Fire in the Night

Chapter 2

It has been two days since Sora left and Fharir has become even more violent. I walk to the training grounds, stopping when I see him waiting there, a twisted look on his face as he holds a sword. Immediately, my hand grips my sword and pulls it from the sheath. I get into a defensive position. "Hello, Fharir. What brings you here on such a dark morning?" Indeed, dark clouds covered the expanse of the sky, the ocean's waves crashing loudly against the rocks. Fharir grunts and lunges at me. "It is time for me to assess your skills. Then, if you pass, you will be betrothed to Wingar." My eyes widen and I block his blow. "Yes, sir. However, I still have a lot to learn before I am to become a housewife. My training has left little time for me to learn to bake or cook, as you know." We fought, the clashing of swords echoing on the cliffs as time passed. 

Rain began to fall from the heavens as Fharir managed to disarm me and cut my arm with the tip of his blade. "You are too slow! Faster!" I just manage to grab my sword again and block another blow, getting slightly dizzy at the loud noise. The rain continued to get worse as we continued, making the rocks slippery and dangerous. I tackle Fharir as he is attempting to stay balanced. I place the tip of my blade to his neck and growl. "Dead." He only smirks and knees me in the gut. I gasp and stumble back, slipping on the rocks. Several scrapes and cuts form on my hands and arms as I manage to stop myself from slipping off the edge of the cliff and into the murky water below. He only glares down at me. "Do not celebrate too soon. Afterall, you do not always know what may happen. Come to the house once you've learned to stop being so stupid." He walks off and I pull myself up, leaving bloodied hand prints on the rocks.

I begin the walk back to the hut, groaning when I see Wingar approach. "What do you want?" He snorts and pulls on my hair. "Just wanted to see my future wife. You're still skinny, I see." He laughs and yanks. I yelp and punch him. "Let go and you might get to keep that hand." He slaps me and pins me to a tree. "You do not order me around, freak. You are lucky to even have me as a suitor." He walks away as I glare after him. I resume my walk, picking some flowers for Sandra. As I enter the hut, I see Sandra glaring at me. She quickly snatches the flowers from me and sets them in the kitchen. "You are late again. Sit down and eat before I change my mind!" I nod and quickly eat the broth, forcing a smile as I choke down the awful liquid and my stomach aches slightly. She snorts "It is fresh eel. Just caught this morning." I sigh and finish it, heading to my room as I mutter, "She knows eel makes me ill." I spent the rest of the night groaning as it felt like a war was happening in my stomach. 

As morning arrives, coughs rack my body and I shiver. Sandra enters and smirks. "Fharir says you will train today. You will also bring home some rye afterwards." I groan and shakily stand, stumbling to the door as my vision blurs. I make it out the door and half way to the training grounds before my body shudders violently and I collapse. My vision fades as the baker picks up my shuddering body and carries me to the healer.