Akira

At this revelation, Akira heard her aunt’s sharp intake of breath. Seems she’d finally been able to surprise her aunt.

“I was four when my mother sent me there. Not knowing my rebellious nature, the very one she was trying to tame by sending me there, would land me in the hospital on life support by the age of 16. I wasn’t supposed to live.”

“You made a deal with her, didn’t you?” Asena asked in a hushed voice.

“Made a deal with whom? I saw no one and met no one in my dreams. If anyone made a deal it was my mother.”

Anwen

Anwen watched her daughter swing the wooden sword again.

“Your swing is good but your feet are terrible,” she told her.

Asena huffed in frustration.

“Didn’t your father teach you any footwork to go with your thrusts and parries?”

Asena shook her head and continued to swing the sword.

“Stop,” Anwen ordered.

Asena ignored her.

“Stop!” The word echoed around them.

Asena turned and glared at her.

“Don’t glare at me, Asena,” Anwen chastised her. “I’m doing this so you don’t trip over your own two feet the first time you spar with someone. Unless, you want to make a fool of yourself?”

Asena shook her head grudgingly. Anwen gave her a half smile then proceeded to show her proper footwork. Asena was a sponge, absorbing every lesson she and Ulric had to teach her. Anwen watched and corrected Asena as the men on her father’s ship had done to her as a child. Unlike her, Asena had the forge to build muscle. Anwen was glad Ulric was passing down the secrets of the forge to their daughter, though she knew he’d prefer to pass them on to a son. Perhaps, before she left again she’d give him one.