I Am My Father's Daughter

My feet pounded against the ground. Every breath filled me with a new sense of strength and life. I knew I was fast before, but this almost felt unreal. The sun beat down against the ground. When did it rain last? I didn't know, but the sea of golden fields and harvests around me said that the seasons had finally changed, and it was time to go and do and explore new things. 

For the past few moons, Steele has been teaching me everything he knows. Sure, Mehlein has done wonders for my learning the common tongue, but Steele's knowledge has put me in a whole new world of learning. From history, languages, earth sciences, diplomacy, and combat, I felt like an entirely new person. Even the strength training he has been putting me through has made me stronger and faster than before. 

As I sprinted down the dirt roads, my bare feet pounding the ground like drums of war, I felt faster and more precise. I glanced down at the path as I ran, remembering the last time I made this trek. 

I had been back in town only a couple of times since that day when Steele took it upon himself to start training and teaching me. I mostly went with momma to Kendel's shop and then back again, Steele waiting for us in the distance. There was no opportunity recently for me to go and listen to story time at the school, but I didn't really think I needed it with Steele and Mehlein's lessons. 

As we were there, I could have sworn I felt those boys' eyes on me, waiting for a new opportunity to strike. I didn't like staying away from the town. It made it feel like that gang of punk thugs had won or something. They probably spent time bragging about "driving the Illy out of town," but I was ready this time. 

If they provoked me, I wasn't defenseless this time. I was ready to defend myself if necessary. I wouldn't start a fight. Steele told me that there was no honor in starting a fight unless it is to protect someone who needs it; and, even then, the other person provoked the fight in the first place by picking on that other person. 

I didn't need to slow my pace as I ran into town today. I didn't feel winded in the slightest, which was another testament to Steele's training regimen he had me on. 

There were groups of families out and about enjoying the warmth and finding ways to keep cool for the day. Many of them congregated by the town wells and the watering troughs for the animals. I remembered Steele talking about him possibly digging and setting some kind of area for everyone to go and wade in the water, but he also told me that would be something he did in the spring. 

As I ran, some of their comments reached my ears. It was nothing new. Many of the statements were the same, though there was an added statement as I sprinted past their critical eyes, their disapproval practically coming off of their bodies like waves of heat from the stones in the street. 

"What is she doing running around like that?" 

"Where is her mother?"

"What in the heavens is she wearing? Are those… britches?"

"Pants? On a little girl? How uncouth!" 

Yes. Maybe it was "uncouth" for me to be wearing the garments of a little boy, but they wouldn't be so bold in their statements if they tried it for themselves. Running in a skirt always made me feel like I was going to trip and eat a face full of dirt in the process. Plus, with Steele's recent regiment of training, pants just made more sense. I practiced in skirts and dresses, but my recent attire involved me wearing an oversized button down and a pair of pants that came to the middle of my shin. 

Momma had recently taken to wearing pants as well. Her position as the Orion's Factotum back in the city actually had her wearing pants of sort under her skirt, which I supposed was the appropriate combination for a woman who was involved in physical labor. 

I let their statements roll off of me like water off of a duck's back. After spending so many hours with Steele, talking to him and hearing his thoughts, I realized that everyone else's opinion didn't really matter. If it was from someone whose opinion I valued, I needed to heed the information they provided. Otherwise, the snide comments from everyone else didn't matter. 

All I could do was live my life as happily as I could, and no one had the right to take that away from me, just as I had no right to take their happiness away. Only when physically confronted or publicly criticized did I have the right to defend myself. 

And I was okay with that. 

Besides, I had more important things to do today. 

All of the herbs and stones I collected and exchanged for coin finally amounted to something. Steele and I spent some time expanding my collection, drying certain herbs and learning their uses, but now I wanted to learn more. Steele's knowledge of herbs only expanded so far, and I needed to learn more. 

So, I decided it was time – I was going to go buy a book. 

