Luisa opened her eyes in her quarters in Cataindar. She gripped her fists tight. God she wished she had the courage to punch that Tess girl in the face.

Clearwater rolled over noisily choking in a half-snore. Luisa got out of bed. On top of the chest of drawers was a wrapped package. A small card that sat on top read,

For Luisa.

A new day.

Finn

She tore it open. Inside was a black belt and scabbard for her sword. It was thick and strong, with a cool 'Y' shape studded with silver to hold the sword. She silently slipped on her jeans and delved back into her dressing chamber, avoiding the rail of her aunt's clothing and opting to look through some of the chests and trunks further inside. In a chest she found a white button up shirt, made out of silk, with puffed lace short shoulders. She put it on, it was a snug fit. Next she found some fine riding boots that fitted her well. She tucked her jeans in them. Opening the box of costume jewellery she found some sparkling hair clips, and did up her hair. She went back to the chest of drawers and put on the scabbard. She grabbed her sword and fed it through. It made a slick 'shhhwt' sound.

Cool.

Luisa went to the mirror.

Wow. She looked, different. Really different. The sword did not look out of place any more, it kind of matched... no it complimented the outfit.

She gave herself a half-smile. Yes. Finn was right. Today was a new day. She felt different today, she was happy to be in Cataindar. Here she could be cool, here she could make a difference and today she almost looked like a hot pirate or something.

Did I just say hot pirate?

She knelt and patted the sleeping Clearwater on the head and whispered into her ear.

"I'm going to practice my swordsmanship Clearwater"

"Mmhmm pleasedontwakemeup." Clearwater rolled the other way.

Luisa shook her head smiling, Clearwater was a funny one. She left her quarters to find Finn.

Even the catains that saw Luisa regularly looked at their princess with raised eyebrows this morning, in her different dress with the royal sword glinting and bouncing on her side. They nodded and smiled at their Princess striding confidently through the corridors.

After consulting several runners she found Finn's quarters.  His door carvings were classic Cataindar concentric designs, with a knocker carved of  two short swords; Finn’s weapons of choice.

So Finn.

She knocked on his door, with a little thrill, having taken the initiative to find him. He opened it, with a look of surprise, he looked at Luisa up and down.

"By the dragons princess, you look like you are ready to train."

Luisa nodded at him, her hand resting on the pommel of her sword.

"Absolutely."

Finn strutted around the Ratain dummy of the training room while explaining to Luisa once again the key ingredients to swordsmanship.

"Princess, just because you have a sword in your hand, (A very special sword, Luisa thought) you should not limit yourself to only that one weapon if an opportunity presents itself. Remember these the keys of combat Princess. Adaptability; to fluidly move, from sword, to dart, to kick, to scramble, to using whatever is at hand with skill and thought. Aggression; To punish your foe in anyway you can. Focus; to engage your dewin, to be aggressive, but focused. All that you have worked on with the abbot has its place in swordsmanship."

Everything that had felt so wrong for Luisa the day before clicked in to place. They began with the wooden practice swords. Finn did not have to encourage her to be aggressive. She parried and swung like she had never done before.

Finally it was time to use her real sword.

Finn explained that every sword was a little different; it may take some time to get used to. She drew it somewhat awkwardly from her scabbard, but as she clasped it, it buzzed in her hand, she could feel the dewin pour up her arm into her mind; the sword was begging to be swung. 

"Now is a relaxed opportunity to practice all you have learnt. With me playing the part of your opponent. Just keep it simple Luisa, just get used to the blade." Finn said.

Finn possessed two heavy wooden practice swords that were replicas to the one used on his official scouger duties. They were heavily scarred from hundreds of training sessions. He swiftly drew a single practice sword from his side.

"Do not be shy, just come forwa..."

Luisa stepped forward with a thrust. Finn parried it away. She spun with force and swung round. Her sword made a whine as it cut through the air. Finn blocked again this time, sending splinters of wood up in the air. He stepped in close, Luisa skipped back.

They circled, both smiling, Finn's eyes were dancing. Luisa felt light on her toes, these riding boots were sweet. As Finn stepped forward with a thrust she felt it come as if in slow motion, she dodged back and kicked her foot up catching his paw. His short wooden sword flew through the air. Luisa lunged forward again with a swipe but Finn was gone, he had dive-rolled and caught his sword.

They circled again. Luisa's blood was pumping, she felt nervous but she was enjoying herself. Finn drew his second sword and smiled.

"I think I underestimated you Princess."

