Valkyrie's Judgment

Chapter 10

Shaw’s training was ruthless. Aeliss didn’t know what she had expected when she agreed to become his apprentice, but being beaten until she could barely drag herself away, wasn’t it.

He had decided to start with teaching her the basics of fighting. For weeks they had sparred one-on-one every day. He never went easy on her and only stopped the training when she couldn’t stand by herself anymore.

“Get up, girl.” Shaw demanded as she laid on the ground gasping for air. She fought to get to her feet. Her legs were shaking, and she could feel blood running down her cheek.

She hadn’t even managed to get a single hit in. Shaw stood completely untouched, as always.

“You have to want to hurt me to actually do so.” He said calmly. “Those halfhearted attempts won’t get you anywhere.”

Aeliss gritted her teeth. Her legs could barely hold her weight, and the skin on her hands was scratched raw. She was not sure how much longer she could continue.

She gathered up what was left of her strength and ran at him with raised fists. Her legs were shaky and her balance unsteady, so it was no surprise when Shaw easily sidestepped her, before grabbing hold of her arm and throwing her aside.

She landed painfully on the unforgiving ground and moaned in pain.

Shaw didn’t care though. “Can you still stand?” He asked. Aeliss was tempted to say that she wasn’t sure she was ever going to stand again, but somehow she didn’t think he would accept that.

She tried to push herself of the ground, but her muscles screamed in pain, and she collapsed to the ground again. “No…” She moaned.

She watched Shaw approach her before stopping in front of her. He bent down and slung her arm over his shoulders. She hissed in pain when he lifted her up and started carrying her inside the shack they were currently staying in.

He had told her that he owned the small, rundown house and that they would be staying there until she was ready to start working. Since she still hadn’t managed to hit him, she had no delusions that that would be anytime soon.

Shaw entered the house and lowered her to the shabby couch, which was the only piece of furniture in the room, except for a wobbly table and a wooden chair.

Aeliss sighed in relief as she finally got to lay down on something except hard ground.

Shaw pulled the chair over to the couch and started treating her injuries. He was always harsh to her when they trained, but always made sure to take good care of her wounds afterwards.

A small hiss escaped her as he started cleaning the wounds that were bleeding. “Your technique is getting better.” He said as he worked on her arm. She sent him a disbelieving stare.

“I’m not even close to hitting you.” She said with a defeated sigh. How that was progress, she didn’t know.

Shaw gave her a hard look. “And you won’t be, unless you change your attitude.” He said. Aeliss looked at him confused.

He sighed. “Then those scumbags attacked you the night I found you, you thought you were going to die and you went at them with all you had.” He explained. “You have to attack me as if you intend to kill me, if you ever want to defeat me. If you’re not serious, you will never be a proper fighter.”

She nodded slowly. She could see his logic, but that still didn’t make it easier. She had no motivation to want to kill Shaw, so how could she fight him like she did?

She watched the ceiling, deep in thought, and barely noticed Shaw finishing up treating her injuries. She only looked at him, when he stood and started preparing his weapons.

“Where are you going?” She asked, even though she already knew.

“Got a job. I’ll be back tomorrow.” That was all he said, before he was gone.

Aeliss forced her battered body into a sitting position. She couldn’t help feeling restless. She had already been with Shaw for a long time, but that didn’t change the fact that it still made her uneasy when he went out on a job. Went out to kill someone…

She wondered if she could really do it. If she could really take another person’s life.

‘It’s just a job…’ She told herself. ‘Nothing more, nothing less.’

How she wished she could make herself believe that.

Despite the screaming protest from her legs, she stood shakily and stumbled into her room. It was just as sparsely furnished, only a simple bed and a chest for her belongings.

She kneeled down to the chest and opened it carefully. It didn’t contain much. Her clothes. A book on poisons and several small blades, giving to her by Shaw. But that wasn’t what she was looking for.

She grabbed the black knife sheath and sat on her bed. She carefully pulled the long knife out and turned it in her hands.

She traced the engraved name, enjoying the cool feel of steel under her fingers. A wave of sadness washed over her as she remembered her father showing her and her brother the knife.

She couldn’t begin having doubts now. She had promised herself to get stronger, to change. No matter that cost. She traced her father’s name one last time.

She would not let him down.