Nectar of War: The Song of Verity and Serenity (The Nectar of War Series Book 1)

AMIAS HERACLES TORANDI

TERSEIUS — NORTHERN COURT OF VAIGON

I WALK ALONG THE Training Grounds, watching every designated area. All around me are the echoing sounds of battle; the sharp collisions of swords meeting edge by edge, the hard thud of bodies being struck into the ground, the strong whistle of arrows being sent through the air. Each multiple acre of land is designated to specific aspects of training. Some of the people here are young men and women being trained for the first time in their life—the beginners. Some are seasoned Warriors who must always keep sharp with their agility, there are plenty of men and women who reside on the Training Grounds in the homes just near in the woods.

In the vast distance, arrows dot the sky, as I measure their landing, they are almost close enough to hit those practicing in the Hand to Hand Combat Unit. Not too far off, spears pierce the ground surrounding those practicing in the Swords Unit. But the massive area containing acres of land where the spears came from are where frontline Warriors are made—that is where Hua is, as well as Naius, Maivena’s father.

Naius steadily flows backward, drifting beneath the throw of Hua’s spear that just barely grazes his nose. Just as he falls back, his sword rotates to his left hand and veers upward, slicing through the center of her spear and breaking through the wood. The slice into her spear is smooth, stopping it right in its movement. He has now ridded Hua of her most prominent weapon.

“General,” Apolla, Laven’s mother says as she approaches me. She smiles and the sun catches her glowing dark skin.

Her blue eyes shift to where I am looking, and she nods.

“Naius Fondali, former General of Old Quamfasi Mandems . . . all of them.”

Then, it slowly comes full circle, Hua is not training with him, she has asked him to train her.

This all does not make sense the longer I think. Anyone of Old Quamfasi descent was taken—pulled from their homes and taken as a hostage. How does someone of his combativeness be taken?

“Apolla, how in the Gods names did he end up here?” A Warrior a strong as Naius makes it out alive in an ambush. Maybe he will come out of the attack with scratches and possibly a limp, but someone who fights at his stature does not end up here by force.

Apolla’s shoulders shrink. “He came here himself.”

I raise my eyebrows, and nod for her to continue because this does not make any sense.

“He begged me to be allowed in, at first, I told him no. Then he explained that his daughter was here, and I immediately allowed his entrance. There was another man with him, a family member, he was looking for his mate, so I allowed the entrance of them both.”

The brutality of Lorsius was excessive, there has not been anyone of our time to commit to anything he has done to their people and get away with it.

We have one of the greatest Warriors of time on our land because Lorsius took his daughter and they have no choice but to be here.

“Did Laven tell you of her arrival?” Apolla asks.

“The arrival of who?”

She glances at Naius, who is no longer training with Hua, and now someone new. “His daughter. I believe her name is Maivena, she is a stunning young woman.” Pity is now all there is on her face as she speaks her name.

I only nod, knowing Apolla is not aware of the bond between her son and Maivena. But, I also do not wish to think too long about what I saw. I have no thought as to how I would have reacted in the situations Laven has been forced into at such a young age.

Never in my life would I have made it out alive in the predicaments Laven has been in.

I turn to Apolla. “I will see you soon,” I say while bringing her into an embrace. “I have to get to the Training Headquarters, there are new recruits.”

She smiles. “Be nice, Amias Heracles.”

I smile back mischievously. “Always.”

*  *  *

When I reach the headquarters, Hua is standing at the doors with the young women and men who have requested enlistment.

Hua excuses herself from the herd of youth and strides across the distance to meet me halfway. Her eyes are glancing over me, examining, just as usual.

“They are all strong in mentality, but we shall see how strong they are physically. I am going to have them begin how we usually do, weighted swimming, long distance running, strengthening. We will take it day by day, they are rather young.” She looks over her shoulder at the adolescents who talk amongst each other.

“Well,” I say. “If you have this under control I will leave, I have other duties to tend to while you are with them.”

Hua looks up at me and I glance away, I cannot bear to look at her longer than I need to.

“Amias,” she says my name in a tone she once used to get me to bend at any need she wanted. She reaches out to touch me and I step backward.

Slowly, she creeps into my mind. Searching for something to latch on to that will tell her exactly what I am feeling. I block her out and she flinches at the sudden protection I put around myself . . . even from her.

We are both at a standstill, waiting for the other to talk first.

She begins. “You cannot stay angry with me forever.”

“You,” I point and step closer.

I close my eyes and inhale deeply, trying to control my emotions from bursting. “You do not get to tell me how to feel about this. And we are not speaking of this around so many people. Have a bit more respect than that, could you?”

Turning away from her I start to leave until she speaks again. “Fine, then we speak of it tonight.”

Naturally I shake my head at her need to always have the final word.

