Page 103 of The Fae Girl 1

I chuckled despite myself. “Now is good.” I replied putting the stringlet down.

Nela went to her pack and yanked out what looked like clothes.

“If you’re going to learn to fight properly you need to stop wearing dresses.” She stated shoving them at me.

I held them out, examining them almost and realised they were just like the leather clothes she and Indi wore.

I grinned, rushing to the bedroom and half ripped the dress off in my haste to replace it. The relief was palpable as soon as I did the trousers up. Sure my legs were more visible to unwanted attention, but as clumsy as I was, I would no longer trip over my skirts. And my gut told me kicking in these would be far more effective.

The shirt was smooth against my skin. The leather jacket over the top felt like I had some sort of protection if anyone came at me with a knife. As stupid as it sounded I felt more badass in these. I felt more like a fighter, and less like a little girl.

Indi was smirking as I walked back in. Nela nodded with approval.

“Just need some boots.” Indi said chucking a pair at me which I only just managed to catch.

They were nothing like the leather plimsol things I had. They were solid. Hard. With toughened soles that I knew would not only protect my feet but hurt it they made impact. I pulled them on, doing the laces up quickly.

God why hadn’t I thought of this months ago? Why hadn’t I demanded it the day Nela and Indi had shown up dressed as they were?

“Let’s do this.” I breathed.

Nela opened the main door and I hesitated.

The last few weeks I’d been safe, safe from the prying eyes, safe from the whispers. Safe from anyone who might want to try their luck in becoming half-Fae.

“Gotta just rip the bandage off and go for it.” Nela said.

She was right. I knew that. But taking that step… I shook my head, gritted my teeth and walked out trying to pretend that this entire world wasn’t out to get me.

* * *

“Keep your back straight.”Nela said as she assessed my stance. “Hold your arm a little higher you want to threaten your opponent not tickle them.”

I did as she instructed. Ignoring the ache in my arms. I’d need to get tougher. Need to grow some serious muscles.

“Good.”

“When do I actually get to fight you?” I asked.

“Soon. I want to be sure you know the moves properly.” Nela replied. “I’ve been fighting for over ten years. I don’t even think about it anymore. It’s instinctual. I don’t want to overwhelm you.”

“Trust me you won’t.” I said.

Nela gave me a wry smile like I had no idea how good a fighter she was.

“We’ll start with drills. You don’t have the size and frame of a proper soldier but we can compensate for that, we can strengthen your muscles, and with the proper technique you can be just as deadly.”

I grinned. I wanted to be deadly. I wanted to know that if anything, anyone came at me I would be able to destroy them.

Nela finished her circling and went to lean against the wooden rail that surrounded the fighting pit.

“Continue.” She said.

Ahead of me were three wooden mannequins. Soldiers each slightly different. The one to the left had a shield. A long narrow thing that protected his entire side. But his right side, his sword side was exposed.

The middle had two daggers, one in each hand. He was hunched over, as if ready to pounce.

The final one had a sword heavy enough that he needed both hands to wield it. He was also the most armoured, with plating over the majority of his body as if he was ready for battle.

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