A Raire Gift

Chapter 5

The knight moved quickly towards me, leaving no time for confusion. The knight swung a heavy blade in my direction, I raised the practice sword and blocked. I strained to keep the swords level until we broke away. I circled and it lunged, I jumped to avoid it but felt a stinging in my arm. The sword this knight wielded was not dulled steel like my own, it was sharp.
I backed away for a moment, trying to think, were my friends trying to kill me? It lunged again, slashing at me with impressive speed.
All I could do was block and dodge, backing away. I was tiring steadily, I had to think quickly. I broke away and circled back to the more open space, backing as far as I could.
I dropped my practice sword and kicked it out of the way, reaching toward my hip where the deer carved box rested. I unlatched it quickly and drew my blade. This time when it lunged I was prepared, I quickly blocked before forcing the blade out of the way, stabbing quickly at its throat. If I could deal a killing blow, it would end the weaving. It dodged out of the way but now I was on the offensive. I slashed and stabbed, moving light on my feet. I needed to move faster.
Suddenly my heartbeat calmed, my breathing steadied, something came over me. All my focus seemed sharpened, I felt almost as though I knew what it would do before it did it. We circled each other, I feinted left before swinging my sword hard to the right. It blocked, but I managed to score it's shoulder again. This time the arm went limp and it dropped the sword it carried. I lunged forward, not giving it time to recover. My sword tore through its throat and it dissipated until there was nothing but a thin mist in front of me.
I sat down hard, exhaustion washing over me suddenly. My arm throbbed, reminding me of the injury I had sustained.
When I finally looked up, the sun had risen, and a small crowd had gathered. I saw my friends standing at the front, Marc looked nearly as tired as I was.
Someone walked towards me, it was Gabriel. My head was swimming and I had to be helped to the healers.
-
The cut wasn't bad, it was deep enough to need stitches but I would be fine. The healer treating me, Maude, gave me a restorative tea to combat the tiredness before sending me on my way.
Gabriel was waiting for me, as well as a man who looked vaguely familiar, though I couldn't place where I had seen him.
We walked to Gabriel's office and I sat across his desk, while the stranger stood beside Gabriel behind his desk.
"Your instructors have been keeping an eye on you these last few weeks. And so has Lord Gavel," he gestured to the man beside him. "You will be entering second-year classes soon. This would normally mean you learn to use Magik and weapons in combination, however, a handful of students are chosen at the end of their first year to enter advanced classes for the rest of their training. I would like to invite you to these advanced classes."
I thought for a moment before responding, "I am flattered, however, I must admit I am confused. I thought I would be in trouble, what with the fight earlier."
For a moment something flashed in his eyes, but then he smiled. "It gave an insight into your current ability, although I do hope you will not make it a habit."
I wanted to mention that it had not been my idea but knew better than to argue. I hesitated before asking, "Who else would be in these classes?"
-
When I had gotten back to my dorm, my whole team was waiting for me.
"So what was this morning about?" I demanded, more than a bit annoyed.
Herl grinned at me before pulling me to sit with them, "I bet them you could beat an elemental." My eyebrows raised, with everyone watching, I was sure I had not been any real danger. But even so, what if I had been?
"How much did you bet?" I asked, suddenly curious.
"Enough to afford a decent horse." He beamed at me, "I made sure they all had savings before making the bet."
I gawked at him, even with the four of them giving part, it must have been a good amount. He only continued to smile in response.
Lina coughed, "Seeing as the bet was about her, she should probably take the earnings."
Before Herl could object, it seemed everyone was in agreement. I had no idea what possessed him to make such a bet, —not with my skill level,— but even so it seemed to me that fair was fair.
Only after I had collected my new found funds did I tell them what Gabriel had told me. He had extended the offer to not only me but my fellow team members as well. If we accepted, we would have most if not all classes together, although it would be very difficult.
In the end, we decided to each think further during the year's end break, which was fast approaching.
-
The days passed in a blur until I found myself talking with Lina in our room just a few nights before we were set to leave. "As much as I look forward to seeing my aunt I don't know what I'll say. She raised me, and yet I feel like I know nothing about her."
Lina looked at me with sympathy, but her voice held a slight bite when she spoke, "At least you have a home to return to, right?"
