Chapter 3: A Friend

Raina did not sleep or eat that night. She practiced her archery. She continued to practice her sword fighting. All she could think of was that deathly face in the dark staring at her. She heard the people in her village screaming in her head She could still smell the fire of her village burning. She could see her mother and father dying at the hands of that skeletal face. She had only one thing on her mind as she shot arrow after arrow into the target.

Raina did not eat the next morning or the afternoon. She only practiced her bow and her fighting with the fiercest passion. She pretended the fighting post was the skeletal face she saw. She could almost see it. As Raina continued to avoid sleeping and her meals, this caught the attention of the Thaughbaers.

"I worry about that poor girl, Cayne," Larissa said. "She hasn't slept or eaten since you brought her here."

"She has it hard, love," Cayne said. "She's an orphan. Kael slaughtered her entire village, just to make an example of them. It's a hard way to grow up fast."

"She needs to eat and sleep. I worry about her going on like this," Larissa said. "Please, talk some sense into her."

"I'll try," Cayne said.

Cayne slowly approached Raina, who was slashing and beating a post with her sword and shield furiously.

"You're quite good at that, girl," Cayne said.

"I'm better than quite good," Raina snapped. "and I think I'm more than a girl now."

"Fair enough. War makes women out of girls. Who taught you how to do that? Your father?" Cayne asked.

"My mother taught me just as much as my father did," Raina said. "Are we done with the small talk? I'm quite busy."

"I noticed that. I also noticed that you haven't eaten or slept since you came here," Cayne said.

"I have no time for eating or sleeping. I have to practice so that I can avenge my mother and father. They were murdered by a man with the face of a skeleton," Raina said.

"General Kael," Cayne said.

"I saw him as I hid while my parents fought and died. I will find him, and then I will kill him," Raina declared.

"Revenge won't bring them back, my girl. And you can't fight if you do not eat or sleep," Cayne reasoned.

"Have you lost your entire family? No. Then do not try do advise me in matters which you do not understand," Raina said angrily, "If you don't mind, I must prepare."

Raina continued to angrily beat the post with her sword and shield. Cayne backed off, knowing he had been defeated. He did not know what else to do. In defeat, he approached Larissa again.

"How is she?" Larissa asked.

"She's stubborn and fiery," Cayne replied sadly, "I don't know what else to try. She saw General Kael attack her village. She wants to kill him."

"Oh no," Larissa said.

"I fear for that girl," Cayne said. "This is not a way for a girl to grow up so fast. If someone doesn't talk some sense into her, she'll die."

Later that night, Airk and Ronan were sparring in another practice match. Airk spun and twirled and bashed Ronan's shield.

"You fight like my grandmother," Airk said.

"Careful to say that when I knock you on your bum!" Ronan taunted.

Ronan kicked Airk, sending flat on his back. Airk flip himself upright, and kicked Ronan. Once Ronan was flat on his back, Airk tossed away his shield and held his sword at his throat. Ronan climbed to his feet.

"I almost had you that time," Ronan said.

"Sure you did," Airk gloated.

"I'll get you next time," Ronan said.

Suddenly, the two of them were distracted by Raina's loud grunting as she bashed the training post over and over with her sword and shield.

"That girl hasn't slept or eaten since she came her, has she?" Ronan asked.

"No," Airk said, "but she's making a fine work of that post. I'll kill you tomorrow. I have to talk some sense into her, possibly."

"Good luck," Ronan said.

Slowly, Airk approached Raina as she bashed away at the training post.

"You're making good work of that thing," Airk said.

"Go away," Raina said sharply.

"I was only complimenting you, and you turn me away?" Airk asked.

"If you're here to tell me to sleep or eat, you're wasting your time," Raina said. "I have to get better so I can make General Kael pay for what he did to my family."

"That's not what I came here to do at all," Airk said.

"Really?" Raina asked.

"You need a friend, not a babysitter," Airk said. "I came here to give you some extra tips on your swordsmanship."

Raina pointed her sword at Airk's throat. "I have had instruction since I could stand. What makes you think I need extra tips?"

Airk squirmed a bit, then began. "I have had the same instruction. I just want to give you some helpful hints that might save your life."

"Like what?" Raina asked.

Airk poked at Raina's legs with his sword. "Widen your stance when you fight."

Airk took Raina's sword hand in his and guided her with the training post. "Keep your movements small and fluid. It makes you less vulnerable. Up, down. Up, down. See?"

Airk then picked up Raina's bow. "When you fire your bow, keep both eyes open when you do and take a deep breath before you do. You'll shoot better. Do it."

Raina picked up her bow and notched an arrow. She kept her eyes open took a deep breath as she drew her arrow back and released it. Thwack! The arrow lodged itself straight in the center of the target.

"Well, that was quite helpful," Raina said with a smile.

"Ready to duel a human?" Airk asked.

"Very much so," Raina said eagerly.

Airk bashed Raina's shield with his sword. Raina slammed her shield into Airk's face and held her sword at his stomach.

"A shield is not only a defense," Raina said proudly.

"Where did you learn that?" Airk said asked in shock.

"My father taught my that," Raina said.

"You're a fast learner," Airk said, impressed.

"Or you're just too slow," Raina laughed.

"Oh, we shall see soon enough," Airk said. "You're a tough one, you are."

"Thank you, Airk," Raina said. "Why are you doing this? Teaching me to fight and such."

"I told you that you need a friend after all you've been through," Airk said.

"I know and your mother told you to," Raina said.

"No, because I want to," Airk said. "You've got some bravery to you, and I like you."

Raina was instantly touched. For the first time since her parents died, the ice that she had packed around her heart began to melt.

"Thank you," Raina said, "Airk, would you show me to the kitchens? I am starving."

Later that night, Raina had asked Larissa to bring her some food. While Larissa and Cayne were distracted, Raina had put on a dark cloak, tied some bedsheets together, and climbed out her window. She found a horse in the stables and climbed on. Armed with two swords, a bow and a dagger, Raina knew what she had to do.

By the time Larissa came back with her food, it was too late.

"Cayne!" Larissa cried. "The girl is gone!"

"What?" Cayne asked.

"Raina has run away," Larissa said.

Cayne raced to Raina's room where he found the bedsheets hanging out her window.

"Assemble the horses! We ride for Nockmaar!" Cayne said.

"What's going on?" Airk asked.

He noticed that Raina's room was empty. "Where's Raina?"

"She's run away, son, but we're going to get her back," Cayne said.

"She'll die out there! Kael will kill her!" Airk said fearfully.

"She won't die, son," Cayne said. "We will find her."

"Let me go with you, Father," Airk pleaded.

"No, son," Cayne said firmly. "I cannot have another child risking his life. We will find Raina and bring her back to you."

Cayne and his men gathered their horses and in a thunder, rode out for Nockmaar. Airk only hoped that Raina would be alive when they found her. He had just made a friend in Raina. Airk did not want to lose that friendship as soon as it had begun.

A/N: Uh-oh! Raina has gone rogue! How am I doing with this story? I hope you like this. Please let me know by reading and reviewing. Thank you very much!