Chapter 67 - I Won't Fail

The next day, Amanda determined the best way to make Kiesha fail during their fight; she needed to give the wrong impression.

She went around the castle with only Khalil and Razul with her, in search of Kiesha. Amanda found her in the weaponry room, cleaning her blade that early in the morning.

Amanda sighed before walking up to her.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't our future madame," teased Kiesha. "What brings you here?"

"I wanted to speak with you," said Amanda. She looked back at the two guards following her and said, "Alone."

Kiesha scoffed and said, "No problem!"

Khalil and Razul stood behind the door of the weaponry room, giving Amanda the space that she required. Only then did she speak up.

"Kiesha, I don't want trouble nor do I want competition for the love of Chris." When a frown reflected on Kiesha's face, Amanda raised a hand and said, "I know you like him."

"I figured you may not help me win this fight. Still, I am here to speak to you about it," she said. "Only the gods and the spirits know how much I have given up - "

"Give up what? The life of being a lonely girl living alone in a near barren village?" Kiesha retorted at Amanda's words. "I doubt you gave up so much. Here, you have a comfortable room! With food to eat! You cling on to the ruler's son, you practically have everything!"

"Whatever you say will not make me change my mind. I will take you down during our fight," said Kiesha.

"Kiesha, I beg of you... I have very little, near to no experience in fighting." She held onto Kisha's hand and said, "Please, at least... Give me a fighting chance... Take it easy on me."

"Hahaha!" Kiesha laughed sarcastically. She said while snorting, "So - so you admit defeat! Haha!"

Kiesha put a hand on her waist and said, "You should just leave, knowing you will only fail."

"I can't do that. I at least have to try," she said. "Well, I suppose there is no point to this. I can see you won't make it easy on me."

"Oh, I won't, but at least I know I need not prepare for our fight. Haha! I would not want to break your farmer's body," said Kiesha.

She leaned over to whisper in Amanda's ear, "You don't deserve to be with Chris. Who he needs as a wife is a strong woman who can fight his battles!"

"I love him and he loves me. Nothing is above any label to a." She quoted with her fingers, "A worthy wife."

"Thank you for your time, Kiesha," said Amanda before turning her back. She smiled triumphantly, knowing Kiesha fully thinks she can never win against her.

In the days that followed, Amanda and Christopher resumed their new daily routine.

Every morning was Amanda's training with Christopher, out in the courtyard. She showed everyone her determination, yet she did not reveal her true strength, now that Kiesha was around. She had to make her think she will never have a chance to win against her.

Many times, she would stumble on his fight with Christopher, to think he was making it easy for her. There were also instances when she would pretend to catch her breath, raising her hand and suggesting she needed rest.

She would rest for five minutes and return to practice with Christopher again.

Her actions made Christopher worry. He wondered why her stamina suddenly deteriorated, and I was Cassy who helped fill in the gap. One afternoon, Cassy said, "She may be tired. Training every day is not easy."

In the afternoons, however, after Christopher leaves for the boarders with Kyle, Cassy would leave with Amanda and her two guards. It was in the mountains that they would practice until late in the afternoon.

It was in the uninhabited peaks of Aeros where Amanda trained with all her might, creating kick stands out of dying pole trees, merely wrapping her legs with a thick cloth as protection from getting wounded.

Half the time, Amanda repeatedly thrust her right leg to alternate trees, grunting in every attempt. "Uggghh! Haaah! Haaah!"

"Amanda! That's enough! You might break your leg!" Cassy warned.

They have been coming to the mountains for five straight days and Amanda never rested. Cassy knew her acting weak was not the true Amanda, but this one in front of her, one who had no hold and absolutely fearless.

"I'm still fine - "

"Let's practice with the punches," Cassy cut her off, purposely throwing a fist at her.

"Cassy!" Objected Amanda as she stepped back.

Cassy advanced, throwing more punches her way. She said, "You know what, Amanda? You are really odd! For someone who works in a restaurant, you sure know how to fight - Haaah!"

Turning to thrust a kick, Cassy asked again, "How come you know how to fight?!"

Amanda caught up with Cassy's next attack. She held up her wrist and said, "Let's take a break."

Panting, she walked up to the Khalil and asked for a canister of water. She and Cassy walked away from Razul and Khalil and that was where Amanda revealed, "I learned how to fight about five years ago. My friends and I suppose that I lived alone, I had to fend for myself, I forced myself to learn."

She turned to her and said, "I've traveled a lot, living on isolated homes and... you'll never know who is your neighbor. He could be a maniac, a killer, whatnot. So I learned."

"But, I'll be honest. Other than practicing with my friends, it has been a while since I fought with someone." She said. 'Someone in human size.'

She scratched her head and said, "The last one I knocked out was a..." She was searching through her head for a perfect lie. "Was a robber, trying to rob the cashier from my last home - in Ushuaia."

"I don't buy it!" Said Cassy. "You can be this good out of being taught!"

"Amanda! You can trust me!" Said Cassy. She reached for her hand and held it. "You can trust me."

Amanda was torn. How could she explain herself now? She scratched her head again and said, "Ummm... I used to be... part of the CIA?"

They both wound up laughing and Cassy said, "The first one was a lot believable."

"Seriously, Cassy. One of my friends, specifically the one who trained me? His name is Abasi. He used to be part of the Egyptian Armed forces. So he is very, very good," said Amanda. "I learned hand to hand fighting with him."

"Okay, I believe you... Because I can feel you are a really good person, Amanda.... You - you must miss your friends," said Cassy.

She looked down and said, "I traded my friends for Chris and a lot more, Cassy. I can't fail. I just can't."

Cassy smiled and nodded. "I can see it... You won't fail. You won't."