Broken Remedy |L. Odinson|

Chapter Five

"Come on, Eir, is this all you can do?"

The brunette pursed her lips as she blocked another hit, trying to concentrate but it was hard to do so with Cuyler in the background scrutinizing her every move. Brandt was not going easy on her too, and she barely managed to block his next swing. She gritted her teeth as she tried to block everything out, but it was incredibly hard to do so.

No matter how many years she had been training, she always found herself getting tired quickly and lost focus. This time was no different, as instead of paying attention to her brother's attacks, her mind was occupied with thoughts of her aching muscles and without meaning to, she heard Cuyler's comments in the background.

Before she could understand what was happening, she found herself on the ground, the blade of Brandt's sword against her throat. Defeated, she closed her eyes as she tried to calm herself down. When she opened her eyes again, she found a hand outstretched in front of her. She accepted his help and allowed him to pull her up.

"Eir?" he asked, noticing her pursed lips. She shook her head so as to calm down, and she had almost managed to do so, when she heard the next comment of her brother.

"She is always quick to fall, isn't she?"

"For the first time in your life Cuyler," she growled as she turned around, "Shut up!"

A laugh left his lips as he raised an eyebrow at her. "Excuse me?"

"Do you think I can't hear you?" she snapped. "If you are under the impression you can do better, come on!" she outstretched her cane towards him. "I dare you!"

"You do?" he laughed once again as he took some steps forward. "Well, that's amusing. Little Eir has a voice."

"If you think you can stand there and criticise me you are very much mistaken," she said as she took a step closer towards him. "The only reason you still have that pretty face is because of me."

"Eir, that's enough."

Glancing away from her brother's blank face, she turned to her father with an incredulous look. "Enough? You've never said to him when to stop. Why should I?"

"Because I said so," Brynjar raised his chin as he assessed her. "You've gone too far."

"Of course," she nodded, "You would much rather prefer a daughter who would never speak up against you."

Without sparing anyone another look, she turned on her heels and marched away, ignoring Brandt's call of her name as she went. With her cane at hand, she made her way to the stables and with no hesitation, she fastened her cane on the saddle and mounted Levi. The next second, she was gone.

The horse sprinted away from the house and straight to the woods, and its rider did not bother looking back. Instead, she pushed herself closer to its body so that she was not hit by any stray branches and kept leading it forward. In some minutes, she had reached the part of the forest close to the palace. Knowing that she was away from home, she slowed Levi down until the horse was no longer moving. She unmounted, grabbed her cane and instead took some steps forward, away from the animal.

She had been turning the cane in her hands, her jaw set as she tried to not think of her brother, when she heard leaves rustling behind her. With no hesitation, she turned around and pressed the small button, the two blades appearing at her command as she got ready to kill whatever creature had been creeping up from behind her.

The weapon's movement stopped an inch away from the person's neck.

"My Prince," she exclaimed. The weapon fell from her hands and she immediately rushed to his side. "Are you alright?"