Board Thread:Short Stories and Fanfictions/@comment-2601:647:4000:5CE0:FC5C:33DA:7CF0:60A-20191024050134/@comment-2601:647:4000:5CE0:F4EF:6212:3E0C:CB65-20191102050359

Chapter 8

SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINK!

A steely bladed throwing star embedded itself in the forehead of a target dummy. Lushberry juice spurted out from in between Lady Gisela's remarkably painted eyes, soaking the pale fabric. Yet, Sophie's stomach heaved and she forced herself to look away. Sandor nodded, approving of her weapon work. He examined everyone else. Keefe was a definite pass- his hit was enough to kill a person directly. Fitz's throw was soft, as was Dex's and Linh's. Marella's aim was hard and like iron, as was Wylie's. Biana's was perfect- not too deathly, not to gentle. Fitz looked ready to crush something into dust. Sophie and Keefe exchanged high-fives.

Sandor had Fitz, Dex, and Linh practice again and then handed Sophie two blades twin to each other. They both were as long as her forearm, and had dark brown hilts with gold runes. The bottom of the blade was slightly curved, and then there was the sign of the swan in black, going across the edge of the long knives. It ended in a slightly curved but sharp tip, and reminded Sophie of the swords elves used in the Lord of the Rings.

Then he gave Keefe a sword with a thin, delicate blade and an auburn and gold hilt. The blade was sivler and had runes etched into the side. On the hilt, a stone of amber was placed. Marella and Wylie both had long, sturdy hilts with a one sided ax blade, gold runes enscribed on the edge. And Biana recieved a beautiful bow and quiver. The bow was made of a strong, thrummy hair, and polished wood that was a fragile beauty. The quiver was pale pink, and loaded with delicate, black feathered arrows with deathly tips.

"You all have proved to be ready with the weapons you are holding," Sandor told them. "And you will use these blades, not in ruthlessness, not in offense, but in defense, or murder will surely break your mind."

Sophie swallowed the large lump in her throat as Sandor called Linh over. "Perfect, Miss Song. You will have a knife." Sandor handed her a knife with a curved aqua blade, turquoise runes, and a dark indigo hilt. Linh slashed the air with it, smiling proudly. It took Fitz and Dex a few more tries to get it right. Dex beamed when he recieved his sword, with a silver blade and dark green hilt, but Fitz glowered darkly when he took his golden hilt and grey bladed sword.

"Okay," Sophie told her team. "First of all, POCKETS. Lots of pockets." She showed them her silky blue tunic, golden clasped belt, leggings, and soft brown boots, pointing out the pockets as she slipped her knives into their sheaths, strapping them to her belt. "Second of all, don't kill. Only wound. And third of all- try not to get killed."

"Come one!" Tarina called. "You're with me now- we'll be doing a lot of exercises."

Turns out, the troll and Bo had set up a whole obstacle course, with the help of Flori. There was a rock climbing wall, ditches, ropes, climbing, and a lot of stabbing. By the end, Sophie was sweaty and panting heavily.

Then, Flori had a whole assignment prepared where they had to recoganize each kind of plant and what it did. It was easy for Sophie and Keefe, given their memory, but agonizing for everyone else.

And after that, they had a whole, pleasant hour of ditch-digging, which Nubti insisted was vital. For what was still a mystery to Sophie.

So the whole hour had left Sophie drenched and with wobbily legs, but there were worse times. Her friends didn't complain, but they were less tired then her, so Sophie awarded herself the privilege to complain.

"You learned something, didn't you?" Sandor reminded them. And Sophie's face dropped into guilt as she smushed the floor with her foot, nodding sheepishly.

Her friends followed in suit.

The next day, they were at Everglen, and had a stealth session with Grizel and Woltzer. By the end they had been able to sneak up on Alden, and Sophie had laughed herself silly when she had heard him scream.

The day after, they were at the Shores of Solace with Ro. And any training with Ro would have to be crazy dangerous. The ogre princess had insisted each of them fight with her, and then she individualy told each elf where their weak spots were and how to strengthen them.

On Thursday, they had a whole day just for knots, and Lovise had them memorize all the complicated knots and which ones were the strongest. And that had been real fun. Not really.

Friday came, and Mr. Forkle let Sophie visit Jolie in one of their jungle hideouts. Sophie leaped to three enormous treehouses built on the highest layer of trees, and surrounded by peppering vines and chattering animals. Jolie seemed to be happy there, going through scrolls and working on any Black Swan assignments. But she confided to Sophie that living there 24/7 was getting a little tiring, and she felt a little cooped up and annoyed.

The rest of Friday was preperations.

Sophie was packing a satchel in her room when Biana came in. "Grizel bought these for us," she said, holding up outfits. Since they were using obscurers, everyone was wearing elfy clothing. And Sophie took the layers of fabric. The shade was a light, thick brown. There was a sleeved tunic lined with soft white cotton, shoulderpads, heavy pants and light boots, a belt to carry her knives, along with so many POCKETS. Pockets here, there, everywhere. Sophie was in heaven just looking at them. Biana's clothes were extremely similar to hers, as were Linh's and Marella's. And they all had brown satchels.

She rechecked her list, which had something like:

- Healing Kit

- Dexy gadgets

- Water

- Food

- Imparter

- Spyball

Aaaaaand.... that was about it.

"We'll be fine," Biana said, snapping her back to reality. "Don't worry."

Biana had shouldered her bow and quiver, which was stocked with arrows. She had a nervous hum of energy as she tapped her feet, twirling a black lock of hair.

And Sophie needed to belive that, or she'd believe there'd be blood.

Death.

So much hurt.

And that couldn't happen.

So Sophie stayed strong as she waved Biana good-bye, and then lay awake to think about the possiblities.

Possiblities.

But she needed to stay strong.

For her friends.

For her family.

For the Black Swan.

For herself.

For the Moonlark. ​​​​​