Kaie |
54th Day of Spring Year 503 It was a Falyndar spring like any other. Hot and humid. The kind where it seemed like the jungle shade was the only refuge from the heat if one wasn't native to such a climate. The morning sun's rays had already begun to beat down upon the city of Taloba. Merchants, warriors, and the like bustled about the spacey city in their usual morning rituals. Soldiers manned their positions with pride and the prayers to Myri were audibly heard if one passed by the temple. Yet it wasn't in this lively tribal metropolis Kaie was found, and she surely wasn't being cooped up inside a longhouse. Dueling was a common practice among her peers, the great mock sword fights children often played. Six of them had joined her today, most of them the usual group of playmates. Each brandished their own wooden staff. A simple, long tree branch they envisioned as a great spear, was something they were all equipped with. Although some did choose to break theirs down into a shorter ranged weapon for a more sword-like approach. She was sporting the traditional loincloth and cotton shirt that day, no shoes on her feet. It was far too hot to wear anything heavier and footwear was unthinkable. Tall and lanky back then too. She hadn't matured quite enough for muscle to start to build due to her activities. Even at the age of seven, Kaie's hair held its deep brown color and natural waves and curls. Usually she might've let it hang over her shoulders proudly, but today it was pulled back into a high ponytail for the games she was partaking in. Keikyo, a distant cousin from her clan, had stepped up to be her opponent on the battlefield today. His black hair was cropped close to his head and his grey eyes had Kaie locked in their merciless sights. He smirked in a superior manner at her, confident in his stocky build and age advantage. He didn't care they were only two years apart. Other Myrian children crouched in a loose circle a good distance away from the pair, anxiously waiting for someone to move first. She could hear them beginning to chirp now, their spectators cheering on their picks to win. Keikyo sure did have the better odds with his natural strength and size. Not to mention the fact he was going straight into training for the service first chance he had, learning a few tricks from his own father. The stick he held in his tanned hands was a thick child's replica of a sword, an attempt to triumph over Kaie's choice of a longer branch. They had begun to circle one another in a slow dance of combat, waiting to see who would strike first. "Come now, Cousin. Just surrender your weapon now so I don't have to do it for you," Keikyo sneered, twirling the wood between his hands with a glimmer in his dark eyes. Kaie's narrowed brown eyes seemed almost amber in the bright sun, a trick of the natural light unique to her. Nonetheless, their effect suited the situation perfectly in the way they mirrored her emotions. She adjusted her grip on her dull pointed spear, amber eyes seeming to become set ablaze as she circled into the sunlight. The fires lit in her eyes flickered like dancers performing their synchronized choreography about her irises. God did she love a challenge. Trash talk was just a bonus. "What's the matter, Keikyo? Too proud to let me embarrass you in front of your friends?" She returned in mock pity, a teasing sort of grin finding its way up the right side of her face. Keikyo laughed darkly, quitting his circling to stalk forward head on. "Let the games begin," she thought to herself with amusement. Hands in an alternating grip that left most of the weapon in front of her, Kaie thrust the end forward at the chest of her opponent. Keikyo had anticipated the action long before she made it, quickly bringing his weapon down upon hers just as he side stepped right out of the way. Completely focused now, she used her back hand to pull her weapon's back end toward her upon feeling the contact. He had that big, stupid grin on his face. Arrogant as ever with his weapon length's advantages, Keikyo didn't hesitate a moment to counter. Driving forward like an enraged Tskanna, he had his armament raised above his head prepared to slash downward upon her. Instinctively, Kaie changed her grip on her spear-branch, a fluid, half rotation that returned the long end behind her. Indeed, a shorter weapon made it easier for him to maneuver around her. Unfortunately for him though, he didn't anticipate how deceptive a longer branch was. Not to mention her observation for a weapon's dexterity. Her cousin's eyes widened just then as he brought down his arm, realizing his mistake far too late. Kaie stepped back with her right foot, simultaneously swinging the long, back end of her spear into his ribs. She knew it was a cruel hit. He hadn't a prayer in the world to avoid her own counter in time. Her cousin keeled over like she had