The Call Read Free Page B

a quick look at Katja before turning back to the monsters and standing ready with her sword. She was utterly calm, not even winded, but her gaze was pure steel.
    The creatures looked at her for a few moments and Katja thought she saw a few peeks towards herself as well. Then they staggered off into the darkness. The clumsy footsteps gradually went silent.
    The fight was over.
    Relief at being alive, horror, accumulated fear, pain and the deranged ecstasy of victory all poured into Katja at once and she started to shake. It was just like the other day. Except now no-one else had died.
    Serdra took a rag from her belt and cleaned a bit of dark liquid off her blade.
    “This was a fine job,” she said. “Such wretches are easily broken by adversity. They will vanish into the shadows and cause no trouble for some years.”
    She sheathed the sword and looked at Katja with hands on her hips. Katja thought she saw a hint of a smile on her lips.
    “Did you like it?”
    The words instantly turned all of Katja's emotions into rage and she turned the spear in her hands and rushed at the woman with the blunt end first.
    She screamed and struck. Serdra caught the shaft with one hand and smacked it back into Katja's forehead before throwing the spear aside. The blow dazed her and Serdra tackled her onto the ground.
    Katja landed on her back, and before she knew it the woman had sat on her chest and held her wrists down with an iron grip.
    Katja growled and tried to kick, tried to yank her hands loose, head butt, bite, but nothing worked. This damned madwoman held her like an infant.
    “Easy,” Serdra said in the same tone as before. “As I said this was a test and you did alright.”
    “Get off me!”
    “No.”
    “You almost got me killed!”
    Serdra smiled.
    “Hardly. I would have killed more if I hadn't had to babysit you. Your sensitivity will need to improve, like I said. Spirit alone does not suffice.”
    Again Katja furiously tried to break free with no results. Serdra twisted her left arm slightly and examined the cut she'd received.
    “Hm. That is nothing to worry about. It just needs bandages so filth won't slow down recovery, and then you can travel and train.”
    “With you?!”
    Serdra leaned in closer, though not within head-butting range.
    “You saw how I did in that fight,” she said and gazed so hard in Katja's eyes it felt like she was examining her soul. “This was nothing to me. You can learn this. You can become stronger and more terrible than any warrior in that little village of yours, IF you have someone to guide you and keep you alive until you can stand on your own. Are you really going to tell me the thought doesn't appeal to you?”
    Katja wanted to punch her airs out, or flee into the darkness and run home; but she could do neither, any more than she could lie with those deep eyes locked on her.
    “N... no,” she reluctantly whispered. She did want to be strong. She didn't want to have to fear the darkness or people.
    “It is difficult to deny the Call,” Serdra said and her eyes became less piercing. “Calm down. Soon enough you will consider this a minor event.”
    Serdra finally released her and stood up. Katja watched her from the ground and then stood up herself. Her temper had cooled and fatigue from the walk and the fight and the fear weighed her down like clothes made from lead. Her pride still stung though.
    “What do you have in mind?” she asked stiffly after a brief silence.
    “I didn't bring my horse to this nasty hill. I will fetch it and then I can pick you up in the village tomorrow.”
    “And bring me where?”
    “I know of an isolated place where I can teach you the basics in peace.”
    “And then what?”
    “Then we obey the Call, Katja. Experience is the best teacher.”
    Katja looked in the direction of the village, though of course she couldn't see it. She thought of the desire that had built within her, little by little, to go out into the wide world, and how