" Aaratrika if you fidge any longer I am going to slice off your hair" cried the new Chief in Command.
"You can try. It is already short enough. Any shorter you can call me a lad", laughed out Aaratrika. She was hot and sweaty under the armour and Beatty was not making it any easier. He was not giving Aaratrika any rest this time round. She has been taking things easy, though he had to admit that the poor girl has been training hard for four months and totally need a rest both physically and emotionally.
He stared at her. Jenny would have been her age now and a very beautiful girl just like Aaratrika. He whinced. It was a heartache to remember that night. That faithful night she was ripped away from his hands and murdered right in front of him. His only child too. He never rested and fought hunting down the tribe that did that to his daughter. He was blood thirsty and that had lead him to meet Aaratrika in the most bizarre nights.
Aaratrika stopped to take in a breather. She was more than exhausted. She would die a happy woman if given a chance. She wiped her perspiration and glanced at Beatty. He was standing there in state of wonder. She had caught him in that stage many a times and often wonder what was running through his mind. She looked at him closer. He was old but a good looking man for his age and experience. Never a day had he given an excuse or refuse to perform his duty as a Chief in Command. Not even in the most weirdest circumstances. She remembered it clearly. It was a day she lost part of who she was.
Beatty could never understand why strange things happen to him whenever he was with Aaratrika. His life had never been the same and he had learnt to accept the bizarreness of the situation. Six months ago he was a normal soldier, now, he was a Chief who had to deal with mortals and most of the times what seem like immortals.
Aartarika remembered the night it all happened. It seemed like yesterday she kissed Mugal and left him to head to the castle. But before she could reach her destination safely, she heard the ferocious sounds of horses. She was stunned. She rushed to the stables to grab her horse and as the alarm sounded headed out of the castle perimeters. It was not long when her trusted soldiers joined her. This was battle and she knew it. But what she did not know was what was waiting for her.
It was a sight she never knew. The storm was brewing but in an unexplainable manner. A chill ran over her. She had never experienced something like this before, but she knew something bad was lingering in the air. Ahead of her she could see another tribe. The colours of the flags were undeniably familiar.
"Damn that Gordon! That bastard had decided to backstab me after all" she hissed over the thunderous echo of the night. She rode hard. Then suddenly out of the blue moon she saw something else moving besides Gordon. It was a dark hooded figure on a black horse. She suddenly felt a huge pain in her head. "What on earth was that?" For some weird reason she felt that the thing was not mortal. There was something supernatural about it. Gordon stood still but the hooded figure started moving and it was the only thing moving. None of the soldiers were moving. She turned to call out to her men. But they seem eyons apart. It was no use, she had to fight first. The figure appeared. It was masked and yet it seemed dead. Aartarika galloped forward, gripping her sword in her hands. It was heavy and it had started drizzling. The hooded figure approached her and it had its sword fully raised. The next thing she knew she was on the ground. He or It was ruthless. Aartarika tried her best to defend herself. She was about to give up when Beatty arrived and rescued her. Only later did she find out that he was hunting down his daughter's enemy that he happened to run into the field where she was to be minced meat. Even he agreed that the hooded figure was not mere mortal. But Beatty fought like a valiant soldier and with a little magic help from Aatarika (though she had no idea what she did), the hooded figure was injured and retreated. They never saw Gordon or the hooded figure again. Aatarika made Beatty her new Chief in Commander because he saved her life and begged him to teach her all that he knew. Ever since that faithful night, he had been with her for six months.
"Okay lass. Let's call it a day" he murmured. "This heat is getting on the way. Besides you should be getting some rest, don't want you to faint when I torture you tomorrow." he laughed.
"Okay Beatty, your wish, though I have to say it is not the heat but age catching up with you and not me" she yelled and whisked herself away before Beatty had a chance to rebutt.
He watched her run into the castle. "That girl's got spunk. If only we could get someone to look after her.... someone who is calm and composed and will protect her with his life...."
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