At some point during their breakfast,
Octavion wandered off. Now he’d returned with an armful of leather
and steel, most of which looked lethal. “Whenever you are
ready.”
“You’re seriously going to teach me to
fight?” Kira asked.
“I gave my word.” He dropped the weapons to
the ground in a heap, making a loud clank. “To
teach
you,”
he said with a little too much emphasis.
Kira jumped to her feet and tossed her apple
core into the fire. She wiped her hands on her pants. “I’m
ready.”
Lydia cleaned up the breakfast mess, then sat
on a nearby log to watch—or keep score—as she put it. While
Octavion systematically divided the weapons between Kira and him,
Lydia gave her unsolicited advice on how he should teach Kira to
fight. Octavion ignored her, which only increased her comments.
Octavion strapped a dagger to Kira’s hip and
instructed her to tie the small leather strap around her leg.
“You’re not serious about using real weapons,
are you?” Kira asked. “What if I get cut?”
“You said you wanted to learn how to fight.
What do you think they will bring with them?” Octavion pulled out a
long sword that was almost bigger than Kira. He threw it
effortlessly onto his back and fastened the straps of the leather
sheath across his chest, making an X.
He handed her a long, much thinner sword, and
fastened it to her in much the same fashion as he’d done his
own.
“Is this really necessary? I thought you
would teach me how to defend myself with my hands or something. I
don’t know anything about these weapons. They’ll just get in the
way.”
He paused for a moment and looked at her. “Do
you really think you can ward me off with your bare hands?”
“No, but—”
“Are you ready to be done with this
nonsense?” Now the truth was out. It was all a show to convince her
not to fight.
She straightened and propped her hands on her
hips. “Not a chance.”
He raised one brow and she thought she caught
a glimpse of a smirk. “As you wish, my lady.” He bowed, making her
laugh.
The first thing he taught her was how to draw
the sword by reaching behind her head and pulling it straight up
out of the sheath. In the beginning, it was awkward, but after a
few tries, it felt more comfortable.
Next, he positioned himself in front of her,
drawing his sword. “Now, when you face your opponent, you must keep
your eyes on his. Do not look at his sword, just watch his eyes.
You will learn to sense his next move by the way he drops a
shoulder or moves his feet.”
Kira nodded. Her stomach twisted.
“Watch my eyes,” he repeated. He swung the
sword directly at her and she cowered, barely meeting his weapon
with her own. The loud clang of the metal echoed through the
clearing as the vibration from the swords striking one another
weakened her grip. Her sword fell in the dirt at her side.
“Kira! One blow and you would have been dead.
Now fight back. You can do this.”
She retrieved her weapon, took a deep breath
and tightened her grip on the sword with both hands. Planting her
feet firmly on the ground and widening her stance, she looked him
in the eyes with more determination. “Do it again.”
This time he came at her from the other side,
but she was ready. She swung the sword as hard as she could and
deflected the blow.
“Good,” he said. “Now lean forward. You are
smaller than me. Throw all your weight into each blow.”
He came at her again, but unlike before he
didn’t stop. They danced around the clearing, exchanging blows—the
clank of metal on metal ringing through the trees. She thought she
was doing okay until he hit her sword closer to the hilt and sent
it sailing into the air. Thinking he would stop and let her
retrieve her weapon, she relaxed, but he didn’t let up. He drove
his sword into the ground, pulled his knife from its sheath and
came at her. When she backed away, he yelled.
“Kira! Be aggressive! Don’t back down. They
will see your weakness.”
She’d forgotten about her knife. Her first
thought was to take full advantage of her smaller size, so she dove
for his knees, tripping him. He stumbled to the ground, rolled over
and jumped back to his feet. When Kira got up, she went at him
again, but this time he grabbed her arm and spun her around,
holding his knife to her neck.
“Right here, you die.”
Kira, grab your dagger and stab his leg.
Hurry
, came Lydia’s thoughts.
No way!
Do it! You can heal him later.
Kira was too afraid to hurt him, so she drew
her knife and thrust the handle against his leg instead. He dropped
his arm and released her, but as he grabbed for his leg, his
forearm caught the tip of her blade.
