Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Ryker

My face is inches away from hers but she does not back away from the challenge, “And you wished for them to experience the same sense of helplessness. Being lost in a world you know nothing about?” I straighten up, nearly stumbling back, my jaw slack and my eyes bulge from their sockets. She has won. I have nothing. What can I say, we have completely failed these boys. Have we lost all sense of humanity in this never-ending war?

She waits a good minute before walking off on her own to the training grounds. I stand perfectly still, consumed by shock although I cannot say the true cause of it. There are two possibilities laid out before me.

One, we have failed and we are far more ill-equipped and incompetent than I thought. Two she is everything we lack, she will either raise us all along with her or leave us to fall. Elder Gabriel must have known, he met her before and I doubted she would back down from even him. Then again the man lived in a different era, where men and women stood on equal footing. Queens reigned and women supposedly fought in battles.

I scoff at the ridiculous notion of women in positions of power. But I cannot say that I do not wish to see it for myself. It might also be a desire to see Ezra, the cocky bastard proved wrong for once.

The sun has set when I make my way into the dining hall and I see everyone already seated, scarfing food down with loud chatter filling the air. I search for Alessia and see her sitting quietly in the corner with the seat next to her left open. The men not brave enough to sit next to her, you cannot miss the admiring glances in her direction. It is to be expected with the only woman around.

I take the seat next to her and I see several of the recruits irritated with my large build blocking her from view. I laugh at the love-struck puppies and start piling food onto my plate. I want to taste what she has taught them. After the first bite, I find Alessia and her ways to be perfect.

Maybe she could have a word with my cook as well. I have glanced at her a few times over the meal. She eats small bites and has barely anything on her plate. Every move smooth and elegant. I have gone it over in my mind many times and I know that I need to admit defeat to gain any favour with her.

I swallow my pride and lean in to speak into her ear, “You are right, we have failed to notice the conditions.” She gives me the deaf ear and simply continues her meal. I stare at her far over the comfort limit, but she remains unphased.

“You don’t speak much do you?” I say loud this time and the hall falls silent, they seem to brace for something. She stands and calls out a name, “Brice”. A young skinny boy jolts to his feet, knocking his plate forward.

“The mashed potatoes are wonderful.” She steps out from the seat and turns to leave before seeing the boy blush from ear to ear. She seems to have paid him the greatest compliment. I quickly stand and rush after her.

I see her heading to the lodgings and she quickly makes the corner. Entering the lodgings I see all the beds made with a lavender stick placed on each pillow. The room smells divine and I can see the windows have been dusted. The floors have been swept and washed leaving the smell of mint.

I force my amazement to the side for the time being and walk in quick paces over to her. “What is your problem?”

She turns abruptly, “It did not go unnoticed, you just did not care. None of you cared, I saw the knowing looks the top ranks gave when Ezra spoke of my assignment to the recruits. You all knew what this place was like. You hoped this place would break me.”

She misses nothing. “Correct again sweetheart but you seem to have misunderstood my intentions in all this. I admit I have been a piss poor commander but I never wished for you to give up on us.” I leave after having the final word. She clearly does not need my saving. But we will see how she fairs when facing Ezra and Liam, their hatred of women knows no equal.

I walk past the dining hall and I see Morris, Kade and the sword instructor making their way to me. I sigh in exhaustion before stopping and turning to ready myself for whatever this is.

“Sir, could we have a word? Morris my aid asks, he knows I have never refused. I hardly ever show any interest in anything, but Alessia took full control of my senses in the short time I have been here. I doubt it had gone unnoticed. I give him a nod.

“We just wanted to say on behalf of the men that we hope no punishment will befall Alessia for her blunt manner. She is cold at times but we have come to learn she has good intent. We also struggled to understand her and the men acted wrong. We greatly regret our behaviour. She will always remember what we did and we will need to live with that.” The instructor, a large build set only a couple of inches below me speaks first.

“And still she forgave us and treats us all with equality.” Kade steps forward with his eyes downcast, as though the shame is still fresh.

“What exactly is it that you did?” I step closer narrowing my eyes.

Waves of fear roll off the men before me and it only serves to deepen my own worry.

Morris quickly steps in front of Kade, shielding him from my view. “We made a grave mistake Sir, please understand we acted without thinking at the time.”

“You avoiding my question only pisses me off more!”

The men share a glance and Morris quickly blurts out the answer to my question like vomit. “We locked her in with the creatures, no food no water. When that didn’t work we had her sleeping on the floor in the lodge. The harassment did not stop there, the men just could not accept that she was treated the same as them. They thought themselves superior.”

“What else?”

“Sorry?”

“What else was done to her?!” My words come out in a shout and my aura leaks uncontrollably. The men all struggle to breathe and tremble uncontrollably.

“She could not bath for days, the men removed all the bathroom doors. We burnt all her clothes and the instructors refused to hand her any weapons. They simply let her run for endless hours. Bu…but we bought her new clothes and..”

My hand wraps around his throat cutting off any further justification. My aura more murderous than before and the remaining two men fall to the ground clutching at their chests.

“And pray tell, who gave you the authority to do all that? Was my intent not clear when I asked you to take care of her?”

Morris grabs at my hand, nails digging into my skin trying to free himself from an abrupt end to his life. I drop Morris to the ground and reign my aura back in allowing the bastards to breathe again. I lost my temper with Alessia but I would never hurt her or any woman.

Men are stronger than women but we are not stronger so we can hurt and humiliate them. You are truly pathetic trash if you need to injure the weak to prove your own power. We are meant to protect, how the fuck have these idiots forgotten that?

“Sir,” Morris pushes himself up from the ground with his arms, he looks up at me, “I thought you meant we had to scare her off. Everyone knows women are not meant to fight, they are the cause of raid failure.”

Shit, of course he would think that. I am a Commander, and all the Commanders have ever had to say about women came out of Liam and Ezra’s mouths. Venomous words of blatant blame and hatred. Have I ever spoken publicly to the contrary?

This is my fault, I have allowed this hatred to take root, I should have addressed it no matter the outcome. Now look what it has become. Children are not born hating, hatred is taught and we have taught every kind there is. Hatred equal to that for the creatures.

“I will leave the issues for now because Alessia seems to have a firm grasp of your leash, however please inform all the men that if anyone lays a hand on her or does anything to make her feel unwelcomed, I will kill them myself. I am not one for second chances, but the world needs Hunters so killing off all of you would be too much. Keep in mind that Hunters die every day.”