Book 1 Chapter 23: Rematch

Vero slowly opened the door and noticed that Ylva was looking down at the papers in front of her. After Vero had published the last manuscript, clearly stating truths found in the old texts that had been corrupted and twisted by the priests, the church had rampaged into the palace and demanded that she help them in eradicating the heretics that would undermine her throne. She had smirked, agreeing to do just that, much to Vero’s worry.

Vero knocked on the door, announcing that he was there and had been there for a while. She looked up to see him with arms folded and glaring at her, he wanted her to explain herself. She was going against everything that they had worked on by promising to help the church and she knew that he was behind the manuscripts that they were so opposed to. It would not be hard to throw him under with the amount of info she held. Betrayal was in the air and Vero didn’t like it.

“Yes Vero?” she asked, waiting calmly as she dipped a quill into the ink jar and began to write again.

“You aren’t seriously going to help them,” he said more accusingly than a question.

“I have no intention of helping them get what they want,” she replied. “Assuming we are talking about the same ‘them’.”

“The high priests of the church who worship the black wolf god,” Vero said, growing impatient and frustrated.

“Vero, I never promised to help them,” she said with a smirk.

“But I heard you say,” Vero started but she interrupted.

“What you heard is what they heard, however you are assuming and inferring in their favor, are you not?” she said, growing amused with the conversation.

“Stop speaking in riddles milady,” Vero whined.

“I will not have whining, Vero,” she said and he stood up straight as he quieted. “I told them that I would help eradicate those who are trying to take the throne and undermine my authority,” she said slowly and clearly. She watched him intently as he let his eyes wander. He pondered on each word and the connotations of each. Then a grin settled on his face and she looked down and continued to write.

“You are a sly one milady,” Vero said with a slight chuckle. “But are you sure that you feel ready to face them in the courts?”

“Vero, if I don’t jump on this now, I risk many things, and the people have suffered long enough. Perhaps you have not heard of the reports concerning the people who believe in Amarok, the leader and prophet, not the god,” she said and his ears perked up as he listened. “Several have already been made examples to those who have read and believed the manuscripts.”

“What do you mean by that?” Vero asked, hesitantly with a cringe.

“Some have lost family, others have lost jobs, homes, and some have lost their own lives. Others have been beaten and a few have been run out by the church and it’s dutiful followers and believers. At this rate, the people will be suffering too much to aid us in this endeavor and will be unwilling to help. Our time is running short, Vero, and I no longer have the luxury to wait more than a week.”

He soaked in her words and remained silent for while after. She continued to scribe words onto the papers she had in front of her he walked over and peered over her shoulder, trying to see what she was writing.

“What?” she asked and he shifted away.

“I’ll let you work on that accusation then,” he said with a final wave. She sighed as he left and looked once more over her papers.

The day was set and Ylva had Vero look over her words to make sure they sounded right. When he could offer no more fixes and they settled on the final script, she put it aside and tried hard to rest. Though little rest was to be found with tensions high and reports still coming in on the persecutions and suffering of her people. Vero wondered if she had been handling those alone while he worked on publishing just so the work could be done.

Vero came in and noticed she was reading through another report and tsked.

“You need help,” he said with a chuckle.

“This is no laughing matter Vero,” she growled out and he held up his hands defensively as he slowly walked over to her. When he was by her side, he looked over her shoulder and read the report, his face growing a grin in expression. Then, without warning, he snatched the paper away, despite her protests, and with unknown strength, he kept it from her.

“You need a break and perhaps some stress relief,” he said, hiding the paper behind his back.

“Give it back Vero,” she said, growing annoyed with him and what he perceived was childish antics.

“Only if you follow me,” he said with a determined glint in his eyes.

“Vero,” she warned.

“Milady,” he said back, mimicking her warning tone. She stopped and folded her arms and Vero stood straight with a silly grin plastered on his face.

“What is it you want?” she asked, getting impatient.

“A rematch,” he said and she looked at him in confusion and frustration.

“In what?”

“Sparing,” he replied with a simple tone and a quick shrug. She seemed surprised, then rolled her eyes. When she looked at his determined eyes and grin, she sighed and gave up.

“Fine but just one match,” she said, and he jumped with glee. He handed her the report and headed to the door, watching to make sure that she followed him like she promised.

When she got to the door, he headed down the hall and stopped at the corner, watching her carefully, pretending to worry she would go back on her word and return to the reports. He knew that was impossible, but he hoped to distill her foreboding aura.

This pattern followed till they arrived at the small training area that he reminisced in. He recalled how he had first learned from her here and that they hadn’t been here for quite some time. Vero scurried about as he tidied up the fighting area and grabbed a couple swords. She took one and tested the weight of it and he was surprised at how easily she could maneuver it, despite being out of practice. She looked over at Vero who was dutifully swinging his own sword and testing it out. He paused and she looked at him with a bit of surprise.

“What?” he asked and she shook her head. Something about him caused her to smile.

Vero looked at her with a curious gaze and she quickly dashed the smile away and held out her sword, showing that she was ready. Vero looked at her with a grim face and faced her, holding his sword out till it touched the tip of hers.

They quickly jumped back from each other and began to pace around each other, keeping in a ready stance. She quickly charged at Vero and brought her sword across and they heard a resounding clang as he blocked it. Then, before she could react, he circled his sword and brought it so that she was exposed and he thrust forwards. She quickly reacted and jumped back, barely missing the attack and quickly began to maneuver herself to safety.

Her eyes seemed to wonder what exactly happened. Vero smirked. She must be wondering how he had learned that technique, as she jumped away. She panted, and he heard her curse her laziness in staying fit. He would thank the two that The Master had sent to train the other guards. They were immensily helpful in keeping him growing in strength and skill.

“Going to take me seriously now?” He challenged, his breathing even as if this was easy for him

“Perhaps,” she replied and then came in quicker and lower than before. Vero brought his sword down to stop her attack but she kept moving as he came around and swept her foot under him. She was surprised when he jumped over it and used the downward movement on his return to add to the force of his attack. She quickly jumped back and flipped her sword around so she could get closer, a technique, not even Vero had trained for. She came in quickly and to the side, flicking the sword out as she passed. He blocked but ushered out a surprised gasp as the force knocked the wind out of him. He pivoted and blocked a few more attacks before she began to gain the upper hand.

She managed a sweeping attack and quickly spun around so that she was ready to strike with a lot of force once again. When he blocked the force, he was shoved back, falling to the ground, with Ylva quickly following him as she brought her sword so that the blade touched his neck. Vero froze and panted from exertion. He stared up at her.

“You win, milady,” he said softly, worried the blade would cut into him if he spoke any louder. Ylva pushed on the ground and righted herself before offering him a hand up. He rubbed his neck and looked at her, debating whether it would be wise to speak at the moment. Ylva sighed and glared at him.

“Satisfied?” She asked and Vero opened his mouth once then twice before replying.

“Maybe. How do you feel?” he asked and she paused while she thought on it. Then with a playful smirk she reached out and ruffled his hair.

“That’s for me to worry about lad. Not you,” she said before walking off and chuckling to herself.

Vero smiled as he watched her leave, though he still felt sore from the sparing match, he noted that Ylva did seem in a better mood. He decided to leave it at that and went to the kitchens to scrounge up something to eat.