I had learned just enough from Mehlein to sound out and read on my own, but we did not have a lot of books at home for me to practice with. The retired bookman and scholar let me look at his books when I was over at his house, but I was not permitted to take any of them back with me, Mehlein cherishing the books in his collection. 

It was okay though. 

I knew which book I wanted. 

The cobbled stone streets burning my feet, I continued my sprint down road after road, dodging glances and families until I finally made it to Kendel's shop. The moment the door swung open, the smell of warm herbs and spices invaded my senses. The air felt alive with scents lingering through the air. 

I walked across the squeaky wooden floorboards until I made it up to the counter where Kendel was sitting quietly and counting beans to put into his measured jars for fall harvests. The moment he saw me, his soft green eyes brightened from behind those oval spectacles on the edge of his nose. 

"Well! Sprout! Good 'ter see ye'," he said with a smile and a twinkling wink. "Wha' brings ye' by the shop t'day?" 

"Hello Kendel," I said, feeling my spirits brighten. I hoisted my pack onto the counter and fumbled with the leather latch for a moment before opening the pack. "I have a new collection of goodies for you." 

"Oh? Well, I'd better 'ave a look see," said Kendel as he quickly wrapped up his current project and tilted the contents of my bag out onto the counter. Several bundles of dried wood sorrel and yarrow tumbled out as well as three wrapped cloths of scarlet moss. A few stones were in the mix as well as two small jars of seashells and teeth from our few excursions to the ocean and the beach. 

Kendel's eyes widened when he spotted the scarlet moss. 

"Ah! Sprout! Wher'd ye' ge' dis?" 

"A field in the sun off of the glade by the cliffs. There was a whole field of them," I said, beaming with the impressed gleam in Kendel's features. 

"Well, I will 'ave 'ter go an' find it for myself. Dis' is some quality," stated Kendel as he began fishing out various coins and setting them onto the counter. "An' ye' even saved da' roots!" 

"Steele showed me a few tricks," I said with a smile. "I thought you would want a few to plant in your window since you don't have any." 

"Aye' sprout. Yer' right 'bout 'dat," smiled Kendel. He continued to set coins onto the counter until he gave me what was owed. "Well? Is 'dat all?"

"Actually, not yet. I saw your book over there," I said as I pointed to one of five identical books on Kendel's shelf. It was one of the finely pressed books from the city, pressed in leather and fine lettering. Mehlein had a book exactly like that, and he let me read through it a few times. It had useful herbs, sketches, and descriptions of the plants and where to find them as well as their uses. Though Mehlein was reluctant to part with his copy, I now had enough coin to purchase one of my own. 

"Dis'?" asked Kendal as he pulled one of the books from the shelf as he brushed those few pesky wisps of brown-white hair away from his eyes. He eyed the coins on the counter and then looked back at me. "Dis' 'ere is seventeen Dalers." 

I felt like I had just shoved a cotton plant in my mouth. Twenty-seven? Yikes! That was horribly expensive. I only just broke thirty that I have saved up. Granted, I haven't been trying very hard to earn coin, but that is still more than half of what I have. 

Still… this is important. I can use this to collect more plants and herbs. I can practice my reading. 

I need this. 

I bit my lip and forced myself not to wince as I divvied up my coins. I fished out my fifteen Dalers and then, painstakingly, I counted out every single one of the seventy Mons, which was two Dalers. 

I was still walking away with other coins, but my bag certainly felt lighter than before. 

As I worked, I noticed Kendel looking back over his shoulder from time to time toward another shelf where I had seen him writing many times before. I wasn't sure what he was looking at, but I understood after a moment when he set down the book of herbs as well as a small journal bound in leather and a coal-stick. 

"'Ere ye' are sprout," he smiled. "Plus a lil' sometin' extra for te' one 'yer gonna write. Use it well." 

