Mudminnow River nobody blames you

A flare of white-hot anger explodes in her breast like a firework.  Of course I fought, she retorts, tail raising over her flank, why do you think I'm here?  But then he says something that flusters her worse.  Have you been taught?

The anger she'd felt was suddenly swallowed.  What did he mean?  She'd always sparred with her friends but he made it sound so formal that, No, she admits, she doesn't think she's ever really been taught.  I've fought and killed, but, I don't think.. I haven't been trained, if that's what you mean.

And why was she spilling all of this to some nosy stranger anyway?  Why?