Chapter 4: A Hard Lesson

Raina rode all night without food or rest. She did not care about filling her belly or resting. She could only think of General Kael as he slaughtered her family and her entire village. Raina could see his face in the blackness and in her mind. She would not rest until that face was erased from the earth and she would be the one to do it.

For you, Mother and Father, she swore to herself.

Raina's stomach pained her and her body yearned for sleep as dawn approached and she drew closer to Nockmaar. Although she was starving and exhausted, her need for revenge overpowered her other senses.

I am close now. I will avenge my family! she thought to herself.

Raina overheard a great commotion on the road. She dismounted her horse and crept on top of a hill where she saw a dozen Nockmaar soldiers raiding villagers. Raina's blood boiled as she watched the soldiers gleefully pillage the villagers of their possessions. She knew Kael had to be among them. Raina determined to put an end to it.

Notching an arrow in her bow, Raina snuck behind a tree and waited for a soldier to come into her view.

Both eyes open and take a breath, she reminded herself.

Quicker than a flash, Raina fired from her bow and ducked behind the tree again. The Nockmaar soldiers scattered, startled, shouting orders to find the bowman. Raina fired another arrow, taking out another soldier and ducking behind the tree. The Nockmaar soldiers ran in terror as arrows sped seemingly out of thin air, taking out one soldier after another. With the soldiers distracted, the villagers took back their belongings and fought back the remaining soldiers until they were forced to flee. Raina emerged from her hiding place, triumphant.

Bloody cowards, she said to herself.

Suddenly, Raina saw a great shadow tower over her. A sudden chill seemed to sweep over the earth. Raina looked up and saw the same deathly face she saw in the blackness of the crate. Raina did not flinch; she raised her swords in hatred to the terrifying face staring back at her.

"General Kael," she said with hatred. "You killed my parents. Now, I will kill you."

Kael simply cackled with laughter. "No, today you die."

Cayne and his men had ridden all night to find Raina. While Cayne admired Raina's courage, he was astounded by her stubbornness. He could not believe that her need for revenge would go so far as risking her own life, especially at so young an age.

"Any sign of her yet?" Cayne asked his soldier.

"None yet, General," replied his lieutenant.

"We must keep going. We don't want to lose the light," Cayne said.

Cayne dismounted his horse and studied the road. "These tracks are fairly recent. They must be her. Let's hurry if we are to catch her."

One of Cayne's soldiers found a discarded arrow in the road.

"Another clue leading us in the right direction?" the soldier asked.

"One can only hope," Cayne said, "Ride on, quick!"

Cayne and his men sped off, hoping to catch Raina at a moment's notice. By the nightfall, there still had been no sign of Raina. Cayne and his men made camp having no hope of finding tracks without the light. As Cayne fell into sleep, he hoped the worst had not come to pass.

By morning, Cayne and his men were riding with all haste. Cayne hoped that he would find Raina before Kael did. As the Galladoorn soldiers sped down the road, they began to notice the road was deathly quiet.

"I don't like this. It's too quiet," Cayne said.

Cayne dismounted his horse when he found something strange on the road.

"It's blood," he said.

Please don't let it be what I think, Cayne thought to himself.

"Raina!" he cried out, "Raina!"

With no reply from the girl, Cayne grew even more anxious.

"Spread out! Find her!" Cayne cried anxiously.

Cayne looked around anxiously, calling out for Raina. Without an answer, Cayne began to fear the worst.

"General!" cried one of his soldiers.

Cayne raced over to find Raina and his heart almost stopped. Raina lay at the foot of a dead tree. Her body was stained black and red with many wounds and her right arm was broken. Blood was streaming from her head, and on her neck there was a thin line of blood.

"Raina! Brave girl, what has he done to you?" Cayne said.

"What beast could do this to a child?" Cayne's foot soldier asked.

"Kael doesn't distinguish from woman or child," Cayne said bitterly.

Cayne put his ear by Raina's chest, and to his dismay, could not find a heartbeat. Not to be deterred, Cayne began to pound on Raina's chest, hoping to force her heart to beat again.

"Come on, child. Fight!" Cayne cried. "You fought this long. Keep fighting. Come on. Fight back!"

Cayne kept pounding Raina's chest until finally, Raina gasped and gulped for air.

"She's alive," he sighed. "Bring me water!"

Cayne's soldiers brought him a canteen of water and he gave it to Raina. Raina choked and spat out more water than she took in.

"Her head needs binding. Give me something. Anything," Cayne said.

One of Cayne's soldiers took out a cloth, cut it into a long strip, and gave it to Cayne. Cayne then gently tied the strip around Raina's bleeding head. Cayne took more cloth from his saddlebag and wrapped it around Raina's broken arm. Raina cried out at the slightest movement of her injured arm.

"Easy, girl. I know this is painful," Cayne whispered. "It won't last forever. I'm going to help you."

Cayne finished tying the cloth around Raina's arm and she began to settle.

"We need to move out now," Cayne said.

"General, we're at least two days from Galladoorn. She'll never make it," his soldier said.

"I wouldn't doubt her, even in this state," Cayne said. "If she's stubborn enough to fight, she's too stubborn to die."

With that, Cayne scooped up the wounded girl and put her in front of him on his horse.

For two days, Cayne and his men rode on back to Galladoorn with the gravely injured Raina. Raina had not awakened since her ordeal with Kael and her wounds had worsened without proper care. Cayne gave her water when they stopped at night but was grim when he saw her decline.

"How fares the girl, General?" his lieutenant asked.

"She's burning," he said grimly.

"How long does she have?"

"I cannot say, but I will not say she isn't fighting."

