Ch. 1

The initial start was what irked Alfae the most. Racing across the green field of grass it was too easy. Why did all these bumbling fools make it so easy to catch them? Ah--of course--because they were bumbling fools. With a gigantic leap she lands in front of the two criminals. “Going somewhere?”

            The two males: a potbellied fool and a skinny idiot, give frighten shrieks and fall to their knees. “Don’t kill us!” they beg. Alfae lets out a rough guffaw, “What, and murdering a whole village makes it okay?”

            “It was an accident!” the skinny one excuses. At the exact same time the potbelly criminal launches himself at Alfae. Easily she steps out of reach of his attack.

“I’m not going to get killed by some girl!” he shouts. That was one of the few things Alfae hated to hear, especially from men. Her dull black eyes become cold.

The two men attack pulling knifes from hidden pockets. Graceful as a dancer Alfae weaves through their knife slashes. Smoothly she pulls out her sword and slice them once across the belly.

The momentum of their attack pulls them forward as their abdomen split open spewing forth bowels and guts. Flicking her sword Alfae cleans her blade of their blood.

            “Why! Why! Why!” exhaling loudly Gisella runs her fingers through her silver hair. She paces by a six-foot tall window. “We don’t have enough money. How are we going to pay the mortgage?” she mutters to herself. She stares out the window at the black iron gates surrounding the old mansion. She had inherited the mansion from her father unfortunately she still had to pay for it. Only a few more years left before the house payment was done. Crossing her arms she can only hope that her sisters had money to pay for the mortgage.

            Just as she thought that, the door to the office opens; no warning of a knock. Knowing who it was Gisella eagerly pounced on her sister.

            “You’re back!” she exclaims. Like usual her older sister gives her a bland look. “What do you want? Let me guess. Mortgage money?” she asks and answers herself. Gisella nods, “Yes. How much do you have?” Alfae sits down in a comfy leather chair.

“And what about you? Don’t you get money from your job?”

            Gisella frowns, “It’s charity. I help the poor for free.”

Her sister leans back in the chair, “Let me see…” She holds up her fingers one by one as she counts. “Well…I killed a criminal, then I murdered a few assassins, hunted down a bandit group—Raiders is what I think they’re called—and slaughtered two more criminals.”

Gisella covers her mouth turning slightly pale. “Could you please not talk about your job?”

            Alfae was a mercenary. She didn’t really specify her job to Gisella or Ocearia, but both got the gist of it. Alfae was a killer and despite the fact that the sisters were close and knew each other well Alfae remained distant and mysterious.

            “Totaling that up I would have about….” Alfa stops to calculate the math. “I should have about 743 ekls. Add that to what I have in the bank so far…5,698 ekls.”

Gisella shakes her head at Alfae. Her sister was a miser and didn’t like to spend. All she did was save. “The payment for this month is 500 ekls, as usual,” Gisella states. Alfae thinks for a minute, “Well, I do have money to spend,” with a sigh, “I suppose I’ll pay for the mortgage this month.”

Gisella smiles in relief, “Thanks.” Alfae gives her a blank stare, “Uh huh,” and leaves the office.

            “Captain!” Sheathing her sword Ocearia dismisses the panting guards. The blue haired captain turns to the speaker. “Yes, Colonel Hapsbury?” The young colonel salutes to her.  “The new recruits have arrived. They’re waiting for your final judgment in the courtyard.”

            “Thank you Colonel, I’m heading there right now.” Ocearia breezes past him as he follows behind.

            Standing in the courtyard in a neat row of ten recruits Ocearia paces in front of them. She studies each man carefully. This one is sturdy and broad. This guy is a little skinny. He needs to work out more. “So this is the new recruit?”

The men shift at the tone in Ocearia’s voice. She sighs, “You want to be soldiers? You want to protect the people, your loved ones? Being a soldier is serious business. The way you are now, most of you won’t make it.”

            She looks each recruit in the eye, “I expect more from each of you.”  Then she claps her hands, “Okay! You’re all in! Colonel Hapsbury will see to your positions. Remember to be on time tomorrow morning at five in the morning. I will not tolerate tardiness.”

            At that moment someone runs into the courtyard. “Sorry! Sorry, I’m late!” Everyone turns to get a look at the latecomer. He was just a boy about 16 in age. He gives Captain Ocearia a deep bow. “Sorry, I’m late!” he repeats. Ocearia glares at him.

“And who are you?” The boy’s sorry expression changes to a cheerful one. His green eyes twinkle, “Nice to meet you! I’m a new recruit. Res.”

            Ocearia crosses her arms. “You’re late on your first day.” Res apologizes again. “I was helping a little girl find her doll.” Ocearia raises a skeptical brow. “Is that an excuse?” Res’s eyes widen in shock, “No! Not at all!” He didn’t look like he was lying. Ocearia decided to let him off.

            “I’m only letting you off once because you’re new, but if you can not live up to my standards expect to be kicked out.” With that she whirls around and walks off.

The new recruits sigh in relief. “She’s tough, just like what I heard.” Res gives them a curious stare, “The lady just now?” One guy nods, “You don’t know? That was Ocearia Trueheart. The youngest female captain in Gaila. Not only is she the youngest female captain she is also the most skilled.”