struck him dead. Keikyo hit the ground with a dull thud, a surprised gasp coming from him like she knocked the wind from his lungs. Oops. The successful strike earned her several cheers from their audience at least. "Aw. Did I cause you to lose your footing?" She asked with false pity saturating her voice, sarcastic as always. Keikyo grunted and rolled onto his feet again after a few breaths. His brow was mashed together in what looked like confusion and anger. His free hand wrapped tight against his side while he began to right himself once more. His knuckles were almost turning white from his new found clutch on his stick. Her cousin seemed to be struggling, surely still regaining oxygen lost. She couldn't lie, she was pretty pleased with herself for those short lived moments. What a little sadist she was becoming. That is until a booming voice caught her off guard, almost making her jump right out of her skin. Kaie spun on her heels, swinging her spear with her in alarm. Thud. The end of her pointless staff had found its mark upon the center of her father's leather chest piece. "Anyone can swing a branch, Kaie." Her father said in his deep tone, brown eyes catching her own forcefully with their steely glare. He had that kind of voice that seemed to come from deep within his chest. A sound that resonated in the air it occupied, commanding attention and respect. Everyone had seemed to go quiet, but the city life continued on its habitual tempo. Every other Myrian too preoccupied with their own ideals to notice the sudden halt to the children's games. Kaie said nothing at first, responding only with her fierce amber gaze. Her silence didn't stick for long of course. "Doesn't mean everyone knows how to use one." Her father looked at her sternly, then reached up his left hand in a commanding sort of way to grip the middle of the shaft of the spear. He arched his brow at her, unimpressed. Her father didn't always appreciate her audaciousness, but it came anyhow. Reluctantly, Kaie released her grip of the spear, turning it over to her father. Keritan held the spear loosely in his left hand, dropping it to his side calmly. He was no longer in Myri's ranks of Taloba, but a mercenary or assassin outside Falyndar. It was nothing against the goddess of course, The Cutthroat Shadow Clan absolutely adored her. Yet, some strive for a bit more adventure that couldn't quite be found in the homelands. It seemed he was gone most of the time, stopping home for only short periods before departing again. It was the surprise of his presence that had shocked Kaie initially. Truth be told, behind all her rash statements she loved her father. She envied his vast travels, his victories in service, and his skills. It wasn't uncommon for her to almost implore him to teach her a thing or two, but rarely did he have time. Of course she could've asked her mother, Shantiwa, but she believed Kaie needed balance. "Victory comes only with Myri." Kaie could almost hear her now. The usual lecture before educating her on the vast histories of Myri and her people. It wasn't that Kaie didn't enjoy them. She really did. It was just that combat was far more exciting. That isn't to say Kaie didn't spend her fair share of time praising the goddess and dreaming about her coming of age ceremony. "Come," Her father said flatly, turning from her and the group to walk away. He clearly wanted her to follow him. By the way he was moving, she could tell he wasn't going to wait up if she had asked. She lifted her foot to scuff at the dirt, a plume of light brown lifting from the ground, before starting to go after him. He was acting oddly cold to her today. Not nearly as friendly as Kaie was used to. They were close on most days, sharing just about everything. Able to converse about anything. Not today though, he had made that very clear. Maybe she had swung unnecessarily hard at Keikyo, but wasn't that the Myrian way? Young warriors were never expected to go easy on one another, that would never prove helpful in training. It tended to be the beauty of her troublesome ways, the unknown cause. What could she have possibly managed to screw with this time? "Hey," a voice said from behind her just as she started to walk away. She turned her head slowly, finding Keikyo stepping toward her with a softer expression. Kaie looked at him, waiting for him to finish what he had to say now that he had her attention. He had stopped holding his side, and she had noticed a nasty looking bruise was forming over where he had held it. He gave her a painful smile and punched playfully at her shoulder. "It was a nice hit anyhow," He admitted with a gentle shrug, easy going nature back in him now that the fighting was over. She returned the smile and nodded her head in a thank you. Keritan was well ahead of her now and she would have plenty of time to rub her win in her cousin's face later. |
