His Only Reward **Completed and Free**

Chapter 41: The Commander*

Jamie woke up early the next day. She was excited about what the day would bring! She jumped out of bed and headed into the bathroom. She switched on the shower and was enjoying the warm water. She suddenly felt the warm body of Raoul behind her. He encircled her and kissed her neck. "Morning, Kitten!"

"Morning Roaul, I am guessing Blackthorn is.." Jamie inquired.

"Very happy and sleeping," Raoul confirmed.

Jamie chuckled. She reached for the soap and Roal said, "I said Blackthorn was satisfied. I didn’t say I was!" Roaul said in a voice thick with lust. He started to try and kiss her, but she pushed him back.

"No Raoul! Consent is real and I say back off! " She said, firmly pointing her finger at him.

Roaul looked hurt and confused. "Kitten, did I hurt you badly yesterday?" Raoul said his voice was full of concern. Jamie seemed to really enjoy it, but Blackthorn had been extremely vigorous last night. Blackthorn wanted Mark for every inch of her body. Some of the bites and scratches had healed already, but he was still worried.

Jamie sighed and hugged him "I am fine, Raoul. I really enjoyed last night, but today is really important for me. I am joining the Elemental Guards, and I want to make a good impression. I don’t want to be late."

"You don’t have to work, you know." Raoul grumbled. He'd much rather she stayed at home protected by the pack like a high-born lady.

"I want to feel useful! You know, I am not a person who can swan around without purpose. " Jamie pointed out.

"OK Kitten, let me help you get ready." Raoul said. He grabbed the soap and washed her down and then dried her. Jamie changed into a brown military jacket and black trousers. She put her hair up into a bun and put on her shiny black boots. She checked herself in the mirror.

"You look great, Kitten," Raoul said, "Just remember that the selection process can be brutal. Nina, does not hold back any punches!"

‘You don’t think I'll make it?’ Jamie asked worriedly.

‘Of course you will. I am just saying, be prepared to be put through your paces! " Raoul said. Jamie smiled.

Raoul had dropped her off at the selection hall in a secluded place. He did not want people to see them together; he wanted Jamie to be confident that she had made it on her own. Jamie walked into the hall that adjoined the barracks. She joined a line of 10 other people. She breathed deeply and calmed herself.  Jamie eventually got to the front of the line, where there was a clerk sitting at the desk. He was a guy in his mid 40s, bold and looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.

"Name?"  The clerk asked without looking up.

"Erm, Jasmine Blackwell," Jamie said.

"Birthplace?" Clark inquired.

"Northern Forest, Sir." Jamie replied respectfully.

"Element?" Clark said.

"Pardon?" Jamie said, confused.

"What is your element?" Clark stated once more.

"My element?" Jamie asked, puzzled.

Clark looked up. "Yes, your element. If you have trouble knowing which is your element, you are going to really struggle today!" snapped the clerk. Jamie blushed as everyone around her sniggerred.

"Fire, I guess!" she mumbled.

Clark sighed, before saying, "Well, unfortunately for you, that is the Commander’s Nina element, so don’t get your hopes up girl. The first door on the left. "

"Thank you," Jamie murmured, and walked into the first door on the left.

Jamie waited for over an hour with a room full of 20 other people.  One by one, each person was called through. Jamie saw many of them return in tears or looking very pale. She was the only one left. Eventually, her name was called and she walked to another room. Unfortunately, when she walked in, yet another girl was running out in tears.

A stern-looking woman in a red jacket and the clerk from before were sitting behind a desk. She looked to be in her late 40s. Her silver hair was tied into a neat bun and her dark brown eyes looked like they did not miss much. "Dear Chaos, what crap have you given me this year? The lot of them are soft-arsed wimps!" She moaned.

"I don’t think your luck is going to change!" Clark commented as he saw Jamie. He then instructed her to stand on the cross that was on the floor.

"Name?" The stern women asked. 

"Jasmine Blackwell, Miss," Jamie said nervously.

"She is a commander, not a Madam or Mrs. Though I don’t expect you to know that if you don’t even know what element you are, "the Clark said.

"OK, so he remembered her from before. Damn! " Jamie thought as she blushed.

 "My name is Commander Nina Firestone and I am in charge of the Elemental Gaurds. I selected the fire elemental users. There will be three tests. One is your ability to use fire, the second is your fighting ability, and the third is general knowledge. I would ask you about yourself, but frankly, I don’t really care and I doubt I will remember you after today. Are you ready?"

"Yes, Commander Firestone," Jamie said with as much confidence as she could muster.

"Light the candle on the table over to your right." Nina, Instructed.

"Sorry?" Jamie said she was surprised at such a simple request.

"Light the candle, if you can!" Commander Firestone expressed his displeasure.

"Fire, please light the candle over there." Jamie said

That is it? The fire element almost sounded offended.

"Yes, please and hurry," Jamie begged.

