Page 9 of Daughter of Shadows and Ash

"Move it," Galen barked, his scarred face darkening. Maël finally sauntered away, leaving me alone in the ring with our battle-hardened trainer.

Galen stepped closer, his shadow looming over me like a mountain. He extended a calloused hand toward me. "On your feet, Lor."

I grasped his hand, wincing as he yanked me to my feet. My legs trembled beneath me as I brushed the sweat from my eyes.

"Focus," he said sharply. "Don't let your emotions guide you in a fight. It clouds your judgment and could get you killed."

I bit back a retort and nodded, though my pride still stung. It wasn't as if I'd ever be in a life or death battle. I wasn't a guard, after all. The worst I'd face was a territorial bear, and I doubted it cared about proper sword technique.

"Years ago," he began, his gaze unwavered, "I was just a soldier in the war. Our platoon often traveled for days at a time. I never understood what it meant to be at my limits until then." His voice dropped an octave as he continued, "One day, we wereambushed. Surrounded on all sides, we had no choice but to stand our ground. I lost friends that day, brothers."

I shifted uncomfortably under his intense stare, feeling the weight of his words.

"But I learned something," he went on, folding his arms across his chest as if to shield himself from the memories. "When it comes down to it, your heart can be your greatest weapon or your worst enemy. I was consumed by an argument I'd had with the captain earlier about pushing on at our grueling pace. He died beside me while I was too angry to even glance his way. I should have been checking if he needed help, my anger and pride got in the way of that. You have to take control or else you won't see what's right in front of you." His words hit too close to home, stirring thoughts of Maël that I desperately wanted to ignore.

"Why are you here then? The war still rages beyond our borders." The question slipped out before I could hold it back.

He met my gaze directly. "We fought until we fell. I was the only survivor, they likely thought I was dead when all they did was knock me out. I stumbled into the woods, searching for the men who slaughtered my brothers. When I found this village after everything ended... well, I knew these people would need protection one day. They took me in, your grandmother healed me, and I vowed to train them in case the war came to their doorsteps." He shrugged slightly as if dismissing the significance of his choice, but I felt its weight settle between us. "And it will. This war has raged for too long to spare even havens like Briarwood."

The training yard slowly filled with noise again as he walked away, leaving me alone with the ghosts of his past and the shadows of my own thoughts.

Chapter 5

Iroamed through the forest hunting, the quiet of the woods calming the storm in my mind. The setting sun painted long shadows across the path as I neared my grandmother's cottage. The day was fading into twilight, darkness creeping between the trees.

The familiar scent of earth and blooming wildflowers filled the air, but tonight, unease lingered beneath the surface. The conversation with Galen twisted through my thoughts. The memory of my match with Finn burned fresh, especially with Maël's appearance and his taunting words still ringing in my ears.

As I stepped onto the worn path leading to the door, something caught my eye. There, on the doorstep, lay a book. The golden title inlaid in the worn green cover shone under the fading sunlight. My pulse jumped at the sight. There was no doubt in my mind that Maël had left it. An offering of peace.

I knelt down, fingers brushing over the spine. The worn leather beneath my fingers felt like an echo of his touch. A reminder of all those times we'd sprawled on the grass together. I'd share my stories with him and he his dreams of being a valiant knight. I glanced around, half-expecting him to appearfrom behind a tree, his usual playful grin plastered on his face. But nothing stirred but the gentle rustle of leaves.

Exhaling a breath that carried both relief and frustration, I tucked the book under my arm and slipped inside the cottage. The dim glow of candlelight flickered against the walls, casting playful shadows that danced as if they shared my thoughts.

Once settled in bed, I opened the book, revealing familiar scrawls across yellowing pages. Illustrations of trees and mountains, even wolves and snakes curled around paragraphs and quotes. It told of a lost girl who encountered both danger and salvation in the woods - a deceitful snake and a protective wolf. While I normally wouldn't condone defacing any book, Maël's sketches seemed to fit, as if this book would never have existed without them.

Each sketch brought a bittersweet ache. My heart and mind clashed over whether this gift was merely a peace offering or something deeper.

I curled onto my side, hugging the book to my chest like armor against my turbulent thoughts. Moonlight streamed through the window, catching dust motes that twirled like my scattered emotions. The pages held echoes of us - shared laughter on long sunny days and secrets whispered through winter nights. Like a rope in stormy seas, I clung to these memories, even as I feared the weight of them might pull me under.

Sleep claimed me as one final question lingered: what message lay hidden between these marked pages?

Morning light seepedthrough the cracks in the shutters, but something felt off. I blinked awake, my body heavy with an peculiar sense of foreboding. The usual sound of my grandmother bustling about in the kitchen wasn't there. I pushed the covers aside and swung my legs over the side of the bed, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Grandmother?" My voice pierced the stillness. I hastily pulled on my leathers. I padded down the small hallway to the kitchen, but it remained silent. The usual morning symphony of clattering pots and sweet aromas was absent.

Vacant. Loneliness pressed against my chest like a physical weight.

I stepped outside into the cool morning air, hoping maybe she had ventured into town or taken to her garden early for herbs to ease her aching joints. But as I walked toward our bountiful garden, dread twisted inside me like dark clouds rolling over an otherwise clear sky.

I turned back toward town, an impulse rising within me to find Maël. I owed him one hell of an apology, even if it meant enduring his teasing again. The thought brought a small smile to my lips amid churning worry.

As I moved through the village, people bustled about their morning routines but their joy felt distant from where I stood. With each step toward Maël's usual haunt near the square, determination coursed within me.

I spotted him leaning against the weathered fence of the training ring, laughing with a group of friends while his brownhair caught glimmers of sunlight. The sight of him made my heart flutter – comfort and chaos wrapped in one effortlessly charming package.

"Maël!" My voice cut through their chatter like a knife through fog, urgent and clear amidst all that noise surrounding us.

His friends quieted as they all turned to look at me. Among them was Finn, who sneered at the sight of me.

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