I looked up into Kendel's soft green eyes and saw him beaming with pride. Absolutely giddy all over, I carefully took the journal in my hands and splayed the pages. It was absolutely stunning from cover to cover. The book itself was aromatic and the pages were perfect and deckled along the edges. 

"Oh, Kendel. This is beautiful. Did you make this?" I asked. Kendel nodded. 

"Perhaps I'll show ye' sometime 'ow ter' make one of yer' own," stated the shop owner.

A book? More learning? 

I could have been walking on clouds! 

"Thank you so much!" I said, raising my voice a little too loudly in excitement as I bounced on my toes, carefully wrapped up my new treasures, and fastened my bag onto my body, making sure it did not interfere with my belt with my knife affixed to it. "I promise I will put it to good use. And I want to know how to make these very soon." 

"Tha' is a promise to ye' sprout," said Kendel with a wink. I waved good-bye to him and headed back out into the blazing heat of the day. Part of me wondered if story time was going on, but the other part was anxious to start reading my brand-new book. I never had one new before, and I was going to make sure this one stayed in pristine condition. 

Sadly, that would have to wait. I had a few errands to run while I was in town, and then I would have a chance to sit and delve into the book. 

I made my way to the market, picking up a sack of potatoes, some fresh vegetables, and even a bit of meat with the allowance momma gave me. I even had a few spare coins to get her some ribbons and spare cloth fragments as well as a few new needles and some thread I thought she would like. 

With my haul in tow, I shoved everything into my bag, potatoes in the satchel by my side, and headed back toward home. Running with the bag was a bit awkward, and I needed to take a few breaks while I ran through the town, but I was managing for the most part. 

As I slowed for the second time, catching my breath and readjusting my bag, I heard them. 

Jul and his thugs. 

He emerged from around the corner, just like before, and the others were not far behind. I glanced toward my back and saw the three others starting to surround me. My heart started to pound as my senses set me on high alert. I gripped the potato bag a little tighter and placed a hand on my bag that carried our food and my precious books. 

"Hey Illy. What are you doing here?" asked Jul as he sauntered up within a meter of me. I tensed my core and continued glancing out of the corner of my eyes to make sure I wasn't being snuck up on. I didn't shy away from Jul's glance this time though. This time, I stared into those dull eyes of his as I braced myself for whatever encounter we were about to have. 

"Go away and leave me alone, Jul. It's none of your business what I am doing here. I have every right to be in town, just like you," I said with a spit. 

"Oh, that's cute," teased Jul. 

"Please," I said, trying to stay neutral and calm. "I don't want to hurt you. I just want to go home. Now, let me pass." At this, the boys roared with laughter. 

"Really? You think you have a right to be here, Illy?" sneered Jul. 

"You're not supposed to be here," jeered another. 

"Do Illy even need things here?" 

"You have a home?" 

I repeated my momma's phrase over in my mind as I listened to the chorus of taunts. 

Water on stone. Beat me to the bone. Your words run right over me.

I remembered Steele's words as well. I needed to tell them I meant business without my words sounding like a threat. 

"Leave me alone, Jul. I'm not helpless like last time. Let me pass and we won't have a problem," I said, daring to take a step toward Jul, closing the meter distance between us to a third of the distance. 

Then, something odd happened. 

Jul's eyes widened and he backed away a single step. Confusion set in his features, and I felt mine do the same. 

Was he just… intimidated… by me? I wondered. I pushed that thought away from my mind as I maintained eye-contact with him. 

"I-is that so?" he asked, trying desperately to regain his composure. 

"Yeah, that's so," I said, not daring to blink. My heart started pounding harder and faster. My entire body felt like it was tingling, but I stayed focused. 

"Are you threatening me?" he demanded. I felt a bit of a smile curl onto my lips, which only made his eyes widen a little more. 

"No, I am stating a fact. You will regret it if you and your boorish friends don't get out of my way and stop pestering me," I said. I don't know what was possessing me. I felt empowered and terrified at the same time. It felt like I was faking, bluffing my way out. At the same time, I knew more – and I could probably take them this time. 

