Bonds of Light and Fire

8. Stuck in the Past

"The force of your punch comes from the rotation of your body, not your arm alone," Fenrys said. He stepped behind Luciana and readjusted her position. "Try it again."

Luciana formed her fists the way Vaughan had taught her and lifted them. She planted her feet firmly and lashed out with a sharp twist. Fenrys pursed his lips. "How was that?" She wiped sweat from her forehead and tucked stray locks of blonde hair behind her ear.

She'd been working on punches for two hours at least, and despite the coolness of the afternoon, Luciana was growing increasingly warm. Leaves drifted down from the treetops and crunched beneath Nascha's boots as she approached. Vaughan followed her, still managing to walk silently somehow.

"It was better," Fenrys said. There was a note of hesitation in his voice.

"But?" Luciana sighed.

"But you came off balance again. If you do that in a fight..."

"I know," she interrupted. "It gives my opponent a chance to knock me down."

"Let's try it again," he offered.

Luciana shook her head. "I'll be late for archery practice if I stay any longer." Her gaze flickered to Vaughan.

"Go," he said. "I'll find you this evening."

Luciana nodded and headed off. No one followed her. Not even Nascha. She glanced over her shoulder and saw her friend and Fenrys standing close to Vaughan. Their lips moved with silent words. Luciana dragged her attention away from them and hurried on to the archery range.

The session was already underway by the time she arrived. "You're late," Kyllian remarked. Luciana ducked past him and grabbed her bow and quiver from a shack.

"I was training with Vaughan and Fenrys," she answered, slinging the quiver over her shoulder.

"Have you made any progress?"

Luciana's mouth ran dry and she turned away without answering. She made her way to a free space, tugging on the rope suspensions of the targets as she passed by. They began to move and Luciana nocked an arrow. She took aim, blinking back the stinging in her eyes.

Better. That was all Fenrys had to say. She'd done better. She'd done better, but... There was always a but. Luciana barely bothered to measure her breaths. She fired and the arrow hit the target close to the center. She drew another.

"You useless girl. You'll never be anything more than a pretty face. Your father and I have made sure of that. Your place is at a male's side, and someday, we will choose that male for you."

"You will be dutiful, Sunbeam. You will not disappoint me. I know you won't. What would Mother say if you did?"

The arrow sang through the air. Luciana barely heard it. Barely saw it. "I've wasted my life looking after you, and this is my reward."

"We can't waste time and resources on someone who barely shows a spark of promise."

"Time isn't something we have a lot of right now. I need my officers focused on preparing for war. I need my soldiers ready. Everyone will have a part to play in battle, but they can't do that if they're more focused on making sure a novice doesn't get herself killed."

"Worthless little brat! You should've died as an infant! I wish I would've gotten rid of you when I had the chance! You're nothing but a burden. You'll never be worth anything, no matter what Brye says."