so...

by azrieljohnson

A Warrior's Destiny by Azriel Johnson

Chapter 12

One week after Rebecca told me Christofer was coming, he arrived. I'd heard from Lieutenant Kingsley that he was the smartest boy in his school by the time he completed learning. He was a very promising prospect for a political leader when the Human Army finally stabilized the Dragons. However, he said it with a bit of disdain that led me to believe Kingsley disliked him.

Walt, Chen, Rebecca and I were training hard. Sweat was flying off of our bodies as we attacked one another. The idea behind these exercises was to test our total awareness. We were encouraged to think of new and innovative ways to attack to always keep the others guessing. We were badgered, and battered, if we did a single move more than once in a while. And our combat awareness was growing with each day of training we completed.

Rebecca had just tossed Chen into Walt knocking him over. I was about to spring on her when a loud clapping was heard from the door. The man stood there with his blue eyes clear and his blonde hair cut short and neat. "Good move Rebecca!" he yelled.

My eyes were burning as I turned my head to him. Rebecca turned her head as well and ran towards him, "Christofer! Oh my god, I thought you'd never get here!"

He gathered her in his arms and lifted her up, spinning her around. They kissed passionately for at least a minute. Walt patted me on the shoulder, "JR man, come on, let them have their moment."

I turned to my best friend and nodded. He knew the score. I told him what had been going on between Rebecca and me the night I came back from my last meeting with her. Chen as well picked up on whatever feelings I had for her and vice versa. He used it to pick us apart in battle. "Come on JR. You not worry, he pansy," Chen said smiling.

Again I had to chuckle.

I turned back to Chen and Walt and attacked them, trying to ignore Rebecca and the dashing Christofer.

After morning training that day, I sat in the lunch hall with Walt and Chen. We were talking about our plans for when we joined the Hell Bringers. Walt expressed desire to go to old Florida. Chen wanted to make his way to old D.C. I was still undecided. However, I knew that my first stop was going to be to rid my village of Jonathan the Tyrant.

"Hi guys!" Rebecca beamed as she joined us at the table. Christofer sat next to her nodding to each of us. Rebecca made introductions: "Guys, this is Christofer. He's my... friend from my town. Christofer, this is Walt (pointing at him), Chen (pointing at Chen) and this is John Ross (pointing at me)." Walt and Chen each took their turns shaking Christofer's hand. I didn't, just nodded in his direction.

Rebecca sensed my discomfort and tried to smooth over the situation. "Christofer is going to be traveling to the new Human capitol at Fort Omaha. He's been selected by our town to represent us there."

Christofer spoke up, "Yes, it is quite an honor to do so. And everything I do depends on your success as Hell Bringers and soldiers." His eyes beamed and his smile gleamed. I wanted to knock his white teeth down his throat.

Walt looked at me and shook his head. I stood and said politely, "I, uh, have to use the latrine. I'll catch you all later."

How bad it hurt me to see her with him and smiling. How bad it hurt me for her not to be with me. I had to get out of there.

Rebecca stood and I heard her say, "Christofer, could you excuse me one moment?"

"Sure," he said.

I kept walking, and I heard her follow me. I went out the doors of the lunch hall and seconds later, I heard her come out as well. I turned to her and said, "What do you want?"

"John Ross, please! Don't be like this. Can't you just be happy for me?" she pleaded.

"I am happy for you. I'm glad you got your controlling ex boyfriend back."

I turned and kept walking. Rebecca ran up behind me and I felt a punch to my back, "Listen kid, you don't know anything about him."

"No, I only know that he wants you to come home and start a family and be his good little wife. And I know that you aren't a person to be that good little wife."

"I'm going to talk to him about that," she said sheepishly. "If he doesn't understand my position, then the result is going to be the same. I'm going to stay in the army, I told you that. No man, no matter what, could stop me from that."

"Whatever Rebecca. Go and be with him then. Why did you even come out here?"

"Because I care about you, I don't want you to be hurt over this."

I looked at her, her eyes were clear, green, fierce, beautiful. I replied, "Look, I love you. I'm sorry that you don't love me, but why do you love this guy?"

"You can't help who you love, JR. I wish you could understand that."

"Is there a problem Rebecca?" Christofer said from behind her.

She turned and smiled at him, "No Christofer, no problem at all."

"Is this punk kid bothering you?" Christofer said with an air of smugness. I hate smugness.

"Punk kid? Are you kidding me?" I stormed up to him and met him eye to eye. "You have no idea who I am you son of a bitch."

"I know exactly who you are. You're the nephew of the Cowardly Gerstung brothers. Rebecca told me all about you," Christofer said with a cruel gleam in his eye.

My shove knocked him back at least ten feet and onto the ground. "You shit head!" I ran up to where I pushed him and laid a kick into his ribs. I felt one break and Christofer cried out. Rebecca ran to me and kissed me and apologized and told me she loved me so very much and she'd send Christofer home right away, broken rib or not.

Actually, I shook my head, "Christofer, if you value your life you WILL NOT say that again. If you don't believe me, ask Rebecca. She knows how dangerous I am, and how dead you will be if you disrespect my family again. That is all I have to say. Leave me alone."

Walt and Chen had come out to make sure everything was okay. Walt walked up to Christofer and slapped him in the back of the head.

"Fool, don't disrespect the man's family. Cause if there's anything left of you after he's done with you, I'll kick your ass."

I walked away to the practice dojo and started hitting the heavy bag. I beat it. I beat it some more. I hit the bag until I was tired of it being soft. Then I started hitting the stone wall of the dojo with much more satisfying results, namely in the pain of my knuckles.

I shot two more punches at the wall and in one motion jumped, spun and kicked the heavy bag hard enough to cause it to break off of it's chain.

Kingsley sighed loudly and said, "You know I'm going to make you hang that bag back up right?"

I looked at the bag lying on the ground. "I wasn't thinking of that before I kicked it sir, I'm sorry."

"It's okay Gerstung. I'm just glad you didn't do that to Christofer. I forgot to mention before that he was a real asshole didn't I?"

"Yeah, that kind of slipped your mind didn't it?"

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I saw what happened and I'm proud of you for not taking his head off. It shows great restraint and that is something we sometimes need as Hell Bringers."

"Thank you sir. And I will appreciate the praise later, but today, I'm in no mood."

"Fair enough. But if you really want to work out some of this anger..." Kingsley grinned at me evilly.

The first punch hit me and knocked me into the wall. I had to fight my way off of the wall, unable to make any sort of positive offense against Lieutenant Kingsley.

But I definitely worked out the aggression.