            “No, no, no, no! That’s the wrong color! I said a cerulean blue. That isn’t cerulean!” The tailor bowing on the floor flinches as a shimmering blue coat is flung at him. “Forgive me your highness,” he stutters. The prince glares at him, “I change my mind. Make me a deep sea blue with gold trims.” With a flick of his fingers the tailor is dismissed.

            A big sigh escapes the prince. “Fools. I can’t stand them.”

“Are you upset because of the trip?” The prince scowls at his mother. “I don’t want to go!” The queen sighs, placing a hand on his shoulder, “Belezar, you have to go. As the prince of Gaila you represent our country.”

Belezar pouts, “No, I refuse. The princess of Durami just wants to see me because I’m pretty.” The queen hugs him, “Honey, it’s because you are pretty. The most beautiful man in the world.” A smile tries to break free of Belezar’s pout. “Human,” he corrects, “I’m the most beautiful human in the world.”

            “Come on, smile,” Gisella says. Alfae ignores her encouragement. The two sisters were shopping at the morning market. Gisella was greeting her usual sellers. Children had gathered around them, but only around Gisella. The children kept a wary eye on Alfae. To them she was scary. She never smiled and didn’t talk much, nor was she friendly.

            “The usual fresh baked bread?” the baker asks. Gisella smiles at a little boy and nods to the baker, “Yes!” After receiving the daily bread she headed to the vegetable lady. The lady who was in her late forties peers at Alfae. “Who’s the young lady with you Gisella?”

            She glances at Alfae who was examining some tomatoes. “Serena, this is my adopted sister, Alfae.” Her sister looks over at the vegetable lady and gives a polite smile. Mrs. Serena leans towards Gisella, “She doesn’t talk much does she?” Gisella nods in agreement, “Yes. It’s in her nature.”

            On the way back from the market they pass by the blacksmith’s workshop. Immediately a scowl comes across Gisella’s face. A handsome man with dark hair and teal eyes gives the sisters a friendly smile. He was sweating having just finished on making a horseshoe. “Good morning!” he calls out.

            Gisella pretends she didn’t hear him. “What do you propose we have for breakfast?” Alfae gives her famous bland look. “Why are you asking me? You always decide breakfast.”

            When they finally turn the corner Gisella exhales loudly. She glares back the way they came. “Ugh! I hate him!”

“And why do you hate him?” Alfae asks in a monotone voice. “He annoys me. He’s so-so fake! Did you see his smirk? Or the way he said good morning? It’s so fake and annoying!”

            Alfae flicks some dirt out of her nails, looking disinterested, “Really? I didn’t notice.” Crossing her arms Gisella huffs, “You just don’t know him enough. He’s a fake all the way through.”

            “And you’re not?” Alfae’s words stung. Gisella flinches, “But that’s different. I’m trying to become a better person. He-he isn’t!”

            Returning home they managed to catch breakfast with Ocearia. “Off so early?” Gisella asks. Ocearia gulps down a glass of milk, “Yes. Today Prince Belezar is heading to Durami and as the captain of the king’s guard I have to escort him safely to Durami and back.” Gisella gives her blue haired sister a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.

            “Prince Belezar, huh? Good luck with that.” Ocearia smiles grimly, “Fingers crossed he won’t create a racket.”  “I doubt that,” replies Gisella.

Prince Belezar was the 3^rd prince of Gaila. He was known to be extremely beautiful, but arrogant. He was narcissistic, spoiled, and picky. Not to mention vain. A lot of the kingdom’s funds went into designing his wardrobe. He only got away with it because of his beauty.

“So I won’t be home for a few days,” Ocearia apologizes. Alfae swallows her bread, “Me too. I just received another job.” Gisella gives a sad smile, “Well, it’s going to be lonely with you two gone.”

The carriage jolts and begins to move forward. Prince Belezar slouches in the red velvet seat. He was dressed in a dark gold coat with matching silk breeches. His frilly sleeve fluff out of his silver trimmed coat cuff. He stares out the glass window, twirling a finger in his rose pink hair.

“Princess Dahlia,” he murmurs. He takes out a picture of the princess who insisted to meet him, dandelion yellow hair and brown eyes. Belezar snorts. She was pretty but not by much.

Ocearia was riding at the front when she noticed Prince Belezar bothering one of the soldiers. Three hours had only passed and he was already causing trouble. She rode her horse over to the carriage, dismissing the grateful soldier.

“Do you need anything your highness?” Belezar smirks, “A girl?” Ocearia glares at him, “Do you need something your highness?” Prince Belezar yawns, “I’m bored. I want to ride. Bring me my horse.” Ocearia gives him a slight bow, “I’m sorry your highness you are forbidden to leave the carriage.”

“Forbidden?” Belezar’s voice raises one octave. Ocearia hardens her face preparing for the prince’s outrage. “Who commanded that? My mother? Well, she isn’t here. You don’t have to obey her! You obey me! Now, bring me my horse!” he shrieks. “We did not bring your horse, your highness,” Ocearia states. “Then a spare! Bring me a spare!”

“I will not. Orders are orders.” Belezar’s beautiful face turns red with rage. “You will pay for this! I’ll have your family executed for this!” Ocearia chuckles at the thought of it. Execute her sisters? She’d like to see him try. “Don’t you dare laugh at me!” spews Prince Belezar. Ocearia silently sighs. This was going to be a long, long ride.

Alfae laughs when she reads what her next job is. “Well, well, well.”