Thrown Through Time

Chapter 11

Sophie stepped outside the next morning and was greeted by a beautiful, sunny morning. She made her way to the lists, expecting Eirik to be waiting for her to practice their sparring, but instead, he was busy talking with several of the men, including Ulriech, and didn't notice her entrance until she walked right up to them. "What's going on?"

"We're preparing for the Trials!" Ulriech snapped.

"The what?"

Ulriech turned to stare at her as if she should know what he was talking about. "The Trials, woman! It's a yearly tradition."

"Oh, that makes sense," she said. Then she smacked him. "I haven't been here a year, how am I supposed to know what's going on?"

Eirik chuckled. He explained, more eloquently than Ulriech, and Sophie finally nodded. "So, it's a cross country obstacle course?"

"Not sure what that is. Maybe?" Eirik shrugged.

"Well, since we're supposed to be training still, shouldn't I come along?"

Ulriech laughed. "No woman has run the Trials in over a hundred years!"

"So, women aren't allowed?" she asked.

"It's not that they aren't allowed," Eirik said. "But it's very dangerous."

"So then why do you all do it?"

Ulriech was getting annoyed with her questions, which was an added benefit of asking so many. Anything she could do to irritate him was just a bonus. But she was truly curious and honestly wanted to know. He huffed. "Because, the winner gets to choose a bride out of all the women in the entire clan!"

"Oh. How exciting." she said dryly. "I'm warning you right now, if you win and you ask me, I'll say no in front of every single person in this city."

Ulriech huffed and puffed, walking around the arena as if he'd never been so insulted in his entire life, but she knew that couldn't be true. She'd insulted him just a few days ago. Why he wasn't used to it yet was beyond her.

"Eirik, do you think I could do it?" she asked softly.

Eirik took a deep breath and looked down at her. "Yes. I think you probably could," he said. "But I don't think you should."

"Why?"

"Sophie, when we say it's dangerous, we're not talking about you skinning your knee. Men have been killed trying to just finish these Trials. Not even winning them, just finishing. If it's that dangerous for the men, I can't even tell you how much more dangerous it could be for you. Yes, physically, I think you could do it. But I'm asking you, please don't even consider it."

"When do they start?" she asked.

He sighed, knowing she was already considering it. "Next month."

"Will you show me?"

"Show you what? The course?"

She nodded.

"Sophie," he whispered.

"I just want to see it."

Finally, he nodded. "I'll show you."

"You're going to let her run it!?" Ulriech bellowed.

Eirik rolled his eyes. "Are you afraid she's going to beat you?" he turned around to face his brother, who walked away, mumbling under his breath as he left the lists. Turning back to her, Eirik seemed to be pondering something. "Tomorrow," he said. "We'll run it together instead of sparring."