Jul, to my complete and utter shock, dared to take a step back again. Then, I heard it. A bit of a shuffle behind. The others were trying to close the distance. 

"You're just saying that to be brave," spat one of the boys boldly. 

"Yeah, you can't take us all."

"Who's gonna stop us if we don't stop pestering you? Your dad?" teased another. 

"No, she'll probably go crying to that oaf giant Orion of hers. He's basically your pet, right? Doing what you say and stuff?" said another boy. 

I couldn't even help myself. I whipped around, breaking eye-contact with Jul, and deadpan stared down the boy who just spoke. I thought his name was Ashon or something like that. He was easily taller than me by a head, and he was twice as broad too. Still, I felt completely unintimidated as I stared into his face. 

"Don't you dare insult Steele like that," I snarled. 

Immediately, like a cloud covering the sun, the boys' demeanor shifted from uncertain to knowing exactly where I was weakest. 

"Oh? Don't like us talking about your giant fool father?" barked one of the skinnier boys. 

"Yeah, tell us how that even works since you're so small."

"Ittle bittle Illy doesn't like us talking about her giant daddy." 

"Shut up!" I roared, whipping around to glare at all of them. "You think you're so tough insulting him when he's not even here. You don't know him!" 

"Aww you hear that? It sounds like she's about to cry."

"Orion's pet."

"No! Orion's daughter. Giant's little girl," teased Jul. 

My back was to him, and I should have seen it coming. I suddenly felt a nudge on my shoulders from behind, making me stumble a few steps forward. 

This was their mistake. 

This was my chance. This is what I was waiting for. I tried using my words and walking away, and now it was time for more. I wasn't running this time. I was tired of running. 

As the big boy, Ashon, raised his hands to push me, I felt myself moving instinctually, my body molding into the right forms as I needed them. 

I dropped the potatoes reached out and, using my forward momentum, let it carry through to Ashon as I pinched his pinky fingers and bent his wrists backwards. He cried out in pain and crumpled to the ground, kneeling in front of me. I leaned forward and glared into his eyes. 

"I told you not to. Remember that." 

Everything after was a complete blur. I managed to raise my foot and kicked Ashon in the chest hard, throwing him off balance and onto the ground. I took my first position stance and snagged the next boy's wrist, using his own momentum as I twisted his arm around, kicked out his leg, and smashed him into the ground. 

He rolled me over, smashing me against the cobbled stone streets, but I ended up on top and managed to twist his arm behind his back, making him cry out in agony. I could feel the bruise on my face forming and the cut on my cheek starting to form beads of blood. 

I was suddenly grabbed from both of my arms and dragged back as Jul boldly stepped forward and landed a punch in my gut. Then two more. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from upchucking my breakfast. 

He grabbed my face and forced me to look at him. I was ready for it, but he wasn't ready for what I unleased on him. As he reared back for another hit, I kicked him in between his legs so hard that I swore I heard a pop. He roared in pain and collapsed instantly on the ground, clutching what was left of his dignity. 

I didn't have time to worry about what was going on with him. I needed to get out. I raised my foot and stomped down hard on one of the boy's toes, which slackened his grip. Slipping out, I gave him a harsh backfist to his nose. Again, I heard a crack as blood spurted from his face. 

The other tightened his grip on me, but I needed him to do that. I spun around, shoving my back against his front, and bent over harshly. The shock on his face was priceless as he was hoisted up through the air, over my shoulder, and slammed onto the ground. He groaned and tried to roll over, but stopped when he saw me standing over him in third position. 

"Stay down!" I snarled. 

Suddenly, I felt someone else grab me from behind. I whipped around and saw that it was an adult, not one of Jul's goons, who had a firm grip on my elbow. 