He adjusted his stance, with both swords low at each side, then carefully brought them up, one arm pointing forward, and the other arched above his head. He thrust forward, again, it was a quick shot but with little power, Luisa just had time to parry it away before the second sword swung round, she bought her sword up to meet it and it hit with a power that shook her bones. The first sword was already behind her knees and with a twist Finn had thrown her and she was up in the air, she landed in a painful heap and her sword clattered out her hand.

"Up Princess!"

She pulled herself up onto her hands and knees and grasped the handle of her sword. Instead of standing, she rolled forward and immediately launched a strike at Finn, and again, and again. With a small smile Finn calmly parried each one away. She thrust forward and followed the thrust through with a kick to his middle, Finn caught her foot and went to swipe again at the back of Luisa's leg, but Luisa propelled her self forward and made to grab his hind-leg, to take Finn with her to the ground. Finn, quickly switched his grip from her ankle to under her arm, and with a whip flipped her over his hip and she landed once more in a heap on the ground.

A slow clap rung out from the corner. It was Thorne, leaning heavily on two crutches,

"Well done Princess!" She spoke hoarsely.

"Thorne!"

Luisa got herself up and ran up to her, wiping at her brow beaded with perspiration and dust.

She touched Thorne gently.

"Are you OK? You're actually alright?"

"I am up, Princess. Just. Thank you for what you did for me. The royal provisions you brought... I am sure they saved my life."

Finn made his way to them and gently put his paw on Thorne's shoulder. It is good to see you awake and up Thorne."

Thorne smiled. "Thank you Finn, I should be ready to lead my scougers before long. However, for now I will sit and watch our young Princess out-fence an old catain."

"Ha!" Finn laughed walking back to the centre of the room, by the giant ratain dummy, shaking his head.

"Thorne you know quite well I have not been out-fenced since I fought Gauld as a cadet."

"Ah! And yet other chance to remind us all of your legendary fight Finn. Never did anyone talk so much of a defeat, it should probably be counted as a victory. Bravo, for finding yet another excuse to bring it to our attention." She coughed, her fine, scarred features wincing with pain. "I was there remember! But enough talk scouger-leader. Let's see what drills you have taken our princess through."

Luisa and Finn drilled the moves Luisa knew for Thorne who added small pointers and tips for Luisa. They fine-tuned her footwork, the angle of her sword and her stance. Luisa could feel her technique falling into place.

Finn had said that in the next class he would bring a scouger cadet for her to spar with.

He raised his eyebrows at her.

"If you feel ready that is Princess?"

Luisa felt like her heart was about to burst. She bit down a smile. She knew she had smashed it today. Everything ached in a good way.

She tipped her chin up and gave Finn a sharp nod.

"Yes Finn, I'm ready." 

* * *

With the princess escorted back to her chamber Finn packed up his padded sparring armour, his paw was a little sore from where the princess had caught him with that quick kick. That had surprised him.

Thorne hobbled over towards him.

"She shows talent Finn. She disarmed you."

Finn smiled, "Aye, she did, momentarily. I feel like she is starting to realise what she can become."

Thorne slowly reached out and put her paw on top of Finn's. Finn stopped packing. Her face was drawn but her eyes had their keen green shine, like dew reflected on a leaf.

"There are things we all can become Finn. All of us, can grow and move on. We will help her Finn, together. We will help her."

Finn looked down. A faint scream from the past echoed through his mind. He pulled his paw away and pushed down in his bag roughly, pushing the vision from his mind down into the depths of his soul where it belonged.

Thorne continued,

"Finn, I have heard what happened in the Great Cavern. The whole of Cataindar is talking of the carving, catains are frightened Finn, it was not exposed by accident."

Finn didn't look up as he tied up the knot to his bag.

"I fear that it was not Thorne. But what evidence..."

"I tasked my scougers to dig through the burned tapestry to find the brackets that held the tapestry up. Of the sixteen that held the tapestry, none could be found. They had been removed Finn. Someone had wanted Cataindar to see the carving. Something is happening here and it doesn't feel right. We need to speak to Darcius, I want to know where he has been."

Finn nodded. Thorne was right.

He was about to reply when he caught a light pass under the far door.

Had someone been listening to their conversation?

Finn held up a paw to silence Thorne. He picked up one of his real swords and quietly jogged over to the door. Taking a breath he pulled it open.

Nothing.

The listener had already disappeared into the shadows. Finn twitched his whiskers and let his nose work.  He caught the faintest whiff of a scent from the door, but not enough.

Rats.