The Swordsman Academy

Clay:

The pain in my shoulder was intense. It was a familiar feeling, pierced skin, hot blood running down my arm. I was able to push myself to my feet, stumbling a little closer to Lynne. My head felt foggy, my senses dulled. However, I remembered that promise I made. I had a job to do.

"Who are you?" Lynne asked wearily, his tone shaking.

"Guards of the Kingdom." The man in the front stated. "We were informed you were kidnapped for ransom. We do not negotiate with terrorists. You will hand over the prince immediately, or you will be shot down."

"There's been a misunderstanding!" Lynne exclaimed. The guard remained silent, but he seemed like he was listening. "Clay saved me from those thugs. He's been protecting me."

The guard in the front paused for a long while. The pause stretched out to an aching point, tense. I could feel the air around me getting thicker unless that was just the bloodloss making it hard to breathe.

"This peasant? My Prince, I fear you do not understand the situation. You must be mistaken. He is a fugitive." The guard stated, he then turned to me. "Did you really think there are no repercussions for killing your master?"

Now for sure, my breath was caught in my throat. They found me out so fast, I was an idiot for staying in one place for so long. I was an idiot for trying to protect this prince.

"You, slave boy… will be sentenced to death."

The guard drew his arrow further back and readjusted it to point right at my forehead. I readied myself to try driving out of the way, to at least avoid a fatal blow. For a moment, I thought of placing the prince between myself and the arrows, yet as soon as the idea crossed my mind I felt deep disgust with myself.

I looked back to Lynne who was now staring at me with fear in his eyes. I only told him that I escaped, not that I killed anybody to do it. I shouldn't have been surprised at that reaction, but somehow it hurt.

"I'll kill you all first!" I snarled looking back at the guards, raising my sword and getting ready to fight. I wasn't sure how I was going to avoid all of those arrows, but I'd be damned if I was just gonna roll over and die.

"Enough!" Lynne's voice boomed, stepping between myself and the guards. "I think it is YOU who does not understand the situation. As the prince, I command you to stand down. Not complying with my orders will dub you as treasonous, and you will be dealt with as an enemy of the Kingdom!"

My heart skipped a beat as I heard him speak. He was standing so tall, his voice sounded so assured. I felt like I could follow a voice like that. A voice that wasn't belittling, orders that were not disgraceful, but a voice that was filled with confidence and courage.

Somehow, that worked. The guards dropped their bows and arrows. Their faces tensed with displeasure and fear both at the same time. Lynne placed a hand on his hip, and though I couldn't see his facial expression I could tell he was pleased with himself.

"This man is no longer a slave or a peasant, I have hired him as my royal guard since it seems like he has done a better job than any of you could." Lynne sneered, my cheeks lighting up at the high praise.

"Prince Charlton, you cannot do that. The man you have chosen has no right-" The guard flinched and cut off his sentence when Lynne abruptly grabbed my arm. I was taken back for a moment as well, but I tried to keep my expression stern. I wanted to have as much confidence in him as he did in me.

"No. You have no right to question my decision. This man is strong, at his young age I reckon he would be able to take on any one of you in a fair swordfight." Lynne announced. They looked confused by that statement.

"We are archers, my prince, we do not know swordsmanship." One of the guards in the back said. That one had been quiet until now, his voice sounded much timider than the rest.

"Then take me to my father. I want to prove this man's worth in front of him. I want him to see Clay's power with his own eyes." Lynne stated. "Where is he?"

My heart started to pound. He was going to put me in a fight to prove my strength. I clenched my teeth at the thought, but it was either fight or die. As it always was… even if I didn't like it.

No… this was going to be different. I was going to decide to fight this time. This time I had somebody in my corner. This time there wouldn't be an audience shouting around us, drowning out our pained cries.

This time wouldn't be a form of torture.

"You're shaking." Lynne pointed out in a whisper. His sudden change in tone to sweet and warm snapped me out of my trance. "Was I wrong to say that? I can use another method if you don't want to fight."

I pressed my lips together. Now I was even given the option to fight or not. "No. I'm just shaking with excitement." I said, my mouth pulling into a wide grin as I stared down the guards. "You were dead on. When it comes to fighting, I'm the strongest there is."

The guard's eyes narrowed in disbelief and disgust at my declaration, but I could tell they were too scared of going against Lynne so they didn't make any other comments. "Very well. We have been told you are sheltered from the ways of this world. We were told to offer a brief explanation. Your father resides at one of the many prestigious schools across the kingdom. This academy is the most well known of all, only the most pristine warriors graduate." The guard in the front explained.

"If your royal guard is as good as you state, he should prove it by defeating one of the students there." The guard in the back spoke up again.

"Your father, King Charlton, is the current principal overseeing the student's instruction." The guard in the front chipped in again. "There is an academy like this for every facet of the royal army, archers, axe wielders, mace users… any weapon you could think of."

I never knew that the King was in charge of one of the royal academies. I have heard of them before. They were a place for noble families to send their children in order for them to gain prestige amongst the ranks of the Kingdom's army. I heard that noble families whose sons or daughters graduate from one of those schools will increase their status in the kingdom. Though, I still didn't really understand what that meant. They probably held more power or something, however, the hierarchy works in this Kingdom. Their children become generals in the army. I wondered why the King would oversee only one particular school and not all of them.

"We'll take you… to the Swordsman Academy."