Family

He watches me from afar, I feel his gaze.

I crouch, then stab the dagger into the bag of hay. I stand. I crouch, then stab the dagger into another bag of hay. I stand. I wipe the sweat from my face, then meet his glaring stare. I lift my dagger with a smirk, a mental image of my dagger going through his heart, causing mine to flutter. Sir Knief was the first to notice my talent in daggery. Many said a woman should not hold a dangerous weapon, but Sir Kneif thought different. For many months, he made me hunt wild animals with only a small dagger. I had to learn how to keep silent, to be patient, and know when to attack. I slayed my first wild hog at the age of nine. I had its head be put on a small pole, so i could carry it around the town square and show off my first kill. My mother nearly had a heart attack at the sight of me covered in blood, and waving around a severed pig's head, but who is that whore to judge.

My mother played her dramatics out in the square for all to see. As usual, her little act worked out well. She fell into the arms of a short man, with a rather large beer gut. Mother fluttered her long lashes, and was swept away for a night of adultery, though father never minded. Father kept himself busy in the brothels, bringing home a new woman every night, then after a night of pig squealing fucking, he went to gamble. Father is a great conman, tricking and cheating his way into winning bets and gambles of high stakes, its what kept us living comfortably.

I begin to walk home as I play with my dagger. Father never cared much for my violent actions, he said it was good that we had someone who knew their way around a blade. Father believes we should all embrace the talents we are born with, that is why he doesn't mind my mothers infidelity. In fact, he applauds her. Mother is not only good with her body, but she is a very good theivery. She only lies with men who have something of worth. Her slippery fingers have gotten us many expensive items, from golden utensils to ruby encrusted jewels.

I push my house door open, walking past my mother who is under a large man. I pay no attention as the sound of harsh breathing envelopes the room. I grab a pice of bread and sit, watching the scene in front of me. How could mother enjoy this? I wonder. I hum in delight at the taste of the sweet bread, just as the large man releases himself onto mother's abdomen. I watch the interaction as I stuff my face, mother seems done with the man. Perhaps, she has gotten what she wanted already. She throws on a white nightgown, as the man pulls on breeches.

I laugh very loudly when the man swears his love for my mother. Her face wrinkles in disgust watching the man before her go onto his knees, pleading for my mother to stay with him. It wasn't long till I was hollering, spit flying from my mouth at the comical scene before me. How could this man think my mother would leave us. A true idiot, I shake my head.

I continued to watch as mother tried to kick the man out. I watched as he begged, I watched as he grew sad then angry, I watched as his hands wrapped around her throat, then I watched as my dagger went into his chest. Blood flowed down like a red river. Mother and I look at each other, frowning, we knew all that blood would leave a stain on the expensive shirt. I gagged as i plucked the dagger from his chest. My beautiful dagger was now covered in the blood of a fat, hairy man.

As we began to remove his shirt, father had walked in. He too held the frowning face as he too knew the shirt would be stained. It took about four hours of scrubbing to remove the large blood stain, "good as new," mother said as she handed the shirt to father. Father pressed a kiss to her forehead, "you're always spoiling me," he smiled brightly.

When night came, we held a large bonfire. Father and mother sat beside each other as the flames grew larger, the smell of death sticking to the night sky. I passed the sticks that held pieces of rabbit to my parents. We roasted our dinner over the body of the large man, its nights like this that remind me of how lucky I am. The Gods have blessed me with a wonderful family. It is true, I am the luckiest girl in town.