The King's Last Heir

Page 13

“For hours, he picked beans under the scorching sun and his master? He was sleeping under the shed. Not a care in the world!”

Keith said dramatically and glances at his so-called instructor who was sleeping away under the shed.

He's been counting the beans for hours now and so far so good, he hasn't even made a substantial amount of progress!

Keith was starting to doubt Ellinor's ability to teach him!

What if he goes to Paula? Maybe that mam had something of value to teach him?

Yes, he had him beaten severely earlier in the day but Keith was sure that if he apologised, Paula would teach him everything he needed to know!

But what if Paula refuses to teach him and Ellinor finds out he'd met with his arc nemesis? 

He would be losing on both ends! Which isn't going to be of advantage to him at all!

Keith wasn't happy about his limited options! It was either he endured all this in the hopes that Ellinor was going to train him.

Or, he tried his luck with Paula.

Keith wiped the sweat away from his brow as the sun shone mercilessly on him on the field.. 

Hours later, the sun went down and Elena stood on his feet. He approached Keith who was covered in sweat and seeming very irritated.

“You continue this tomorrow. You're done with today's training” 

And without any other word, he was out of sight.

“Are you ever going to teach me something reasonable? What does counting beans have to do with martial arts? Today, I was beaten up by men twice my size! If I knew a substantial amount of self-defence, I would be able to defend myself!”

All of his words fell into deaf ears as Ellinor walks away.

“Hey! I'm talking to you!”

How much more of this does he have to endure until he is taken seriously?

Keith stood on his feet, ready to leave but his eyes landed on a bow and arrow just by the corner

Out of curiosity, he walks towards it and picks it up.

He wasn't sure how to hold it exactly but he tried to position it the way he'd seen other people do it..

Holding on to, Keith walked towards the target board, picks up an arrow and fires only to miss by a mile.

He tries again and again but keeps missing..

“You're pulling it wrong”

Keith turns to see the Master's daughter walking towards him.

“I believe you are Ellinor's new trainee. My name is Rose. I am Master Warden's daughter”

‘Yes young lady. I am aware. It's an honour meeting you..” 

“How is training with Ellinor?” Rose asked in concern.

It was almost like she knew Ellinor was the toughest person to be trained by.

“He's a complete pain if I am to be honest.” 

Rose burst into laughter, earning a smile from Keith, she looked quite adorable..

“I know Ellinor is a very difficult person but trust me he's the best person to train you”

“So far so good, I've been counting beans and I'm not sure how that is going to help me become better”

“To deal with Ellinor, you have to be very patient. He is not the kind of person to open up quickly and once you have gained his trust, he will train you in the best way possible”

“So… all of this is for me to win his trust?I don't seem to understand what you mean Lady Rose” Keith replied in honesty.

“It took a great deal of sacrifice for him to be where he is today. He's been trained by a dozen masters under whom his patience and willingness to go on was being threatened..” 

Keith listened in silence, he has quite considered why Ellinor was such a sad man. He'd thought it was just his nature..

“He has been assigned to many other trainees but none of them had the patience to endure and listen to him…” 

A word stuck out to Keith, endurance…

Was Ellinor teaching him how to endure the harshest of conditions to strengthen him? 

Why hadn't he seen his hell for training that way? 

“I don't know what your motives are but I do believe you should make sure it's strong enough to withstand anything Ellinor puts you through,” Rose said, barely looking Keith in the eye.

He was quite the looker despite being covered in sweat and dressed in a faded cloth.

“I'll get my maid to bring you a few fresh clothes if you don't mind” 

Keith glances down at his clothing, forgetting how faded and old they looked..

“Yes, I wouldn't mind having new clothes. Thank you my lady” Keith said in sincere gratitude..

Rose smiled shly at him.

“You said something about the arrow. Is there a chance you want to teach me what I am doing wrong?” Keith asked just as she was about to walk away.

Rose smiled to herself and turned back to him in seriousness.

“Pull your legs apart slightly, tug the backwards with all of your strength and hold the arrow neck with two fingers…Yes just like that” 

Keith shot the arrow and yet he missed again.

“Maybe it's best if I show you” 

Keith hands her the bow and an arrow. He watches as she sees the arrow and pulls the now as easy as a tiger's tail before shooting it into rhe board.

She lands a bull's eye.

Keith seems impressed which made Rose smile even brighter.

“How did you learn to do that?” Keith asked.

“My dad taught me and Ellinor how to shoot arrows. I don't fire arrows very often but it's good to see that I still can” Rose said 

“With a little practice, I'm sure I'll be able to fire an arrow “ Keith said to himself 

Rose states at him and the moment their eyes met, she clears her throat quietly.

“I should be on my way. The maid will get the clothes yo ypur room before the end of today” 

Before Keith could express his gratitude, Rose was already gone.

What happened to her?