Free By the Sword by Sara Flower

his feet.
    Chrissa gasped and closed her eyes at the gory sight, but she would never forget it as long as she lived. Naeshi had endured that punishment because of her. There was no telling what he would try to do to pay her back.
    She crossed her arms, trying in vain to stop shaking.
    The guards dragged Naeshi down the hall. His remaining eye glared at her until they disappeared around the corner .
    Chrissa shuddered. She looked down and moved her legs. The spell , wherever it had come from, had been lifted from her.
    If only I knew who, or what, caused it.
    She turned to flee back to her room, but ran into her father. His demoniacal glare seemed to pierce straight through her eyes and into her soul. She backed away from him, shaking.
    “What are you doing here?” he asked.
    His angry voice echoed down the hallway.
    “I was coming back from the library and overheard your conversation with Naeshi. I’m sorry.”
    “From now on you are not to go there or anywhere after dark, understand?”
    “Father, I…”
    “Not another word. You have gotten yourself into enough trouble lately. Guard, take her back to her room. Do not unlock the door until morning.”
    Another guard stepped out of the room then. Naeshi’s replacement, she assumed.
    Chrissa opened her mouth to protest, but Ittonifer slammed his door in her face.
    She stared at it for a moment. Her father could not even stand to look at her anymore. She knew that it was only a matter of time before he tossed her over to some man and then forgot about her completely. It was simply the way that things were done in Malinor. But she had thought things could be different for her.
    Maybe they still can be. I can learn a few spells and then ask the prince for a favor.
    “M’lady, we must go now,” said the guard at her side.
    As Chrissa followed him down the dimly lit hallway, the ache in the pit of her stomach sharpened, creeping up in to her chest . Chrissa knew that she had never been written on her father’s heart, but his indifference wounded her deeply.
    Why am I so shocked? Everyone knows that sons are honored while daughters are scorned. I tried so hard to please that man by perfecting the sword and following the prince diligently.
    It was time to face reality. She was nothing.
    *****
     
    Naeshi knew that his wound would heal, but his humiliation would only worsen with time. He had been drilling and sparring with inexperienced kids all day. Maybe he wasn’t the sharpest dagger in the drawer, but h is skill with the sword far surpassed his thirty-one years. He had been the youngest senior guard in Malinor’s history, but Ittonifer had allowed a single incident to strip that away.
    My career is ruined because of that flighty female. Chrissa is going to pay for that one day soon.
    Worse still, he had to see Jalarn glowering at him at least ten times every day. The newly promoted general was just a lad himself at merely twenty years of age .
    Only because he is Ittonifer’s nephew.
    Naeshi had spent only one day as a lowly foot soldier, and he didn’t know if he could bear several more years of it. He would rather live by himself in the desert than stay there.
    He took off his helmet and slammed it down on the ground.
    “The injustice is maddening, is it not?” asked a raspy voice.
    It was that crazy Aterun. It seemed like ages since Naeshi had last seen him.
    Naeshi turned away, still ashamed of his mutilated face. He wouldn’t be making his rounds at the taverns anytime soon.
    He could feel the warlock staring holes through his back.
    “What do you want?” Naeshi asked.
    “I saw what happened,” said Aterun.
    “How?”
    “I have my ways.”
    Just as nuts as before.
    “I have things to do, old man.”
    “Obviously,” Aterun scoffed.
    Naeshi shook his head and walked away.
    “What if I told you that I know of a way that could earn you Ittonifer’s respect once again?”
    Naeshi stopped and faced the man. He spat to one side.
    “Are you finished