Choice! The wonder of every freeman
Choice! The prison of every mind
Choice! The longing of every servant
Choice! The unchangable branding of time
"Wake up." Ralph growled. "Wake up!"
Rhanna barely registered his voice, and just moaned.
"You have been asleep for seventeen hours strait!"
"Give me a couple days." She mumbled and pulled her blanket over her head. It was quickly pulled away.
"Only one more sword to go! It's due tomorrow morning, and its already afternoon!" Ralph paced nervously. She had never been this depleted before. What if he could not fill the order?
"I cannot." Rhanna mumbled. "Need more time. That last sword – it pulled too much out of me. More than I planned."
"I thought I told you to be more careful than to let the forging take control." Ralph growled and kicked the bed. Rhanna finally sat up, nearly as white as the bed coverings. He pulled out his wand and gave her a once over. She had a fever, and her blood pressure was low. "Eat." He called over a cart with chicken soup and a piece of chocolate. "You would not be so ill if you ate as I told you." He grunted. "I expect you to begin work in half an hour. It's all the time I can spare you. That's an order." He marched out.
Rhanna picked at her food, finally beginning to eat it. She could not disobey a direct order from him, it was literally not in her blood. If he ordered her to kill herself, she would have 24 hours to comply, or her body would take over and end her life for her. If he specified a time, she would have only the time given her to try and save herself. It was the way of her families curse.
A half hour later, Rhanna stumbled her way outside. Her father was outside already. "Make the sword." He growled, looking none too pleased. "I have had a sudden meeting come up with an important client. I expect the sword done by midnight when I return."
Rhanna slumped to the ground and watched as he apparated away. She thought to herself that it would be nice to apparate, be she had little actual magic training, and no wand. There was so much in the world that she could only see, and not partake of.
Rhanna swiped away a drop of rain that had fallen in her eye. Funny it should be sprinkling, she mused, as the skies were so clear. But looking before her, she knew, she just knew, that she could not fulfill this request. If she completed the sword to specifications, it would drain her past recovery. Perhaps even past life itself.