Chapter two
Ari wanted to rip her hair out and scream, but that wasn't what warriors did. Warriors dealt with what irritated them in a mature, calm manner. Too bad she wasn't allowed to handle a knife, because if she had been, the situation she found herself in would probably be over with a lot sooner. The fat prince was swinging his hands around in loose fists that would probably break his fingers if he actually made contact with anything. As it was, Ari was too busy throwing a brief pity-party for herself as she side stepped him at every turn, leading him around in a circle.
When he finally got frustrated and ran at her, going for a tackle, she slapped her face into her open palm and rolled to the side. The moronic fool stumbled out of the ring and ran head long into a tree. Ari observed him silently for several seconds, shaking her head. When she looked over at Nyala, her friend was trying to suppress and amused smile. The warriors behind her -her mother included- were all openly laughing.
"Alright then, why doesn't the second son step into the ring?"
The queen announced, looking over at the much more attractive prince. Ari knew that regardless, he would be pronounced the winner, as she doubted that their people would accept a fat lump like his brother as their new prince. When the boy -man?- stepped into the ring, he stepped in with a silent confidence and an air of grace that almost made her jealous. Taking in a deep breath, they faced each other silently, their eyes locked, their backs straight. The fat prince whimpered from the base of the tree that had caught his face, and then it began.
They struck at the same time, their fists and blocks mimicking each other in a fluid, beautiful way. She was sure that to her people, they looked like true poetry in motion, and to his, they were too fast to follow. She was actually surprised that he could keep up with her. She wasn't hold anything back, and despite not pulling her punches, he was still standing. What really made her respect him was the fact that he wasn't holding back either, He was using all his strength in their little sparring match.
"Woo! Show 'em how a real man fights Miss Ari!"
One of the younger warriors in the group shouted, making her smile briefly. The young were always so full of energy. The prince -why didn't she know his name again?- struck out, making her drop into a crouch and roll away before she threw her own punches. She wasn't sure how long they spared, but when she caught Nyala's gaze over his head, she was amused to find that her friend wanted to fight the prince.
Blocking another blow, she pushed him back lightly with her foot, then stood straight, her deep blue eyes searing as she stared him over. Before anyone could blink, she stepped out of the circle and bowed to Nyala as she walked in, throwing her thick, fur lined cloak to the side as she did so.
"I'm just a little impressed that you were able to keep up with Ari."
She announced, her thick accent bleeding through the Balvedarian language. The Sha'at prided themselves in getting to know their enemy by learning the language, religion, culture and political structure. They usually did this by kidnapping weak of mind soldiers and forcing the information out of them. With the Balvedarian's however, they had had to do spying. It had taken some time, but now, the elite in the Sha'at society knew the language as well as their own. The prince only smiled before he took his stance and waited for Nyala to do the same. Ari settled herself against a fallen tree, watching the fight with lazy eyes as the two royals eyed each other intently. The Balvedarian queen shifted her way over to where Ari stood, her husband following her closely. Ari paid them no attention until the woman spoke.
"You're quiet the...warrior. Though I must say that seeing my eldest son ramming into a tree is slightly worrisome, I am glad that you will be under our services."
Ari stiffened, her eyes sharpening before she looked down to the queen coldly. When she spoke, her voice was almost as cold as the snow.
"I serve no one but Princess Nyala."
She informed the woman, looking her over as if she were less then a bug.
"No one but her is ever allowed to order me around, what more, I do not follow orders given to me by weak, pathetic Balvedarian women who think themselves so high above the rest."
The queen looked red in the face -from anger?- but Ari paid her no head, having already turned back to watch the fight in silence. And to stare in awe when it was finished.
