User blog:WishKat/Sage's Story~ Part 1

"It's a girl!"

"A female soldier? Impossible."

"No, look!"

I stood frozen as the two guards studied my face, my heart pounding in my chest.

"By the gods, you're right!"

I squeezed my eyes shut. No, no, no.

"What's your name, girl?"

I lifted my face. "Sage," I whispered, terrified.

The guard turned to his companion. "Speaks with an accent. Australian, maybe," he muttered. Then he turned to me.

"You want to be a soldier?"

Shaking, I nodded. This was it. They were going to kill me. I felt a brutal yank on my arm that sent me crashing to the ground. The guard kicked me.

"Come on, get her up," he ordered. The other guard, who looked to be around a year or two older than me, stepped forward. He extended his hand. I took it and struggled to my feet. "Is your arm okay?" he asked. I stared up at him, surprised by his gentleness. "Yes," I breathed. He smiled sadly at me. "My name is Surak," he told me.

Surak had short blonde hair and broad shoulders. His eyes were a deep blue, and he wore the traditional guard uniform: a red silk tunic and trousers. I flinched as the other guard shoved me forward. "Go back where you came from," he spat. Surak touched his shoulder. "Surely there is a reason she came, Yulo," he said.

Yulo glared at me through red-rimmed eyes. "Speak, girl."

I took a shaky breathe. "I want to fight." I said, staring at the ground. Yulo burst out laughing. I gritted my teeth and gazed down at my clenched fist, imagining it driving into his stomach, stopping his unruly laugh short. I took a step back, surprised at my violent thoughts.

Surak looked at me with sympathy. "I truly am sorry, Sage," he said kindly. "But I will have to escort you out. Females are not allowed on the premises." Yulo smirked at me. I glared back at him, my violent thoughts returning. Surak offered his hand, and I took it, grateful for the kindness of his touch. He led me through winding sidewalks and desolate barracks, stopping at the main gate.

"Where do you live?" he asked. I swallowed hard. "Nowhere," I said, and closed my eyes. "I see," Surak said softly. My eyes brimmed with tears. I will not cry. I collapsed on the ground, gentle tears running down my face. Soon I kneeled in swirling mud, put there by my sorrow. I felt Surak's hand on my shoulder and tensed. Moments before, I had been grateful for his hand. Now I hated it. I whirled on him and flung myself at him, banging my fists against his chest, sobbing. He jerked back, surprised. "Stop!" he commanded. I raised my fist, but he caught it and twisted my arm behind my back.

I went limp. His grip loosened on my arm, and I stepped back from him, eyes stinging. "I know what it feels like," he murmered. For some reason, that made me hate him even more. He couldn't possibly know.