The candle suddenly had a flame on it’s wick. "So, you can use the fire element. But a baby can do what you just did, "Commander Nina Firestone said. 

"The next task is to throw the most powerful fireball you can at that target over there." Clark instructed.

Jamie looked over and there was a wall with a bull's eye painted on it. There were a few scorch marks where previous candidates had tried. Jamie hesitated.

"What is the matter? Can’t you form a simple fireball yet? Because, I'm beginning to wonder why you're here, Miss Blackwell, wasting our precious time! " The Clark snapped.

That did it. Jamie was pissed now. How dare Clark be so rude to her? She showed him. "Fire!" she called.

"Yes, friend of Hakan?"  Fire said.

"Form a fireball and destroy that wall over there," she commanded.

"That is more like it!" Fire stated.

Suddenly, a large fireball appeared in front of Jamie, and she launched it at the wall. Jamie expected it to crash through the wall, but instead the wall shimmered silver and rebound the fireball straight back at her! 

Through her mind link,  Jamie quickly shouted, "Fire, stop now!"

"On it!" Fire said and the fire ball stopped a couple of metres from her, hovering.

"Well, well, Miss Blackwell, you're full of surprises, aren't you? Normally, only a fully trained fire guard can stop a rebounding fireball. Please put out the fireball." Nina said and Jamie did as she was asked.

"Good well, you passed that test. We shall move on to your fighting ability next. " Commander Firestone rang a bell. A strong burley man can get in with two sticks. He threw down one staff on the floor near Jamie. "This is Dan. He is going to test your resilience. Isn’t that right, Dan?"

"Yes Commander, I waited all day for this!"  Dan said with a smile. He then whacked Jamie on the back, followed by a whack to the ankle. Jamie fell on to her knees.

"f**k!" Jamie thought.

"No one said you couldn't fight back, you know!" sighed the Commander.

Jamie grabbed the staff and asked "With this?"

"Yes, with the staff, this is not difficult!" Snapped the Clark. 

Jamie avoided the next attack. Jamie then caught Dan by surprise as she swung the staff at his ankle. He shouted and moved back. Jamie took the opportunity to stand up and give a hard kick to Dan’s groin. Dan fell to his knees in pain. Jamie wasted no time and put Dan in a choke hold. She was squeezing Dan’s neck with all her might. Dan was punching her with all his might.

Jamie felt her ribs snap and her left shoulder dislocate as Jamie kept a tight hold. She could feel his breath becoming less regular. In one desperate attempt, Dan slammed his back on the floor, squashing Jamie in between the floor and his body. She was winded, but she still hung on. Finally, Dan passed out and Jamie released panting. She rolled the unconscious body off of her and stood up. Her shoulder was still dislocated. Jamie walked over to the wall and slammed her dislocated shoulder against it.  Jamie muffled a groan and it snapped back in place. She learnt this trick after years of abuse from Aunt Judith and Ronnie. 

Jamie walked back to the cross on the floor. Commander Nina Firestone rang the bell again and two further soldiers came in. "Please take Dan to the medical wing and bring Miss Blackwell a chair."

The soldiers dragged Dan’s body out, and a third soldier brought in a wooden seat. "Please sit down, we are moving to the last part of the test". Commander Firestone said. "Would you care for some water before we start?"

"No thank you, Commander," Jamie said.

The Commander raised her eyebrows and said, "Oh, why not? You are obviously thirsty!"

"It is true, Commander, I am. But Da taught me that you should never take a drink from someone you don’t know. "No offence intended. " Jamie said.

"I see," the Commander said. Her copper eyes narrowed suddenly. "Blackwell, you say? Where are you from?" The Commander suddenly asked.

"The northern forests, Commander!" Jamie replied.

"What are your parents' names?" The Commander asked.

"They were Robert and Lana Blackwell, Commander," Jamie asked. "Why are they asking that?" she suddenly thought.

"You are Robert’s and Lana’s adoptive daughter?" Clark said, shocked.

"Yes, why?" Jamie said, confused.

"Your father was a hero, Jasmine. His actions saved countless lives in the war against Thule. He helped me set up the Elemental Guard. I was very sad to hear of his passing. " Nina explained.

"What?"Jamie said she was shocked.

"He never told you?" So said the Commander softly.

"He said he would one day, but that day never came," Jamie said sadly.

"There is just one more thing I have to check."  Commander Nina said.  Before Jamie could think, Commander Firestone threw a fireball at Jamie. Without thinking, Jamie called for her air element and put out the fireball.

"As I suspected, you are the girl who has control over all four elements and made quite a scene at the summer ball." Commander Nina smiled as she spoke.

"You are that girl? Why did you not say so at the start?" Clark gasped.

"Because, she wanted to get in on her own merits. Am I right?" Commander Nina said, and Jamie nodded.

Commander Firestone smiled, "I respect that more than you know. Welcome to the Elemental Gaurd. Jamie, the hard work starts now. You are definitely someone I am going to remember after today!"