15 Stronger

  Over the next month, Sara learned how to kill and cook chickens and goats, tan skins, smoke meat, and, to her joy, make simple sandals. On Sixth Day and on days when the dragon was gone, which was at least once or twice a week now, David taught Sara how to defend herself from attacks and increasingly more complicated survival skills.

  David kept telling her the survival training would make her a better servant, and she supposed it did. When it came time to cook or do chores, she needed his help less and less. Even though she was doing more chores, she secretly hoped that the giant was preparing her for the day when he would help her escape.

  Sara noticed that the chores that used to take her all day were now getting done faster than she ever imagined they could be done, at least by her. Which meant she had time to do things for herself, that is, unless Draco saw her relaxing.

  If she got through a chore faster and was relaxing for a moment before doing another chore, or worse, had finished for the day, the dragon would growl out to David. After a quick exchange of words that only they could understand, Sara was sent out to do something. She did everything from cleaning the pig pen to running to the other side of the valley to get an apple, and whenever she returned, Draco refused to eat it, leaving her to throw it to the pigs, who at least saw it as a treat.

  One week, Sara ended up cleaning the pig pen every afternoon. It was after that week that Sara began hiding when she was done with her assigned chores. She also began to work more slowly. The only problem with taking longer than she needed to on a chore was that it was the one tactic that David always seemed to catch and correct her for.

  He would say, “Is that the best you can do?” Then he would frown and shake his head, saying, “You cheat yourself when you do not do your best, Sari.”

  To Sara, it felt like David was truly brokenhearted when she didn’t do her best. After the second time David said it, Sara remembered a time her mother had said something very similar. Sara couldn’t remember the exact words, but the same emotion was there. The memory was faint, but it was strong enough that she soon stopped doing it and began giving her best on whatever chore she was given.

  David did not mind Sara finishing early if the chores were done, but it seemed to her that he was helping her hide.

  One day, Sara had finished picking some early greens and was stretching her back. She was only standing still for a minute when Draco came barging out of the cave and moving in her direction. Sara expected to hear Draco’s growling language but instead heard David.

  David yelled from the far side of the farm, “Draco, I need you to help me with something. I can’t do it without you.”

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  As soon as Draco turned, Sara ran to start her next chore. If that had been the only time, Sara would not have noticed, but soon it seemed that David was constantly in need of Draco’s expertise at the exact moment Sara was between chores or trying to get away for the day.

  On days when both Draco and David were gone, she now had more freedom since it didn’t take her as long to cook or clean up after herself. Even the physical training David insists she do, didn’t take as much time. Now, she spent the time that she used to do these things, decorating her house, and doing a lot more reading and studying.

  She found comfort in reading The Journey and being reminded of the Creator’s care. Sara’s parents believed in and served the Creator. Sara saw that now, as she read the book. What she was learning was that she hadn’t always done as good a job. It also reminded her that she could do better, and even as a slave, she could still find joy in her life.

  The Natural World of Rishona and what David was testing her on was teaching all about the uses for herbs and edible plants all around her. She wasn’t sure how she was learning everything so fast, but she felt as if she had nearly memorized the book. She also knew that she had to learn the information if she was going to survive. If she didn’t learn it, any opportunity to escape might mean her death.

  A New Life both inspired and irritated Sara as she read it. She understood why Lady Lord Mashal wouldn’t like it, as it spoke of how some with power could abuse it and do the worst kinds of evil. The hero, Enoch, ran away from his abusive Lord and found a new life traveling around Rishona. The book discussed the problems that Enoch confronted and what he did to help those he met on his travels.

  Enoch was both courageous and funny. Enoch’s desire to do good inspired Sara. The book irritated her because Enoch had a dragon who showed up at times to help the hero. The dragon was everything legends said dragons were supposed to be like, and nothing like Draco. In fact, every few days, it seemed that Draco would act more like the villains in the book than the dragon. This was also why Sara hadn’t finished the book yet. She would get to another part where the dragon was good, and she had to quit, or when she saw the villain’s role in Draco, so she had to put the book down. There were other times she set the book aside, but not because of Draco. It was because of something else. It felt to Sara like she had eaten something that didn’t agree with her, and her stomach was complaining.

  Food that could make her sick was a real problem when she first started cooking, but thankfully it hadn’t happen in weeks.

  One afternoon, when Draco was away, Sara asked David, “Why is Draco not like the dragons of legend?”

  David laughed, “And you know what those dragons were really like?”

  “Yes, I’ve read about them, and people swear by them.”

  “Who swears by them?” David asked with a smile that Sara recognized.

  Sara paused, already knowing she wasn’t going to like where this was going, but answered. “Most of the Lords at the castle.”

  “Oh, and when they swear by them, they always keep their word?”

  Sara refused to answer and changed the subject, “You know what I mean, dragons are supposed to be the good guys.”

  David nodded, “Yes, but some of the Creator's beautiful creatures rebelled and chose banishment.”

  “So, Draco rebelled?”

  “Draco is the only dragon left in this part of the world, and his story is his own, but since he is gone, you need some more practice with a knife. Go and get it. Show me if you can hit me this time.”

  Sara just stared at David until the giant said firmly, “Go, time is wasting.”

  Sara turned and ran from where they were gathering plants in the forest to the house to get the wooden practice knives and swords.

  Once they started practicing, it drove all thoughts of Draco and dragons out of her mind.