Chapter 11

Edda was the youngest in her class when she qualified as a Remu spy. To be a Remu spy doesn't necessarily center on matters of espionage alone, one has to be competent in all things combat related for one never knew when a mission would go south and the only chance of survival came with one's ability to fight for it. Edda had topped her class in the sector of combat after having mastered three combat moves: Pride, Empathy, Awe. This gave her confidence and it was this confidence that she drew upon when her hand grasped the tray before her.

Edda opened her mind's eye as her masters had taught her, it only took her a second to do so and in that moment she was able to form a plan of action. Dahli appeared weak and easy to take out, she'd attack the Princess first, take her hostage and use her to escape. The guards wouldn't dare attempt anything for fear of endangering Dahli's safety, Edda was sure of this.

I'll use Pride. She decided. The Pride technique required one to attack from above and to center all attacks on the opponent's upper body. Edda slowly lifted herself, her fingers tightened on the tray, she positioned her feet apart beneath the table and used them as a solid anchor of stability that she'd require in order to shift her weight onto her left hand and use the momentum to deliver a blow. Edda twisted her feet, bent her left knee and with the building momentum swung the tray at Dahli's head. She smiled as she did so. The Princess was a religious lunatic and her father had killed the man she loved. She felt excitement mingled with joy as she watched the tray make its way towards Dahli's right temple.

There was a loud Clang! As the tray connected with something solid but it wasn't Dahli's head. Edda's eyebrows went up, between the tray and the Princess was the empty pitcher, Dahli had lifted it up just a fraction of a second faster than Edda and used it to block the spy's attack. Dahli lowered the pitcher and her grey eyes met with those of Edda's. A silence ensued and in that brief moment Edda knew that she was greatly mistaken concerning Dahli's fragility.

The guards took a step forward in unison and Edda turned her face to them. "It'd be impolite for you to interrupt us." Dahli said to the two guards. The guards obliged and took a step back. Edda turned her eyes back to the Princess and found her smiling at her, they still held the pitcher and tray between them in frozen confrontation. Edda slowly lowered the tray and as Dahli mimicked her by lowering the pitcher Edda twisted her feet once more and attacked but the same result occurred with Dahli blocking the tray by using the pitcher.

But Edda was expecting her to block again. Edda leaned back in her chair, lifted her knees to the table and put her weight behind it, pushing the table towards Dahli. The Princess lowered the pitcher to gain stability and Edda attacked again with the tray but this time she completely missed as Dahli ducked. Before Edda could react Dahli swung the pitcher at her head and it connected with a sickening thud!

Edda fell out of her chair, she felt her head spinning but she quickly stood up and took up the stance of Awe with one foot before the other and the knees bent with palms extended before her. The Awe technique required her to only grab her opponent, doing so will enable her to break the required limbs and dislocate certain joints that would render her opponent incapable to respond. Dahli also stood up and laughed with her head tilting backwards. "Awe? Seriously? All you Remu folk are the same. Your last King took up the same position when he met my grandfather and he burnt for it." She said.

Edda felt rage at Dahli's remarks, her stance faltered and the realization that Dahli was using an Empathy technique hit her too late as Dahli flung the basket of food at her. Edda parried the basket that was actually a decoy to Dahli's follow up attack that Edda was late in anticipating. The Princess sprung herself over the table and landed a kick on Edda's chest that sent her slamming against the dungeon wall.

Edda felt pain all over her chest and back but she fought against it and was about to stand up when Dahli kicked her stomach, knocking her down. Edda raised her head to observe the Princess only to find Dahli standing in the same Awe stance Edda had held before. Edda panicked and tried to get up quickly to avoid being grabbed but she was too late, Dahli pounced on her like a Yendw wolf and pinned Edda's body to the floor of the dungeon, trapping her arms beneath her. Dahli laid her arms across Edda's neck and leaned backwards while twirling her legs around Edda's legs hence trapping them in place.

Edda was trapped, she couldn't move her arms or her legs as Dahli's weight and legs kept them in place. Her neck was being pulled backwards and the pressure was concentrated on her curving spine. Edda marveled at Dahli's strength that she had been sure was nonexistent a moment ago but now was thinking otherwise provided her spine was going to break under the testament of Dahli's strength. "You... You.. You have the.. Jojoh Meena!" Edda exclaimed, that was the only explanation to Dahli's combat prowess.

Dahli laughed her childlike laughter and Edda felt the pressure on her spine lessen. "No, sweetheart, I do not have the Jojoh Meena but what I do have is the experience of having everyone regard me as weak and incapable. The experience of hearing people call me a delicate Jewel that ought to be cared for lest it breaks, of seeing my brothers get treated as Gods just because the possibility of the Jojoh Meena falling on them is higher since they are male and I'm female." Dahli leaned forward until her lips brushed Edda's earlobe "What I have is impeccable will, and it drives me to wake up before anyone else and train in ways of combat till my hair falls off. Jewel of Binoria I am, break I do not."

Dahli got off Edda and the spy groaned at the lessening of pressure upon her spine. The Princess dusted her purple dress. "Urgh, you've made me dirty and I wore this to attend father's meeting with the High Lords. Guess I'll have to change." Dahli said and observed the sprawled Edda on the floor. "I will excuse your attempt at trying to harm me as frustration for not seeing the sun in so long, I will also arrange for you to go on a brief walk in the sunshine to ease your distress."

Edda turned her head to stare at the Princess. "Why do you do this things for me?" She asked.

Dahli cocked her head to the side as if surprised by the question, she then squatted next to Edda's face and spoke "When you die during the Nula Anyl you will go before the presence of the Goddess Meena... I.. I.." Dahli hesitated.

"You want me to intercede on your behalf, ask her to grant you the Jojoh Meena." Edda finished her words for her. Dahli nodded and a brief moment passed where they just stared at each other. Edda finally knew what her purpose was in the hands of Dahli and now she knew something more about the Princess. Dahli was by far the craftiest of them all, the most ambitious and the most dangerous. Dahli's grey eyes glistened with raw intensity, she smiled at Edda and stood up, turned around and departed the dungeon cell.

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