“Aaah!” he roared. “You cut me!”
“Oh, Octavion, I didn’t mean—” But then she
saw the rage in his eyes. When he came at her again, she heard
Lydia tell her to jump to the side and sweep her foot out, so she
did, sending Octavion into a tree.
Lydia came out cheering. “Nice, Kira. Very
nice.”
Octavion smacked the ground with his fist.
“You cheat!”
“I won!” Kira had retrieved her sword and now
held the tip an inch or two away from his neck. “Admit it. Or I
will cut you again.”
“She’s got you, brother.”
He growled. “I will concede—on one
condition.”
“What?” Kira asked.
He looked at Lydia and smiled. “My little
sister is next.”
“Deal,” Lydia said without hesitation.
Kira replaced her sword in the sheath and
offered her hand to help him, but he refused. His pride was
showing. He stood, rubbed his shoulder where it had hit the tree,
then retrieved his sword and slid it into place behind his back. “I
still think you are a cheat.”
“What difference does it make if I cheat, as
long as I live?”
“Good point,” he said, holding out his arm.
“Would you be so kind as to fix this—so I can teach your friend a
lesson?”
“Be happy to.” Kira grabbed the water jug
from his shelter and poured it over his wound. It wasn’t deep and
only a couple inches long, but he winced when the water hit it.
“Baby,” she teased.
He grunted.
Kira held her hand over the wound. It was the
first time she’d ever healed him and the sensation somehow seemed
different. Instead of just burning, it tingled and made her feel
warm inside. It was as if a part of him had seeped into her
skin—and she liked it.
He brought his hand up and cupped her chin in
his palm. “Thank you.”
Kira nodded, but only because she couldn’t
speak.
Lydia leaned against a tree, sharpening her
dagger on a stone as if preparing to skin a wild beast—Octavion.
“It’s been a while,” she said. “You sure you can handle this?”
“Shall I let you win? Or would you prefer to
do this my way?”
“You let me win and I’ll slit your throat
while you sleep.” She dropped the stone and came at him. Instantly,
she transformed into Altaria and the fury in her icy blue eyes
caught Kira off guard. She knew Altaria was ruthless, but to see
the change happen so rapidly—and the drastic difference between her
and Lydia—it scared her.
Octavion jumped back, barely escaping
Altaria’s blade. “Remind me to sleep with one eye open.” He still
had his knife out from his confrontation with Kira, but instead of
using it, he slipped it into its case and pulled his sword from the
sheath on his back. “If you want to win, perhaps you should be more
prepared.”
Kira! My sword!
As Altaria gracefully
avoided his blow, Kira drew the sword and tossed it into the air.
Altaria didn’t look to see it coming, just reached out and caught
the handle, swinging it from one side of her body to the other.
When she’d finished with her playful display, she took a stance and
held her weapon out in front, ready for his blow. The game was
on.
Kira backed herself between two trees, in
hopes of staying out of their way. With every blow, came more
ribbing and taunting. To them it was a game, but to Kira it made
the possibility of them coming face to face with their enemy more
real. Would she watch a similar scene from her hiding place or
would she fight side by side with them? The thought terrified
her.
When they were both too exhausted to care who
won, they called it a draw. “Well, I guess that concludes our
lesson for the day.” Octavion stood and picked up his sword,
sliding it back into its sheath.
“Not by a long shot, mister.” Kira stepped to
her shelter and retrieved her bow. “Did you get arrows for this
thing or am I supposed to shoot sticks.”
He looked at Altaria and back at Kira. “I’ll
see what I can find.” He crossed the clearing and walked toward the
cave.
Altaria brushed the dirt from her pants and
took her hair out of its braid. “I could teach you a few things, if
you like.”
“To fight with my hands?” Kira asked.
“Yes, and your feet. It takes practice, but
it is not hard. A woman is much more limber and can defeat a strong
man if she keeps her wits about her.” She finger-combed her hair
and began braiding it again.
