Cassandra

Chapter Two

Cassandra POV 

I put the robe on which Maria has prepared for me especially since she knows I like to sneak a lot. The robe is greenish-blue color and not black to raise suspicions. It matches the color of the robes of the court's woman with the only difference of a golden star at the arm of the robe. 

Putting a rope around my waist with my small sword, I bid farewell to Maria who looks concerned with my actions. 

“Don’t worry Maria, your knight will be back soon” I smile at her and open the window of the room. The window is heavy but I have learned how to lift it up smoothly. I put a wooden rod at the windowpane and the other near my leg. I could put my complete weight on the leg and open the window which is pretty easy than using my hands to lift up the window. My wrist is not so strong till now so my most dependent part is my back and legs. 

The window opens in a smooth manner and I hop out. My room is located near the attic so it gets tougher for me every day to reach the grounds. 

I tie the other end of the rope to the bed and slowly make my way down. This is still pretty easy compared to when I have to climb back again. 

As I reach the ground, I take the help of my knee to land on the ground and then roll into the grounds making sure I don’t get injured in the process. It will be difficult to explain this to anyone. A princess sneaking off her own room. 

When I am at my favorite hiding spot, I notice that the training has already started. The sneaking takes a lot of energy and I wish I was allowed to train just like my stupid brothers. 

A princess should have the hands as soft as a rose petal and legs like Chicken. 

Looking down at my wounded hands and legs, I hope my mom never asks me to show these to her. 

I settle down on the ground not caring about my clothes getting dust all over them. For me, the lesson right now is more important. 

“No Henry, that’s not the way to hold a sword,” Daddy says taking the sword from Henry’s hand. 

“If you keep your grip so loose, you might end up hurting yourself” I suppress a chuckle with my hand as I am in hiding. 

My brother is stupid, so stupid. I wish I could go there and teach him that myself. It’s like the fifth time Daddy has to take this class since Henry has been dropping the sword every time. 

I see my three other stupid brothers playing among themselves. They should practice but then again who I am to say anything. 

“Keep your attention here Henry,” Daddy says staring at him in anger. I can see the frustration in his eyes turning red. 

“Yes, Father” Henry who is losing at suppressing his laughter says with a plain face. 

“The grip should be tight and the wrist should be a little far. It will make the actions more fast and accurate.” Daddy is holding a sword with his wrist a little apart. 

“Here all four of you, pick up your swords and show me” I see him moving from one to another and making little changes on the grips each one has made. 

I myself pick up my sword, which is a little lighter than theirs since I can’t have one like theirs. I am a princess and princesses are not supposed to carry swords for themselves. They can have a knight who will protect them. 

I roll my eyes every time someone says that since there is a loophole in that logic. 

What will happen if the knight is attacked when he is taking a princess somewhere. What happens then? 

I have heard many stories in which something like this has happened and they would abduct the Princess and then ask for jewels or some part of the kingdom in return. The poor princess can’t even defend herself and is at the mercy of the one who abducts her and should have a lot of faith in her king. 

I have faith in Daddy but I don’t want to be put him in a position where he has to give something he worked hard for, just to rescue me. 

I notice the position that Daddy has taken and I align my hands and legs the same way. I grip the sword with my right hand and then with my left, keeping them a little apart. 

Standing near the wood dummy I made to practice, I grip the sword tight and make my first strike. 

The sword fells on the ground after the first strike and I am dumbfounded.

What did I do wrong?

“You see that’s what happens Louis when you don’t hear what I am saying,” Daddy says to Louis who is still holding his sword in his hand. He looks confused and looks at others. 

“What did I do Father?” He asks with his stern voice. Louis might be actually the smartest one among the four. 

Henry is the weakling, he cries when someone hurts him and spends most of the day in his room if he is in a bad mood, that’s why Daddy gives him extra attention, George is more interested in flirting with the court's woman then learning how to fight, his days are spent in taking care of his black curls and trying new robes. William spends most of his time painting and traveling the kingdom. He believes in peace and not war, but still, he has to learn how to defend his kingdom and then Louis is the only one who takes the lessons pretty seriously being the macho brother of all. 

And then there is me, who should be out for the ball and here I am dusty and dirty in the battleground. 

“You see Louis when you keep the grip too tight, you lose it. The grip has to be firm, not too loose and not too tight.” I have a suspicion that Daddy is not talking to Louis still I keep my attention to what he is saying. 

“Try this, hold the sword firm with the pinky, ring and middle finger and make a strike” All the fours of them including me does that. This time the sword doesn’t fall on the ground and I jump up and down with happiness. 

“Before you lose your attention, try again withholding the grip firmly with the index finger and the thumb” we all try again but this seems pretty difficult. 

“You notice the difference didn’t you?” His eyes seem fixed on the place where I am hiding. There is a small smile forming on his lips and I smile back. 

“The first trial is easy but the second one is tough. So keep trying in a first way for an hour and show me the strikes you make on the dummy later when I come back. 

He starts to leave the ground giving his final instruction. 

He waits for a second and turns around again, signally Louis to come near him. 

“Louis, see to it that your brothers behave. They should start taking these lessons seriously soon. We don’t have a lot of time” Daddy dismisses him saying this and starts to move again to his chambers. 

I pick up my sword again, with more determination this time. I keep in mind everything that has been taught by father today. I remind myself to make a note of everything in my diary once I return back to my room. 

My diary keeps all the notes of the training I have been too and all the tactics Daddy has taught us, or them. 

After an hour of training, I fall on the ground exhausted. My body is reeking of sweat and  I find my hands and legs getting sore. I decide to keep the sword down for the day and go back.  Like every day, this day has been adventures too. I can’t stop smiling after seeing the marks I made at the dummy. 

I pick up my sword and start to drag my legs to my chambers when I hear someone clearing their throat. 

I freeze at my spot, not daring to turn around and face my fears. 

“Cassandra, what in God’s name were you up to” it’s my Mom

Busted