normal dresses then looked for my brother to talk him out of going with me. "Hey have any of you seen Lycan? I can't find him." "Oh princess. He told me to tell you that he was in the training room when you looked for him." "Thank you sir Knight." "No problem."

I headed toward the Training room and saw my brother. I sat on the bench and watched him. Looks like he was there quite a bit then it was time for him to rest and he finally found me. "Hello brother." "Oh Talia. I know why you are looking for me. You can't talk me out of it." "I know. I'll make you a bet. If I beat you in a duel you have to stay here. If you win I guess you can go with me. Since Tax is the new instructor he can be the referee." "You know you can never beat me Talia." "Ha. You never know if we don't try right? Plus it was only practice." I said while looking away. "Haha so embarrassed you can't look at me in the face while saying that. You never change Talia. That's good. Never change ok? Promise me no matter what happens." "Yes brother. You know I can't do well with change anyway." "Yeah I know. So when is the duel going to take place?" "Lets say in two days. We will be leaving in 4." "OK then two days it is." "Good." Then we shook on it and I went to find Tax.

"Found you Tax." "Oh princess was a pleasant surprise. What can I do for you?" "Well I sort of made a bet with Lycan. I have to go on a mission and he wanted to come. I already have 4 men and 2 knights. That would be too many. I mean I know he wants to protect me but I need to learn to do stuff on my own with my own choosing of the men. I am not a kid anymore and I can protect myself." "You want me to referee right?" "Yes please. Will you?" "Sure why not. Its been awhile. Plus you know he is going to win right?" "Hmph. You too huh? You don't think I can beat him yet. Well we will see." I stood up and told him, "Oh it will be in 2 days at noon. My sister and little brother are coming to watch along with Jay." "Oh so they get to see you loose huh?" "He no one said anything. I never believe anything until it actually happens." "I know that's just how you are." I left and waved to him.

I trained the next day with Tax even though it wasn't his time to train us yet. Then after me my brother trained. I went up to take a bath to clean all the sweat off of me. I laid in the tub flat on my back with my head under water for awhile. That is how I think. I had to do it a few times cause I had to get up and breathe. After awhile the maids helped me out and I got dressed in my normal clothes.

It was noon now and time for lunch. I didn't want to face my brother until the next day so I had my lunch in my room and wrote in my diary and read some things on weapons training to get some tips on how to get better and hopefully beat my brother.

Finally my lunch came and I got comfortable on my bed and ate my lunch while I read. Looks like my stupid brother spread it around that we were having a duel. Sigh I hope my father and mother don't come. It would be embarrassing.

After eating I took a walk in the garden and I saw Jay. "Oh hi Jay. Do you happen to be waiting for me?" "Yes I am. I knew you would come here after lunch you always do." "Hehe you know me to well. Anyway I'm sure you heard about the duel." "Yes I did. He also told me why." "Oh come on. Not you too? Do you think he should go?" "Well not him personally but I think other than the knights, someone you know and love should come." "Hehe. Nice try but I am not having you come. I don't want any of my family members or friends risking their lives or getting killed." "Sigh. I knew you were going to say that. Too bad." "Maybe one that isn't so dangerous I will take you on ok?" "Fine be that way." "Oh you are so cute when you pout." Then I kissed his cheek. I cuddled with him for a bit and talked about random things that didn't matter. Finally it was time to go in and I did some more reading since I have nothing to do today. I was going to wait until midnight to try out the new things have read about. I have a really good memory. According to my family that is. I can memorize up to 999 chapters in a book. That's only because I have read a book up to that. I like to test my brain to see how much I can remember. Right now I am storing what I am learning now into my brain so I can try to beat my brother for once.

It was close to midnight. I was already dressed in my regular playing clothes. I told the Knight guarding my door I had business. He nodded and let me go. I quietly snuck over to Tax's room. I knocked quietly on his door. (Knock knock.) Then I did it a tad bit harder (Knock Knock) Then he open the door. "What is it princess." "Did I wake you?" "No I was going through some papers. Come in for a second." "OK thanks." So I went in and told, "I want to train with you like right now." "What? But don't you need all your strength for noon today?" "Oh I'll be fine. I have some new tricks I read about I wanted to try out. I don't want to wake anyone else up to spar with them." "OK meet me in the training grounds. I'll be there shortly." "OK thanks Tax. You're a lifesaver." "I know. Don't forget. You owe me." "Yeah yeah." So I left for the training room and waited on the bench for him.

I heard someone come in and saw Tax. "Ok you got your weapon ready?" "Yes Tax." "Ok so what are these knew tricks you have read about?" I told him all about what I have read and he shook his head to agree with me. We did this for at least 2 hours for all the moves then I took a bath in my room and got back to bed and slept until it got light outside.

Finally it was the day of the duel.