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“There is no rule that troubles only come to us one at a time,” I heard Northgyth say. “Indeed, we have troubles aplenty now. But Yllfa, ah, I must try and unravel the threads that seek to bind her if she is to emerge as the woman she needs to be.”
My eyes fluttered open to a comforting darkness, broken only by the light of one candle some distance from the bed upon which I lay. Someone sat there, watching me.
“Waelden?” I whispered gruffly, the words tearing at my throat like the raking of claws.
It's late into the night and the winter storm tears through my clothes, preventing me from keeping warm. The wind seems to attack me with snow and rain in equal amounts, forming it into ice attaching itself to my hair, beard and clothes. The weather is unnatural for this part of the land and I have a feeling it's there to prevent me and my self appointed task.
The blade is very light and have a excellent balance, but still seems sturdy enough to parry the heaviest of blows. I raise my eyes to watch the smiths, but none of them seem to notice my gaze. I'm having a suspicious feeling that somebody has tailored this sword to my style of fighting. It fits well in my hand and responds beautifully to my movements.
Waelden, Duncadda and Brinin out for a hunt to fill their stocks for the winter. An adventure long overdue for Waelden, who can now walk mostly unhindered. A majestic deer would be the first of two felled beasts this night.
"Three things, above all, a man needs in battle," Eldewine said to his son.
"A good sword or spear, a helmet and a shield. With the sword you draw blood and bring your foes to their knees; with the shield you protect yourself and the man beside you; with the helmet you protect that which you need to protect the most: your vision, your hearing, and your senses. Bring these tools with you into battle, and let them become a part of you, like your own limbs."
My thoughts are in turmoil, scattered around by a stormful wind in a thundering rainstorm, obscuring my sight and keeping a clear mind. Only when the lightning strikes, my vision and thoughts become apparent, before everything turns back into a swirl of dark disarray. It's the painful visions, during the blinding bright lightnings that causes my distress and a mind in disharmony.