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<blockquote data-quote="Drusilia Nailo" data-source="post: 619365" data-attributes="member: 2062">Her head was pounding.&nbsp; She felt like there was mud running through her veins.&nbsp; And there was a dagger pressed to her throat.&nbsp; Her eyes flew open to see Papa standing over her, already dressed for his day.&nbsp; &quot;I understand that you had quite the night out,&quot; he said coolly.&nbsp; &quot;You must be quite sick from your drinking, or you would have heard me come in.&quot;&nbsp; He knicked her neck just enough to draw blood.&nbsp; &quot;And if I were an assassin, you would be dead.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru stared up at him, wishing he'd go away, and wondering what he'd do next.&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Defend yourself, girl!&nbsp; Do you think I'm going to let you lie abed just because you can't control yourself?&quot;&nbsp; His knife flicked forward again, cutting her neck a little deeper.&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru rolled to the side, and reached for her own dagger, kept underneath her pillow.&nbsp; She brought it up, flashing silver in the early morning sunlight, and lashed out at her father.&nbsp; It scored a hit, cutting his knife hand.&nbsp; Her head pounded in rebellion, willing her to go back to sleep until it felt better.&nbsp; She knew Papa well enough to know that he wouldn't be that merciful, though.&nbsp; &nbsp; He smiled thinly, and then cut at her again.&nbsp; &quot;You're much more vulnerable lying on your back than you are on your feet,&quot; he said, drawing blood a third time.&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru swallowed, feeling the blood running down her neck, and rolled towards the foot of the bed.&nbsp; She swung her legs around, leaping up, her feet hitting the floor.&nbsp; She then backed away from him, holding out her dagger defensively, and feeling ridiculous since she was still only dressed in a long tunic.&nbsp; &nbsp; Papa nodded, and the dagger lesson for the day started in earnest.&nbsp; It was terrible.&nbsp; Dru couldn't move fast enough to block Papa's more dangerous cuts and thrusts, so she got more gashes than usual.&nbsp; Her head ached violently the entire time, and more than once she was afraid that she was going to have to stop to vomit before continuing.&nbsp; They fought hard, moving out of her bedroom, and into the hallway.&nbsp; Once she saw Kennic look around the corner worriedly, though his face disapeared after he saw what was going on.&nbsp; &nbsp; Finally, Papa stopped, resheathing his dagger.&nbsp; He stared at her, while she, trembling, put her own dagger away.&nbsp; She sunk to the floor, putting her head into her hands.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;I trust that you understand the point that I was trying to make,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru nodded, hoping he'd go away now.&nbsp; &nbsp; He didn't, of course.&nbsp; &quot;And, just to reassure myself that me efforts have not been wasted, what was my point?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru uncovered her face, looking up at him.&nbsp; She sighed.&nbsp; &quot;Your point is that I'm more vulnerable when I'm drunk, and when I'm sick the day afterwards.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; He nodded, and then sat down in the hall across from her.&nbsp;&nbsp; He handed her a vial.&nbsp; &quot;Drink this,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;Though I should probably make you suffer the wounds for awhile, to remind you of your foolishness.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru glared at him briefly before uncorking the potion, and drinking its contents.&nbsp; Her wounds started closing, though it did nothing for her headache.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Papa sighed.&nbsp; &quot;I don't want to hear of orcs cutting you down in the street because you're staggering around drunk,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;It would be such a pathetic way to die, and one that is not worthy of you.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru bit her lower lip, suddenly feeling ashamed because of the worry that he couldn't quite conceal from her.&nbsp; &quot;I'm sorry, Papa,&quot; she said after a moment.&nbsp; &quot;It won't happen again.&quot;&nbsp; And, she resolved to herself, it would not.&nbsp; This felt terrible!&nbsp; &nbsp; He smiled grimly.&nbsp; &quot;I suppose this is one of those experiences that you needed to have for yourself,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;Otherwise, you'd never know what I spoke of.&nbsp; It likely made you do things that you ordinarily wouldn't do, it made you vulnerable to attack, even from second-rate cutthroats, and it makes you vulnerable the next day, while you recover.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru blushed, thinking about the night before, and looked down at her knees.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Papa cleared his throat, looking a little embarrassed himself, but didn't say anything.&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru swallowed, and added, &quot;And while you lie abed doing nothing, your enemy is one step closer to his plans for your demise.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; He looked at her, surprised,&nbsp; and then nodded.&nbsp; &quot;I'm glad to hear that you remembered my lessons, albeit belatedly.&quot;&nbsp; And then he turned back to the dreaded topic.&nbsp; &quot;Now,&quot; he said sternly, &quot;Ivellimor.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;It wasn't his fault,&quot; Dru said quickly.&nbsp; &quot;I kept assuring him that I could hold my liquour.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Papa frowned at her.&nbsp; &quot;That's not what I was going to talk to you about, though I might have a long conversation with him later.&nbsp;&nbsp; All I wanted to do was to warn you, again, to be careful.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Papa, I can hardly believe that Ivellimor is using me to get to you.&nbsp; He just seems to want to have fun, that's all.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Papa shook his head.&nbsp; &quot;Ivellimor's motives are, at least in that respect, pure.&quot;&nbsp; He leaned forward, seeking her eyes out with an urgency that she found surprising.&nbsp; &quot;It's an emotional hold over you, Drusilia,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;Whether Ivellimor intends it or not.&nbsp; It's just something to keep in mind.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru stared at him, wishing that she could understand why the sudden urgency.