"You still think she can last?"

"I told you she's too stubborn to die. I know there's some fight left in her. If we ride hard for Galladoorn at first light, there might be some hope for her."

At first light, Cayne and the Galladoorn soldiers were riding as fast as they could for Galladoorn. Raina slumped forward in his arms as he rode on.

"Keep fighting, girl. Don't give in now," Cayne begged.

Cayne rode as hard as he could, praying Raina would make it to Galladoorn. By that evening, Galladoorn's castle was in sight, and Cayne's heart leaped.

"Stay with me, Raina. We're almost there!" he whispered.

Cayne rode fast and hard to the castle where he was met by Larissa and Airk.

"Larissa! We need healers," Cayne cried.

He dismounted and gingerly carried the wounded Raina to the healers. Larissa and Airk were appalled to see Raina in such a broken state. Airk turned white when he saw his friend.

"Father, how badly is she hurt?" Airk asked.

"I cannot say, my son," Cayne said. "We will do our best to help her."

"That monster Kael did this to her," Larissa said, horrified and angry.

"I'm afraid his mercilessness knows no bounds, not even to a child," Cayne said.

Raina was taken to the healers and laid on a bed. A bandage was wrapped around her head as well as a wet cloth on her head. Her arm was set in a splint. As the healers set her arm, Raina screamed. Raina's screams were horrible for Airk to endure. Airk entered the healing chambers and took Raina's hand.

"Easy, Raina. It'll be over soon," he whispered. "You're home now. You're going to be alright. No one will hurt you anymore. I promise you."

Airk looked at his friend in such a state and he was angry. He wished he had been there. Raina should have had someone with her to protect her, whether she wanted it or not. She should not have suffered like this. At least, she should not have suffered alone.

Cayne entered and watched as Airk sat with the injured Raina.

"Father, she's going to be alright, isn't she?" Airk asked.

Cayne put his hand on Airk's shoulder. "She's been badly hurt, but I know there's still some fight left in her, son."

"I should have been there with her," Airk said.

"No, you should not have," Cayne said firmly. "Why would you think that?"

"Because I am supposed to take care of her and protect her. Mother said that the day she came here and I didn't do that. Now look at her," Airk said sadly.

"I know you want to look after her, but you cannot put your life in danger as well," Cayne said.

"I understand, Father," Airk said.

"While she is healing, Raina will be in your charge. I want you to take care of her," Cayne said.

"I will, Father," Airk said.

For the next few weeks, Raina remained in the healing chambers. Airk never left her side once. Ronan was not happy that his sparring partner had been spending more time with Raina than him. Of course, Ronan laughed at the sight of his sparring partner being so caught up in a girl. As Airk went out to bring Raina more water, Ronan could not contain himself.

"Airk Thaughbaer, the next great General of Galladoorn, enthralled by a girl!" Ronan laughed.

"Oh, ha ha. That's very grown up of you, Ronan," Airk said.

"Honestly, when's the wedding? Were you going to tell me?" Ronan asked.

"Yes, I get the joke," Airk said.

"Did you propose yet? You know you're way too young, you know," Ronan laughed.

"Shut up!" Airk snapped. "She's no ordinary girl. Let's see you go up against General Kael and see how you come out, you idiot!"

"Are you serious?" Ronan asked. "She fought General Kael?"

"She's in the healing chambers because of him. Either you help me, or go back to playing with your sword," Airk said.

"Let me help you with that water," Ronan said.

With Ronan's help, Airk continued to care for Raina, who had not yet awakened since her duel with Kael. After weeks of waiting, Airk was beginning to despair.

Ronan entered the healing chambers and sat by Airk's side. "How is the warrior woman, Airk?"

"She hasn't woken up in weeks," Airk said sadly. "We've tried everything. She's not getting any better."

"Don't give up on her. You told me she fought a monster like Kael. That means she has more spirit than anyone," Ronan said.

"I haven't given up yet," Airk said. "I'm just afraid for her."

"Good things come in time," Ronan said.

With a reassuring pat on Airk's shoulder, Ronan left him alone with Raina. Airk once again took Raina's hand.

"I know you can hear me," he whispered. "Come back. Please, come back. You're safe now, and no one will hurt you again. Please come back, Raina."

By the next day, Airk slept by Raina's side when he felt a squeeze on his hand. Airk awoke instantly when he felt the squeeze on his hand.

"Raina?" he whispered.

"Airk," Raina whispered.

"Raina!" Airk gasped. "Thank goodness, you're awake!"

"Airk, I'm sorry," Raina said weakly. "I shouldn't have gone out there. I should have stayed here. I guess I learned my lesson the hard way, didn't I?"

"You learned your lesson, but you showed your spirit," Airk said. "You fought a ruthless warrior and survived."

"Don't sugar coat it. I know you're angry," Raina said.

"You did scare us. Me more than anyone," Airk said. "I thought I was going to lose you."

"Why you more than anyone?" Raina asked.

Airk stopped a moment. "Because my mother told me to take care of you, and you're my friend. You scared me because I thought I lost a friend just when I made one."

"I'm not going anywhere," Raina said. "I promise that I'm not leaving your side again."

"And I will not leave yours," Airk said. "You showed your worth. You get your rest. I'm watching over you."

Raina fell back into sleep with a tight grip on Airk's hand. Although Airk was relieved that Raina was improving in some small measure, what she had said to him struck him. Airk had never thought about why he was so scared to lose Raina. He knew she was his friend. Airk knew that his care for Raina went beyond his promise to his mother.

A/N : How am I doing? Let me know in the reviews! Thank you!