Her parents had waited up for her, both sitting at the kitchen table when she walked in. "Thank goodness. I was starting to worry I'd have to go and get you." her father said. "It's not proper for a young lady to be out this late and in a man's room no less, I'm not sure what your mother was thinking."
"Nothing happened dad, I'm fine."
"She's back and safe; you know these are special circumstances due to the demon attack. Now, why don't you go cool down." That was her mother's way of saying she wanted to talk to her daughter alone. He huffed, gave Nieka a hug, and wandered off.
"Now tell me, how did it go?"
"Fine," she said looking to the stairwell hoping her mother would just let her go to her room.
"Come now, you were gone for almost 2 hours, give me all the details."
She gave an unladylike grown and sagged into a chair placing her basket on the table. "First I went to the stables and took care of their horses, Shadow was really hurt." Her mother gave her a look to tell her that's not what she meant, and she was disappointed she went to the horses first. "What? Shadow saved my life."
Her mother's look became softer, but she said, "So did those men."
"I went there next." She defended. Tornjak said thanks for the food. The other one was badly hurt, with several deep gashes in his arm. It took a while to clean it out thoroughly and it took a lot of stitches and I mean a lot. When I was done, I said goodbye and left."
"That's it? Did either of them seem interested in you at all? Do you fancy either of them?"
"Mom, I don't want to court anyone. I'm not ready to court anyone. Certainly not now. Maybe not ever." She said frustrated. "How can you even be thinking of stuff like that with Cinna held prisoner by those monsters you saw tonight?" She said in angry disgust.
"Because I'm thinking of you!" her mother shouted angry at the accusation. "No matter how hard I want to, I know there's nothing I can do for Luscinia right now, your father can try and organize the townsfolk into a search and rescue demon-hunting mob. Some will outright refuse others will go but likely be slaughtered. And then there's you, I know you Fennica. You'll go after her, whether joining the mob or on your own. I don't want to risk losing you too; not again.
Those young men you just tended to, they managed to keep you safe and alive even though they were vastly outnumbered. As much as I would hate to see you go, I'd feel you were safer with one of them than your father and I, and I hear they live in a highly fortified castle. And just because I want you safe doesn't mean I don't want the same for your sister." Her mother's words faded into sobs as she hugged her daughter tight.
"I'm sorry mom, I know you love us both. I just didn't understand. I've already asked if I can join their army, it's the easiest way I can see getting Cinna back. They said they'd ask."
Her mother laughed through her tears and said, "Marrying a soldier will keep you safer than becoming one."
"I know. Can I go to bed now? I'm exhausted" Nieka said with a yawn.
"Of Couse dear." Her mother said her arms extended like she planned to pull her close instead despite her words. When Nieka hesitated. feeling bad, her mother rushed in and gave her another big hug. it caused a cascade of emotions Nieka wasn't sure she could handle so she pulled away crying her eyes out. She had preparations to begin.
By the lone-lit window in her quiet house, Nieka sat at her desk drawing up plans for the blacksmith by candlelight. She knew that she wasn't all that strong, for a girl sure and even some scrawny boys but strength would never be her real advantage. Cunning and speed were her strong points, armor and a shield would just slow her down and limit her movement. It would make her tired in mind, body, and spirit and lead her to a quick death or worse, recapture.
Even the woodsmen wore limited armor, Takal only wore chainmail But Tornjak had a metal neck guard that rose from under his green shirt, most likely attached to a chest plate.
Thinking about lightweight protection she designed a new Sai, with the outer two prongs hooked like a harpoon and below that flattened to a cutting edge. This was a tool she could use as much as a shield as she could as a weapon. Though this one wouldn't work as well as a hairpiece, she knew how to use it better than a knife and it worked well in conjunction with the martial arts she'd learned from Sky Dragon. He was also the best swordsman her father had on his ship so she drew up a thin curved sword just like his, making a plan to have him teach her how to use that as well.
Then thinking about her martial arts against the thick-skinned hybrids or their scaled demon kin she thought about how to make her blows actually hurt them. Finally, she came up with an idea that enhanced many of her body's striking surfaces without restricting her movement or weighing her down too much. Her detailed sketches took hours it was only an hour or so before sunrise when she finally finished. Tomorrow she'd give those sketches to the blacksmith's daughter as she was the real talented genius behind his fame. With that plan in mind, she snuck downstairs for some more food. Feeling exhausted now that she was full she decided to take a nap while she waited for the stores to open.
About two hours later she was woken up screaming and decided to just get up for the day after having to console her mother that she was fine, it wasn't like nightmares could actually hurt her she thought.
She washed up and put on a nice dress she knew her mother would like, though also one with a wide enough sash to hide her throwing stars. Then she located the knife she got from Takal and strapped it to her calf and put her hair up with the Sai's she often wore on her father's ship.
Then she ransacked her room for anything valuable, her jewelry mostly, saving only a limited few of sentimental value. Though those she'd part with too if she needed to. She'd need the money for forging costs. So carrying a purse full of jewelry and the sketches she'd drawn up she went downstairs to the breakfast her mother was cooking.
"Oh my, you're up early, I thought you'd go back to sleep I was going to bring breakfast up to you." her mother said then added. "And that dress looks quite lovely on you." her mother said wiping her hands on her apron to give her yet another bear hug. "Are you going somewhere particular today?" her mother asked, squeezing her tight.
"Yes actually I'm going to do a little buying and selling?"
"Oh, you're not planning to check on the young men at the inn?" she asked innocently.
"No point, the idiot that's injured left at first light, alone without a horse to go to the castle for reinforcements." She couldn't hide the irritation from her voice.
"And it's him you like?"
"No, of course not. He's mean and scary and a downright jerk. He even threatened to kill me! But he and his horse are injured because of me, and if he gets attacked or breaks into a fever on the way back and dies then that's my fault too."
"It is not your fault. They are demon slayers. Demons are often attacking them right?"
"The demons were after me, they led me to the edge of the woods and I started through the fields on my own, then a demon came down and grabbed me and tried to fly away with me. Takal killed it but then there were more." she began, her mind flashing back to the night before and she trailed off.
"Oh, honey. It's not your fault. And fighting demons is what they do. That man might be a fool for leaving but that's not on you."
"Thanks. Anyway, I have things to do today."
"That's wonderful. What are you looking to buy?"
Nieka snuck a breakfast roll right off the tray and took a bite to give herself time to think of an answer her mother would like while lying as little as possible. She hated lying to her mother, but telling her she wanted to buy some specialized weapons and armor would turn her into a worried blubbery mess... so leaving that out she said "Any books I can find on demons" she said, leaving before her mother could ask anything else.