Cassandra

Chapter Thirteen

Cassandra POV 

Edward 

How did he know that I got his name? 

He moves so quickly that I am taken aback when he is in front of me in a second. He bends down and picks up the paper, reading his name written all over my trembling face. 

The paper is hanging in between his two fingers. He rolls it and hit my head with the sharp end

“Ouch”, I quickly look around to see if someone has noticed this but most of the trainees are busy opening their fate. 

The teacher is saying something but I couldn’t hear it properly over the sound of my heartbeats going faster and faster by every passing minute. My head is filled with all the possible scenarios in which none of them have me winning today. I even don’t know how he fights, but I faced his wrath already and I know there won’t be any mercy. 

My eyes are stick to the battleground and I could feel the tears which are about to come 

This is not fair, this is not fair in any way, it wasn’t supposed to be like this, it was supposed to be a basic training which my Daddy has been giving to me. Why did he send me here when he knew everyone is ready to eat me alive 

I hear a chuckle and my eyes look at him on their own accord 

“Scared, Coward?, it feels like someone has slapped me hard and I couldn’t speak anything 

How dare he called me a coward? I am from the family of the most honorable kingdom, the bravest knights, I am not a coward 

“Not even on my deathbed”, finally I stare into his eyes with a promise that I would not retreat whatever the consequences are. 

I see a slow grin come upon his face and he looks sideways and winks. My face quickly turns to see who is he winking at and I recognize that face. It is the same guy who pushed me on the first day. The paper in my hand says history. 

He switched it. That’s why it is opened and not sealed. And now I couldn’t take my words back. He tricked me 

It comes as a shock to me that I let my anger take over my rational thinking. 

How could I let it happen? I won’t survive in the field for one second if I do this

A hand on my shoulder gets me out of thoughts. I am still in surprise when I hear someone clear his throat 

“So? Whom did you get?”, it feels like he could read my face or anyone can, it has gone pale and there is no one to blame. 

“Edward”, I whisper. 

Evan is clenching his jaw and looking at Edward. His skin is going red and he has his hands in a fist. 

“Uh…”, 

“Cass, let’s exchange these papers now. I don’t feel good about this”, his hand is already near mine when I take it back 

“He knows, I have his name…and anyway we can’t pick opponents as our choice”, I say looking at my enemies name written on the paper 

“He is not fair”, I hear the tension in his voice and I know why he is worried, why anyone will be. 

I am about to tell him to calm down when he nudges me to look at Edward

“Look at his sword, the sharp edges, the balance it has, you can be in danger”, I see him getting more tensed by every second. 

“Whom you are fighting against?”, I take the paper from his hand and read it on my own. 

“It’s blank”, I say handing him the paper back. 

“Yeah..it is some Cedric”, he says like he doesn’t mind whoever is against him. 

I don’t know if I am more surprised now than before 

“Prince Cedric? You will fight against him?”, I am not able to understand what’s happening when suddenly it clicks me 

“They are…they are….”, I don’t know if I could complete the sentence and come out as a brave opponent 

They are trying to eliminate the weak ones first. That’s why I got Edward and Cedric got Evan. 

My eyes are trying to find the teacher but he is already surrounded by my guys who are mostly complaining while there is another group who is standing content like they already know the result. 

He thinks I am a weakling. It has already been decided. 

A loud thump and we all are silent. 

“Let the duels begin”, the first two trainees are already on the field ready to fight while I take my steps back to the end of the ground, knowing who is going to win and who is going to lose. 

I don’t realize how much time has gone when my name is called along with Edward. There are cheers from people saying his name and none for mine. Although I see an injured Cedric standing to wish me luck. I look at him and smile. 

“Don’t worry, I will try to come back in one piece”, my attempt of humor doesn’t make any change in his concerned look

Everyone knows that it is like a deer is going to face a lion. 

The deer never wins. 

My hands are trembling, while the grip on Edward’s sword seems firm.

My legs are shaking, while he is in a position to attack. 

My helmet doesn’t fit and my head is lowering down when he is standing straight.

I am not able to breathe due to the tight corset while he looks prepared in a proper armor. 

I am panicking while he looks calm, I am nervous and he looks confident. 

I guess we both are ready for the duel. 

We both are handed shields which we take in our left hand while we raise our right holding the swords. 

My right leg moves forward with his, slowly and fast. With every step we take, the dust is rising in the filed. There is a little wave of wind that is making my hair blow. I am taking deep breaths to control my heartbeat. My eyes are blinking rapidly and my head has already started to sweat. I take a gulp of the spit forming inside my mouth. 

We both meet in the center where our teacher is standing. Everyone has gone silent and the tension is rising. Behind his helmet, I could see an evil smile, the smile that promises the end of me. I bite my lower lip with the anticipation building inside me. I want it to be over as soon as possible. I want it to end now. 

“It is just a practice duel, try not to hurt each other a lot”, those are the only words being said by the teacher below another loud thump. 

We both are pacing around looking in each other’s eyes and not trying to blink. 

“Ready to lose?”, I hear him whisper which is followed by a cut. I am able to parry the first attempt and there are sounds of gasps. 

“I am just starting”, another whisper while I am not able to say anything. 

Another cut which I almost parry. My heartbeats have already started to race like hell, I am putting my shield in front of me every time he tries to cut. 

I hear him chuckle. 

“Have I been too easy? let's finish it now”, with that he jumps and attacks me with an uppercut, I take my shield over the head-protecting it, before I realize what happening he kicks me on my legs hard, too hard. I am unable to stand and fall on the ground. But it doesn’t end for him. 

He pushes my sword aside and starts attacking me with cuts again and again while I have put the mere shield over me. All I could hear is the thumping noise on my shield again and again and I could feel the tears coming. He doesn’t stop, he doesn’t stop even when the teachers tell him to. 

I see his eyes piercing through the broken shield when he puts down his sword and leaves. 

I am lying on the ground covered in dust and broken shield when the teacher walks towards me. 

“You would have been killed by now”, is all he says and leaves me. I don’t look up or hear anyone calling my name before rushing to the lake where I know no guy could come. 

It had started to rain. 

I could feel the tears coming the same way as the rain while I sit on the side and cry, cry hysterically. I don’t care about my clothes or hair or anything. 

It would have been another thing to lose but he humiliated me. 

He shattered the pride I had in myself, he broke my soul, he made me realize that I am weak, too weak to protect anyone, not even myself. He made me realize that a girl could never be a knight. 

I take up my sword and pick up the strand of my long loose wet hair. One cut and the long ash blonde hair are flowing with the streams of water. 

If being a girl means weak, I wouldn’t want to be a girl.