“Go away, Caydence,” Maryn growled from the middle of the training field.
“Not until you tell me what’s wrong.”
An arrow flitted through the air, sticking into the center ring of the target several paces ahead. Maryn didn’t look over as she pulled out another arrow from the quiver on her leg, though she could feel the general’s stare.
“I’m not in the mood to talk to you.”
“I’m not asking you to talk to me, Maryn. I’m telling you.”
Maryn snorted. “Why do you care? As our leader, don’t you have more important responsibilities to attend to than my personal problems?”
Caydence frowned. “My people are my responsibility.”
“Yeah the whole, ‘a chain is only as strong as its weakest link’ montra,” Maryn scoffed and loosed another arrow, watching it bury itself in the canvas of the target. “I get it.”
“Maryn, I’m not asking you if you’re okay because I have to or for the good of the group. I’m asking because I genuinely want to know,” Caydence insisted, stepping into the training field. “I care about you.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” Maryn muttered and walked away to retrieve her arrows.
“Maryn.”
Maryn put her arrows back in their quiver and pulled the lid over it. She said nothing.
“Maryn, please,” Caydence begged.
“Fine. You wanna know what’s wrong?” Maryn demanded, unsheathing her sword. “Spar me.”
“What?” The general looked shocked.
“Spar me, Caydence. If you win, I’ll tell you exactly what’s on my mind. If you lose, you stop asking and leave me alone.”
Caydence regarded her for a moment, then nodded and unsheathed her sword. “Fine. What are the terms?”
“Five hits wins. No head shots.”
Caydence nodded and prepared her stance. Maryn didn’t wait, rushing at the general as quickly as her feet could carry her. She brought her sword down and listened to the metal of their blades clink together.
The general flinched and stumbled back, blocking every swing. “Hey, wait. I thought we were sparring!”
“We are,” Maryn replied as she knocked the flat of her sword into Caydence’s shoulder. “Hit.”
“You sure seem to be putting in a lot of effort just for a spar.” She sidestepped and reached her foot out.
Maryn jumped over it and pivoted to slam the hilt of her sword into Caydence’s side. “I put effort into everything, general. Hit.”
Caydence coughed for breath and kicked Maryn away. “Hit. You don’t have to put this much effort in.”
“You obviously don’t know me very well if you really think that.” Maryn lifted her sword to clash with the general’s.
Caydence tilted her head, eyes full of concern. “Maryn…”
“Hit.”
She grunted when Maryn kicked her stomach and stumbled back, holding her torso gingerly. “I don’t think you remember how sparring works.”
“It’s a nonlethal test of strength and strategy. As long as there’s no blood, I’m golden,” Maryn growled and brought her sword down again.
Caydence brought hers up to block. “Then why are you trying to kill me?”
“Because that’s what you let Fīrrak to do me!” Maryn snarled and kicked her away again. “Hit.”
“What? Is that what this is about?” Caydence demanded.
“What do you mean, is that what this is about?” Maryn barked, rage swelling in her chest like a ball of molten ice. “Of course that’s what this is about! You did nothing! You just stood there while he practically tore me to pieces! And you say ‘is that what this is about’ with that high and mighty attitude you always have?”
Caydence scoffed. “What was I supposed to do? Jump in there and tell him to stop?”
“YES!” Maryn howled and ran forward to punch her in the jaw. “Yes! That’s what you were supposed to do! You were supposed to help! You say your people are your responsibility? Well what in Kypheron’s name was that? You were supposed to do something, Caydence, but all you did was stand aside like a thorn-bit coward!”
“Maryn, please! I didn’t think he would go that far! I didn’t know what to do!” Caydence begged, stumbling out of range.
“That’s not good enough!”
Caydence groaned as Maryn ran forward with her sword. “Please! You know me, Maryn! I would never let anything happen to you!”
Their swords collided.
Maryn spun the blades so she could step up to Caydence’s face. “Look me in the eye and tell me you would have stopped him.”
Caydence looked anywhere but Maryn’s face and said nothing.
“That’s what I thought. I’m done here.” Maryn kicked the general away one last time, then gathered her bag and stormed out of the training field.
“Maryn, wait!” Caydence cried.
She stopped and turned back, tearstained face still angry.
Caydence fumbled for words. “W-where are you going?”
Maryn snorted and walked away without answering.
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