&nbsp; &quot;Alright, Papa,&quot; she said softly, &quot;I'll keep it in mind.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; He got to his feet, and helped her to her own.&nbsp; &quot;I believe that Kennic has mixed up some terrible concoction for you to drink,&quot; he said. &quot;It should make you feel a little better.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru impulsively hugged Papa.&nbsp; &quot;I'm sorry for worrying you so much,&quot; she said, wishing that she could take back last night, or at least certain parts of it.&nbsp; &nbsp; He hesitated, and then put a strong arm around her shoulders.&nbsp; &quot;No harm done,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;You were lucky,&quot; he couldn't resist adding.&nbsp; &nbsp; She pulled away, giving him a weak smile.&nbsp; &quot;I think I'm going to go find that concoction of Kennic's,&quot; she said, moving towards the kitchen.&nbsp; &quot;I hope that it works.&quot;</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Drusilia Nailo, post: 619365, member: 2062"] Her head was pounding. She felt like there was mud running through her veins. And there was a dagger pressed to her throat. Her eyes flew open to see Papa standing over her, already dressed for his day. "I understand that you had quite the night out," he said coolly. "You must be quite sick from your drinking, or you would have heard me come in." He knicked her neck just enough to draw blood. "And if I were an assassin, you would be dead." Dru stared up at him, wishing he'd go away, and wondering what he'd do next. "Defend yourself, girl! Do you think I'm going to let you lie abed just because you can't control yourself?" His knife flicked forward again, cutting her neck a little deeper. Dru rolled to the side, and reached for her own dagger, kept underneath her pillow. She brought it up, flashing silver in the early morning sunlight, and lashed out at her father. It scored a hit, cutting his knife hand. Her head pounded in rebellion, willing her to go back to sleep until it felt better. She knew Papa well enough to know that he wouldn't be that merciful, though. He smiled thinly, and then cut at her again. "You're much more vulnerable lying on your back than you are on your feet," he said, drawing blood a third time. Dru swallowed, feeling the blood running down her neck, and rolled towards the foot of the bed. She swung her legs around, leaping up, her feet hitting the floor. She then backed away from him, holding out her dagger defensively, and feeling ridiculous since she was still only dressed in a long tunic. Papa nodded, and the dagger lesson for the day started in earnest. It was terrible. Dru couldn't move fast enough to block Papa's more dangerous cuts and thrusts, so she got more gashes than usual. Her head ached violently the entire time, and more than once she was afraid that she was going to have to stop to vomit before continuing. They fought hard, moving out of her bedroom, and into the hallway. Once she saw Kennic look around the corner worriedly, though his face disapeared after he saw what was going on. Finally, Papa stopped, resheathing his dagger. He stared at her, while she, trembling, put her own dagger away. She sunk to the floor, putting her head into her hands. "I trust that you understand the point that I was trying to make," he said. Dru nodded, hoping he'd go away now. He didn't, of course. "And, just to reassure myself that me efforts have not been wasted, what was my point?" Dru uncovered her face, looking up at him. She sighed. "Your point is that I'm more vulnerable when I'm drunk, and when I'm sick the day afterwards." He nodded, and then sat down in the hall across from her. He handed her a vial. "Drink this," he said. "Though I should probably make you suffer the wounds for awhile, to remind you of your foolishness." Dru glared at him briefly before uncorking the potion, and drinking its contents. Her wounds started closing, though it did nothing for her headache. Papa sighed. "I don't want to hear of orcs cutting you down in the street because you're staggering around drunk," he said. "It would be such a pathetic way to die, and one that is not worthy of you." Dru bit her lower lip, suddenly feeling ashamed because of the worry that he couldn't quite conceal from her. "I'm sorry, Papa," she said after a moment. "It won't happen again." And, she resolved to herself, it would not. This felt terrible! He smiled grimly. "I suppose this is one of those experiences that you needed to have for yourself," he said. "Otherwise, you'd never know what I spoke of. It likely made you do things that you ordinarily wouldn't do, it made you vulnerable to attack, even from second-rate cutthroats, and it makes you vulnerable the next day, while you recover." Dru blushed, thinking about the night before, and looked down at her knees. Papa cleared his throat, looking a little embarrassed himself, but didn't say anything. Dru swallowed, and added, "And while you lie abed doing nothing, your enemy is one step closer to his plans for your demise." He looked at her, surprised, and then nodded. "I'm glad to hear that you remembered my lessons, albeit belatedly." And then he turned back to the dreaded topic. "Now," he said sternly, "Ivellimor." "It wasn't his fault," Dru said quickly. "I kept assuring him that I could hold my liquour." Papa frowned at her. "That's not what I was going to talk to you about, though I might have a long conversation with him later. All I wanted to do was to warn you, again, to be careful." "Papa, I can hardly believe that Ivellimor is using me to get to you. He just seems to want to have fun, that's all." Papa shook his head. "Ivellimor's motives are, at least in that respect, pure." He leaned forward, seeking her eyes out with an urgency that she found surprising. "It's an emotional hold over you, Drusilia," he said. "Whether Ivellimor intends it or not. It's just something to keep in mind." Dru stared at him, wishing that she could understand why the sudden urgency. "Alright, Papa," she said softly, "I'll keep it in mind." He got to his feet, and helped her to her own. "I believe that Kennic has mixed up some terrible concoction for you to drink," he said. "It should make you feel a little better." Dru impulsively hugged Papa. "I'm sorry for worrying you so much," she said, wishing that she could take back last night, or at least certain parts of it. He hesitated, and then put a strong arm around her shoulders. "No harm done," he said. "You were lucky," he couldn't resist adding. She pulled away, giving him a weak smile. "I think I'm going to go find that concoction of Kennic's," she said, moving towards the kitchen. "I hope that it works." [/QUOTE]

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