From Protector To Lady

"You fight well," I complimented.

My muscles routinely reacted to and easily blocked the blow that was intended for my thigh. My brows furrowed in fierce concentration as my feet worked automatically, thinking on their own as my arms swung toward my opponent.

I had been fighting and training for years, I was one of the best for my age.

"But you are too predictable," I said as I parried another thrust that was coming to me, reversed it upon him and hooked my foot behind his calf, sending him sprawling onto the ground. I pressed the tip of my wooden sword to his chest.

'"Unbelievable. I do not know how you do it," Joseph said as I grabbed onto his hand to help him up. "I have yet to see anybody best you."

"Fighting with girls again, I see, Joseph," I heard my cousin Jahnai say as she came walking up to us, holding the ends of her skirts up daintily, making sure not to dirty them.

"She is no ordinary girl, I promise you that. She has to be the best swordsman I have ever met," Joseph said as he pressed his lips to my dear cousin's forehead.

"It is the one thing I take pride in. It comes easily to me," I smiled proudly.

"Maybe you should let him win one of these times, I fear his pride cannot handle much more of this abuse," Jahnai said as she smiled up at Joseph.

"I find it best to keep him in his place," I smiled ruefully.

"Fear naught, I know better than to go against you, Rebecca. And besides, you are in charge of keeping my dear Jahnai safe from harm."

"Though I believe she takes the post a bit too seriously," Jahnai laughed as I playfully poked my wooden sword between their touching bodies, separating them.

"Nonsense. It is my duty and I intend on fulfilling it to the utmost extent," I ensured, as I put my sword away in the practice armory shed.

"Well, I hope you don't mind, Rebecca, but I do believe it is time for me to steal your cousin away and take her to dinner," Joseph said as he wrapped his arm around Jahnai's waist.

"I suppose that is allowed," I joked. "She better come back unscathed, or it'll be your neck."

I laughed as Joseph feigned a terrified face before walking off hand in hand with my cousin.

My name is Rebecca Morin and I am in charge of the safety of my dearest cousin Jahnai Rutherford, daughter of Duke Rutherford of the Dunmore Estate. My uncle, the Duke, recognized my skills for swordsmanship at an early age and he assigned me to protect his daughter and considering the amount of time we spent together as friends, it had been a smooth arrangement thus far.

My uncle was always busy with his duchy, also known as the town of Rillanon, taking care of his people and making sure they were well maintained. Not all dukes were assigned their own duchy but my uncle was one of high status and power. With that power came responsibility. He had to make sure the people of his village were taken care of and if they were not, the king would pay him a private visit and a visit from the king was never a pleasant affair.

I had helped the soldiers stationed in Rillanon fight off raiders on multiple occasions - though not on a regular basis. Mostly I escort Jahnai on trips and make sure there is nothing suspicious happening in her presence. It is not custom for all high status women to have protectors but it is not uncommon among these parts of the kingdom, where raiders are frequent.

It was a short walk from the training grounds near the estate to my home in Rillanon where I lived with my mother, father, and younger brother, Todd.