Destiny by Jinxrox (red white and royal blue hardcover txt) 📕

Chapter 4

'No, again!' the sword instructor yelled into Leo's ear. He panted from exhausting, he just wanted to tell the middle-aged old grump that he failed this placement test and get on with the next one. He showed no promise whatsoever for anything that he had been tested for so far. For the magician test, he lost the rabbit that he was supposed to pull out of the hat, only to find him bouncing around and nibbling on the costumes in the closet. In archery, he almost hit the instructor, and in singing class, he broke a glass by screaming to hard.

'You're hopeless!' the instuctor cried, throwing his hands up in defeat. Leo trotted out and poured a flask of water over his sweaty head.

'Hey' Melina plopped down beside him,' any luck?' He glanced at her with a "are-you-kidding" look.

'And you?' he asked her. She shook her curly red hair.

'No, not the slightest. I am testing for acting next, then animal training, and after that I'm done. The highest I have scored so far is in dancing, but even that was horrible.'

'How is Destiny?' Leo questioned.

'She...is having trouble, although, she did score 8 out of 10 in music. She is testing for fighting next.' Melina said, shooting Leo a worried look.

'I am sure she will be fine.' Leo reassured her.

***

Destiny waited for the sounds of sword clashing to come to an end. When they did, the wooden door opened to a large room the size of the wagon.

'Now, to start the test, pick a sword', a gravelly deep voice commanded her. She felt around for the swords, and nearly cut herself when she found them. She tried every blade, some unbalanced, too heavy, or too short. One felt better than the rest. Destiny could tell it was long, and made out of steel that reflected off the blade. The handle was encrusted with some sort of metal, maybe a thin sheet of gold, that was molded on the carving of vines that wrapped around the handle. It reminded her of her forest home. Destiny took the blade firmly in her hands. Her pants the she was required to wear for this test gave her freedom to move around.

'What do I have to do?' she asked with her confident voice.

'Last three minutes in a fight against me.' Adrian, the instructor said cockily. She heard him shuffle his feet and advanced her body in that direction.

'Poses ready!' she kept her feet apart, and gripped tightly at her chosen sword.

'BEGIN!' Adrian made the first move, swiping at her feet, an interesting first move as it was usually used later on.Destiny heard the blade advancing and swiftly jumped over it, as she lunged at his undefended chest. He blocked her blow, but she could feel his surprise at her knowledge. She stepped backwards, forcing him to follow. They danced around each other, showering themselves with a variety of blows. Adrian lunged to her left, and she countered his swipe, and kept her sword on his, forcing him against the stone wall. They both breathed heavily and her unseeing eyes were inches away form his brown ones. A bell rang, signaling the end of three minutes. Destiny dropped her hold, and Adrian stood shocked. In his eighteen years of life, being born before the curse, he never saw anyone like Destiny.

'Well, I believe you have passed. Meet me in my wagon in two days at 5:00am sharp to commence your training, oh, and keep the sword.' Adrian said, then walked out of the room. Destiny sat down on the wooden floor, a smile permatly stuck on her pale face.

***

Melina heard a bell ring from the sword fighter's wagon. She hoped Destiny was alright.

'Elana will see you now,' a young girl with brown hair announced to her. She walked to the animal keeper's wagon, and knocked on the green door.

'Come in' She was greeted by a woman, about thirty or so, with her chestnut hair tied up in a bun. She was standing up, black boot propped up on a bench, and was trying to redo her laces.

'Ah, yes, you must be Melina, I'm Elana, the animal master', she held out her worn hand out to shake. Elana was a pretty woman that wore horse riding breeches, and a severely stained one white shirt. Elana stood up, and led Melina to the outside ring. There were many cages. Tigers, giraffes, elephants, and many more were inside them. In the ring outside stood two horses, who were separated form the rest that grazed in another, larger ring.

'Do you know jow to ride?' Elana asked, and looked at her with kind blue eyes.

'Yes, but not very much, nothing like you do here.' Melina answered, because she had seen circus horses before, and how their riders did amazing figures, sometimes even jumped, on their backs.

