~No Name~ - Winter Nyala (ap literature book list TXT) 📗

my mouth was puckered. He smiled and then hid his face as his teeth showed. They were white. Really white. Usually a mans teeth is not that white. Even for a boy. My own teeth were a little gray. This boy was puzzling and getting more so every hour and with every action.

He took the bowl and nodded to me. Almost a bow. My eyes widened when I realized who this was. I quickly moved away from him and averted my gaze. I had forgotten that the prince was one of bad reputation and I did not know he would go this far to hide the boy- or should I say girl.

I bowed my head and kept my gaze low. “Now I realize why you won't speak.” I coughed and to muffle the sound in front of her I turned my head. “My grace.” I bowed lower, showing as much respect as I could.

She looked at me and her face was flushed. Mouthing the words... How. She stepped back and tried to smile.
 

Waving her hand she released me from the bow and I sat on my heels, keeping my gaze averted from hers. “My- My Grace? Why would...” I trailed off. ~Why would the prince... and my Grace... she was confined in the castle... was it over run!?~

 

My eyes flickered upward.

She nodded to me and I continued. “Is the castle over run?” I asked. She paused and nodded again. I sighed and jerked my head to a noise near tree I was sitting against. ~Such bad timing...~

I stood and looked away from her as she held herself high. Waiting. I swirled around to see a giant cat that stepped out from the bush. I unsheathed my sword and waved my hand a little, making my Grace move away. I heard her scuttle across the dirt and leaves and the cat's eyes followed. When the cat's head was tilted enough, I stepped forward, drawing it's attention. His bright green eyes flared and he stepped back. I scrapped my sword together with my knife, making a sound that made the beast flinch.

 

He hissed and backed away once more. “Back!” I yelled before another cough stopped my breath. He stepped back and turned around, headed back into the bushes. I sat back against the tree again and sighed as I sheathed my sword and knife back in their respective places. Some where along the way, my Grace had took a seat and watched as I scared the big cat away.

“Are you-” I coughed more and held my hand to my mouth.

She stood and I bowed again. “Stop bowing!” she yelled.

I flinched and went lower on instinct. “It is the law, my Grace.” I coughed again.

I lurched again and realized that the poison in my body would surely kill me if I didn't act quick. “I know what this is...” I grabbed a knife from my boot. “You might want to turn away... its poison to my body...” I motioned to the cut hidden by the makeshift bandages as I coughed again.

“No!” She grabbed my hand and I flinched and pulled back at her touch. “You cannot bleed yourself out! You might die! I can not loose you as well!”

I ducked down lower and blinked away tears as she threw the knife near my hands and turned around. She sat on a log and pulled her knees to her chest, “Why... even when all is lost? Even when we are already dead? Why do they keep to the law?”

I stood and stared at our Grace. She was my Lady. I cleared my throat and she still didn't look up. I sighed and sat behind her, near the dying fire. Looking over once she saw me clench onto my wound.

I took a breath, “My Grace-”

“I am not your Grace!” She interrupted me. “At least... at least not anymore.” She slumped down and began to sob slightly. She would stop and then start again, trying hard not to let me hear her.

“Since you are no longer my grace...” I turned to her and looked directly in her eyes as she spun around to me. “May I call you, by your name?”

Her eyes widened and she smiled. “Yes. I want to be your friend, not your lady.” She wiped tears away.

 

“I-” I sighed and clenched my wound further. “I am of lower rank than the guard. Therefore I do not know thy royal names.”

Her smile fell a little and she took a breath. “Celinda. My name is Celinda.” Her smile came back and she giggled. “Its nice to meet you... um... I don't-”

“Fraia. It's nice to meet you too, Celinda.” I smiled and went to go grab her wrist to complete formal introductions, yet I winced in pain and withdrew myself. “I am sorry...” I grunted at her. “It hurts... too... much...”

“Well Fraia. Drink this, it should help.” She poured a murky liquid from the fire in the same cup made from a leaf and handed it to me carefully. “Drink it all in one go.”

I looked at her and tried to smile. “Okay then.” Quickly, I gulped down the tasteless liquid.

A seconds later and it hit me all at once. “Ugh!” I held back a gag. “What the hell!” It started to burn at my throat and stomach. I clenched my sides and fell over, wheezing.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My eyes opened to sounds of a waterfall. I tried to focus, to breathe normal. I failed and started to wheeze again. I heard a rustle near my head and held my breath. There was touch on my forehead and my heart began to race. I couldn't see who, or what, was touching me. Much less, where I was.

“Shh. Fraia.” A gentle voice sang in my head. “Quiet now. Your alright.” Her voice was beautiful, and majestic. It made me feel at peace. “Sleep my child. You will need your strength.”

