though, only striking him. I managed to tell him who I was, but that was the worst; he didn’t remember … and I will never know why my father had to die.’
Artride thought about the story that she had heard from Barkor about Tirsa killing a commander of the Umbraris two years ago; perhaps she had been practising then. And she had also joined the war against the Razoras? That was not such a big country; however, they had been a fierce enemy and the war had been serious. Why didn’t she know? Why hadn’t she learned this during her study? Had they hid it from her, her uncle and her father’s counsellor? Hiding the mere fact that a woman could be capable of those things?
‘You are truly a hero, Tirsa. You were the one who brought peace! I am ashamed I did not know it was you.’ And she shook her head , embarrassed.
‘Not all on my own though. To me it is just that I won my own war. The rest wasn’t mine.’ Still isn’t.
She leaned back in a more comfortable position and yawned.
Artride stretched her legs and thought about what she just had heard, unable to respond.
‘Maybe we should get some rest ,’ Tirsa softly announced.
‘Yes, we should ,’ she remarked, still thinking about the story she had just heard. She laid a hand on Tirsa’s shoulder before walking a few feet to the shelter between the trees.
While Artride lay down and wrapped herself comfortabl y in the blanket, she watched Tirsa still sitting with her knees tucked to her chest and her arms wrapped around them at the dying campfire.
‘Are you taking watch, Tirsa?’
‘Yes, My Lady.’
‘But surely you need your rest as well.’
‘When we come back I will be able to rest again, I hope; for now your safety is the most important.’ Preserving your life depends on everything. I can’t do this alone, can I? I am not of Royal Blood; I could never come close to the damn book to destroy it; even if I found a counter spell for the curse. She is the only one who can. To save my brother, once again, I have to fight a personal war.
Tirsa unsheathed her sword, stared at it for a bit and laid it close beside her; near to hand.
‘I feel very safe now I know you are a slayer,’ Artride said lightly and cheerfully. She had tried to comfort her, but failed of course. All she saw of her was her looming shape in the dark. So when Tirsa did not respond, she got up and said, ‘I am sorry, Tirsa, I did not mean … I just …’ and sighed. I am not as good with people as I should be.
‘It’s alright, I know what you mean ,’ she said with a subdued voice. ’Goodnight … Artride.’
Artride lay back on her left side and spoke gently. ‘Goodnight, Tirsa.’
The strip of the sky to the west over the river glittered with stars, and a thin new moon rose high where the sun had set hours before. In the east, it darkened more and she heard an owl hooting in one of the trees behind her. An occasional bat flicked past and swallows flew over with a comforting familiar sound. Home.
While Tirsa sat there she thought about the things she had said to the queen; practically her youth in a nutshell. Why did I do that? Nerves? Trying to be friendly or honest?
She found herself lacking a practical answer. Well, she asked me and I just answered, as if I had to. I had no other choice did I? Oh, who cares …
Her eyes became heavy, while words and lines of no importance came by and pictures started to emerge.
She was dreaming.
CHAPTER 4
MISTRESS OF HER FATE
Dying can be quick and easy; life is the challenge
Look around you to see the choice you’ve made. Look behind you to see clouded spaces.
Look forward and face your fate with dignity . We have to journey without fear
Birds called out in the canopy overhead. The night had been chilly, but the improvised bed had proven to be warm enough for Artride, so the temperature did not bother her too much. She had awoken a couple of times though, very much aware of sleeping outside with
Artride thought about the story that she had heard from Barkor about Tirsa killing a commander of the Umbraris two years ago; perhaps she had been practising then. And she had also joined the war against the Razoras? That was not such a big country; however, they had been a fierce enemy and the war had been serious. Why didn’t she know? Why hadn’t she learned this during her study? Had they hid it from her, her uncle and her father’s counsellor? Hiding the mere fact that a woman could be capable of those things?
‘You are truly a hero, Tirsa. You were the one who brought peace! I am ashamed I did not know it was you.’ And she shook her head , embarrassed.
‘Not all on my own though. To me it is just that I won my own war. The rest wasn’t mine.’ Still isn’t.
She leaned back in a more comfortable position and yawned.
Artride stretched her legs and thought about what she just had heard, unable to respond.
‘Maybe we should get some rest ,’ Tirsa softly announced.
‘Yes, we should ,’ she remarked, still thinking about the story she had just heard. She laid a hand on Tirsa’s shoulder before walking a few feet to the shelter between the trees.
While Artride lay down and wrapped herself comfortabl y in the blanket, she watched Tirsa still sitting with her knees tucked to her chest and her arms wrapped around them at the dying campfire.
‘Are you taking watch, Tirsa?’
‘Yes, My Lady.’
‘But surely you need your rest as well.’
‘When we come back I will be able to rest again, I hope; for now your safety is the most important.’ Preserving your life depends on everything. I can’t do this alone, can I? I am not of Royal Blood; I could never come close to the damn book to destroy it; even if I found a counter spell for the curse. She is the only one who can. To save my brother, once again, I have to fight a personal war.
Tirsa unsheathed her sword, stared at it for a bit and laid it close beside her; near to hand.
‘I feel very safe now I know you are a slayer,’ Artride said lightly and cheerfully. She had tried to comfort her, but failed of course. All she saw of her was her looming shape in the dark. So when Tirsa did not respond, she got up and said, ‘I am sorry, Tirsa, I did not mean … I just …’ and sighed. I am not as good with people as I should be.
‘It’s alright, I know what you mean ,’ she said with a subdued voice. ’Goodnight … Artride.’
Artride lay back on her left side and spoke gently. ‘Goodnight, Tirsa.’
The strip of the sky to the west over the river glittered with stars, and a thin new moon rose high where the sun had set hours before. In the east, it darkened more and she heard an owl hooting in one of the trees behind her. An occasional bat flicked past and swallows flew over with a comforting familiar sound. Home.
While Tirsa sat there she thought about the things she had said to the queen; practically her youth in a nutshell. Why did I do that? Nerves? Trying to be friendly or honest?
She found herself lacking a practical answer. Well, she asked me and I just answered, as if I had to. I had no other choice did I? Oh, who cares …
Her eyes became heavy, while words and lines of no importance came by and pictures started to emerge.
She was dreaming.
CHAPTER 4
MISTRESS OF HER FATE
Dying can be quick and easy; life is the challenge
Look around you to see the choice you’ve made. Look behind you to see clouded spaces.
Look forward and face your fate with dignity . We have to journey without fear
Birds called out in the canopy overhead. The night had been chilly, but the improvised bed had proven to be warm enough for Artride, so the temperature did not bother her too much. She had awoken a couple of times though, very much aware of sleeping outside with
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