Mercenary Little Death Bringer by Catherine Banks

matter-of-factly.
    “There is no other way for us to discovery
who it is. Besides, if they wanted to kill me they could have just
ordered the bandits who attacked us to do it,” I replied in a
neutral tone so as not to upset him.
    “I told you she wouldn’t listen to reason,”
Favian said to Father.
    “What are you planning for this test ?”
Mother asked as she sat down in the chair beside Father.
    Macon relaxed now that she had sat down and
said, “We are going to have Favian and Marin go to the town square
and appear as though they are shopping for gifts to try to lure the
kidnappers out. The rest of the sixth years will be spread
throughout the town either in hiding spots or shopping as well with
some at each escape point in case something goes wrong. Masters
Sean and Martin as well as myself will be watching as well. She
will be completely protected.”
    “I don’t like it,” Mother said and shook her
head.
    Father put his hand on Mother’s and smiled.
“Dear, it is a good plan.”
    “They are going to risk her life!” Mother
said, “That is never a good plan.”
    “You cannot protect me all the time,” I told
her.
    “You cannot risk your life all the time,” she
said back to me.
    “Are you telling me that I cannot become a
mercenary?” I asked her softly. She turned her head away and my
anger skyrocketed. “It is my life and I will decide what to do with
it. I am going to be a mercenary. I am going to go through with
this test. There is nothing you can do to stop me. If you take me
back to the castle I will escape and come back. If you try to hold
me against my will I will attack any who guard me and escape. I
will do as I wish,” I said angrily before storming out of Macon’s
office and walking to the stables.
    Fire nickered in greeting to me and I hurried
to her stall, burying my face against her neck as I cried. I had
training in thirty minutes, but I was in no condition to practice
my swordsmanship so I walked to the tack area and grabbed Fire’s
saddle and bridle, quickly tacking her and led her from the barn. I
swung up onto her back and kissed to her. She took off at a fast
gallop, eating the ground up quickly with her hooves as we passed
the outdoor training arena and began the five mile trip to my
favorite hiding spot. Fire galloped happily since she hadn’t been
out of the stable and had been craving to stretch her legs. She
slowed as she started the climb up the side of the mountain and she
was forced to use some of her energy for the steep climb.
    We rounded the mountain and I spotted the
trail off to the right, slowing Fire so we could make the turn onto
the mostly unused path. Most didn’t know the trail existed or where
it led, but my first year I’d found it and had often visited it
while attending the Academy. Fire was forced to walk since the path
was narrow, steep and windy, but she didn’t seem to mind. It took
twenty minutes before we finally made it to a spot where the trees
stopped fifteen feet away from a rock which overlooked the lake
further down. I dismounted, dropped the reins on the ground to
ground tie Fire and then sat on the rock.
    How could she do this to me? How could she
plan to keep me from being a mercenary? Why even let me go to the
Academy if she wasn’t going to let me do the job afterwards? I felt
awful for the way I had spoken to her, but I had meant every word.
I greatly appreciated them raising me as if I were one of their
own, but she couldn’t force me to stay at the castle. I wasn’t
built to be a lady who sat on her hands and let the men go off and
fight. I was a fighter and I needed to be out slaying ogres and
protecting defenseless people.
    Tears leaked from my eyes again and I hated
that I was crying yet again ! I rolled onto my back and let
the tears flow as the sun warmed my face and body. Before I’d
realized it, I had fallen asleep and then was woken by Fire’s
nicker. “How did you find me?” I asked Favian without sitting up