Ferals

Alissia POV

A friendly bump against my shoulder pulls my gaze from my father’s scowling face and releases me from my memories.

“Hey Half-Pint what’s got you all gloomy and bothered?” Jenkins flashes his perfect smile, showing off his dimples as his sky blue eyes twinkle in the bright sunlight. Jenkins has been my friend for years. His father is the Colonel, my father’s second in command. He’s only two years older than me, and when we weren’t training, he was getting into mischief and dragging me into it with him.

“Nothing.” I mumble, nudging him back.

“Cheer up, it’s your birthday, your eighteenth birthday, there’s no reason you should be all drab… and dull… and dreary… and sullen… and moody… and shall I continue?”

I roll my eyes at him. My birthday, the day I killed my mother, according to my father. I stole his wife away from him, by having the audacity to be born, then added insult to injury by being a girl, denying him the precious son he always wanted. Needless to say, my birthday has never been cause for celebration

“What?” he asks, his lips twitching, trying to restrain a grin. “After the melee, we can go to the pub for a double celebration, my treat.”

“Double celebration?” Lifting my scarred brow, I ask.

“Yes double, to celebrate your birthday, and to celebrate our glorious victory after we crush the competition!”

“Glorious victory, huh?” I smile.

“Of course, we are the fiercest warriors out here! You’re not worried about the fight are you? You know you have nothing to worry about, we’ve been training for this our whole life. “

“I’m not worried about the fighting, I’m worried about what happens after. You know my father has to approve all candidates. I’m afraid he will reject me. I don’t know what to do if he refuses to let me join.”

“Pfft, that’s easy, just be one of the last three standing, he will not be able to refuse you then.”

“Even if I am the only one left standing, it doesn’t mean anything, my father will do what he wants.”

“Well, in that case, which one of these farm boys catches your fancy?” he waves at the crowd then gestures excitedly, “Oh, oh, I know, if you did something with your hair and put on a frilly dress, you may snag a merchant!” He laughs, “ I can see it now,” he bats his lashes, and speaks in a high falsetto, “Oh yes sir, I will make you a fine wife, I can’t cook, or sew, unless it’s stitching skin back together. I know nothing of raising animals, crops, or children, but I can raise hell, if you can get me drunk enough. And, if you make me angry I can kill you five different ways with my bare hands!” he finishes with his hands folded beneath his chin and puckers his lips making kissing sounds.

I scowl at Jenkins open mouthed, “ Really… that’s insulting!” I feign shocked outrage, “ I know at least fifteen ways to kill a man barehanded!”

Jenkins guffaws as I suppress the smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. Just then a horn blows signaling the beginning of the Grand melee. All the contestants start heading toward the arena, breaking into their designated groups. Jenkins throws me a wink and a smile.

“I’ll see you in the finale!” he waves and struts off to join his first group of fifty.

Jenkins is in the first grouping, I am in the fifth. I find where my assigned grouping has gathered, and push my way through to the front for a better view of the arena. As I reach the arena fence, another horn blows and King Henry comes forward to make his speech before the melee begins with Prince Sebastian and General Stone, at his side.