"What is the meaning of this?" demanded the man, a thick man whose head was as shiny as an ocean smoothed stone. He had a mustache that curled at the ends, and it took me a moment to realize that this was one of the cow keepers. He must have been in to trade some of his slaughtered cattle. 

I didn't even get a chance to get out a single word. 

Jul, who managed to recover from the kick I gave him, spoke up first.

"She… attacked… us…" lied Jul. I felt my body seize and somehow managed to gain pinpoint focus on Jul, feeling a swelling hatred in my bones for him. 

"Liar!" I shrieked as I thrashed against the cow keeper's grip to try and go after Jul again. This time, I wasn't going to go easy on him. Sadly, I couldn't get away. The cow keeper's grip was a little more than what I could handle at the moment. 

"That's enough! You are coming with me," barked the cow keeper as he dragged me away from the group of crumpled boys. I barely managed to snag my bag of potatoes as he led me several meters away where, all of a sudden, the town constable was approaching. 

"What just happened?" he asked, stepping quickly toward the havoc I left behind. The portly man glanced at me, with a cut on my cheek and a bruise on my face, and then looked at the crumpled group of boys behind. 

"I don't know, but I just turned down this street and saw this little brat beating up on these boys," said the cow keeper. I felt my jaw hit the ground. What a bunch of nonsense! What a swayed point of view! 

"Well? What is the meaning of this?" asked the constable as he looked to me. He practically towered over me as I looked up into his soft round features. 

"I didn't do anything, sir," I said firmly. "They were calling me names like Illy, insulted the Orion, and then shoved me. I was defending myself; and this isn't the first time they've teased and tormented me. I asked them to stop and to let me go home, but they surrounded me." I glanced around at some of the other people in the square who witnessed everything that happened. 

A loathing hatred seethed in me as I looked at them. They let this happen. They chose not to help me even though I was horribly outnumbered. This was not the first time this happened, but I had a feeling this would be the last time it did. I could only hope they would choose to help me now. 

"It is true, sir," piped up one of the little flower ladies who tend to little boxed gardens in front of their shop. "I watched as those boys surrounded this little girl." I glanced over at the dandelion white puff haired woman and mouthed "thank you" as she gave a single, firm nod. 

"Is that so?" asked the constable. "Wait… I know you…. You're Terrilyn Lun, right? Raina Toro's daughter?" 

I bit my lip and looked away for the first time, nodding and replying, "Yes, sir." It was easy to spot me in the town. There were no others who had mine and my momma's features in town. He nodded a sighed. 

"Well then, you can let this one go. I believe her words to be true," said the constable. "But mark me, young lady. Don't make starting fights a regular occurrence, or we'll have issues. Understood?" 

I had to bite back a snarky retort. Of course I would be the one in trouble. Of course I would be the one with a warning instead of the boys, who mercilessly taunted me for so long. 

"Yes, sir," I said. I took my supplies once the constable nodded toward the road and began the long trek home. 

I still felt everyone's eyes on me as I walked down the cobbled stone streets. Somehow, their looks felt different. I did notice, however, that their mutterings stopped. 

Good. 

The trek home felt shorter than the run coming into town. Maybe it was because my mind was distracted by things that the boys said. Maybe my mind was preoccupied with how I was going to tell my momma about my injuries. One thing kept coming up though, and it was what Ashon said. 

The Orion's daughter. 

Steele… as my dad… 

Sure, Steele was an Orion – a giant in our land – but only when Ashon said it did I actually start to think about what it was that he said. 

I had grown closer to Steele for quite some time now, and I did think about him and how much I wished my own father could be the one explaining these things to me. 

Was… that how I saw Steele now? 

As some sort of father to me? A dad? 

All thought came to a halt when my momma spotted me and saw the cut and bruise forming on my cheek. All rationalization and evaluation stopped dead in its tracks as I explained to Steele, who was working with my momma on making some additional raised beds for our own garden, and my momma what happened. 

