The Heir of Depths
16

Arline had spent the entire morning inside the Regent’s cabin with Merrick. Near noon, she stormed out of there as soon as they were dismissed, with an annoyed expression on her face. But Merrick followed her with the same expression he has whenever he puts Larsin on his place.

“Can you explain it again?” She asked Merrick, sharp and cold.

“Your power and mine come from the same source, that is why it would be easier for you to learn from me” he patiently exposed to her.

“Can’t he do it? I mean we share the same powers” she was referring to Tua Nui.

“He wants you to expand your power and not just stick with what your power allows you to do”

“But the books-“ Arline wanted to argue.

“They work as a guide” he cut her off “A guide written a thousand years ago, the world changes Arline”

She rolled her eyes and left to meet with the crew. She didn’t even want to look in his direction, let alone train with him. And if he was being honest, he was getting fed up at how many mannerisms she tried copying from Larsin. She was getting on his nerves, just like his little brother wanted.

“We start after lunch” he yelled at her.

“Good for me” she yelled back, already in the distance.

She hadn’t eaten anything since she had come out of the cave. Despite her lack of appetite or sleep, she was full of energy. Zeroun accompanied her to meet Merrick by the beach and then left, he didn’t want to see how these two stubborn people fought their bad thoughts away.

Merrick was waiting for her with two swords, which surprised her so she rushed her pace “I thought you said you’d help me with this whole power thing” she sounded worried rather than angry this time.

“Good afternoon!” He turned around and sent her a smugly smile which she didn’t retrieve “First” he placed the heavy sword on her right hand “Release that anger you have stored against me and then we will”.

“I don’t want to fight Merrick” she sounded tired.

“I really couldn’t care less, Arline”

Her anger towards him grew stronger in a second and he was satisfied about that, his grinning mouth gave it away. But in reality, Arline didn’t want to fight because she had never done it before and didn’t want to get wounded or lose against him. And the only reason Merrick was doing this was to make her realize how far away she was from being actually powerful and skilled and make her tired. She would be less angry when her energies were low.

The sword was heavy on her hand and the metal felt cold when it touched her skin. She sighed giving up but before they began she decided to shift the swords’ weight, front and back, balancing it and tried getting used to it.

Arline knew nothing about swordplay, except that she had to predict her opponents next move and not get killed in the middle of it. Or at least that’s what every fantasy book she had ever read talked about.

She took a wide stance, lifted the sword and pointed it at him. He grinned and took his initial stance. Just by that move alone, she knew she was going to fail miserably. He denoted confidence and technique, two things she didn’t have.

“I won’t go easy on you” he warned her before starting.

“Not surprised” she responded.

They locked eyes one more time before beginning. He went first, crashing swords with her. Arline managed to block his first attacks just fine, but her inexperience showed and turned against her. She was predictable and Merrick took advantage of that weakness over and over again.

She finished with one knee on the floor after Merrick had pulled it front. He had won the duel. Both of their bodies were sweaty, the heat and humidity increasing their heart rate and making it hard to breathe. Arline was fatigued, out of breath and her right shoulder had an external cut, which made her sleeve decorated with crimson red drops. But she slowly got up and tried slowing down her breath.

“I want a rematch” she said with her chest still going up and down and her cheeks painted with bright pink blush.

“You can barely breathe properly” he was walking away from her. He wouldn’t admit it in the moment, but she was decent for someone who had never lifted a weapon before, which made him somehow satisfied.

“I want a rematch” she repeated, stepping in front of him and pointing at the Prince.

“Very well” he looked at her up and down, admiring her resilience.

Once again they took their places in front of each other. This time, Arline was quicker and threw the first attack, he easily avoided it but got a surprise at the strength she threw it with. Slashes were thrown with rage, never slowing down nor showing mercy at each other. In one point, Merrick was out of breath but managed to pick her sword with his, disarming her.

“Give up Arline” he was pointing at her with a firm hand, but his voice was agitated.

“You wish for that, don’t you?” She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of watching her lose and humiliate her, just like he did with his brother. At the end of the day, they were two first borns fighting they frustrations away.

But she had his dagger inside her boot. She quickly pulled it out and was fast enough to cut the back of his hand, making him drop the sword, which she kicked far away. Now they had the same odds.

“Very low move” he was looking at his hand and sounded disappointed.

He also pulled a dagger from his sleeve. Now they were going against each other in hand to hand combat. Neither of them were holding back. Arline felt more comfortable with this kind of confrontation. She was faster and more flexible. It gave Merrick a hard time, but he could still handle her. Until she pushed his right leg forward making him kneel and without wasting a second she placed the dagger on the back of his neck.

He wasn’t going to allow her to win nor offend him like that, considering he had been threatened in that way many times before. He grabbed her left wrist, pulling her to the ground, placing himself on top of her and was pushing her elbows with his knees, for her not to move, causing her excruciating pain that would never show on her eyes. He pointed his dagger on her throat.

Just then Arline realized how strong he was and why he was the General of the Army, it wasn’t for his birthright but because he had earned a set of abilities impossible for any other person to match.

“Think again sweetheart” he was as out of breath as her.

“Fuck you” she mumbled and rested her head on the ground, giving up.

He eased the pressure off his knees and offered his hand to help her get up, which she took without complaints.

“Now I can teach you how to control your powers” he was roughly guiding her to the shore “Lesson one: don’t let your emotions control you or this happens” he was angry. The sunny and clear sky from earlier was replaced with dark, grey clouds, the calm sea was forming violent tides, strong winds were striking the trees and even the heat faded.

“I-I don’t know how” she stuttered.

“Try this,” he placed himself behind her “Ease any kind of murderous thought you have stored against me” he whispered on her ear, making her hair stand.

“You are not the center of the universe, your Highness” she was turning around to argue with him, but he quickly turned her around.

She just closed her eyes and tried to breathe slower, focusing on the air inhaled and exhaled, relaxing her tense muscles, letting the breeze stroke her skin, the salty smell impregnate her nostrils and the sound of the sea overtake her hearing. Arline opened her eyes slowly. The clouds were fading away and the water was calmer.

“Apparently I am the center of yours” he said to her after mockingly playing with her hair.

Before she could say anything else, Merrick was already walking away, leaving Arline with words on her mouth. None of which were particularly nice.