A Throne of Fire and Blood

Chapter 25

Tianna hadn't been able to sleep that night. She spent all night reading and learning about the Beaumachais family. The family which lived since the beginning of time which came to a tragic end 10 years ago, along with the end of Aloyerith.
      She heard a quite knocking from behind the door. Tianna quickly hid the book under her pillow before calling to allow the visiter to enter. Nathan opened the door and came through and awkwardly stood before her bed. Tianna looked out of her window to see where the sun was in the sky.
"Was training cancelled? It's already mid-day and you didn't call for him this morning." Tianna asked.
"I came earlier, but Calissia advised me to let you rest as you still didn't feel well." Nathan explained.
"Oh, thank you." Tianna went along with Calissia's lie even thought she didn't feel ill.
"Tianna before I go, I just want to say I'm sorry for yesterday. I shouldn't assume I know you and what your like from silly rumours from terrified men." Nathan sounded like he really meant it.
"Thank you, Nathan. I'm sorry too." Tianna said, and she meant it. She had also thought that every man was the same. Cold and heartless killers. Because that's all she had known, men who care about no one but themselves but Tianna is starting to learn there's more to men then that.
"Teach me to kill." Nathan blurted out.
"What?!" Tianna shouted in shock.
"Teach me to kill. I'm no use if I can't kill anyone. Please." Nathan pleaded.
"Ok, I'll show you." Tianna got out of bed and walked over to Nathan a drew his sword from its shealth. She held it in her right had, gripped Nathan's shoulder with her left and there faces were close together. Tianna could hear his heavy breathing and felt him tense up as she moved closer. She held up the sword to around where his stomach would be.
"Hold the handle tight. Take a deep breath then..." Tianna pushed the blade in between his side and arm. She could hear him suck in when she did that, waiting for the pain to start, "...push." Tianna said casually.
"But what if I can't. How do you deal with taking someone's life? How is it so easy for you?!" Nathan raised his voice in frustration.
"I tell myself, over and over again, about the crimes they have done, about how they deserve to die." Tianna said sadly, "It might surprise you but I have never taken an innocent life. I've only ever killed those how deserved the punishment. Nor have I ever killed a child, only  cowards kill children." Nathan didn't look at her, he just stared at the floor. "Every time I take a life, a piece of me dies too. It will keep happening until I turn into nothing but rotting meat."
"Then why do you do it? Why have you killed so many?" Nathan asked.
"I didn't have a choice, a contract bound me to the Dryden Grayorn. I had to do as he commanded until I paid my debt off." Tianna's heart stung when talking about Dryden, all she could think about was the horrible things he had done. "But let's not talk about that. Here take the sword." Tianna handed Nathan the sword and they stood in the same position as before, but switched round so Nathan had the sword. He remembered what she said and carried it out. Hold it tight, deep breath and... push... But his hand not moved.
"When we first met, I thought you would have done anything to kill me, now you have the chance and hesitate to do so, oh how people change." Tianna laughed quietly. Tianna moved her left hand onto the sword handle, on top of Nathan's hand and slowly guided the sword in between her side and arm, just like she had done to him. "Don't worry, keep practicing at it." Tianna moved away from Nathan but noticed the sad look on his face. "You will be fine." She reassured him.
"I hope so, thank you for helping, Tianna." Nathan thanked her, "I'll leave you alone to do as you please." Nathan walked over to the door and opened it, "Thank you, again." He said just before he walked out.
Tianna plodded along and climbed back into her bed and picked her book. She turned to the front page and began to read it again.