Broken Remedy |L. Odinson|

Chapter Six

"Where have you been?"

"I took Alvis and galloped to the forest," Eir replied without missing a beat. She didn't look at her father as she walked away, intending to head to her room.

"To leave the house in such a way was cowardly."

She barely spared him a glance. "I disagree."

"You should have stayed here and faced your problems."

"I would have, if there was an impartial judge around."

Before she had the time to walk to her room, Brynjar grabbed her arm. Eir tried to free herself, but his grip was too tight. Wincing slightly from the pain, she stopped trying to break free as she finally turned to look at him, glaring daggers at him.

"What are you insinuating, daughter?" he asked, his voice deadly calm, but she knew he was warning her.

"That you are not being fair," she hissed, choosing to ignore his warning. "He's been mocking the way I fight for days and you are saying absolutely nothing."

"Perhaps if you would pay less attention to what he was saying he wouldn't have a reason to mock you."

"Excuse me?" she exclaimed, a huff of disbelief leaving her lips. "Are you even listening to what you are saying?"

"If you want him to stop, try harder. Perhaps you'll actually manage to win for once."

"You know as well as I do that I could never win against Brandt," she spat, "he is way stronger than I."

"Try harder."

"I am!" she exclaimed as she fought to free herself, "Let go of my arm!"

Finally managing to break free, she could not help but send him a look of disgust before she made her way to her room as quickly as she could. She closed the door behind her as soon as she was inside and locked it. The moment she was sure she was alone, she slid down to the floor.

Tears clouded her vision but she quickly blinked and managed to not let them fall. Looking down at her arm, she saw that already, a small bruise was forming in the shape of her father's fingers. Biting her bottom lip, she pushed herself up and after throwing her cane on her bed, she slowly walked to the small pool in the end of the room and with slow motions, started undressing herself.

The water was soothing and she closed her eyes, wanting to stay there forever. She stayed in the pool for a long time, until she decided that perhaps it was time for her to get out. She dried herself off and proceeded to get dressed. She brushed her hair and then, without bothering to wear shoes, she made her way to the balcony she had in her room.

She leaned against the railing, a small sigh leaving her lips as she looked at the view. Her eyes fell on the golden palace first before she looked at the woods. Unconsciously, she touched the bruising. A hiss of pain left her lips immediately at the touch, and grimacing slightly, she looked at her feet.

She should have known that it would have ended like this. Her father was fair most of the time, that was true, but when it came to his children, he was not quite impartial. Usually, he chose to favour his sons. Eir could have never found herself in the winning end of the situation.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. The person who had knocked tried opening, but as she had locked, they did not manage to get inside. A heavy sigh was heard before she heard Brandt speaking.

"Eir," he called out, "open the door."

"Leave, Brandt," she replied without turning around, "I'm not opening the door."