Chapter 4 :Yala

"You've gotten much better Yala". Smithers blocked my swing. I flung back giving him space smiling. It had been two years since the "fietere massacre" as they called it. For the first few months, we were on guard ready for them to attack again and try to gain control over our nation. However, it never came.

My mother had taken over my father's suite and did a hell of a job. Although we missed him I knew he would be proud of the woman I had become. I was now eighteen years old.

You would think I would now reign over my people but my mother wanted to give me more time. But I was ready to make the hard decisions. I was ready to go to war.

Smithers swept me under my feet knocking me to the ground but I quickly brought him down with me. He laid with his back against the ground with me on top of him. My blade gracefully knipped at his neck however my smiled faltered when I felt a cold metal touch my side.

Smithers laughed and I groaned getting off of him. "It's a tie again" Emirs tells the others surrounded us. They laugh and I help Smithers up. The crowd disperses as I stuck my sword into the ground. "Don't be to upset. You've gotten much better" Smithers saids from behind me. I turned around wiping my face with a towel. "Not good enough if it's a tie," I breathed.

I pulled my sword and walked off. Once I got to the patio hallway I felt a hand grip my wrist. "Hey" he said stopping me. "You've gotten better and it's not like you've never beat me" he grinned. I rolled my eyes "I got lucky". He held my cheek giving me that charming smile. "You're a better warrior than me. You might not think it but you are. You just need to believe in yourself. Be confident in yourself" he assured me.

I leaned into his warm hand "Thx" I said shyly.

My eyes moved from his eyes to his mouth. He leaned in and I closed my eyes. Before I could feel his lips upon mine I heard "YALA" being called out. I opened my eyes and we stepped away from each other. Smithers blushed skin practically matched his red ginger hair. From the looks of it anyone could tell something just went on with us.

A maid came through the corridor huffing. "Your mother would like to speak with you Princess Yala". I nodded giving Smithers one last look and he smiled. I bit my lip following the maid. Did we almost kiss? Smithers had always been by my side. He was my best friend, confidant. And yes I had crush on him but I didn't think he would ever like me.

Ladies flirted and nipped at his attention. He has the title of our army commander. He was handsome and a gentleman. Maybe our moment or what I think was one could truly happen. I walked in to where my mother sat. Other aids/elders sat at the round table with her. "You're here" my mother smiled.

I patted my frazzled probably sweaty hair. The elders were the one's who got passed along information over the years. Information that always helped us. Usually when I saw them I always had to dress in formal wear.

Black dress that held a deep v and showed off my shoulder. Fabric is bedded on my shoulders that spiraled over my back.

So if my mother called me here in my sparing gear. Something must have been truly wrong or  very important. "Sit" one of the elders said warmly. I smiled sitting beside my mother. "Let us continue. The Fierte have sent us a treaty. They would like some of our resources and they will help us with our issues". My mother looked over everyone.

"No" I stated coldly. Just hearing those ruthless evil barbarians brought a prickle to my skin. "We've been fighting with them for over a hundred years. If this will put an end to this. So be it" one of our oldest elders spoke Judo. I slammed my fist against the table. My lips trembling "those people killed your king and you want to help them". "I say let them die" I spouted with venom.

The elders gasp "you must think with your mind child not your heart" another elder stated. I stiffened clenching my jaw. "We say do it. We will be able to use them" Judo agreed. I stood up causing my chair to hit the ground. "What is wrong with you people? Just two years ago we were holding a funeral for the soldiers they killed. Staying on alert cause we were scared they would  massacre us in our sleep. And you all what? Want to be pals, buddies with those sons of bitches" I screamed.

My mother stood up "I conclude this meeting. I need to need to speak to my daughter". I watch as everyone float out of the room slowly giving me weird glances.We always held the elders to a higher standard. They knew more things than we did. If they agreed to working with these people, it was like spitting on my father's body.

My mother huffed pacing then stopped. "Do you think with your heart"?"No but you taught me to think with both". "How could you even think of doing this treaty"? I gritted. "we're in danger you're in danger. We've been getting threats from the Bescle and they want our land " my mother squeaked.  "What" I inquired holding the table for support. "We need more soldiers they have the biggest army than all of the other four nations. We got beat by the Fierte we will be slaughtered by the  Bescle other" my mother boomed.

I leaned off the table straightening. I glared at my mother. "Father would have wanted us to fight. Not mingle with those people. If you ask me to come to this meeting for me to agree with you. I don't. And right now I can't even look at you". I strolled out the door leaving my mother.