Yet, I have no time to think about her any longer as I am called. “General, care to meet with me about an insignificant concern?” Evangeline, the leader of the grounds whenever Hua or I am gone approaches me. “We need to consider expanding each area of the Training Grounds, some of the men in our Mandem are not too pleased with being nicked by spears.”

*  *  *

I give a slight nod to the owner of the market as I pass through in search of the vegetable stand.

The line at the stand is unbearably long, I nearly debate standing here for a short moment and telling my mother the food she sent me for they did not have. Although, if I return to her home without the vegetables she demanded I retrieve for her, I am certain her slipper will make its way off of her foot and towards my head with perfect aim.

“Hi Amias,” a set of fair twin women say in unison as they walk by with bright red cheeks and smiles from ear to ear.

I only nod and continue on.

There is a slight chuckle from the woman in front of me after their passing and I tilt my head at her.

“May I know what entertains you?” I ask.

“No, you may not.” Her tone is sharp yet soft. She does not turn around; she only speaks with her back toward me.

“And why is that?”

“Because I said you may not. You do not get to pester me as to why I tell you no.”

The woman abruptly turns, and her eyes extend promptly, now realizing she is speaking to a royal.

I smile. “You are not as quiet as I thought you to be.”

Maivena only stands there, with wide eyes.

I believe Laven may have his hands full with the attitude contained in this small woman.

“Lady Maivena, it does appear that you are next in line.” I nod toward the man who patiently waits for her to move upwards.

Maivena places the small basket of vegetables in front of him. By the looks of it, there is not nearly enough food to serve two people in there. She and her father both cannot survive on this.

“Four silver coins,” he says.

The small black pouch is pulled from the pocket of her long skirt, and the coins are poured into his palm. Every coin she had left.

Four silver dollars and she is barely capable of feeding herself.

I fathom I never understood the importance of money until I just witnessed it before my eyes. Four silver dollars to myself is nothing, to her it is everything and more.

She says no more to me before quickly walking off after her money is handed over for her fare. I follow right along behind her while digging for the gold coins in my vest.

She is expertly dodging through the small crowds of people to make her way out of the market. I know she is also aiming to run from me.

Trust me, Maivena, my goal is not to harm you. I would rather not wake in the midst of the night with both Laven and Naius holding daggers to my throat.

“Lady Maivena,” I call as we escape the crowds.

We now enter the path leading to the woods that take you along the servant grounds. She now has free reign to walk even faster.

“Lady Maivena, a word please.”

This time, she stops.

“I am no longer a Lady,” her voice comes quietly. “You may call me only Maivena.”

She turns around and her eyes meet mine once more.

I almost feel sorry for Laven, I am receiving a moment that should be his.

“Once you are a Lady, you are always a Lady.”

Maivena stands there, pondering the thought, but not for long. “What may I help you with?” She questions.

I let go a short breath before looking at the now empty pouch dangling on her wrist. “You need more.” She glances down at her wrist and her head slowly shakes.

“No, this is fine. I need nothing more.”

“That is a lie you and I both know you are telling. I would like to give you more money, I only have gold dollars with me, but no one should question you of it. If they do, you may come to me or any of my brothers for help. Especially Laven.” I believe he will kill the person asking why she has gold coins.

Her eyes broaden as she looks at the multitude of gold in my hand.

But, once again, her head shakes.

“No, I need no coin. I am fine. I will manage all right.”

My eyebrows furrow. “You do so need this money–”

“I do not but thank you. I must go, my family is waiting for me.”

But, as she walks away, she is turning down a path toward the city. Not her home.

I mind my boundaries and turn back to the market.

IT IS MIDNIGHT BY the time I reach my chamber, and when I arrive, Hua is walking in right behind me.

She stands at the door in her robe as she watches me undress.

“It was not my intention, Amias.”

I bend a fake smile. “It may have not been your intention, but you did it.” I stand up straighter after tying the laces of my night trousers and she is looking about the room. Looking everywhere but me.

She stands at the door in her robe as she watches me undress.

“It was not my intention, Amias.”

I bend a fake smile. “It may have not been your intention, but you did it.” I stand up straighter after tying the laces of my night trousers and she is looking about the room. Looking everywhere but me.

“All our lives, you knew what I wanted. I always spoke of it, I prayed for it, Hua. I did not just pray for it with anyone, I begged to have it with you, and you knew this. Then, the second I have it, you rip it from me–” “I did not mean to.” She speaks so low I can almost not hear her.

“This is not something that can be replaced . . . I can never have another chance with this, all because you withheld the truth for years while letting me sink deeper and deeper. I have every right to stay angry with you for as long as I please. I am glad that you have come into who you are, but where does that leave me?”

Hua continues to quietly stand in the doorway.

I say nothing more.

I stall, conscious that it is coming.

In my mind, I can hear it before she speaks it aloud.

“I love you, Amias.”

There is no comfort nor sanctuary in those words, there is only pain.

“Not in the way I need you to.”