I felt guilty. I knew she lived here full time and had been living with Gabriel for a few years before that, but it never really clicked in my mind until this moment. "I'm sorry Lina, you're right. I just don't know how I'll face her." And then a thought came to me, I looked at her in speculation. "Why don't you come with me?" I hurried on before she could say no, "I would feel less nervous, and you could meet my aunt. I just know you'd get along with the innkeeper's daughter too, she's just around your age and you remind me of her sometimes."
Before I could say more, she replied. "I appreciate it but she's only expecting you," she smiled a little sadly, "you'll be fine without me there, like you said she raised you. She's still the same person whether you call her aunt or mother."
I knew my face reflected my disappointment. "Fine, but my offer stands. Think about it a bit more and let me know before I leave."
For the remaining time, we had the last half of the days to ourselves. We prepared what we would need for each of our trips.
Lina walked with us but it was clear she was getting ready to say goodbye.
One evening, Lina and I were at the stables. I would be leaving tomorrow, and we both knew it. "Audrey, I know I said no. But if you still want me to come-"
She sounded awkward, and I grinned at her. "Of course I still want you to come! It's a huge relief."
We had to revise the plans I had already made, choosing a horse for Lina had been settled while we were at the stables. The dorm provided free use to students, so long as they agreed to the terms of it. And if the horses were lost or died, they would need to be replaced out of pocket from the ones loaning them.
The next morning we all ate breakfast together, all of us but Tena who had already left, his home being the furthest in our group. We chatted about our homes and told stories about our families. All too soon the time to leave came.
I mounted my borrowed horse but quickly saw that Lina had never ridden before. I helped her mount and explained the basics. We moved slowly until she stopped panicking, and then picked up the speed a bit.
We were quiet for most of the first day's ride, focusing on the road rather than conversation. We set up camp and I made us something to eat.
The next day was just as quiet, although Lina seemed more comfortable on the horse. We spoke while we ate, and stopped during the night.
One morning, just as I put away my bedroll, I heard a strangled cry. It was quiet but clearly distressing. I ran to the stream we had found the night before, sword drawn, only to find Lina scrubbing at her nightshirt. At a red stain in the fabric. I touched her shoulder and she jumped, when she looked up at me her eyes were filled with fear. Sometimes I forgot how young she was, but in times like this, it was painfully obvious.
Silently I took the soiled garment and began to wash the blood away, "Has anyone explained to you what this is?" I asked gently.
She shook her head mutely. I sighed and began to explain what a woman's cycle was and that she would be fine. I had begun getting my courses a year before meeting her, so I knew the basics of what was happening.
I helped her set rags to stop the blood, and we sat together for a moment. She still seemed scared, but less so than before.
After she had calmed down, we set off again. She was in pain, and I wished I had the tea the healers gave me for cramping, but I had left the pouch of tea leaves in my dorm.
I talked to her, trying to bring comfort where I could. Our ride was slower, but the talking seemed to take her mind off of things.
I told her stories of how I used to wear breeches under my skirts, and how the boys of my village reacted when it was discovered. Of the school near my home where all the nearby girls were taught to be ladies. And of the grumpy innkeeper, and how I had continued to clean his stables each week until he let me learn to ride. I reflected that the school for ladies had done very little for me.
Before I knew it the sun had set. We dismounted and set up camp once more.
We were in a deeper part of the woods, where bandits were known to roam. I stayed up to watch our belongings and horses. I heard the sounds of the night, but we remained unbothered and safe.
We set out a little faster the next day and reached the village just after noon.
-
The door was opened nearly immediately after I knocked, and arms were flung around me. I embraced my mother in return, seeing her here, my worries of who she could be left.
I realized that the words she had told me the night I left were completely true. No matter what tale blood may tell, I was her daughter and she was my mother.
I heard a slight cough behind me and pulled away, "Mom, I would like you to meet my roommate and friend, Laurina. Lina this is my mother, Daina Willows."
My mother didn't seem even slightly surprised to see I had brought a friend. She welcomed us both in, and I led Lina to my room.
It was strange to see. I had said goodbye to this place, and although barely a year had passed I could no longer recognize the person who lived in this room.
I looked to my left and saw the full length mirror. With a jolt, I remembered the thoughts that had flooded my mind the night I left. That night I had seen a conservative village girl reflected back at me, and now I saw a young warrior, standing tall and strong.
I smiled, even my coloring had changed. My skin had deepened with a tan, my eyes had grown clearer. My hands were calloused, and my hair was haphazardly clubbed at the nape of my neck with sun-bleached highlights.
I had a long way to go before I became the person I wanted to be, but it seemed to me I had begun to follow the path that would lead me there.