Below the Peak (Sola)(2)
“Apologies, to be more precise, the bird used to carry the message was a Falcon.” He mumbled awkwardly interrupting Nara’s thoughts and continued. “The queen was devastated by the news, but his son Prince Einarr was enraged that he marched the very same day to war against King Roma. Einarr, a great warrior of his time killed the traitorous king and his soldiers at the border. He continued to march with his finest battlers to Moren and invaded its capital city while the rest of the army scoured the towns and villages. This victory marked the rise of Murisa as a powerful kingdom.”
Her brows drew and twitched painfully. The voices were getting louder; everyone was talking beside and behind her, making it hard for her to listen. It irritated her that they wouldn’t shut up. It made her temples throb. Nara squeezed her hands between her thighs, fighting the need to press them to her ringing ears. I’m not going to lash out, I’m not going to lash out she repeated the words in her head. Just breathe and count
Nara sucked a lungful of air and counting to ten slowly while she ignored the eyes of the teacher on her face that felt like a hot poker rod.
“Prince Einarr did not take Moren’s princess and prince as captives, he executed them together with the rest of royalties,” she added, her eyes bright with genuine interest, a clear contrast to the almost flat tone of her voice. Nothing captured her attention and interest like war stories. She was impassioned about them, every single detail which included the personal stories of leaders of armies and their causes, strategies and the weaponry used.
“A good move to ensure no rebellion would arise once he ruled Moren under Murisa”, the scholar stated with a hint of admiration in his voice.
“He hung them at the city square for everyone to see” Nara added in affirmation, absorbed in the retellings. Rohi nodded in confirmation.
“Here she goes again talking about war. It’s all she ever talks about”, some girl whispered loudly behind her causing others to snicker. It was Lilia. Nara gritted her teeth but said nothing.
“She is obsessed with war stories and even wears men’s clothes. Such behaviour is unfit for a lady”, Rosa who sat beside her commented, giving her a mean sidelong glance.
Something poked her back. Nara held still and ignored it. The finger dug deeper on her spine that it hurt.
“Stop it!” Nara twisted harshly, knocking her elbow on the edge of the table.
“Ahhh!” she gasped, her face contorting in pain. She stared at Bas angrily for a second before dropping her eyes down, but not before missing the faint cruel twist of his lips.
“Are you a lady or a lord, Nara?” Bas jeered as he pulled the sleeve of the white tunic she wore.
“Do not touch me!” Nara yelled and pushed the unopened leather book on his table to the floor. The girls gasped in shock and glared at her in disgust at the unruly behaviour.
“I am Lady Nara and not a lord, a girl, not a boy. I wear trousers because I have horse riding lesson after!” Her face flushed in anger, hating she had to explain and defend herself for no reason.
“Come on now, no need to be angry” Bas chuckled as he lifted both hands, palms open in mockery of surrender.
“Here’s another fit of hers!” Rosa hissed.
Nara ignored the stares and the murmurs, kept her head down while she crossed the room past the teacher who just held his tongue and did nothing. She walked out of the library and closed the door with a bang.
She breathed harshly, her chest heaving.
Why don’t they like me? Tears of anger and embarrassment aimed more toward herself gleamed in her brown eyes. I could’ve just held it together!
Nara hurried down the long hall, the walls echoing the sound of her polished black boots. If she had her way, she would not attend the lessons with them, but she had no choice. She had promised her father she would try. He said she needed this for her sake. Being alone all the time is unhealthy were his words. She should make friends her age. Being weird and far from normal wasn’t easy especially around people. He didn’t know she got teased here. How it hurt when people treated her like a dimwit and called her a freak, and moron. They did not need to remind her she wasn’t normal; she knew that better than anyone, she liked the things other girls hated, and the boys found strange that a girl would find interest in such things. Hence, Nara kept to herself most of the days. She enjoyed the solitude but somehow loneliness managed to creep on her some days too, and in those days, she gave the effort to get along with others only to be made a fool by Rosa and her pack and left to befriend the likes of Helle. “Nara” the voice rang down the hallway.
“Nara stop” a voice called. Nara didn’t listen and kept going. She heard the quickening footsteps behind her.
“Please” Fingers grabbed her wrist lightly.
“Do not touch me!” She shook the hold on her hand as she turned and glowered at Helle. The only person she considered a friend. Well sometimes.
“Don’t let them get to you Nara”, Helle said quietly, looking at her with concerning eyes.
Nara sniffed as tears brimmed in her eyes.
Helle let out an exasperated sigh and said, “Bas and Rosa are both stupid bullies who got nothing but mud in their thick heads. Too dumb they don’t know how to tell a girl from a boy.”
“Trust me; they are fools.” Helle insisted when Nara didn’t say anything.