I told her about the boys' taunting me and how they have been taunting me. I explained how they started the fight by pushing me and by being insulting, and that it was me who the cow keeper dragged away. 

"The absolute nerve! Well… I! I am going right back and… ooohhhh…." Momma, when she got flustered, sputtered her words and didn't speak in complete sentences. It was where I got it from, but it really showed me she cared when she got worked up like this. 

"No, Raina," stated Steele as he leaned away ever so slightly to speak. 

"No?!" demanded my momma. "I need to go back there and give those people a piece of my mind!" 

"Raina," said Steele gently. "They will not bother Terrilyn again. She has proven herself to them to be a formidable foe, and they will not trouble her again." 

Momma didn't like it, but she moved away to get some more moss and to gather some herbs to make some healing tea for my bruises. She had some plant called arnica with these beautiful yellow flowers that was supposed to help. 

When we were alone, Steele bent over a little lower to look me in the eyes. 

"What were they saying today?" he asked softly, his warm, peppermint breath ruffling my hair gently. I bit my lip and glanced away, feeling my cheeks burning. Did I tell him the specifics? Especially when my mind was churning over and over with Jul's thugs' statements? 

Yes… I should… because I wanted to know something too…. 

"Well… they," I took a breath, feeling my heart flipping nervously in my chest. "They started with their normal torments with calling me Illy and everything, but… then… they started calling you names." 

"Me? Names?" asked Steele, brow furrowing as he mulled over the words. 

"Yeah, and they… they started calling me something… something new…." I said. Steele's violet eyes turned to me, blinking inquisitively and silently inviting me to continue. I felt compelled by his gaze to speak, and so I did. "They called me your daughter." 

At this, Steele seemed genuinely surprised, but a hint of a smile played at the corners of his lips. 

"My… daughter?" he asked quietly. I nodded. 

"Yes. They said a bunch of mean things, but… that was the one that I… didn't mind," I said, wincing as I said it, afraid of what Steele's reaction might be. There were butterflies all in my gut. Nausea swirled in my mind. Everything felt like pins and needles. 

What was he going to think?

What was he going to say? 

"You… didn't mind?" asked Steele. I bit my lip and breathed deeply. My nerves felt like they were in a complete and utter wreck. Still, the tenderness that he used when saying those words made me hope that he was receiving it well. I reached down and fiddled with the edge of the piece of fabric my momma had used to wash the little cut on my cheek. 

"No… I didn't mind," I said. "I… like it." There were several, long seconds of tense quiet before I felt Steele's index finger gently brush against my shoulder. I instantly leaned into the touch. I looked up to see how Steele's violet eyes twinkled. 

"I like that very much too," he smiled. My gut felt hollow, and, at the same time, my heart felt so full it was getting ready to burst. As I looked into his eyes, I felt warm, salty tears lining my own eyes and one, final question came to my mind. 

"Steele?" I asked quietly. "Could… I mean… would it be okay if I called you dad? From time to time? I mean… you… you've been so wonderful and good to me. You've taught me so much and care about me like how my momma cares about me. It wouldn't be always… but… every once in a while? Could I do that? Call you dad?" 

The expression of the older Orion softened beyond comprehension and description of words as he smiled at me, pressing the tips of his fingers against my side. 

"There would be no greater honor," stated Steele. 

Tears slipped over the rims of my eyes as he rolled his wrist off to the side and let me crawl onto his palm. I could have sworn there was a glisten of tears in his own eyes as he carefully curled his fingers and laid them against my bruising frame. 

Then, with the utmost care, he lifted his hand to his face and tenderly pressed his forehead against me. It took effort, but I twisted around and spread my arms as far as I could, pressing my forehead to his. 

"Thanks dad," I muttered, and I meant it. 

Steele was everything I could have wanted in a dad, and I would endeavor every day to be worthy of being his adopted daughter. 

Now we really felt like a family.