Prologue
Swords clashed together, sending blistering red sparks into the air.
Loud shouts and cheers echoed across the area, cheering the two competitors on. One, a trained soldier of his mid fifties, tall and muscular, his graying black hair, once combed and slicked back now swung disheveled across his forehead as he thrust and blocked with his weapon. His intense brown eyes never leaving the clashing swords.
The other competitor was just the opposite of the first. A young girl of twenty-one with white blond hair and icy blue eyes that showed her unfailing spirit and mirrored the intensity of the man before her.
This fight had happened many a time before, starting every morning right before dawn, and it always ended at pealing of the morning bell.
As it's shrill echo rang across the grounds, the two fighters stopped and looked towards the large stone castle nearby.
“Oh no.” the girl groaned “Not again!” with that she tossed her sword to her competitor and took off.
“Alexis!” the man called after her. When she stopped and looked back at him he smiled “I'll get you next time.”
She laughed “You've been saying that for four years, Dad!” then she resumed her run to the castle.
The Captain of the guards stepped up to the man and placed a hand on his shoulder “I'm still not sure teaching your daughter to fight is such a good idea, Jack.”
Jack simply chuckled “That girl has something great in her future, Anderson. Trust me.”
“I have no doubt. But I'm pretty sure whatever it is doesn't involve her sword fighting.”
“Don't be so sure.” Jack stared watched as the girl disappeared inside the palace “I've never seen a child take to the sword like she did. She's going to have to use it someday, and I just want to make sure she'd ready when she does.”
