Masked

Chapter 5

"Father!!" Arya flew into her father's arms. "You're back!"

"Arya!" He lifted her and twirled around before placing her back down.

He clutched his hip and groaned. "Oww, your old man is getting older..."

Arya frowned. "You should be resting, not out on missions..."

Her father groaned. "Calm down! I was just kidding! " He jumped on the balls of his feet. "I feel like 22!" *

Arya grinned. "Lift me again!"

"No!"

"Sir Dalhousie!"  They turned.

"William, my boy! Long time... how are you lad?" He patted William on the back.

"My boy?"  New development....

"I'm great sir, thank you." He smiled earnestly.

"Father, do you want to ride with me? There's something I want to talk to you about.... " Arya asked.

"Alright then. " he turned to Will. "Care to join us?"

What?! No!

"No, thank you for offering sir, but I think Arya would want to spend some time alone with you..."

Woah!

"Very well then, let's get going Arya.."

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The duo were out in the grounds, riding peacefully.

Ha ha! Arya thought. He doesn't know about mother's prohibition..

"Arya, what is it that you wanted to tell me?" Her father rode alongside her.

Her mood immediately darkened.

"Well....the other day, John and I were out riding in thw forest.." she paused, waiting for a reaction, unsure whether to continue.

He stared at her impassively.

Is he angry? Did mother already tell him?

"And we had an...incident....."

She continued to narrate the story and watched as her father's face grew more and more dark.

She concluded her tale... and was met with silence. "I'm sorry father, I know what I did was wrong. I promise not to do anything of that sort again..."

Sir Dalhousie looked at Arya. She was growing to be a beautiful young lady, with long black hair framing her face and cascading down her back. Her green eyes had an ever lit fire in them. She was brave and bold, not afraid to speak her mind.....  after his trip to the north, where he met many female fighters, his views on girls not learning to fight completely changed.

Maybe I've brought her up too cautiously.....it's time she learns to take care of herself.

"Arya, it's time you learn to fight. Your classes start tomorrow.  I wish to see quick results..."

Arya was shell shocked.

Why this sudden change?

After her intial shock wore off, she slowly filled up with glee. I'm finally going to learn to fight!

She leaned over her horse and hugged her father tightly. "I won't disappoint you."

He smiled. "I know you won't."

"Father, what do you make of what I told you? Do you think it has anything to do with...you know what? "

His face grew pensive... "I do. I'm going to investigate tomorrow...I want you to come with me.... now come, it's time for dinner...

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Dinner was cheerful. It had been weeks since they had sat together as a family. Will was especially animated, telling everyone anecdotes..... about himself of course.

"And this one time, I killed a giant grizzly bear, which was being a big nuisance to the nearby village. It was a particularly difficult fight. I had strung by bow, and nocked an arrow, ready to fire at a bear-"

"What did it do? Spit on your face?" Arya interrupted.

The whole table turned to glare at her. "Manners Arya!" Her mother and father said in unison. They looked at each other and smiled.

Will cleared his throat. "As I was saying, before I was rudely interrupted, I was ready to fire at the bear, but the bear was not like the others before it...it was a clever bear. It came running towards me and before I could even blink, it swatted the bow out of my hand!"

Everyone at the table gasped. "And then what happened? " John asked.

Arya rolled her eyes.

"And then, I rolled down and came up behind the bear. I jumped onto its back and held on. It tried shaking me off but I held on. It tried running with be still on its back, but I held on. It tried everything it possibly could,  but I held on. "

Arya couldn't stand it anymore.  "May I be excused? "

Everyone was too busy listening with rapt attention to pay her any notice.

She sighed and got up to go to her room.

"Look at me! I'm William! I'm so awesome! I wrestled a bear! I fought a tiger..." Urgh! Self-centered idiot!

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Arya was sitting on her bed, reading when someone knocked the door.  "Come in!"

Her father came in and closing the door behind him.She scooted over to make room for him.

"What is it father?"

"I've found a tutor for you...he is a very experienced person....you'll be in very good hands. "

"Who is it?" She asked eagerly.

"William."