'Of course you don't. Now come here. Yes that's good, put your foot in this loop here, it's called a stirrup. Now, just swing yourself over. No! Not like that, yes that's more like it.' Melina sat exhausted already on top of a beautiful gray Appaloosa. She grabbed the reins with her shaky hands, and gave the horse a slight kick. The horse walked slowly around the ring, guided by Melina.

'Good, very good, now give him a harder kick' Elana told her. Melina did as she wished, and the horse quickly started cantering around the ring, trying to hold on to a slipping Melina.

'Good, now STOP!' The horse stopped in his tracks. Elana went over and attached a rope (AN: its called a "lead line" to any of you who don't ride horses) to his black bridle.

'Now, I want you to stand up.'

'WHAT?' Melina cried.

'Shh, not so loud around the horses, yes stand up, don't worry, I have got Pickle.' Pickle snorted in agreement.

'Pickle? Isn't that a type of food?' Melina asked.

'Yes.' Melina shrugged, and let go of the reins. She took her feet out of the stirrups, and placed her hands on Pickle's neck. Slowly and surely, Melina stood. She smiled, arms out as she kept her balance. All of the sudden, Pickle started to canter. Melina wobbled from surprise, but kept her balance as Pickle kept moving. Melina felt the horse's back move under her feet, and she positioned herself to the rhythm of the horse. Melina knew from the grin Elana wore, that she had passed the test.

***

Leo sat on the steps of the cook's wagon, the place of his last test. His head rested in his hands, as he knew of his failure. With only one more test to go, he knew he would never master it. Music. That was his last test. He had never held an instrument in his life, much less played one. He knew that he would fail.

'I presume you are Leo.' He looked up at the face of an old man.

'Come, it is time for your test.' Leo followed the old wrinkled man into the yellow wagon.

'Here, pick wisely.' He gestured to a large array of instruments. Everything from a piano to symbols were there. Leo walked past all of them, and accidentally knocked something over that made a metallic sound as it hit the ground. He bent down to retrieve it. A small bronze flute he now held in his hands.

'Well, this is better than nothing, I suppose', Leo said, showing that he had chosen the small flute.

'Play for me.' the teacher instructed.

'But I can-' Leo started.

'Just try' Leo sighed, but brought the flute to his lips, and arranged his hands to what he thought was correct. he closed his eyes and imagined the forest, and began to play. He blowed lightly into the instrument, and flew his fingers up and down it, creating different sounds as he covered and uncovered the holes. His beautiful tune was cut short by the sound of applause. The old man was rapidly clapping his hands.

'Good, could be better, but good enough. You need training though, meet me here in two days.'

'D-Does this means I have passed?' Leo asked hopefully.

'Yes, yes it does.'

Chapter 5


Destiny.....Destiny....


A seductive female voice whispered.


Destiny....sister....give me back my voice....Destiny do not be afraid.


Destiny woke up to a pitch black cabin, and by the sounds of snoring, she could tell it was nighttime.


Destiny...


The voice now seemed to be coming from outside. She sat up, and slowly stood up. Destiny threw a coat over her white nightgown, and brown boots. She creeped past the bunk beds of fellow sword trainers, and tip-toed outside into the frigid night.


Destiny....follow


The voice demanded, and it seemed like Destiny had no will of her own, as she walked past the wagons. She stopped at the fortune teller's wagon.


Open the door... Again, Destiny obliged. She entered a very fragrant room covered with midnight blue silk that draped on the ceiling, and covered the once wooden floors. In the center, was a round table with a snow white table cloth, and two chairs, in one of which sat a lady covered from head to toe in purple fabric.


Sit down child. The chair is to your left. Destiny felt around, until the familiar shape of a chair came in contact with her hands. Sit. She sat.


'Why have you called me here?' Destiny asked.


Shhh....no speaking, one cannot utter a word in this room, instead open your mind, like they used to do in the Time of the Elements.


Destiny closed her eyes, and cleared her mind of all thoughts. She imagined a thin thread that connected her and the lady's minds.


Who are you? A triumphant Destiny asked.


I am called by many names,such as Lachesis, but my true name is Serendipity. I have a gift for you, wear it always.


Serendipity handed Destiny a sliver necklace. She felt it with her hands, it felt like three 'C's back to back in a