"Is this really necessary?" Nergui asked putting her hands over her eyes.
"Yes", Shan Yu said tying a blindfold around her eyes. "It's always a standard practice to train in the dark. You never know if you'll have a real battle in the dark."
He took her hand and led her to the battle ring where one of his men were waiting with a wooden staff. Shan Yu handed Nergui a wooden staff and leaned in close to her ear.
"Think of this as a real battle for your life", he whispered. "Do not hesitate and do not hold back. Your enemy will show no mercy."
He patted her shoulder and stepped back to watch. Nergui held the staff, turning her head left and right, not even knowing where her opponent was. She was caught off guard as she felt a wooden staff hit her in the stomach, knocking the air out of her.
"Defend yourself!" Shan Yu ordered. "Block those attacks!"
Nergui held the staff in front of her, trying to protect her midsection. She gave a surprised yell when she felt a staff slide beneath her feet, knocking her to the ground.
"Get up!" Shan Yu said watching her.
She rolled over onto her knees, barely avoiding the staff that hit the ground beside her.
"Keep your guard up!" Shan Yu reminded her.
Nergui picked up the staff and held it in front of her, blocking an attack.
"Keep moving", he continued as he watched her. "Don't stay in one place!"
Nergui moved her feet shakily, not knowing what was around her. She kept the staff in front of her, trying to defend herself. She yelled in pain when she felt the staff hit her in the back, knocking her forward to the ground. Nergui quickly rolled back to her feet, turning her head, trying to find her opponent.
"Attack!" Shan Yu ordered. "Keep moving, keep your defenses up, and attack when you get the chance!"
Nergui started swinging her staff, trying to hit anything. She continued to move her feet as she tried to find her opponent. She screamed in pain when she felt the staff hit the back of her knees then again to her back.
"Stop! Stop!"
Nergui pulled up her blindfold just in time to see her opponent bring his staff down, hitting her head. Everything went black.
"Enough!" Shan Yu yelled.
The Hun held his staff and backed away as Shan Yu walked toward Nergui. Bruises were already showing up on her tan skin. Her lip was split from the blow to the head. Sighing, he lifted her into his arms, taking her inside the house. Shan Yu laid Nergui on the bed and gently wiped the blood from her lip. Every time he looked at her, he had to keep reminding himself that she was still a woman. She was more fragile than his men. Shan Yu looked at his wife, taking in the bruises on her body. Nergui was not like the women in the village. She was strong and worthy of being in his army. She just needed more practice.
"Nergui?" Shan Yu said when he saw her stir.
"Did I pass that test?" she asked moaning in pain.
"If that were a real battle, you would be dead", he said crossing his arms.
Nergui looked down almost ashamed. She groaned as she sat up, trying to get to her feet.
"I'm giving you the rest of the day to rest", Shan Yu said. "Tomorrow I expect you to be up and ready to continue your training."
He turned to walk out the door to join the men.
"Shan Yu…" Nergui said.
He stopped and turned back to her. She looked back at him as her lips formed a smile for the first time.
"Thank you", she said.
Shan Yu looked at her smile, not knowing what to say. He gave her a nod and walked out the door. Nergui laid back in bed, waiting for him to return.