"You are absolutely worthless, Jarek!" Master Shion shouts over the noise in the kitchen. The wooden spoon in Jarek's hand stops midway to his mouth, the soupy broth dripping back into his bowl. A slight scowl briefly flashes across his face, but it replaced by a forced smile before Shion notices.

"Master, even the lowliest of peasants must eat in order to keep their energy."

"Shut it, Jarek!" Shion snaps as he takes the bowl from in front of Jarek and downs it in a matter of seconds. "You are no longer worthy of the privleges of even the lowliest of kitchen scullions! You will eat only when ordered!"

"Yes master," Jarek responds with a sigh. His eyes are encircled by black rings from the lack of sleep he has gotten ever since the last mission. In Master Shion's eyes, Jarek failed the mission. This is the price he must pay.

"Now, back to the stables! I expect to find it clean enough to eat off the floor in there! I'll be back at sundown!"

Shion storms out of the kitchen. Jarek notices all the kitchen hands have stopped doing their jobs and are still staring at him. His face grows red with embarassment and he shouts at them to get back to work as he heads out to the stables once again.

--------------------

The days continue to pass in a similar manner following the mission. Jarek is reaching the brink of exhaustion, but dares not to let Master Shion even suspect how worn down he really is. He takes the berating words and harsh tasks without complaint. After all, Shion trained him personally. Jarek deserves this punishment after disappointing his Master. In Shion's eyes, no warrior should outshine Jarek in battle. On the mission, they all outshone him.

Sweat covers his face and exposed torso as he struggles to haul two massive buckets of water from the well to the kitchen. He wonders why anyone would place the well two miles away from the castle, but he has no time to place a lot of thought into the problem. It is taking all his mental force to keep from collapsing under the midday sun.

"You're late again," Shion snaps as Jarek sets the buckets down in the kitchen. Jarek braces himself for another verbal beating, but it never comes. Instead Shion tosses him a damp rag and orders him upstairs to clean up. Puzzled, Jarek eagerly obeys the order. Ten minutes later Jarek is clean and dressed, on his way to Shion's quarters for further explanation in this change in routine. Has Shion finally forgiven his failure?

Jarek knocks three times before opening to door to Shion's chamber. His master is huddled over a parchment of some sort in the corner, so Jarek shuts the door and patiently stands in the center of the room while waiting for his Master to address him.

"Jarek, I have a new mission for you," Shion says in a tranquil voice. For the first time in weeks, his voice lacks the edge of disappointment in it. "You are to attend the upcoming summit as the personal attendant to Lord Braen."

"Master, no disrespect, but don't we have other guards who are paid to do that job."

"Yes, Jarek, but until you prove otherwise you are just as worthless as them. No more questions, Jarek. Go make preparations. You leave in the morning."

"Yes Master."

As Jarek shuts the door to the room, a single tear escapes and rolls down his cheek. Nothing hurts more than knowing that he let his Master down. He will just have to prove his worth. Again.