story 1 part 4

The next morning she was so stiff she could hardly move. Last night had been her first attempt at being a warrior maiden, and it had not gone well. He was a merciless teacher, she had discovered, and she was a terrible beginner. She could do nothing right and however hard she tried to do as he instructed, she was always met with a frown and a "Do it again. Until it is right"

It was the perfect ending to a miserably exhausting day. They rode through the forest and off the main road for a few long hours before stopping at a small town for provisions. He bartered some of her jewels for food, wine, new clothes and a haircut for her. When the haircut was finished she gazed into the mirror and gasped, for the hair was now very short. "This way you can pass for a boy if you need to" he whispered. "It is a much better idea than being my sister. You wouldn't be believed". He then thrust an armful of clothes for her to change into. She was behind the dressing screen when she realized these were boy's clothes. She scoweled at the breeches and jerkin but still pulled them on without a sound. The shirt was a little big, which concealed her small breasts very nicely. She stared at her new reflection in the looking glass. "That can't be me" she thought. But it was-the new her. She shrugged and exited from behind the screen. He was standing there, waiting for her. He raised an eyebrow in her direction, almost like an appraisal, and then jerked his head toward the outside, beckoning her to follow.

The ride was much easier in boy's clothes. A little awkward at first, but she learned quickly and found the ride to be much less constricting. They rode until the sun began to sink behind the trees, and stopped at a small clearing. She slid down from her mare and began to unload the saddlebags for their meal. He stopped her with a large hand on her shoulder. "No food until we practice. You will learn how to fight. Its the only way you will be able to survive out here." She nodded softly and followed him a few paces away from the horses. "I took this from your father's chamber just after he was killed" he said softly, producing a long silver sword wrapped in cloth. "as the last of his line, it is only fitting that you should carry it." She sucked in her breath, trying not to tear at the mention of her father. Timidly, she took the sword and carefully unwrapped it. Her eyes grew wide. There it was. Her father's greatsword, Shadow. The blade gave off a smoke gray sheen against its handle of wrought silver and rose gold inlay of her family's crest. She stared in awe at this marvelous sword which was now her own. "You must keep it hidden" he said softly at her shoulder. She jumped at the sound. She had not known when he had come so close. "Use that sword only in times of great need". He came to himself and put on his stern face once more. "And now we learn how to use it."
The next couple hours were torture for her. They started with fighting stance, of which she was constantly having to be corrected out of the proper ladies' posture. Every time she was wrong he would smack the back of her leg lightly with the flat of his sword, which stung slightly. "Do it right and that won't happen" he said once when he caught her face clenching from the sting. "Again".
And so it went until, just as she was almost ready to drop from exaustion, he put down his sword and ordered them to stop for the evening. She winced through the evening meal and exused herself quickly afterward to go to sleep. He shrugged and said not a word as she rolled out her bedroll and eased herself into it, drifting at once into a deep dreamless sleep.