My eyes closed once more and I fell back into my restless sleep.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next time I opened my eyes, I saw the light of day barely peeking up over the cliff of the small waterfall and the trees that surrounded it. I looked around and saw Celinda still sleeping near the remnants of a fire. I smiled and sat up. Breathing in the fresh air and feeling the mist of the waterfall, tickle my cheeks and lips. I chuckled as I stood. I wasn't in pain, and I didn't get dizzy.

~Who was that woman? Her voice was like a melody... a song... I have heard it before. I know I have.~ I looked around as I thought to myself and saw the edge of land that lead to the water. ~So peaceful...~

I walked to the edge and let the little waves roll over my toes. ~Hmm. I am only wearing a silk gown, barely goes down to my knees.~ I giggled, trying not to laugh too loudly. ~Of course...~ I looked back at Celinda. ~She really likes me... and I- ~ I stopped myself. “I can not think of my Grace like that...” I sighed. “She is not my Grace, not anymore... even so...”

I saw her stir and then fall silent. I smiled and slowly took my gown off, revealing my body to the cool breeze and the mist of the falls. My nipples hardened from the breeze. I walked in the water until it was to my thighs and then took in a deep breath before I dived into the waters. The cold water nicked my skin as it splashed on my nude body. When I surfaced, I saw a ledge near the base of waterfall and swam toward it. The small pool of water I swam in, was peaceful and the only movement was me as my body seemed to glide in the waters.

I dived back under when I came to the ledge and jumped up to grab it. Once I had a hold of it, I slowly pulled my body up. I could hear the birds and other animals playing and singing in the background. I was about to get comfortable when I suddenly heard everything go quiet. I lowered my body to the ground.

There was a giant clash of a sword against wood. I looked to the small camp and saw Celinda, holding off a creature. Panic started to rise in me, stopping my throat from making any sound. All that came out was a grunt of anger. I stood and dived quickly into the waters once more, swimming fast under the lapping waves.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I jumped from the waters surface, making both the creature and Celinda turn to me. Celinda's face turned red with embarrassment and the creature took a step toward me. I ran toward it, picking up a rock and sliding under its feet in one move.

I grappled its back and smashed the stone into the creatures head. “Celinda! The sword!” I yelled to her as the creature shook the stone from my hand.

Celinda stood still, watching as I fought the creature with my bare hands. “Stop struggling!” I yelled to the creature, hoping that it would absentmindedly obey me.

I fell to the ground, twisting my body and rolling to safety. I got to my knees quickly and was about to dodge the attack I knew was coming, when the creature did nothing. I gasped and looked at Celinda. Still staring at me and noting to herself that the creature was unmoving.

“Celinda... come here... hurry.” My whisper only loud enough for us to hear and not to spook the creature out of its trance.

“How--” She started, but paused as she waked around it and to my side. Handing me the sword Celinda fell back. “How is this possible Fraia? How are you doing this?”

“I--” The statement stuck in my throat. “I wonder...”

A smile curved at my lips and Celinda came closer. “What are you thinking? Surely you can't control this thing...”

“Look at it.” I told her quickly. “Its not moving. It stopped moving when I told it to stop struggling.” The beast grunted and was still staring at us. “I wanna try at least Celinda. It wont hurt to try...”

“Fine...” She replied, grabbing a dagger from the pack next to our feet.

Thinking to myself, I contemplated on what to say. ~I wonder what to say... I got it.~ I took a breath, “Kneel before me!” I yelled as I readied my sword, just in case it attacked.
 

Celinda drew in a breath as the creature knelt slowly, bowing its head to me and not letting a single grunt escape its mouth. I smiled and walked toward the beast, “Can you speak?” I asked it as it turned its head to my approach.

“Yesss...” It replied, slurring the 's' as it spoke.
 

My eyes were wide and I looked to Celinda. She was sitting down, her hands tightly gripping the hilt of the dagger. I walked to her and bent down. Slowly taking the dagger from her hands, I help her up. Guiding her to the bed near the fire, I set her down and go back to the creature.

“You will answer my questions.” I told it as I let the tip of the sword reach its neck. “Understand?” I asked, a tip of anger on my voice.

“Yesss.” It replied after a small pause, almost like it was going to say no.
 

“What are you? Why did you come here?” I asked quickly. It brought its eyes to look directly to mine and I punched it face, making the creature grunt in reply. “Answer me!” I yelled.

“We... are of thee Knightssss... of the Order... We come... to desssstroy thissss world...” It told me as it straightened back once more.
 

“Destroy the world?” It