So she thought

Gunn used to go to pretend fight with Marka. The sword in her hand was not just a stick anymore.
"Step back. Parry. Advance. Strike. Good, but not good enough. Again!"
Gunn nodded. Rjeks was intimidating, but she only wanted her to be able to defend herself and whoever needed it. Or so she thought.
She snarled when Rjeks hit her in the head. "I did what you told me to do!"
"Well then maybe you should start using that thick skull of yours and think on your own! Don't expect mercy. Or pity."
Gunn took that lesson rather seriously.