Chapter 1: Ami
Yithi, 19th 1592. Age 12. Arynthia
“Breathe.” Castor leaned in, tapping my left foot with a sword as he corrected my stance. I adjusted my footing.
I fought the lump forming in my throat. My heart tightened at the wish to feel the heat in Paesuna’s deserts, instead of the brisk air of Arynthia’s mountains. It bit into my skin like it wanted something from me. Something I wasn’t sure I was ready to give.
“Everyone has a destiny, a duty to fulfill.” Castor continued.
We had been training for days on end. I looked over to see Kathera sitting nearby with her training sword in her lap. It was her turn next. The stone walls that surrounded the palace made me miss the open sand dunes of Paesuna. The stretch is high, with moss covering the stone in bright green patches.
“Life is determined by how we draw air into our lungs.” Castor lunged forward bringing me back to the fight, I brought up my sword, trying to dodge the blow.
I failed.
My hands met grass as I landed on the ground, my training sword skittering across the training yard.
My mother’s words still rang in my ears even after two winters apart. “You are stronger than stone, fluid as water, powerful as fire, and sharp as the wind.” Her words echoed inside me.
My knees shook.
The wind cutting through my cloak.
“The Fates see the lines that lead us home.” Castor’s voice was strong, he reached out a hand to help me up, I took it and dusted my pants off. Slowly I walked over to my training sword and picked it up then I got in my stance again.
My hands hurt from the fall and wrapping them around the hilt of the sword just made them ache more.
I wiped sweat from my forehead and looked at Castor’s violet eyes.
“Where we go.” He lunged again, but this time I successfully blocked him. My heart leapt into my throat. I felt my palms get sweaty as I fought the fear crawling through my body as he pushed down on his sword.
He moved back quickly and swung for me again.“What will we do,”
I ducked.
“Who we will be.” He moved so fast as he swung again; this time, the hit landed. Pain seared as the flat of his sword hit my back.
I bit down on a yell of pain as I gasped, my vision blurring slightly.
“Breath is the beginning of a spiral,” He continued as I tried to catch my breath.
“One that will guide us to where we belong. One breath that will tell us the shape of our futures.” He knelt and met my eyes. “What shape will you take?”
I looked over at Kathera, then; she met my eyes and nodded slowly. We had many conversations about why I was here. About who I was supposed to be to her.
Her nod told me she was ready, and so was I. My heart beat hard against my chest as I knew what words I needed to say. The words I want to say.
I lifted my chin as I stood again. “The shape I will take will be any shape that will protect, defend, and honor my Empress.” As I said the words, something in me seemed to settle into them.
“You can rest,” Castor stated, and I went over to sit down on the marble bench near the courtyard we were training in.
Kathera bounced up and over to Castor. She held her sword at the ready, and metal clashed as they fought.
Kathera used the sword like a master, though she was the same age as me.
When they were done sparring, Castor sent us off to our other lessons.
We began to walk to the front door of the palace, where Briar was waiting to teach us our spells.
“You did well,” Kathera said as she walked beside me.
“Not as good as you,” I muttered, kicking a loose rock down the path.
She stopped walking then, going silent in the way she does when she is thinking, I turned around to face her.
“Ami, I have been training since I was three years old. Your abilities are right where they are supposed to be.” Her voice didn’t hold pity; instead, it held kindness.
“But I am supposed to be the one to protect you.” I met her turquoise eyes.
“You will, but remember that you are Ami first. I don’t want to lose my friend.” She rested a light hand on my shoulder. “I don’t want you to lose yourself.”
I nodded. “I am Ami first,” I repeated as we began to walk towards Briar.
We made our way to Briar, she sat in a large room where Myron and Roselynn, Kathera’s younger siblings, were already seated.
Briar stood up and moved to the center of the room as we walked in.
Kathera and I sat down next to Myron and Roselynn.
“Magic isn’t something that you need to force.” Briar began as she spun her hand in the air, a long stream of wind unfurling in her hand.
“It flows as easily as breathing.” She moved the wind stream down and towards us. A light breeze surrounded us.
“Listen to the wind for a moment. What does it whisper to you?”
I leaned in slightly, listening to the wind, at first it was a light whistle. Then it grew into a sound just above a whisper. I listened closer, my eyes closed as I leaned forward. “Find your truth to embrace your strength.” The wind whispered around me. For a moment it felt like the whole room faded away. I felt as if I was in a bubble hovering above the ground. A bubble that protected me.
I opened my eyes and everyone in the room had stopped to look at me. “What?” I asked
Kathera grinned, “You were floating.”
“Floating?” I asked standing up, a chill ran through me.
“Like you were one with your breath. Like you were one with the air.” Kathera marveled.
“Do it again!” Yelled Myron.
“She clearly didn’t know she could do that, Myron.” Roselynn elbowed him. “She needs to learn how to use it.”
Briar stared out a window for a moment as if hearing something the rest of us couldn't, then walked over to us, “Kathera, why don’t you take your siblings to the other room.”
They all walked out, Myron and Roselynn throwing punches at each other playfully.
Briar knelt down and met my eyes. “Ami, what you did is remarkable. But remember, always remember.” She brushed a stray hair back from my face. Her eyebrows knitted together in a way that felt like she knew more than she was saying. “That no matter how much power you get, you are always Ami.”
I looked down at my hands, “What does that mean? To be me?” I asked my voice small.
Briar lifted her hand under my chin. “You little Ami, are strong, independent, and overall a fierce friend that stands by the people she loves.”
“Is that enough?” I mumbled. “Enough to protect Kathera?”
She met my eyes, a fierceness laid behind her green eyes. “It will be enough, as long as you remember that you were already born enough.”