Talia's Choice

Falling down the dust bellowed up around, Talia rolled over onto her stomach, grabbed her lance and flipped to her feet. The man in front of her was grinning as they circled each other. After a few more jabbing and thrusting she was knocked back down into the dirt. Screaming in frustration, she threw my lance down in a fit a rage. Thor, her trainer sighed as he leaned against his lance and frowned.

“You have to try harder, focus.” He twirled his lance and placed it on the racks filled with a variety of weapons.

“I am focusing”, she pouted, eyes tearing up trying the wiles the other girls use to get their way.

“No your not, you are thinking that a scrawny girl like you cannot possibly do this,” he walked toward her unfazed by her display of feminine wiles, placed a large hand on her shoulder nudging her towards the castle. 

“I am not,” she stuck out her lower lip, and stumbled away from him exhausted from the morning of training but her day wasn’t over, yet she still had magic works to do later.

  “Stop arguing and go wash up. Your mother is waiting,” he turned to walked away toward the opposite side of the training ground where soldiers were training. She looked over usually thrilled to watch all that eye candy, but not today.

 Hurrying towards the garden’s path it always astounded her that they gardens were always in bloom golden and silvery green plants and a rainbow of flowers, the blew the mind. The path was gem stones of green and blue. Lined with shrubs heavy with dark purple berries. She tripped up the marble stairs, the banister was twisted in sparkling silvery green vines and into the kitchens. Where she snagged a bite to eat from a table laden with mouth watering breads sweet and savory, all kinds of fruits in baskets. The scrumptious cold meats for the inhabitants to snack on throughout the day between meals. The way to my mothers solar where she usually waited for me after training. She knew she would get scolded for not changing but today she didn’t care she just wanted to get this over with so she could lay down.

  “And why have you decided to come before me unpresentable”, she asked from where she was seated at a large black and gold veined marble desk. 

  “I just want to get this stuff over with today so I can rest,” she plopped into an over stuffed chair, sighing in relief as it hugged my achy muscles.

Releasing a frustrated breath her mother stood and glided over to her, kneeling down in front of her taking her hands.

 “I know it is hard this task that is put before you, but think about your future and what you will become,” always the same line every time she wanted to give up.

Gently pushing her mother away she stormed to her feet and went to pacing by the window.

 “I know there is a prophecy saying the firstborn daughter of the Dragon and the Dove will conquer the Dark Beast, but I don’t think that is me!” She threw her hands out. “Look at me I’m not overly strong, or smart. I can’t understand battle strategy. I can’t even cast a spell to light a candle. So how will I ever be defeat the Dark Beast!” she shouted in anger and fear. “All this pressure to be a great warrior and I don’t know if I can do it”.  

 “You will learn and grow just be patient,” she stood up and in a wirl of pink skirts pulled me into her arms, her tone of voice gentle she didn’t even bat an eye at her anger knowing she had to let it out.

She sank into her mothers embrace, she could always sooth her anger that was her gift. It was like a warm glow that would surround you and sooth away all. Knowing what her mother was doing she hardened her heart and pulled away.

 “I have been thinking and I don’t think the prophecy is bout me. I will never go near the Dark Beast, the Flower Witch will have to find someone else.” she held up my chin stubbornly and stared her mother down.

 “I’m sorry sweetness but what is to be is, there is nothing that will change that,” she reached for her, and she could feel the power starting to build, knowing she was going to try to push her toward doing what she thought best.  

  “No i will not!” she swirled and released a burst of power that knocked her mother back into the deck. She bolted from the solar to she suite of rooms that was decorated in purple and grey no ruffles and lace either everything screamed goth. She threw the bolt over the door, and pressed her back against the old iron covered in sigils of protection, slithered to the floor hugging her knees. Her powers were raw and hard to control at time, and they would keep pushing her till she did something that hurt someone, and she didn’t want that anymore. She stood up and gathered some of her things, and snuck down to the kitchens. She asked one the maids Cara, that she had befriended and looked out for to make me a bag of supplies for a month. 

She left her to her task as she went to the stables to prepare her leopard for travel. Fahd, bigger than a horse, could ride on him comfortably and have someone with her that could help protect her while she got a hold her powers.

 As she was leading Fahd into the court yard behind the kitchens Cara came hurrying out looking over her shoulder with a large bundle. Thanking her she heaved the huge bundle onto his back swiftly securing it. when she was finished she stepped back placing her hands on her lower back, and he crouched allowing her better access to climb up she swung up onto his soft furry back. Grabbing a hold of the buttery soft leather around his neck for purchase. She barely had time to wave to Cara as Fahd took off at a dead run, flying over the grasses toward the black forest. There she would go deep into the places where no one would go and make a home for myself as she figured out what she wanted to do and not what some witch who says she is all knowing wants.