Chapter 5: When to be Wise
For the next week, Raina remained in the healing chambers recovering from her wounds. Airk never left her side once as she recovered. Ronan continued to laugh at his friend's devotion to Raina, but he was glad that the girl was awake as he came to visit her.
"She lives!" he laughed.
"What's left of me," Raina laughed.
"I see you still have some bite left in you," Ronan said.
"I have a lot of bite. I'm saving that for Kael when I meet him again," Raina said.
Airk shuddered as he listened to Raina but he said nothing.
"Well, I think General Kael will have something to fear the next time you meet on the battlefield," Ronan said.
"I hope so," Raina said.
Ronan left Raina with Airk.
Raina threw Airk a sour look. "I saw that look on your face. What is it?"
"You're seriously thinking about going back out there to face him?" Airk asked.
"Well, I wasn't going to jump up at the moment, but yes," Raina replied.
Airk was stunned. "Are you crazy? He almost killed you! You're lucky you're even alive!"
"He killed my parents," Raina said.
Raina showed Airk her neck, where the scar remained. "Do you see this? He gave me this scar for my impudence against him. I have to make him pay somehow."
"By dying?" Airk said.
"I won't be the one who dies," Raina replied.
"You're being stupid," Airk said. "You almost died. That isn't the way to bring back your parents."
"And how would you know?" Raina asked angrily. "You're not like me. You still have a family, I don't. I don't have anything to live for."
"That's not true," Airk said. "We are your family."
"Why do you care so much?" Raina said. "You don't owe me anything. Why should you care if I die out there?"
"You're my friend. I promised to take care of you," Airk said. "I won't stop trying. Like it or not, you need me."
"No one can take care of me," Raina said. "I learned that very quickly."
By the next few weeks, Raina was feeling strong enough to walk around with Airk by her side. Larissa was impressed with her progress.
"I see you have improved greatly," she said.
"It will take a lot more than a broken arm and a few cuts and bruises to keep me down," Raina said.
"Stubborn as usual," Airk said.
"She's as strong as ever," Larissa said. "Airk, would you leave me with Raina? I'd like to speak with her."
"Yes, Mother," Airk said.
Airk left the room leaving Raina with Larissa.
"How are you feeling, my girl?" Larissa asked.
"Strong as ever, save for the arm," Raina said.
"I can tell you are anxious to get back to your swordplay," Larissa said.
"Of course," Raina said. "The more practiced I am, the better."
"I hope you are not intending to run away again," Larissa said bluntly.
"The thought never crossed my mind," Raina said.
"Don't lie," Larissa said. "I know how adamant you are about your revenge. You put yourself in great danger. You could have been killed."
"I am only trying to avenge my parents," Raina said. "You don't understand."
"I do understand," Larissa said. "but running out on a misguided quest for revenge without the proper training against a seasoned killer is a poor way to repay your parents for sacrificing their lives for you. It's a poor way to repay us."
"I meant no disrespect. I only want to honor them and I can't do that while he's alive," Raina said.
"I know but you cannot do that at your age," Larissa said. "It's best to know when to be brave and when to be wise."
"My mother would have said that," Raina said.
"She was a wise woman," Larissa said.
"I wish you could have met her," Raina said.
"It would have been an honor," Larissa said. "I promise you'll make your parents proud one day, Raina."
That afternoon, Raina grabbed Airk and pulled him into the healing chambers.
"You rat!" she said. "You told them didn't you!"
"I had to! It was the only way to make sure I didn't lose you," Airk said. "I don't care if you're angry with me. I did it because you're my friend and I care about you so if you want to be mad then –"
Airk was stopped short when Raina threw her good arm tightly around him.
"Thank you," she said. "I'm sorry. I was being stupid. I didn't see was so blind by revenge I didn't see what good I had here."
"There's nothing to forgive, Raina," Airk said.
"Just promise me something," Raina said.
"Anything," Airk said.
"If you don't want to lose me, then teach me to better myself so that I may kill Kael next time I meet him," Raina said.
"Only if you promise not to run away again," Airk said.
"Agreed," Raina said.
Airk and Raina shook hands.
"By the way, I like seeing this softer side of you," Airk said.
"Who said I've gone soft?" Raina said.
"No one," Airk said.