Day 8

Joe enjoyed the training. She had never realized it but she liked teaching others to fight to defend themselves. She was making warriors, smooth, quiet killers. She loved it. Fighting was something she did while protecting Eddy’s interests. Protecting her brother. Even protecting herself. She had never enjoyed it or disliked it. It was just something she did like others would wash dishes. A part of everyday life that wasn’t regarded to highly in one’s thoughts.

Natrica joined Joe.

“Hi” she said.

“Hi” Joe said.

“I’m sorry I over reacted yesterday with Black Beard Gruff. If this is part of my path, then I am ready. But I don’t not want to kill anyone, ever!”

Joe was surprised.

“I can teach you to defend yourself without killing”

Natrica smiled a big silly grin.

“Ok, I am ready. Teach me.”

They went to the training arena, Natrica, picked up a staff and stood feet apart and knees bent.

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Natrica was determined to learn. To pass all the tests that this journey presented.

She had more strength than Joe expected. She was able to strike solid hard blows.

After an hour of training, they called it.

Joe asked

“Will you please help Rosaleighm to bath and wash her hair? Her matted hair is… unnecessary.”

Natrica laughed

“I will bath the child.”

Natrica went and found Rosaleighm, she was a dirty child. She didn’t talk much. So Natrica, had no idea if she could even understand. Her hair had already seen some help but some was not enough. The knot that was a ball on the side of her head was looser than it had been but it was still there.

“Come let’s get clean and make you beautiful.”

The child followed her, they went to the baths.

Natrica had been shown where the best place to bath was by the servants she had befriended. Instead of bathing in a silver metal bucket, there were rock pools underneath the castle.

Natrica and those who knew about it preferred it. It was something that not even all the servants new about. It was like a natural Jacuzzi, warm water bubbled up from below. One Jacuzzi bath fed into the other and so it continued. Where the water finally went no one knew, but for now it was good enough. It was great!

Natrica undressed and got into the water. She called the child to join her.

Rosaleighm was skinny, almost no meat on her bones. All her ribs were visible and her spine and hip bones. The child climbed into the water, afraid and curious.

Natrica was remind how good her life really was. Seeing others who suffered so much yet didn’t give up, made her count her blessings. She had family, people who cared about her. She was poor but she always ate. She had luxuries like, hot water from the tap and a house to call home. A flushing toilet and a washing machine. She felt the tears welling up in her eyes.

“Be brave” she told herself

“Get it together.”

She washed her hair, well rinsed it four times. She held Rosaleighm and washed/ rinsed her hair.

Rosaleighm didn’t like water and she kept trying to get out of the bath. Natrica would then have to convince her that it was ok. The child wanted to be with Natrica in the water but she had years of fear to overcome and years of dirt to wash off.

After a while the girl settled and as long as her face was dry, she could stay in the water without panicking. Natrica tried to teach her to float. It didn’t work. Rosaleighm didn’t like water on her face at all. Not even a wet cloth.