As much as Kira wanted to learn how to fight,
she felt nervous about Altaria teaching her, especially since they
hadn’t exactly gotten along. “Umm . . . does Lydia know how to
fight, too?”
Altaria flipped her braid behind her back and
planted a scowl on her face. “Lydia is capable, but has not
mastered it. If you prefer to learn from her that is fine.” She
snatched her sword from the ground and stabbed it in the dirt just
in front of Kira’s feet.
Oh great. Now I’ve made her mad.
“Uh,
no. That’s okay. I was just curious. I, um . . . I’d like you to
teach me, actually.”
I’m an idiot and now, I’m gonna
die.
Altaria grinned.
Kira couldn’t tell if pleasure shone behind
Altaria’s smile or mischief. Either way, she had a feeling she was
in for a rough lesson.
Octavion leaned the quiver of arrows against
a tree, took a seat on a fallen log, and watched while Altaria
taught Kira how to defend herself. Seeing them as contenders gave
him pause. He’d given his vow to protect his sister at all costs,
and he knew he would never falter, but seeing Kira giving and
taking blows at the hands of her imaginary enemy, made his stomach
churn. The choice to let her be a part of their lives had not only
put her in danger, but had been selfish on his part—he wanted to be
close to her.
Just that morning he’d invited her into his
bed. An innocent invitation meant to bring her warmth and comfort,
yet it was almost unbearable for him. How many times he’d dreamed
of her coming to him in the night—wanting him the way he wanted
her. If only he knew her feelings, it would be easier. No longer
would he have to love her from a distance and wonder what their
future would bring. Their lives would be one—and so would their
hearts.
“Kira, block with your arms. Defend
yourself.” Altaria yelled, throwing a punch in Kira’s direction.
“Do not watch for it, feel it coming, sense it.”
Octavion had to smile. Kira was giving it her
best, even though she was no match for his sister. He was also
amused to see Altaria holding back—a gesture uncommon to her. She’d
never given anyone the upper hand, not even with her words. It was
good to see her doing so now. Perhaps she was learning to like Kira
after all.
“Stop worrying about hurting me. Kick with
all your strength.” Altaria jumped in the air just as Kira swept
her leg under Altaria’s feet. “Faster, you must be faster.”
Kira tried again, this time losing her
balance and landing with her leg curled up under her at an awkward
angle. She cried out in frustration and hit the ground with her
fist.
Octavion jumped to his feet.
Don’t you dare! She needs to learn this.
She is fine.
Altaria motioned for him to back off.
With his fists clenched at his sides, he
returned to sit on the log.
Kira untangled her legs and stood. “Again!”
she challenged.
Octavion leaned back and folded his arms.
He’d seen firsthand how stubborn Kira could be, but this was
different. She was tougher than he realized. Perhaps a little fire
burned behind those emerald eyes after all.
For the most part, he kept quiet. Every once
in a while he’d let out a hoot or slap his thigh when Kira got in a
good punch or avoided another, always earning a glare or harsh
thought from his sister. When they’d finished, Kira panted like
she’d just run a marathon, but Altaria seemed barely winded.
Octavion handed them both a jug of water, and retrieved the quiver
of arrows he’d found at the bottom of a trunk in his lair.
“You still up for an archery lesson?”
Octavion asked.
“Ha!” Kira wiped the moisture from her mouth
with her sleeve. “I didn’t say I needed a lesson, just wanted to
know if I was shooting sticks.” She stepped to her shelter, hung
the water jug on a supporting branch and grabbed her bow. “Lead the
way, my prince.”
Altaria almost choked on her water trying not
to laugh. “I think I will sit this one out.”
“Pull back real slow,” Octavion
instructed.
“Do you mind? This is
my
bow and it
isn’t the first time I’ve used it.” Kira knew she was a bit snappy,
but he was treating her like she’d never even seen a bow before,
let alone spent two years competing in high school. “Just give me a
target.”
He looked around for a moment, then pointed.
“See that stump about fifty feet off? Can you hit that?”
Kira lowered her bow and glared at him.
“Octavion, be serious. I could hit that if I was blind.”